In July of last year, this newspaper revealed how a piece of education history was under threat.

Wapping Road School, a listed building and the first school in the country to have its own swimming baths, was being targeted by vandals while its redevelopment stalled.

It seemed that something of an impasse had arisen between Bradford Council and Sphinx Commercial Ltd, the building’s owners since 2006.

The company said it had bought the building to turn into apartments, and was still waiting for planning permission.

The Council, on the other hand, explained it was still waiting for a legal agreement covering various conditions on which the final planning permission depended.

We said then that such bureaucratic issues needed resolving, and planning permission was indeed granted earlier this year.

Yet it would seem little progress has been made since then – certainly not in the important area of protecting this gem.

For we once again have the sad duty to report it is still suffering at the hands of arsonists, who recently destroyed wooden floor joists while putting themselves in considerable danger.

While we understand the current economic situation may rule out renovation for now, surely it must be possible for all concerned to ensure it is secure?

What is certain is that this building should not be allowed to fall into ruin or worse – it is too important. That was true all those months ago, and it is still true now.