Traders have expressed their anger at a no show from local councillors at a meeting to discuss the future of Keighley Market.

District councillors from Bradford Council's ruling Tory party, Labour councillors and Keighley MP Ann Cryer were invited to attend the meeting last Wednesday evening in Keighley Town Hall.

But the meeting has been re-scheduled as none showed up.

The meeting was organised by market traders and Keighley Town Council to discuss their joint proposal to take over the running of the market from Bradford Council.

Allister Watkins, Keighley chairman of the National Market Traders Federation, said: "We were disappointed that none of the invited people turned up because they had plenty of notice.

"The only one I half expected not to turn up was Ann Cryer as she has multiple commitments, but the councillors we invited could have at least sent a representative."

Mr Watkins was also disappointed that only seven traders out of 40 turned up for the meeting.

"We are going to send individual letters to all the traders stressing the fact that we are not playing at this," he said.

Keighley town councillor Joyce Newton said: "The market is an important thing for Keighley at the moment because we don't know what is happening to it.

"We thought that because we were discussing a major part of Keighley the district councillors would show more of an interest."

Traders and town councillors believe that taking over management of the covered market in Low Street will ensure that cash generated by the asset will remain in Keighley.

They are also concerned about Bradford Council's plans to seek a private partner to refurbish and run its public buildings, as part of its asset management project (AMP).

The deadline for private companies to submit their bids is December, with the contract awarded to the preferred bidder in April next year.

Mr Watkins added: "Bradford Council is making moves with its asset management plan that will be irrevocable by December, and if we wish to have any input into this building we have got to be making moves by then."

Bradford Council's executive member for economy, Councillor Simon Cooke, said: "I did receive a letter from Keighley Town Council about the market but it didn't say anything about the meeting. I can only apologise if I was invited and missed it.

"The letter we received in respect of the market is being considered for response."

He added that Bradford Council would not, at the moment, transfer ownership of the market as it is investing more than £400,000 over the next four years.

However, Cllr Cooke said he would be willing to discuss the possible transfer of management to Keighley Town Council and the traders.

The town council has also decided to send out a letter to all market traders to inform them what could happen to the market.

Town councillors expressed their disappointment at the following night's town council meeting as to the lack of response from market traders.

Deputy mayor Cllr Amjad Zaman said: "That shows how much response there is. Either that or they do not realise what is happening. They do not realise what the asset management project is."

The town council agreed to draft a letter to send out to market traders as to what could happen to the market.

Cllr Newton said: "The market traders have asked if we could send a letter making them all aware of the possible situation of Keighley Market with the AMP.

"They seem to think that they are getting little response. If we perhaps could do it we may get more response."

Cllr John Philip suggested that the town council produced a leaflet that market traders could pass around.

But Cllr Newton added: "I suggested a letter rather than a leaflet because speed is of the essence."