POLITICAL freedom for Bingley is at the heart a petition calling for a new local council for the town.

The petition will officially be started at an event next month organised by volunteers campaigning for a new authority covering Bingley, Cottingley, Crossflatts, Eldwick, Gilstead and Micklethwaite.

Bingley Community Council Group (BCCG) chairman Ros Dawson said: "So far there has been a very positive response to the proposal for a new local council which will be democratically elected, accountable and representative.

"People feel it’s a way our communities can get a voice, tackle pressing issues and create and carry out a positive vision and plan."

The public meeting, at Bingley Arts Centre on October 7 at 7pm, will be followed by others in Cottingley, Crossflatts, Gilstead and Eldwick to share information about the proposal with as many residents as possible.

The petition must be signed by ten per cent of the 18,427 electorate which would be covered by the new council and can then be presented to Bradford Council.

The council must then carry out a consultation process, known as a Community Governance Review, to decide whether or not the local council can be established.

BCCG will give a presentation at the meeting and there will be contributions from Shipley MP Philip Davies MP (Con) the deputy chief officer of the Yorkshire Local Councils' Associations Chris Pilkington and representatives from Bingley Civic Trust.

There will also be a question and answer session and the opportunity to sign the petition.

Mr Davies supports the idea and said: “The government is keen to encourage communities to set up new local councils and has changed legislation to make it easier to do so.

"I welcome the initiative from Bingley Community Council Group which enables people in Bingley, Cottingley, Crossflatts, Eldwick, Gilstead and Micklethwaite to have their say on the matter.

“The public meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the arguments for and against the plan. Whatever the eventual outcome, I will support residents in what they decide and want.”

The chairman of Bingley Civic Trust, John Findlay, said it backed the creation of a local council, particularly because it would be consulted about planning applications and other issues affecting Bingley.

He said: “Bradford District Council is only six miles down the road, but does it have the interests of Bingley in mind?

"The Magistrates Court has been closed. Bradford has closed its council shop, is trying to shut the toilets, intends to close the swimming pool, which currently houses the youth cafe, and to sell off the town hall."

The public meetings are at Bingley Arts Centre, on Tuesday, October 7, at7pm; Cottingley Cornerstones on Friday, October 17, at 7pm; St Aidan's Church Hall, Crossflatts, on Monday, October 20, at 7pm; St Wilfred's Church Hall, Gilstead, on Tuesday, October 21 at 1pm and Eldwick Memorial Hall, on Wednesday, October 22 at 7pm.