DISMAYED villagers have hit out after a school demolished a former caretaker’s bungalow.

After several years of uncertainty workmen have now knocked down the unused home at Honley Junior School.

It is thought the space will be used for extra parking.

But one man, who did not want to be named, said many people had applied to use the abandoned property but had been told the school had plans to use it.

He said: "I believe I am one of at least three people who made an informal approach to the school in the past to rent the bungalow only to be turned down on the grounds that it was to be ‘converted into a classroom’.

"Now it has been demolished, I believe to make way for a car park, which seems odd when the school had significant parking within the school area and there is so much unrestricted parking space available right outside.

"One may also want to ask why, when education budgets are to be cut by 13% by 2014-15, the school has turned down potential income in favour of a car park that many would question the need for or value of. I have checked the school website and can find no mention of this development."

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said the unused property had been demolished to save money.

He said: "The building had been empty for five years and we had looked at various alternatives to bring it back into use.

"Some options involved the need for an access road from Jagger Lane and the cost of this was prohibitive.

"The access from Jagger Lane would have been needed regardless of whether the building was being used by the council or any other prospective owner.

"The school doesn’t require additional space and didn’t have funding to make the upgrade adaptations.

"It also has another outbuilding in the grounds with the potential for increased community use.

"Demolition was by far the most cost-effective option and the school is considering creating more car parking space, although no decisions have been made.

"Other options to benefit the school are also being considered."