Councillors are calling on the Church of England to either help develop or demolish a former Otley school building which has become “an eyesore”.

The old All Saints Middle School, in Bridge Street, was closed several years ago but has remained undeveloped, despite several submitted plans.

Now ward councillors, keen to see the riverside site improved, have written to the owners, Bradford Diocese, to ask for action.

In their joint letter to the Archdeacon of Bradford the Venerable David Lee, Councillors Ryk Downes, Graham Kirkland and Colin Campbell (all Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) say: “The building has steadily become more and more derelict and many residents now regard it as an eyesore which detracts from this pleasant riverside location in the town.

“We appreciate that it is not always easy to develop a building but we are now very concerned that the poor condition of the site is having a detrimental effect on the area.

“We are writing to ask if there are proposals for development which can be brought forward or, failing that, can the building be demolished and the site cleared.”