MORE than half of people responding to a survey in Oakworth said they would like the village to have its own parish council.

Nearly 56 per cent of respondents said they would prefer this option if it was offered, rather than continue as a ward within Keighley Town Council.

The survey, carried out by Councillor Luke Maunsell – who is an Oakworth ward Keighley town councillor – included nearly 48 per cent of respondents saying they believed Oakworth does not receive its fair share from the town council, with a further 43.32 per cent saying they did not know if the village received its fair share.

Nearly 28 per cent said being part of the town council was neither good or bad, with 26.73 per cent saying it was mostly bad, and 14.75 per cent saying mostly good. Just under 30 per cent responded “don’t know” to this question.

Cllr Maunsell said: “In my view, Keighley Town Council should be concerned about these findings. Oakworth has been part of the town council for 16 years and to have a situation in which most residents are either antagonistic, indifferent or unclear about the role of the council is worrying.

“This isn’t to say Keighley Town Council should be loved by residents. I’d doubt any council is adored by local people but, at the very least, it should making a far more positive impression.”

Oakworth Community Survey ran from February 2018 to May 2018. More than 3,000 paper surveys were distributed to over 2,000 homes in Oakworth. People also completed the survey online.

By the end of May, 217 people had filled out and returned the survey.

Amongst its findings were 31 per cent of people saying parking and speeding were the biggest issues affecting their area, with a similar percentage citing “crime, antisocial behaviour, drugs and lack of police.”

More than 63 per cent of survey respondents agreed with the statement that Oakworth has a clear, distinct identity, with 83.41 per cent agreeing the village has great local amenities, 67.74 per cent agreeing it has great local businesses, 70.97 per cent agreeing there is a real sense of community in Oakworth and 61.29 per cent agreeing that they feel safe in Oakworth.

Cllr Maunsell said: “I was delighted to see that, overall, Oakworth people seem to have a very positive perception of the village.

“The vast majority believed that Oakworth had great local amenities, that it’s safe, has a real sense of community and is a great place to live.

“However, there is some cause for concern. Nearly 20 per cent disagreed with the idea that Oakwoth is safe and this is unsurprising.

“The survey was conducted during a period of anxiety in the village over antisocial behaviour and many residents raised fears about break-ins and criminality.

“The concerns over parking and speeding also highlighted a need for action. Station Road, the area around the Co-op and Lidget dominated the survey as key areas of concern, where parking was an issue throughout the village.”

Thirty per cent of people who answered the survey said they would like to see improvements to how traffic is managed in the village, with 22 per cent calling for more police and CCTV.

More than 47 per cent said they thought quality of life had stayed the same in Oakworth, with 40.55 per cent saying it had got worse and 7.37 per cent saying it had got better.

Cllr Maunsell thanked fellow town councillor Mark Curtis, Martin van der Boon, Anita Maunsell and Oakworth Community Trust for their support in helping to conduct the survey.

People wanting a copy of the survey findings, in return for a small administrative charge, can contact Cllr Maunsell on 075065 89654 or e-mail lukemaunsell-@hotmail.com