TWO villages looked set to move a step closer to securing independance this week.

The proposal to split Ilkley Parish Council into three is expected to be put before the Secretary of State in the wake of a meeting on Wednes-day.

The plan, which is unlikely to be rejected by government, would mean separate parish councils for Burley and Menston.

At a meeting of the Shipley Area Committee on Wednesday, members were asked to approve a recommendation to advice the Secretary of State to replace the existing parish council with three separate bodies.

The recommendation follows an independance bid by people in Burley, and a consultation exercise to gauge the views of residents in the affected areas.

A petition to set up a separate council for Burley was presented to Bradford Council in October 2002.

Two periods of consultation followed, along with the distribution of a leaflet to householders outlining the proposals.

Despite problems with the distribution of the leaflets a report to the meeting said a postcode check showed the replies had come from all three areas.

Of the 143 tear off slips returned 107 support the proposal, 32 are against, and four don't know.

Of those in favour many argued that the two villages had separate identities, as well as different aspirations and issues of concern.

Many of those against worried that the change would mean extra costs, and they felt that Ilkley was already doing a good job looking after the three communities.

The report says: "The Government says that Parish councils should reflect a small distincitve and recognisable community of interest with its own sense of identity. The feelings of the local community and wishes of local inhabitants are the primary considerations.

"Bradford Council has carried out a review because residents of Burley and Menston have expressed a wish to have their own parish councils to reflect the distincitve identities of those communities."

Speaking before the meeting Coun Chris Greaves said widespread debate and consultation had taken place and the recommendation was expected to go through.

He said: "I am pretty sure it will go through to the next stage, but at the end of the day it is the Secretary of State who will have to OK it."

He stressed: "Parish councils represent the community, and the community is what people regard as the community. Certainly in Burley and Menston people regard themselves as an identifiable community.

"Burley did have its own council until the 1920s or 30s until it was swallowed up by Ilkley.

"It is not as though there is some incredible history of it belonging to Ilkley."

He said there were concerns about the suggested make-up of the councils -with a rough ratio of one councillor per thousand people in Ilkley, compared to one for just over every 400 people in Burley and one for just over every 350 people in Menston.

"In Burley and Menston you will be tripping over a parish councillor on every street corner," he said.

"The thing that concerns me is that it is far to many. It is much better to have fewer councillors, and competition for the job."