KEIGHLEY'S departing mayor has launched a stinging attack on Bradford Council – accusing the authority of "turning its back" on the town.

Councillor Julie Adams said Keighley Town Council constantly came up against "barriers and blockades" when trying to work with City Hall rulers.

"I feel as though we are frustratingly banging our heads against a huge brick wall," said Cllr Adams.

"We seem to be the forgotten town."

She says that in the latest in a string of rebuttals, no one on the town council was informed that City of Culture judges were visiting Keighley recently.

And Cllr Adams accuses Bradford Council of refusing to support the town as it prepares to host official countywide celebrations for Yorkshire Day on August 1.

Just before her term as mayor came to an end, she wrote to Bradford Council leader Cllr Susan Hinchliffe venting her frustration.

"Keighley Town Council is proud to be hosting the countywide Yorkshire Day," said Cllr Adams. "The eyes of the entire county and further afield will be on Keighley – it is a chance to showcase all that is wonderful about our town.

"Several partners have willingly signed-up to play their part in making the day a success and we hoped Bradford Council would do the same – however we have been informed it does not wish to partake, apart from receiving an invite for the Lord Mayor/Deputy Lord Mayor to attend.

"I am extremely disappointed that once again Bradford Council has turned its back on Keighley. Every effort the town council makes seems to be met with barriers and blockades.

"The lack of support for Keighley, never mind the town council, on one of its most important days in recent history from Bradford Council is disappointing.

"I know Bradford is seeking to host the Yorkshire Day celebrations itself over the next couple of years, and maybe that has played a part in the lack of support for Keighley this year. Perhaps a case of putting the interests of Bradford ahead of those of Keighley."

But Cllr Hinchcliffe refutes claims Bradford Council is refusing to back the event.

"I don’t know where Julie has got this from – perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding somewhere along the line," she says.

"I had a meeting with our chief executive before the elections instructing that I want Bradford Council to be heavily involved in the organisation of this major event for Keighley and the wider district.

"There have been elections in the meantime, which take up lots of officer time, but now those are over I expect meetings to take place in the coming weeks.

"It’s disappointing that Julie didn’t pick up the phone and ask me rather than sending angry letters. It doesn’t reflect well on Keighley Town Council that it prefers angry letters to constructive conversation."