Residents of Otley and Yeadon object to proposed boundaries of new Rawdon council (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Residents of Otley and Yeadon object to proposed boundaries of new Rawdon council

7:00am Monday 6th August 2012 in Otley By Annette McIntyre

Residents of parts of Otley and Yeadon are asking for their streets to be removed from proposals for a new Rawdon Parish Council.

More than 70 people have told councillors they do not want to be included in the area for the new council.

A consultation period on the proposal has now come to an end. The process began when people in Rawdon lobbied Leeds City Council for the formation of a parish council for their area.

But although it has won widespread support in Rawdon it has not proved as popular with residents in neighbouring areas, some of whom would be included in the new parish boundary.

Now their views have been put to the city council after research by the three ward councillors. Ryk Downes, Colin Campbell and Sandy Lay say they knocked on every door in Otley and Yeadon that fell within the proposed area.

Coun Downes said: “The result was only four people supported the proposal, whereas nearly 70 were opposed to it. I have handed a petition into the council to this effect.”

He is calling on the city council to remove parts of Otley and Yeadon from the proposed parish area.

Coun Downes is concerned that neighbouring residents included in the boundaries could face having to pay a precept to the new parish council.

The city council is carrying out its review after receiving a petition, signed by 751 residents, calling for a parish council to be set up.

Consultation on the issue finished at the end of July. The elections working group will consider representations on the proposals this month and will make recommendations to the general purposes committee, which will agree the final recommendations to go before the full council.

The proposals will go before the city council in September and if approved will lead to elections expected by November.