AROUND 500 online comments have been submitted over the proposed closure of Keighley tip as part of Bradford Council's budget consultation.

The figure accounts for a large chunk of the total submissions made during the public consultation period, which ends this Wednesday (January 25).

Widespread anger was sparked when Bradford Council announced it was proposing to close the Royd Ings Avenue household waste recycling centre, with campaigners fearing the move would lead to increased fly-tipping and cause traffic problems at other sites.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the council's portfolio holder for healthy people and places, says: "I want to thank so many people in Keighley for having their say. We’ve had approximately 500 comments on the waste proposal – that’s what the consultation is there for and it’s what local democracy is all about.

"Like all councils, there’s no getting away from the fact that we are in an incredibly difficult position due to 12 years of Tory cuts nationally. However, we have shown over the years of these challenging budgets that we have a good track record of listening to our residents and we will carefully consider all the feedback that we have received through the consultation process before any decision is made."

Comments can continue to be made, until Wednesday, at bradford.gov.uk/budget.