It is an iconic Lockwood landmark much loved by the local community.

But parents and residents have launched a bid to save Mount Pleasant School’s 80ft clock tower, which is at risk of being demolished to make way for a new school.

The tower, which dates back to 1875, is part of the school campus which has been extended over the years and much of it is no longer fit for modern education.

Chris Marsden, of Huddersfield Civic Society, along with parents and Lockwood residents Zaffar Ali, Imran Mahboob, Sanjit Ghosh, plus charity worker Imran Safdar, spoke at the Huddersfield District Committee to urge councillors to save the clock tower.

Mr Safdar said: “Plans are being kept secret. It is our school it is our community, we’ve all grown up with this clock tower in our lives everyday.

“We call for the development to incorporate the school’s landmark 1875 clock tower building as part of the renewed Mount Pleasant Primary School.”

Mount Pleasant opened in 1875 with over 1,000 pupils. It was designed by architect Charles Fowler and included the impressive clock tower.

The parents praised its “dramatic fabulous animal water spouts, clocks and spouts” which has become an icon for the school and likened it to Castle Hill’s Jubilee Tower in terms of its value.

In the 1980s when Mount Pleasant was redeveloped its then head teacher Brian Wood worked hard to ensure the clock tower remained.

But that’s now all at risk. Huddersfield’s biggest primary school is to be razed and re-built. Its 600 pupils and 117 members of staff will relocate to a temporary school during the works.

Kirklees Council received funding from the Education Funding Authority but has little say over its design.

Clr Jean Calvert, deputy leader and Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I think you are quite right about the clock tower. I’ll do my best to find if that part can be saved within the new building.

“I’ll take the issues and problems back with me and I will try and get some consultation meetings going.”

Newsome Green councillor Andrew Cooper said he would like to see the heritage features remain and added: “It will be great if Kirklees architects can design a school around the clock tower that can incorporate those features, the problem is the funding that is going to come from the Government is for a flat pack design.

“The problem is something you very much need to take up with central government, they’re providing the funding, they’re calling the shots.”

Clr Erin Hill, Labour councillor for Crosland Moor and Netherton, added: “Although heritage should be at the forefront of our minds we also have to think about the benefit for the greatest number of residents.

“We have to think that, at a time when education is being squeezed centrally, how can we get the best value for money for the greatest number of children to carry on providing the best education.”