Ilkley residents should have the final say in determining the town's future relationship with Bradford Council, it has been claimed.

James Keeley, chairman of the Ilkley Liberal Democrats, said a parish council working party which is currently looking at the relationship should not solely decide on such an important issue.

Mr Keeley said: "Any positive proposal put forward by the working party should be put to the people of Ilkley in a referendum."

He said residents must also be allowed to participate in the working party. He said this could be achieved by:

l The working party being held in open and not behind closed doors;

l The notes of all discussions being made public;

l A prescribed amount of time set aside for the general public to air their views at the meetings.

"One hopes that all political parties in Ilkley see this issue as so important that it rises above party politics," said Mr Keeley.

"In the true spirit of putting party politics to one side I shall write to one of the Conservative parish council members for my area, asking them to put these points forward at the next parish council meeting," he said.

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