COMMUNITY groups and parish councils are to thrash out solutions to a flowerbed funding crisis due to hit their neighbourhoods.

District councillor Adrian Naylor is setting up meetings across in Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn to help minimise the effect of spending cuts.

He hopes residents and parish politicians will work together to take on some of the growing, planting and maintenance services currently provided by Bradford Council.

He said: “I’ve asked parish councils to invite other people so we include everybody, such as Friends groups or keen amateur gardeners.”

Cllr Naylor spoke after Keighley Area Committee last Thursday discussed the potential effects of a recently-announced 80 per cent cut in spending on flowerbeds across the district.

Members heard that the number of summer bedding plants in the Keighley and Ilkley constituency would fall from 87,500 to 17,500.

The council has suggested several options for the future, including grassing over some flowerbeds, inviting voluntary groups to grow plants and look after flowerbeds, and asking parish councillors to cover the costs through their precepts.

The favoured option is to have permanently-planted flowerbeds, with plants that flower at different times during the year.

The area committee noted the contents of the report, and final proposals will be presented to members before the October planting season.

Cllr Naylor, who represents Craven Ward on Bradford Council and sits on Silsden Town Council, added: “We’re going to find out what each community wants to do, then find out the financial impact.

“If you’re wanting groups to take on services like this, the first thing they’re going to ask is ‘how much will it cost?’.”

The area committee also discussed Bradford Council’s plans to charge bowling club members at least £15 a year each towards the cost of cutting the grass on bowling greens.