A councillor has threatened to scupper plans to hold a public meeting into the future of the Bingley Town Centre Partnership.

At the June meeting of the BTCP, its chairman, Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie, called for a special neighbourhood forum to be held on September 14 following pressure from the Better Bingley Campaign for greater accountability and Press access.

But his plea for a 'clear the air' meeting, designed to give the people of Bingley a say in how the partnership is constituted, has run into problems.

Conservative David Herdson, a Shipley West councillor and the newly installed chairman of Bradford Council's Shipley Area Panel, has the final say on whether such a meeting can take place because it would be organised by the area panel - but he says he's against the idea

In a letter to Mr Leslie, Coun Herdson claims the MP is the only person in favour of such a meeting and says it can only go ahead when he is assured of getting the backing of BTCP members.

"I am not prepared to go over their heads, as it appears that you are. Although you have every right to call and host a public meeting yourself on September 14, I will not be bounced into complying with your wishes merely because you have gone public,'' he says.

Coun Herdson told the Telegraph & Argus that given the amount of friction generated at the June meeting - when Inspector David Drucquer walked out - he did not think it would necessarily be helpful to fan the discontent further.

"I think the meeting would be unnecessary, the existing Partnership is not beyond repair and I am not prepared to see him play politics with it,'' he said.

But Mr Leslie said Coun Herdson's letter was bizarre. The proposal for a public meeting was put twice and there was no dissent.

"I don't think it matters massively whether it's a special neighbourhood forum or some other type of public meeting. However, I do know that traditionally neighbourhood forums have had a wide attendance and are seen as objective and impartial and they have professional council officers in attendance."

He added: "I didn't expect there would be this resistance to my proposal. I remain convinced that now is the time for an open public meeting.''

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