KEIGHLEY Town Council has agreed to discontinue funding the maintenance of a piece of land in Bogthorn after being told it cannot buy the property.

Allotments and landscapes committee chairman, Councillor John Kirby, said the Bronte School turning circle, close to where the old Bronte Middle School building used to be, is owned by Bradford Council.

He said the town council had been spending about £700 a year on maintaining the land, but will no longer do so.

The site comprises a grassed area and a circular island with plants on it.

Cllr Kirby said: "My committee asked me to look into the possibility of acquiring this land for the town council, as we were already spending money on looking after it.

"I went to Bradford Council and asked if it would be willing to sell it to us.

"But it told me 'no' because if houses are developed on the former Bronte School land, the turning circle will need to form part of the entry or exit point for the site."

The turning circle, off Valley View Close, is next to the main part of the old Bronte School site, which has been earmarked for new homes.

Bradford Council has submitted proposals for 51 properties on the land in Keighley Road.

Cllr Kirby added he had asked the district council if it would instead be willing to provide some money to fund the town council's efforts to take care of the turning circle, but this was also declined.

"We had maintained this land for years on the understanding Bradford Council would also make a contribution towards its upkeep, but it never did," he said.

"I took Bradford Council's responses back to my committee and members took the decision to stop maintaining the land. We had backing for this decision from the full town council.

"Whatever happens to the turning circle now is up to Bradford Council."

Keighley West ward councillor, Adrian Farley, said Bradford Council has now cut the grass on the open land surrounding the central circle.

He added he will be pushing for the district council to continue looking after the land.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We are working with the planning department on a proposed use for the site. Full plans will be released when we have more information.”