CAMPAIGNERS pushing for Bingley to get its own town council today passed a major milestone by the skin of their teeth.

The idea of setting up the town council, which would also cover Cottingley, Crossflatts, Eldwick, Gilstead, and Micklethwaite, divided opinion on a Council committee which met to consider the plan today.

It was the casting vote of deputy chairman Councillor Andrew Thornton (Lab, Royds) which meant the idea can proceed to the next stage.

An initial petition calling for Bingley to get its own town council had been signed by more than 2,000 people.

But members of the Governance and Audit Committee had been concerned that fewer than 800 people had responded to a further consultation into the idea.

Councillor Adrian Naylor (Ind, Craven) said he was also worried that the proposed town council would cover too wide an area.

But Ros Dawson, chairman of the Bingley Community Council Group, said her group had done a lot of work telling people about the idea.

She said: "We carried out six public meetings in different locations. We produced a website. We produced a lot of literature. We made all these available to people."

The proposal to set up a town council for Bingley will now have to be approved by full Council.

After the meeting, Mrs Dawson said: We're delighted it has gone through to full Council. 
"We trust they will make the right decision for the people of Bingley, Cottingley, Crossflatts, Eldwick, Gilstead, and Micklethwaite."