A special meeting to discuss setting up a town council for Bingley is to be held at Bingley Arts Centre on Tuesday night.

Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bingley) will outline the practicalities of the project and where the boundaries fall at the meeting at 7.30pm.

Shipley MP Chris Leslie has questioned whether Bingley needs another civic group. Bingley Town Centre Partnership, Better Bingley Campaign, Bingley Chamber of Trade and Bingley Civic Trust already exist.

Coun Gill said: "There has been lots of local interest including that expressed by the Civic Trust and Better Bingley Campaign and various other local organisations.

"The purpose of the meeting is to give people the opportunity to air their views and talk about the prospect of installing a new council.

"I will give an overview and basically talk about the mechanics of establishing it. The proposed boundaries are Bingley, Eldwick, Gilstead and Harden.

"I will also be talking about the need to raise a petition representing ten per cent of the local population. The total electorate of the proposed area is 12,294.

"Boundaries are usually drawn to reflect existing political boundaries or community boundaries or where there are clear links. I shall also talk about why places like Cottingley won't be included.

"Parish councils can deal with pretty well anything outside education and social services and have limited traffic powers. Bradford Council can delegate any powers it chooses.

"We are holding this meeting to assess local opinion."