A ROW over children playing football in Addingham has prompted the parish council to throw down a challenge to housing officials.

Bradford Council put up a sign banning ball games near house garages on Aynholme Drive after a claim that a door had been damaged.

After being contacted by the parish council, housing officials defended the decision, saying that there were other sites in the village where the children could play.

Parish councillors have challenged this view and have resolved to ask the officials where the other sites are.

A report to yesterday's parish council meeting says: "The parish councillor's are amazed at his (the housing officer's) reply. It is totally unhelpful and does not reflect on the relationship the parish council has tried to create with Bradford Council."

Before the meeting, parish councillor Sharron Harris denied that the children playing football had caused impact damage to a garage door.

"The damage was not done by a football - it couldn't have been," said Coun Harris.

She said that the workman sent out to repair the council-owned garage door had stated that the springs had worn.

"We are waiting for the council to come back to us - we don't feel that there is anywhere else for them to play," said Coun Harris.

She said that older children in the area played football and other games in the school grounds on nearby Bolton Road because there was nowhere else to go.

But she added that younger children were not allowed to go so far and were no longer allowed to play ball games safely near their homes.

"They weren't causing any damage playing outside those garages - the kids have been playing there for years," Coun Harris said.

She added: "There is a shortage of places to play in the village and now they can't even play outside their back door."

Parish councillors want the sign taken down so that the children can play there in the future.

l Bradford Council's chief executive Ian Stewart who was due to attend a meeting of Addingham Parish Council last night

cancelled his appearance.

Mr Stewart told Parish Clerk Pam Boulton that he would be abroad attending a conference this week.

Parish councillors wanted to quiz Mr Stewart on issues such as the future of the soon to be redundant First School buildings, the lack of low-priced houses in the village and the relationship with the city council.

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