Parish councils in Silsden and Steeton have been slammed for their apathy.

The blast came from members of Keighley Area Panel, the local body of Bradford councillors which is one step above parish councils in the local government structure.

Cllr Eileen McNally led criticism of the village groups for not attending a special meeting to thrash out solutions to rural problems.

The Rural Development Network Day brought together people living in local villages with organisations that can provide cash and support. They discussed countryside concerns such as transport, health, economic development, funding and youth issues.

Representatives from Cull-ingworth and Oxenhope parish councils were among the 80 people who held discussions and workshops. But Silsden and Steeton-with-Eastburn council members stayed away.

Cllr McNally represents Craven ward - Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn - on Bradford council.

She told last week's meeting of the area panel of her concern that the parish councils in her ward did not attend.

She said: "Here was an opportunity for them to come forward and put their point of view and discuss mutual problems.

"They spend nearly all their time in berating Bradford council, particularly Silsden parish council. They can't keep saying we never consult them when they don't participate. They are part of Bradford whether they like it or not.

"It's extremely important to have an occasion like this because it gets forgotten that there is a great deal of rural poverty."

Panel vice-chairman Martin Leathley urged parish councils to get involved in such gatherings. "If we don't have their input it's no good them complaining later," he said.

Cllr Ann Hawksworth suspected parish councils feel they have had a raw deal from Bradford, particularly over the Unitary Development Plan which earmarked land in many villages for housing. She added: "They don't feel they have been listened to. A lot of people see that spending a day listening and talking won't do any good."

Silsden parish council chairman Paul Bromley, who was unable to attend the network day, this week declined to comment on the panel members' comments.

Steeton-with-Eastburn parish council chairman David Emmott, who was too busy to attend the network day, accepts parish councils should talk with Bradford.

However, he claims: "They are prepared to listen, but I don't know whether they do anything about it."

The network day was also attended by Keighley MP Ann Cryer, councillors, youth workers, countryside officers and workers from charities such as Age Concern. Participants were able to get to know each other, share ideas and find out important information which could help their own localities.

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