Is it any wonder that on a regular basis the pent up anti-Bradford feelings of those who believe in Keighley boil over?

The latest justifiable eruption comes from several senior members of the Bront Country Partnership who are furious with tourism chiefs at City Hall.

The BCP claims the group's work is being ignored by the local authority, which has begun a public consultation exercise in readiness for developing a new tourism strategy for the district.

It is all about devising a blueprint to form part of Bradford's European Capital of Culture bid for 2008.

Before anyone at Bradford Council starts getting shirty about the comments, they would do well to note that the complaints about the lack of support and direction emanate from senior members of the partnership who on a daily basis work for the benefit of the area - mainly around Haworth, the jewel in the cultural crown of the Bradford metropolitan area

The tourism department at City Hall should ask itself what it has, or more to the point, what it hasn't done to create the feeling that the organisation has been by-passed and its very existence ignored.

Fortunately, now the members have got their concerns off their chests, the BCP is willing to move forward and see the move as an opportunity.

Bradford Council should acknowledge this and issue a statement on the part it sees the BCP playing in this exciting bid.

While it is at it, the Council could also state how it sees the Keighley Festival, the Keighley Children's Festival, the Keighley Arts Factory, Keighley Playhouse, to name but a few, fitting in with the Capital of Culture bid.

This area has a great deal to offer and should be treated with respect and as an equal partner.