SCHOOLS in Ilkley are having to turn children away despite assurances there are enough places for youngsters in the valley, says a councillor.

Ilkley parish councillor and new All Saints Primary School governor, Councillor Andrew Walbank, says three children have been turned away because of a lack of school places. And he claims

there has been a similar

situation at Ashlands Primary School.

Councillor Walbank recently became the Ilkley Parish Council representative on All Saints' board of governors,

and said while he was at his first governors' meeting, a

call came in from a parent trying to find places for three

children.

He said: "It's a shame that school classes are going to have to get bigger if they appeal and are awarded a place at the school. The school is not wishing to turn

people away, but it doesn't have room for any more

children."

Ilkley Parish Council planners recently asked for answers from Bradford education heads, fearing there could soon be a serious shortage of schools places, as more houses are built and more families continue to move into Wharfedale. They were told there were enough places in the valley, but Councillor Kate Brown says members of the parish council's plans

committee is poised to contact education heads again,

following a meeting of head teachers.

All Saints was rebuilt and moved from Leeds Road to Easby Drive under the re-organisation of the Bradford District's schools to a two-tier system. Commentators at the time claimed the school should have a full two form entry instead of a one-and-a-half form entry.

There has also been similar criticism about the re-organisation's effect on other local schools, and the sell-off of education land, which is likely to go for housing and

bring more families into the valley.

Bradford Council executive member and ward and

parish councillor, Anne Hawkesworth, told the meeting the district's education department could not create extra places and expect them to remain free for Ilkley

children in future.

"I have seen the figures, and there are enough places in the valley," she said. "The big issue, if we produce empty spaces, is that it produces a vacuum. It's not possible to retain those spaces to be just used for Ilkley children. If we've got spaces, people in other areas will want to come to the school. If they come in, we can't have spaces."

Councillor Hawkesworth has asked for a meeting with the other ward councillors about education.