Plans to create a town council in Bingley will exclude the villages of Cottingley, Crossflatts and Micklethwaite, it was revealed today.

Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bingley) is spearheading a campaign to create a town council which would include Bingley, Harden, Gilstead and Eldwick.

But he said Bradford Council geographical and political boundaries meant Cottingley, Crossflatts and Micklethwaite would have to be left out under Government guidelines. They could apply to join once a town council had been formed.

Coun Gill said Cottingley is part of Bingley Rural ward which has the River Aire as a geographical boundary.

Crossflatts and Micklethwaite are part of Rombalds ward with a geographical boundary of the railway bridge in Keighley Road.

He said he sympathised with anyone who might feel left out but in drawing up the plans he had to take account of Government guidelines.

He said: "We would like to include whoever is interested but the law as it is currently framed makes it extremely difficult to accommodate these areas in the initial bid."

Before a council can be formed at least ten per cent of the Bingley electorate would have to sign a petition in its favour, obtain Government approval and hold elections.

Its powers would depend on how a future council envisaged its role but it could take on various functions carried out by Bradford Council.

These might include responsibility for such items as litter collection, public lavatories and public buildings such as Bingley Arts Centre.

Coun Gill said a council could be formed no earlier than 2002. Before that at least 10,000 signatures would have to be gathered and boundary questions settled.

A town council would have the power to levy a precept which for the average resident might be £50 a year.

Shipley MP Chris Leslie said: "Personally I could quite happily live with a parish or town council but my main worry is whether some people would be able to afford the extra precept."

Micklethwaite resident Pauline Wood, who is president of Bingley Chamber of Trade, said: "Micklethwaite was part of Bingley parish when we first moved here more than 20 years ago but for some reason we became tied up with Ilkley.

"It's a shame we can't go back to Bingley parish council and I would have liked to have seen Micklethwaite as part of the new parish council."

Cottingley resident Tony Roche said: "We think of ourselves as part of Bingley - it is only six minutes away - and I would like them to rethink leaving us out."

And David Smith, a 47-year-old butcher of Crossflatts, added: "I think a town council is a good idea but surely we should be part of it."