Members of the public have criticised the appearance of four hanging basket poles installed by the parish council in Stanbury Park last year.

They said the structures were out of character and should be removed.

Stanbury couple James and Jane Hutton were among those who argued against retaining the poles.

Mrs Hutton said: “I moved here 25 years ago to live in a beautiful Pennine village – not to look at something which you would see in the centre of Keighley. They are not appropriate at all.”

Mr Hutton said: “I know people do things in good faith, but things like this do affect the aesthetic look of the village.”

Parish council chairman Councillor John Huxley said the poles were put in place as part of a plan to enhance Stanbury’s appearance using floral displays.

He said a previous public consultation meeting had attracted Stanbury people who said they wanted to see more flowers.

He stressed that he and his colleagues were always willing to listen to the views of local people.

Stanbury parish councillor John Suckling said he carried out a ‘straw poll’ which indicated that most people in the village did not want the poles.

A woman who lived opposite the spot where the poles have been sited said she thought they looked “hideous”. She added: “They need to go.”

But Councillor Rosemary Key said she would be very happy to see such poles located in the Brow, in Haworth.

Coun Suckling said he would chair a working party, comprising four local residents, which would study the issue further and present its findings to the council’s environment committee.

Coun Huxley said this committee would then draw up a proposal for the future of the poles, which will be considered and voted on at the next full parish council meeting on July 18.