THE mystery behind unauthorised resurfacing work in Keighley which destroyed a children’s planting scheme and left councillors, school staff and volunteers baffled has been solved.

Bradford Council says there should now be a happy ending to the saga, first reported on in September.

Youngsters from Laycock Primary School, who cut back undergrowth and planted flowers in a previously neglected layby on Laycock Lane earlier this year, had been upset to find the results of their hard work buried under a fresh layer of asphalt.

It left both their school and other supporters of the project baffled, as Bradford Council said it was not responsible for laying down the new surface and did not know who had done it.

The smothered planting scheme had been supported with £300 from Keighley Town Council’s Laycock and Braithwaite ward fund.

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Following weeks of investigations, Bradford Council has discovered the flowers were accidentally covered over by a well-meaning driveway contractor.

A spokesperson for the Council explained: “A resident contacted the council and provided information, allowing the authority to discover a Shipley-based contractor who had been working on a local driveway was asked by a neighbour to fill in some potholes with leftover asphalt.

“Acting in good faith and believing he was helping the local community and reducing waste, the contractor filled in the potholes and rolled the tarmac but mistakenly covered the flowerbeds.

“Bradford Council officers have talked to the contractor who has now offered to help put things right by paying for some new wooden planters, which will be used by local children to revitalise the space with attractive self-contained flowerbeds.

“The council is working with Councillor John Kirby, community worker Pip Gibson and Laycock Primary School on the project, which is expected to start in spring next year.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We believe this is a simple mistake and we’re delighted to resolve it in such a positive way.

“I’d like to thank Cllr Kirby for bringing this incident to our attention and local residents who came forward with information.

“This is a useful example of showing local children that by working together, mistakes can be put right.

“The new planters will be a valuable community resource, which we hope local children and residents will enjoy for many years.”

Cllr Kirby, who represents Keighley Town Council’s Laycock & Braithwaite ward, said: “The man who put the asphalt down thought he was doing a good thing for the community and made a mistake – it wasn’t done out of malice.

“I’m grateful to Bradford Council for coming back to me on this matter, and to the contractor for coming forward and explaining what had happened.”

He added a wider plan had been drawn up to further enhance the layby, which would include a consultation with nearby residents.

Haworth-based gardener Steve Thorpe, who was part of the original initiative to enhance the layby, said he was happy to take part in the new effort to improve this location.

He said he could get hold of the necessary wood for the planters at cost price and is even prepared to assemble the planters himself to help out the driveway contractor.

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Mr Thorpe added: “He was obviously well-meaning and this was a genuine mistake by someone who was being community spirited. It’s very nice of him to offer to pay for these planters.”