A simmering row over public involvement in Bingley's most powerful decision-making body, the Town Centre Partnership, boiled over when one of its key members walked out.

Bingley police inspector David Drucquer stunned colleagues by resigning and walking out of a meeting yesterday without having delivered his speech on town-centre safety. He told chairman Chris Leslie, MP for Shipley, that he had "opened a can of worms" before making his departure from the meeting, held at the Bradford & Bingley Building Society's offices.

The issue of the partnership's public accountability has dogged the organisation. Public and press are not admitted to the group, which comprises local councillors, representatives of civic and voluntary organisations, Council officers, traders and representatives from employers.

The often-heated meeting, which the T&A had been invited to attend, heard Donald Wood, founder chairman of the Better Bingley Campaign and one of the groups represented at the partnership, argue for greater accountability.

He said admitting the press would be "a giant step forward".

A paper prepared for the meeting by the BBC entitled 'Secrecy' says: "The vast majority of people in Bingley have absolutely no idea what the partnership is doing for the town."

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