SIR – As a member of the the Bronte Birthplace Trust and Councillor for Thornton and Allerton Ward, I was totally dismayed to hear from the Council that our right to a Community Bid for the Bronte Birthplace was not valid due to the fact that it had been used as a residence.

I was even more upset that the Council’s Asset Management department had failed to inform us of this. Our first meeting was held on October 5, 2012, when officers were elected.

The Asset Management Department was first contacted about the Community Right To Buy around October 18. We were told our application would be put to the next Council Executive. Once on the list we would have six months to raise the funds to purchase the property. We had a terrific response from all over the world and were confident we could raise the money.

An apology from the Council is not good enough, and to say the request was only on e-mail is a disgrace – people in Thornton feel totally let down. Members and villagers will be heartbroken if an opportunity to preserve our literary heritage is lost again.

Come on, Bradford Council, be creative and help keep this gem in Thornton Village.

Councillor Valerie Binney (Conservative, Thornton and Allerton Ward), Scarborough Road, Shipley