A KEIGHLEY Town Council committee chairman said he and his colleagues currently have no plans to take over flower planting, which are due to fall victim to Bradford Council funding cuts

Councillor John Kirby, of the allotments and landscapes committee, was responding to a question voiced by Cllr Michael Westerman at last Thursday's monthly town council meeting.

Speaking afterwards, Cllr Kirby added: "I've asked Bradford Council whether the town council might be able to take over the flowerbeds outside the old Keighley College, but was told that these weren't up for grabs.

"I also asked about the two roundabout flowerbeds, but was told they cost £4,000 to £5,000 a year to maintain, so would be much too expensive for the town council.

"As a committee, we'd like to do something, but we have to be realistic and ask 'what would this cost us?'.

"And until Bradford Council gives us a definite idea as to what they are giving up and what they are hanging on to, we can't move forward.

"People coming into Keighley do notice our flowerbeds and comment on how lovely they look. We don't want to see that going downhill."

Keighley Area Committee has previously agreed major changes to planting methods after looking at how it can make an 80 per cent saving ordered by Bradford Council.

Committee members approved a series of changes to specific flowerbeds, on a list drawn up by council officers following consultation with councillors, community groups and local organisations.

The main change will be to introduce permanent planting, allowing flowers to bloom throughout the year in each bed and avoiding the need for staff to plant flowers twice a year.

Keighley was told last summer it would lose all its hanging baskets, lamppost baskets and barrier boxes.