The mother of a nine-year-old girl killed in a road accident has started a counter-petition in support of building a playground in her memory.

Debbie Haley, whose daughter Casey Mason was knocked down by a lorry on Bradford Road, in April 2004, wanted to respond to an earlier 16-name petition, which opposed the play area.

She said she was determined to show many Keighley people were in favour of the plans.

She said: "When I read about the first petition in the Keighley News I thought, right -- we can do better than that."

She said her counter petition had so far collected at least 150 names. She was also starting a separate petition for children to sign.

She added that she lived next to a playground herself and did not find it a nuisance.

A decision on whether or not to build Casey's Corner on land off Florist Street, in Stockbridge, has been deferred by the Keighley Area Planning Panel.

It hopes to re-consider the proposal on February 9, following further investigation into whether the facility will be safe and properly managed.

The original petition objecting to Casey's Corner was signed by people living close to the planned play area.

Town council anger, page 4