Denholme's Town Mayor has accused City Hall of snubbing villagers over a crucial planning issue.

More than 50 residents packed a public meeting to discuss controversial plans to dump millions of tonnes of household rubbish at Buck Park Quarry.

But none of the Bradford Council officers who were invited to attend turned up.

And Town Mayor Councillor Russell Driver said today he was very disappointed by Bradford Council's attitude.

"All the officers that we had asked to come to the meeting declined to come," he said.

"We always seem to get no respect for the position that we hold as Denholme Town Council from the officers dealing with things.

"The fact that nobody from Bradford Council turned up to what was a public meeting and they are in a sense supposed to be serving the public is very disappointing."

The Buck Park scheme, put forward by Humberside-based company Wastewise, has caused a huge rumpus in the village.

Protesters say the proposed household waste tip in Whalley Lane will lead to increased pollution, nuisance and traffic.

The latest public meeting at the Mechanics' Institute in Denholme was organised by the town council to give villagers a final update before Wastewise's planning application is considered by Bradford Council's Shipley area planning sub-committee meeting on May 10.

Denholme Residents' Action Group, which was formed to fight the scheme, is also calling for a referendum on the issue next week. It joined forces with the town council to submit a request to Bradford Council for the vote asking all villagers whether they are for or against the landfill proposal.

But if the referendum does go ahead it is unlikely to be held on the action group's preferred date of next Thursday, as this would coincide with local elections.

A Bradford Council spokes-man said: "We did inform Denholme Town Council that officers would not be attending the public meeting as the matter had been discussed fully at two neighbourhood forums.

"There was no new information to add but plans are available for public inspection at the planning offices in Jacob's Well and representations in writing can be accepted until the committee meets on May 10."

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