Guiseley could soon have its own festival as part of a project aimed at brightening the town's future which was launched this week.

And setting up the festival, the refurbishment of the ancient Guiseley Wells, the planting of 500 daffodil bulbs and the possibility of the town being entered into the Britain in Bloom competition are just some of the improvements on the Project Guiseley agenda.

The ambitious plans for the festival could see the event taking place next summer and it is hoped the public, schools and churches will consider staging an event which will could attract visitors to the town.

Other attractions will include an exhibition of paintings by local artists, with a special section for school children.

Other schemes put forward by the project include:

l Stage one of the improvement plans sees 500 daffodil bulbs planted this Saturday at the junction of Park Road and Otley Road. Volunteers are needed at noon with spades and trowels to help with the planting.

Richard Hughes-Rowlands, chairman of Project Guiseley, also said an appeal was being made to local businesses to donate bulbs, but anyone who would like to give some should bring them to the site on Saturday.

l The planting could be the start of a blooming revolution as plans are currently being made to enter the Britain in Bloom competition in the year 2000.

President, Coun Moira Dunn, said prices for hanging flower baskets had already been obtained and it was intended to encourage shops and houses to use them. Many other parts of Guiseley are also being considered as possible sites for planting flowers and bulbs.

l The future of the ancient wells in Springfield Road: Architects plans for the wells have been produced and it is hoped the wells will be cleaned and then surrounded by a low wall on which will be a built decorative metal railings.

The committee is to apply to Leeds City Council for planning permission to carry out the work. "In recent years the wells have been allowed to deteriorate and have become clogged with leaves and waste paper. When the work has been completed it is hoped to plant flowers around the site," said Mr Hughes-Rowlands.

Members have been examining photographs of how the wells looked at the turn of the century. "When completed the wells should be restored to their former position as a centre-piece attraction for the town," said Mr Hughes-Rowlands.

l The Project is urging shopkeepers and members of the public to put up Christmas trees with lights to make the area look more festive.

Any ideas for the festival or other schemes should be sent to Mr Hughes-Rowlands at 101, Park Road, Guiseley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.