PARENTS may be puzzled at seemingly different attitudes to two schools in Skipton.

Both Skipton Girls' High School and St Stephen's Primary School were hoping to carry out building work to cater for increased numbers. St Stephen's, built in 1854, wanted a complete rebuild on a site a few yards away from the existing Victorian building while the Girls' High was seeking to build an extension of two new classrooms and two science laboratories. Otherwise, however, the principle was the same - two good schools seeking to expand on their site.

One common factor was local opposition. Skipton Town Council, Skipton Civic Society, Craven District Council and local residents were opposed to both schemes. The same sort of arguments were put forward in both cases, along the lines of the proposed new development being out of character with the area.

We leave readers to decide the merits or otherwise of those arguments.

What is confusing is that one - St Stephen's - was turned down. The other, the Girls' High was approved.

The reason is that the land St Stephen's wanted to build on is owned by the diocese of Leeds. The Girls' High extension is on land owned by North Yorkshire. The St Stephen's plan therefore went before Craven District Council and was duly rejected. But North Yorkshire, being a planning authority in its own right, was able to decide upon its own application and, surprise, surprise, ignored local opinion and approved it.

The result is inconsistency and probably a feeling of unfairness on the part of St Stephen's. Both plans have their merits and would be a significant improvement to the overall education facilities in the town. Yet one has been blocked by local opposition, which counted for nothing at county level.

It would be seen as more democratic if it the county council was not given the privilege of deciding its own planning applications.