Three Bradford communities were at loggerheads today over new proposals to build a secondary school in Thackley as part of the schools review shake-up.

While families in Thackley were backing the idea parents and governors at Eccleshill Upper and Woodend Middle schools were angered by the surprise move which would lead to the closure of their schools.

Public meetings were held last night at Thackley First school and Eccleshill and Woodend in a last minute move by education chiefs, who said they wanted to gauge reaction to the call by Thackley residents for a new school at Cote Farm.

New schools are proposed at Eccleshill and Woodend as part of the Council's controversial schools review bringing in a new two tier system.

But last Thursday the Telegraph & Argus exclusively revealed education chiefs were considering building a new school at Thackley and closing Eccleshill Upper and Woodend Middle.

But 200 people who attended the meeting at Thackley First School gave a unanimous thumbs up to a new school serving the whole area and taking approximately 1200 children.

It would probably be Voluntary Aided and part funded by the church.

If the plans went ahead, the new school would be situated between Leeds Road and Westfield Lane, Thackley, east of the bridleway and close to bus routes.

Head of the review team Ray Watson said the Cote Farm idea was not a proposal, but if it received support it could go as a recommendation to the education committee.

He said the review team felt they had a duty to look at any viable option which came up in the consultation period which has just ended.

The views of the three simultaneous school meetings will now be closely considered by education chiefs and the review team, before the recommendations are published next week.

Mother-of-two Karen Mayhew, 42, of North Lea View, Thackley, said: "I have lived in this area all my life and we have always said we needed a new school. Now they have finally listened to us. It's very good news for us and we hope it will be seriously considered and recommended."

She said families had severe problems because of the lack of suitable schools.

But many families and governors attending the Eccleshill meeting said their own site was suitable for a new school - and they had believed the original proposal would happen.

Mr Watson said big schools could attract a full range of facilities and specialist teachers were more plentiful.

Chairman of Eccleshill governors, Brent Fitzpatrick, admitted they had thought that a new school would be built on their site and that the sudden meeting over a Cote Farm school had come as a shock. He said: "I think Eccleshill Upper is ideal for a new school. I would like to see education remain here."

But parents Wendy Leyland said: "We have got a good school, a good head and good community. We don't have a lot else going for us, but the one thing we have got going for us is our education. Please don't take that away."

Audrey Raistrick, of Ravenscliffe and Greengates Residents Association: "The school is in the heart of the community remove it and the community will be broken up. We will fight this. If that is the best you can come up with - it is not good enough."

Resident Christine Atkinson said: "To take this school out of the heart of the community will be the biggest mistake the Council has ever made."

But Nila Ambu (correct) Vice Chairman of the Governors at Hutton Middle School said many parents did not want their children to go to Eccleshill and wanted more choice.

She added some families were desperate to get their children to Hanson School but were refused owing to the lack of places.

Parents and Governors at the Woodend meeting believed the closure of their school would be a major blow and rip the heart out of the community.

Many believed there educational needs were already being met and were concerned why the meeting had been called at short notice and why all three meetings were being held at one time.

Parent Kath Quinn of Shipley said: "The community needs a school and the school needs a community."

Mrs Quinn also stressed that residents were working hard to regenerate the area and this could change if the new school at Cote Farm went ahead.

Methodist Minister for Christ Church, Sarah Jemison said: "This was another example of resources being taken out of the area, families are happy to have the school here.

Councillor Philip Thornton (Lab, Shipley East) said the creation a new school at Cotes Farm would not help the children or parents living in Shipley.

He said: "There is no direct route from Shipley and it means children would have to take two buses to School."

Coun Thornton added that there was ample room at Woodend including a sixth form block, to serve the needs of the community .

A letter written by Shipley MP Chris Leslie to Labour Councillors asking them to reject the new proposals was distributed at the meeting.

He said if Cote Farm was the only option he would support it.

'But after careful consideration I know now that the a new-build secondary school at Woodend Middle School site in Windhill is entirely feasible and cost effective, and is situated in a catchment capable of sustaining healthy enrolment numbers.'

Mr Leslie said residents need a first rate secondary school, not a patched together retread facility.

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