A WORTH Valley school says it intends to resolve a long-running problem of water leaking out from under its land and spilling onto a road soon.

Lees Primary School, in Cross Roads, said tree roots and other material had blocked the drainage under its field, resulting in the water ending up on the pavement and road at Lees Bank Drive at the bottom of the sloping site.

A spokesman for the school this week said it hoped to have the matter dealt with over Easter.

Councillors have said the water leak has been causing problems for both pedestrians and vehicles, especially during bouts of icy weather.

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury parish councillor Peter Clarke said: “The problem is serious and it does need to be addressed.

“It has been going on for a few years now and people are concerned about it. It is dangerous in icy weather.”

Cllr Clarke noted the problem had persisted for so long the asphalt on the road was being eroded by the water welling up from the drain.

Chris Herd, who is a local businessman and a district council candidate for Worth Valley Ward, said: “I want to work with local residents to try and resolve this issue.”

The Lees Primary spokesman stressed the school had been aware of the problem, and has been working on solving it.

“A few years ago we did have someone from Bradford Council come out and look down the drain,” she explained.

“We were told back then that it was clear and the water was coming from elsewhere, caused by new homes which had been built.

“However, when the leak continued we knew something was not right so we got the council out again and this time they looked uphill and said the drain was backed up with silt.

“They recommended a company to us that could do a jet wash to clear the silt, which is what we had done.

“But that didn’t work, and we saw images which showed that it’s not just silt blocking the drain, it’s other materials and also tree roots.

“We’ve now been given a quote of £2,000 for the work necessary to clear this material.

“But as an academy we have to follow procedure and get two other quotes, which is what we’re doing.

“We do recognise this has been going on for a long time.

“But we are definitely in the process of sorting it out, and we hope to have the work carried out during the Easter holidays.”