SO the plans to turn the former children's home at Hawksworth Hall into houses have been called in by the

Secretary of State.

As a top graded building which is also in the green belt, it is not entirely unexpected that the plans to turn it into four homes with another five in the grounds should have been called in.

Even so, the fact that a public inquiry will now be held into the development, which has already been given conditional approval by Leeds City Council, is good news for those campaigning to save the hall.

Campaigners are hopeful that the American descendant of the original owners of the hall will be successful in his bid to buy it - and turn it over to the village.

The trouble is owners, the charity Scope, has said - as in all these occasions when a charity is held up for being less than charitable - it is legally obliged to get the best possible price for the building. So, if that means the site generates most income by being flattened, with planning permission for 100 houses, so be it.

Never mind what the locals think, never mind that there is someone willing to spend the money restoring the building to the condition it was in when the charity took it over - the charity is legally tied.How convenient - if somewhat uncharitable. It is unfortunate that the campaigners will probably remember this issue when asked to contribute to the worthy cause the charity supports.

The campaigners will have to hope that the Secretary of State decides to refuse the application - and that ought to be the end of any speculative developer trying to make a lot of money out of Hawksworth Hall.

THE crime of vandalism is too often seen as a minor

misdemeanor. After all, no-one gets physically hurt, the damage can normally be repaired.

However,week after week we report new instances of this scourge, and few cases can be as upsetting as this week's case where relatives discovered the grave of a loved one had been vandalised.

Finding a solution to such anti-social behaviour is very difficult. Educating youngsters is the key, but there will always be some people who behave in such a pathetic way. It is a shame statistics will show persistent offenders rarely lose their liberty for such behaviour - and more is the pity.