Over the last number of years the one area that provokes more letters, opinions than anything else in our community is development, whether residential, sport (tennis club), education (Grammar School re-location) or business (eg: Tesco).

The solution appears fair and simple to me – that is to let the residents of the four Ilkley Wards (North, South, West and Ben Rhydding) decide by plebiscite on what they want, as it is building of houses in the area, or the construction, that effect Ilkley’s residents, not the councillors of Bradford, not the planning inspector from Bristol, not the housing minister (not until last week). Also campaigners of all sides seem to think that they know what the people of Ilkley want and a plebiscite is the only true way to find out what Ilkley really wants.

By adopting this approach we will be adhering to the spirit of the Localism Bill, which aimed to give control of power back to the communities and allow local people the freedom to run their lives and neighbourhoods in their own way.

I would like a real say in how my town develops, a town that I have lived in and loved for more than 49 years – please give me a say and give a say to my fellow neighbours.

As Eric Pickles stated: “By (central government) getting out of the way and letting communities run their own affairs we can restore civic pride, democratic accountability and economic growth – and build a fairer Britain.”

This can be achieved by giving the people of Ilkley a real say, not letting faceless bureaucrats whether in London, Bristol or Bradford decide the future of our great town.

Paul Barrett, Wheatley Lane, Ilkley