A DECISION whether to allow a school to build a new hockey pitch, complete with 15 metre high floodlights, has been deferred once again.

The plans by Holy Family Catholic School in Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley, had attracted a number of objections by neighbours, and initially went before Bradford Council's Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel in August.

At that meeting members deferred a decision on the plan to give the school more time to speak with neighbours and make the scheme more suitable.

But at another meeting of the panel this morning, members heard that no meeting between the school and residents has taken place.

The school’s plans would see a new artificial pitch installed at the school site, as well as a clubhouse, specialist sports floodlights standing 15 metres high, perimeter fencing and access features.

The school hopes that the new facilities would mean more sports clubs could use the site outside of school hours, and was submitted in partnership with a local hockey club.

Residents had objected, saying the extra use of the site would put more strain on local roads, and could create large amounts of noise.

Addressing the school's representatives at today's meeting, committee chair Councillor Doreen Lee said: "We say things at this meeting and we want them carried out, if they are not carried out you can't expect us to sit here and listen to the application again.

"You need to have a meeting with residents, a minuted meeting, and then we know what has been said between residents and yourselves."

Members then agreed to defer the decision to a February meeting to allow the meeting with residents to take place.