There have been many concerns about what will happen to High Royds Hospital now it has finally closed. Last year developers The Raven Group purchased the grade-two listed building for £26million and this month they put their cards on the table and revealed their plans.

Next time the 115-year-old building opens it could be as a health centre, care home and an office block under new proposals.

The residents of Menston and Guiseley have lived under the shadow of the asylum since it opened in October 1888 and during that time it has not posed many problems but the threat of a 550-home development could create a traffic nightmare. The exit routes from the hospital would be on to the A65 which already has horrendous rush hour tailbacks. It has already been suggested that one of the two exits could be for buses only and would have traffic lights. But the exit route for new residents would not have traffic lights and would cause chaos for people needing to turn right on to the A65.

The developer claims that the new housing estate would not generate as much traffic as the hospital did in its heyday, but in the 1940s to 1960s, for instance, there would not have been as many cars.

During the 1939-45 war the hospital had nearly 2,500 patients and, including, staff the total number of people at the hospital was about 3,000. It is expected that the development will attract 2,000 residents but with most families having two cars there will surely be more of an impact on the local roads.

To many residents the proposals seen so far did not confirm their worst fears, but it will be interesting to see what is actually submitted to Leeds City Council next month.

The appalling vandalism at the Otley Out-of-School Club is a disgrace. Not only did vandals steal children's toys but the mean-spirited culprits went as far as to ruin carpets and play areas for no reason. Glue, eggs and biscuits were among many items thrown over carpets, walls and tables totally wrecking the club.

The staff should be applauded for keeping it running under such circumstances. They swiftly cleaned up most of the mess and defeated the odds to keep it open, but the children still cannot play outside due the vast amount of glass littering their playground from all the smashed windows.

The club relies on donations and help from the community and this shocking attack has seen thousands of pounds worth of damage caused. The club is set to move to Cross Green at Easter but it is an appalling reflection of the modern age that the children will have to survive without an adequate play area and toys until then.