Haworth's bid for a parish council has the full backing of residents and local councillors.

Councillors and residents voiced their 100 per cent support for the introduction of a parish council at this week's Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads neighbourhood forum.

More than 50 people packed into Haworth First School this week to hear the latest update about the proposed parish council.

Ballot results announced last week showed an overwhelming 2,415 in favour and only 186 against out of those who voted.

Although everyone at the neighbourhood forum was in favour of the new parish council, there was anger from members of Haworth Combined Residents Action Group (HCRAG), who claim local councillors 'hi-jacked' the campaign.

Before the meeting, secretary Cliff Simmonds said: "It is just a shame that when the news was reported last week, it was hijacked by councillors who have contributed nothing to the campaign. I know a lot of residents who have been disappointed, and in some cases angered, by the way some councillors have appeared to claim credit for the result.

"There must be recognition for all those residents who took it upon themselves to commit their time and personal resour-ces to this campaign."

The action group instigated the petition of local people last October, and has led the campaign since.

Speaking during the forum, Cllr Mike Young said: "I welcome this result very much but I do think the council deserves a little bit of credit for contacting the residents of Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads."

Residents at the meeting expressed their concern about how much information would be provided if the bid was successful.

Bradford council's area coordinator Patrick Lawton said: "If a parish council was to be recommended and come into being, I could only anticipate there would be a full set of information made available to local people.

"At this moment in time, the area panel (Bradford council's local arm) is working closely with all of the local parish councils on a whole range of different matters. I would want to bring cooperation and support to a parish council because that is where we are coming from."

Oxenhope parish councillors David Samuels and Chris Brown were at the meeting. They told residents that information would be provided and that the cost of an election would be picked up by the state, and not by local people.

Residents of Stanbury and Cross Roads also expressed their concern that they were being left out of plans for the parish council, and called for greater involvement between the three villages.

Mr Lawton was also questioned about the future of neighbourhood forums if a parish council did get the go-ahead. He replied: "Parish councils have a lot of business to get through and without having to dwell on it, I think there is a place for this kind of meeting which is open to the public, so you can question council officers and district councillors."

Cllr Samuels replied: "The forum would be a waste of money because parish councils do a good job."

Mr Lawton said all the opinions expressed at the meeting would be forwarded to the council's community development committee which meets on Wednesday to discuss the result of the ballot. The views will then be forwarded to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who in his role as Environment Secretary, will have the final say.

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