THE FUTURE of a rundown former school building will be discussed by councillors before a public consultation.

Priesthorpe Annexe of Priesthorpe School, in Mornington Road, Bingley, has stood largely empty since 2002, but is now set to be sold off by Bradford Council, which is the trustee of the former Bingley Science Art & Technical School.

The Council is looking to sell the building, also known as the Technical School, to raise funds for the educational benefit of Bingley residents.

A number of complaints have been received from residents about the condition of the annexe.

The Council has researched its archives and discovered a covenant on the building, dating back to 1889, between Alfred Sharpe and the trustees of the will of James Sharp, who conveyed the property to the trustees of the school. This conveyance implied that the school, now known as the Priesthorpe Annexe, was to be used for the educational benefits of the people of Bingley, which it was until 2002. But the Council has been unable to identify a use for the building which “complies with educational aims and objectives”.

A public consultation is now set to be held after the Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee discusses the building’s future this Thursday. Subject to public consultation and committee members’ approval at a later meeting, the building will be put on the market and sold later this year.

A report to the committee states: “The Council has insufficient funds to repair and maintain the building. Consequently the property has fallen into significant disrepair and is now considered to be beyond economic and physical repair. Officers are concerned that given the lack of resources the building will continue to deteriorate.”

Councillors in the town have campaigned for action from Bradford Council over the future of the building.

Cllr David Hestletine (Con, Bingley) said: “It’s been a long process. It is an absolute mess of a building. Hopefully it can now be brought on and now be brought back into productive use.”

Priesthorpe Annexe is one of three buildings in the town that Bingley Town Council has urged action on from Bradford Council. The others are the Station Master’s house on Wellington Street and the former Bradford & Bingley headquarters, in Main Street, which was sold to Lidl in January this year.

Ros Dawson, Bingley Town Council chairman, said: “For too long the Technical School has been neglected and its deterioration has had a negative impact on the neighbourhood.

“Many residents over many years have pressed Bradford Council for action and we are pleased the authority is responding and now has a plan for its building. I would like more detail to ensure any monies raised are spent to benefit Bingley.”