SIR – What a wringing of hands over the old All Saints School building! This problem was foreseen last year. On February 4, at a meeting, security issues were put to the local authority; they offered night patrols, inadequate in the face of the vandalism that would follow.

In March, I walked round the old school with a measuring line. Just over 100 metres of anti-climb fencing would be needed to secure the site. I was told fencing would cost more than £50 per metre, above £5,000, but it would be considered.

On April 1, I wrote again to the local authority, expressing how this building would suffer if fencing or other protection were not carried out. My letter never received a reply.

More than a month later, school staff sent the Council an e-mail on my behalf; in reply a brief e-mail stated the building was no longer theirs, and security not their responsibility.

By July, we were told fencing was no longer possible or necessary. There was now no time to get the permission for fencing before the summer holidays, and building work was due to start in autumn. Vandals caused massive damage over summer, and no building work had yet started.

It grieves me this beautiful old building should be so neglected. A small amount of money would have saved a huge expense.

Stephen Treasure, St Oswald’s Vicarage, Christopher Street, Bradford