A BID to create an Aireborough parish council to give a voice to the people of Yeadon, Rawdon and Guiseley has been put back because of the General Election.

Ward councillors were planning to hold a public meeting in Yeadon yesterday (Wednesday May 23) to gauge public feeling on the issue.

But councillors felt it was inappropriate to hold the meeting so close to the General Election.

Councillor Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) said: "We have decided not to hold it until after the

election."

Ward councillor Graham Latty (Cons, Aireborough) has collected hundreds of signatures on a petition calling for a parish council over the years.

The latest call for a parish council came from

members of Aireborough CIT, and the three ward councillors suggested starting a new petition, as some of the residents who signed the original

petition may have moved on.

If enough signatures are collected, the councillors will send the petition on the Leeds City Council.

They plan to hold a meeting at a later date to

continue the campaign, and look into related issues, such as the boundaries of the parish, and charging taxpayers for the running of the parish council.

l Meanwhile residents of Aireborough are hoping to draw up a document to help protect the character of Yeadon, Guiseley and Rawdon.

Members of Aireborough Community Involvement Team's planning sub-group hope to draw up a design statement to help prevent inappropriate development, and encourage new facilities to benefit the community.

They hope to have such a statement recognised by Leeds City Council as guidance on future planning issues, and believe it could help protect the area's dwindling green sites.

The group is looking into whether an area the size of Aireborough could have one statement .

A number of villages, including Pool-in-Wharfedale, Bramhope, Menston and Burley, have already drawn up their own Village Design Statements.

These are being considered by local authority

planners, who will decide whether to accept them as

planning guidance.