A ROAD will have to be realigned if plans to restore the ancient Guiseley Wells to their former glory are approved by Leeds City Council.

Two environmental groups - Project Guiseley and the newly formed Guiseley Wells Society - have received support from Couns Mike and Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) for their plan.

Geoff Brook, president of the Guiseley Wells Society, told a meeting of Guiseley Project in the Parish Room, that his members would like to see the ancient wells restored to their former glory.

"This would mean realigning part of Springfield Road near to the wells. A small area of the road will have to be dug up so the basin of the wells is restored to their state prior to 1972 when the roadworks were carried out," he said.

Originally Project Guiseley wanted to clean-up the wells in Well Lane and had applied to Leeds City Council to put up 1.8 metre high gates and a 1.35 metre high wall around the site.

But the Guiseley Wells Society opposed this application and as a result both organisations have got together and agreed to the new plan which they are to put before the city council.

Richard Hughes-Rowlands, chairman of the Project group, said the idea was to clean and brighten the ancient wells. "If you are driving past them the wells are not easily spotted. We want to indicate to people the wells are not a puddle. We want to make them into something that people will want to stop and look at.

"At the moment the wells have become dilapidated and they need to be improved," he said.

Coun Mike Dunn said: "We want the wells to become a feature of Guiseley."

Harry Edwards, a Guiseley resident, said people who visited Guiseley would undoubtedly want to know something about the history of the wells.

Following the meeting some members had a site meeting when it was suggested that once the improvement work had been carried out the wells could be dressed with flowers.

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