The Keighley and Haworth Tourism Management Group has called for Bradford council's new tourism supremo to keep to his promise and come and see what Keighley has to offer.

The KHTMG, the body which oversees the marketing and tourism strategy in Keighley and Haworth, two months ago invited Owen Williams to see the many tourist attractions and initiatives in Keighley and Haworth.

So far he has neither visited nor responded to the frequent efforts to contact him.

Speaking at the KHTMG meeting on Tuesday night, chairman Jackie Cope said: "I must have rung him every day for a week and he was either in a meeting or on his way to a meeting."

Mrs Cope said Mr Williams's secretary had apologised for the delay and informed her that the hung council had created administrative problems and prevented Mr Williams's visit.

KHTMG treasurer Graham Mitchell said: "I don't accept that the difficulties of the hung council prevents the appointed officer for marketing coming out to familiarise himself with the honey pot of the metropolitan district. I find this very disappointing.

Last November, Owen Williams, 31, was appointed the marketing and communications director, becoming the youngest director appointed by Bradford council and one of the youngest in the country.

Since starting his job in February, Mr Williams, who commands a £63,000 salary, has failed to visit tourism groups in Haworth, Keighley, Saltaire or Ilkley.

Ann Heald, the secretary of the Saltaire Tourist Information Centre (TIC) and the Traders Association, says: "He might have been to the mill, but here in the TIC we haven't seen him."

Miggy Bailey, secretary of the Ilkley Tourist Management Group, says a visit by Mr Williams had to be cancelled just before this month's elections.

"Other than that we haven't seen him, but I am trying to get him to come to our meeting next Wednesday," she says.

Mr Williams says legal constraints concerning officers' work during the run-up to elections prevented him from visiting Ilkley. He says the political situation within Bradford has not eased matters.

"I can understand people's impatience but, unfortunately, there are some things that are out of my hands," he says.

He says he is in the process of re-arranging a visit to Keighley and Haworth.

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