A Saltaire resident today called for a referendum on the bid to gain the historic village World Heritage status.

And Angela Williamson - a residents' representative on the multi-agency Saltaire Project Team which is backing the bid - has written to Culture Secretary Chris Smith saying she does not believe the village needs the accolade.

She described residing in the village, a magnet for tourists, as "sometimes like living in a theme park".

But the project team's chairman insists residents will have a chance to have their say and believes the majority of villagers are behind the move.

Thousands of tourists from around the world already visit Saltaire each year - attracted by the village's unique architecture and the David Hockney paintings on show at Salts Mill - and World Heritage status would provide a further boost.

In April, Chris Smith named the village as one of 25 UK sites set to be nominated for the accolade to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. On Tuesday, members of the Shipley Consituency Area Panel will be asked to continue backing the bid, which is set to cost more than £100,000 to prepare and implement.

Mrs Williamson, of Caroline Street, said: "They reckon 750,000 people a year visit Saltaire already and that causes problems with traffic, car parking, noise, litter and loss of privacy.

"If we got World Heritage status it would make the problems even worse and not benefit local residents. I don't think local people will be properly consulted and think we should have a public meeting and village vote so people can put their views forward.''

Councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East), chairman of the Saltaire Project Team, said: "A leaflet with a freepost reply will be distributed to every household in Saltaire - and slightly beyond - as part of the consultation process.

"All comments will be taken into consideration and a thorough and professional assessment made of the replies. All the feedback we've had so far has been very positive."

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