MEMBERS of Keighley Town Council agreed to go ahead and lease some of their vacant allotment land to a national healthy good growing scheme.

They were asked to consider leasing an area of the Guardhouse Allotments at their latest meeting last Thursday.

Councillor George Firth said if members accepted the recommendation, the land would be used by a project called Incredible Edible.

"This would not cost the council anything, and the land they would be using is in dire need of improvement," he said.

"This will be a pilot scheme, and if it's successful, it's possible there will be other Incredible Edible projects around the town."

Cllrs Phillip Shaw and Kathrine Roberts pointed out the same initiative had proved very beneficial in other towns and cities, including Sheffield.

Cllr Shaw said: "It cleans up untidy land and it'll mean we can have someone else helping us to regenerate the area."

He was supported by Cllr Michael Westerman, who described the proposal as a "fantastic idea" and suggested food grown on the Guardhouse site could go towards charities currently feeding deprived people in Keighley district.

Cllr Ian Dermondy stressed the town council would not be losing its existing rights to the land, adding it could still reclaim the area in future if it is not cultivated properly.