Policing in Bingley could be controlled from Shipley under a shake-up of law enforcement in the district, it was claimed today.

Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bingley) said he understood the Bradford Police Review for the Bingley area would involve a special division-wide 'problem oriented policing' team established at Bingley police station, with the day-to-day policing of the town based at Shipley.

He said: "My major concern is that we retain Bingley's beat bobby, and I understand that we will under these proposals. But I'm also very concerned that Bingley police station stays open and shall be lobbying hard to make sure there is a continued police presence in the town.

"In the past Bingley's been run from Keighley and why on earth they should change it to Shipley I don't know.

"The Bingley councillors will be writing to whoever it takes to make sure the level of policing in the town is maintained and even improved. We'll be making representations to the next Airedale Police Community Forum to try to clarify the situation and ensure the public have an opportunity to have their say.''

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman has said there are no planned station closures and that Shipley, and the Keighley division as a whole, will end up with more officers that it has now.

The Telegraph & Argus reported on Tuesday on the launch of a cross-party drive to save community beat managers in the new Keighley police division - which will include Shipley and Baildon - amid fears that a number of them could be re-deployed under the review, which follows a consultation exercise including a survey in the T&A. The number of divisions in Bradford will be cut from five to three.

l Tonight's Shipley and Baildon Police Community Forum at Baildon Methodist Church Hall starts at 7.30pm.