They are urging people in the Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads area to support a ballot to gauge support for a Haworth parish council which will be held later this year.

Bradford council has agreed to the ballot following a petition of over 1,000 names backing the proposal. Following the ballot, the final decision will be made by John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment.

At a meeting of Haworth Combined Residents' Action Group on Monday, Smith Midgley, who has helped lead the campaign, said 40 volunteers will cover the area at the time of the postal ballot.

Action group secretary Clifford Simmonds says: "Rais-ing public awareness is the important issue at the present time. Too many times in the past local elections people have not bothered to vote. But this is not about party politics, it is about the future of our community."

The meeting heard that a survey of parish and town councils in England had revealed that the average council had nine councillors representing a parish of about 1,700 people, with a part-time clerk and annual revenue expenditure of £15,000.

A petition requesting a parish council must be signed by 250 people or ten per cent of the electorate before it can be considered by a local authority.

The group is to hold another meeting in mid-December, and the three Bradford council Worth valley representatives will be invited along to take part in a debate about the plan.

Anyone wanting more information about the ballot and future meetings should contact David McKay on 01535 648493.

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