People power has been put forward as vital to the successful maintenance of council-owned parks in Wharfedale and Aire-borough.

Horsforth councillor Chris Townsey (Lib Dem) wants to see all Leeds City Council-owned parks have their own committee made up of members of the public to put forward ideas and work alongside the council.

And he says sites like Hall Park in Horsforth, which has its own Friends, should be put forward as the ideal for others to follow.

He said: "In my own area, the Friends of Hall Park have played a valuable role in maintaining interest in, and use of, Hall Park. Elsewhere, other groups have been set up to maintain and improve use of our parks. Surely, one of the first steps we should take in planning their future use is to involve local people in their management."

Coun Townsley, who sits on the Council's parks and cemeteries working party, is hoping that his ideas will be taken up by the working party.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council's leisure services department said the Council's Parks and Cemeteries Working Party is considering introducing a management plan which could be used for all parks and countryside areas in Leeds. He added the pilot scheme would go before the working party in November and if successful, would go to the recreation services committee for approval.

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