Leeds City Council seems to have made neglecting old schools, old mills and old swimming baths into an habit, and by neglecting any form of maintenance repairs over the years, the council can then quote the cost of repairs running into millions, with the end result being a sell-off.

I applaud the Kirkstall residents' plan to fight this sell-off, and hope they can get some backing from their councillors, MPs etc.

These mills are part of our proud Yorkshire heritage, depicting a time when Yorkshire prospered in the textile industry. I believe restoration work on these old mills should start immediately, with money coming from Lottery funding, and heritage grants.

These mills, when finished, would make splendid heritage centres and would offer an insight to our local heritage, preserved for the future. A small admittance fee, and maybe the help from volunteer groups would help maintain this splendid old mill.

MR G COLEMAN, Batley


Drighlington Junior School is in a fast decaying state. Windows are smashed and the roof is leaking (a mirror image of the state of our country).

It is sad to see Leeds City Council are not taking our heritage seriously.

After spending our money on the building, just before its closure, surely they could at least respect and keep up to their duty of care to the building.

The former Primate of all Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh, James Margetson, who endowed the school, must be turning in his grave to see his legacy and that of his fellow people of Drighlington being shown such contempt, by the people who are supposed to be in power. They should not be in it for the building industry and Big Money!

This is not just a local problem. Victorian buildings, up and down the country, are being torn down in favour of new, non-descript housing, usually sold off for next to nothing.

We should show how proud we are of our heritage and not be ashamed of it! This country has given the world so much.

M SIMPSON, Drighlington