A leading Bingley hotelier today hit out at town centre bosses who snubbed his offer of help.

William Oxley, proprietor of Five Rise Locks Hotel, claims the Better Bingley Campaign (BBC) and the Bingley Town Centre Partnership (TCP) did not respond to his offer of hosting a meeting for Bingley's civic groups at his hotel.

He said: "Neither the BBC nor the TCP have responded in any formal sense to my offer of a venue for a joint meeting which has been totally ignored."

But Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie, who chairs the TCP, said he had not received any telephone calls or letters inviting him to a meeting.

Mr Oxley continued with his attack by questioning the impact Bingley town centre manager David Dinsey had had on the town.

"Why does Bingley need a town centre manager given the lack of impact the role has had over the last three years - an antiques fair, a car fair and a Yorkshire in Bloom competition - what happens for the rest of the time?

"Given that no one is prepared to declare their view of Bingley's future, how can Mr Dinsey say: 'There's a lot of changes taking place and it would be a rewarding job for the next three or four years' - does he know something we don't and if so, why can't we be told?"

Councillor David Herdson, chairman of Shipley Area Panel which employs Mr Dinsey, said he had faith in his employee.

"He is monitored in line with normal Council policies. It is not a high-profile job. He is someone to whom businessmen/women can turn to about how the town can develop and he can progress those ideas.

"Bingley is in a state of limbo and it's a harder job than the one in Shipley where the town centre manager, Bob Parker, has made a huge difference.

"While I accept there has not been the same impact, it is not necessarily down to the town centre manager and when the relief road is built he will be ideally placed to start the regeneration of the town."

Mr Leslie added: "It is not for me to defend the management of the town centre manager.

"In principle the post is exceedingly important and any alternative tasks for him need to be taken to a special Neighbourhood Forum we shall be holding hopefully at the end of August/early September if people think the direction is wrong."

Donald Wood, acting chairman of the BBC, added: "We are not ignoring Mr Oxley, we have a great deal of sympathy with him. We would dearly like to have him on board and like him to come along to meetings.

"Bill has not been around long enough to see some of the things that have been done. When it comes to achievements, it is the Better Bingley Campaign and the Bingley Civic Trust which have led the way."