Concerns have been raised about the upkeep of a meadow in the centre of Menston.

Porritt's Field was left to the village by local benefactor Beatrice Porritt.

The large patch of land is the last green field left in the village and is marked with a plaque informing visitors that it will remain forever green.' It is looked after by a group of Trustees who claim that no one has the right to cross the field or develop it in anyway.

But the chairman of Menston Community Association, Peter Ward, has claimed that the field is not well cared for and could be a much bigger asset to the village.

Mr Ward said: "We have serious concerns about the management of the field and we don't believe it is being managed properly.

"It's a mess and there are nettles all round the perimeter of the field. All we want to do is make the most of a gift to the village but no one will talk to us about it. It's a real asset and is recognised as a potential gem in Menston but it's never reached its full potential as a visual delight, either as a hay meadow or parkland."

Mr Ward added that the Trustees claims that people were prohibited from crossing the meadow were questionable.

He said: "Nowhere in the Trust deed is there a prohibition on children or anyone else entering this field freely or on designated footpaths suitable for a meadow landscape.

"Those who knew Miss Porritt doubt if such an invidious thought crossed her mind. She wanted it to be an attractive open space that could be enjoyed by the village.

"We would actively support any efforts to ensure this field increased its visual delight to the village and structured access for children to understand and see at first hand the beauties of the plant life that such a field can provide."

However Mrs Brand, who is both a member of the Community Association and one of the Trustees for the field said the field was regularly maintained.

She said: "The Trustees do take great care of the field and keep and eye on it.

"We have recently arranged for the field to be cut down in time for the Spring.

"There were two Chestnut trees in the field and we have taken care of them both. One of them had to be removed because it was diseased which cost a lot of money.

"We have also replaced the fence and put up a plaque in memory of Miss Porritt.

"So to say it's not well managed, I feel is a bit unfair.

"My husband also tidies up any litter that is thrown into the field and tends to the dry stone wall around it.

"We don't want it to look like a bowling green it''s a field and that's how it was when Miss Porritt had it. We have kept it to her wishes so that it remains as a meadow."

She also denied that locals could cross the field.

She said: "I have it in black and white from the Unitary Development Plan that the land is protected from development and that no one has the right to cross it.

"There is already a lot of recreational space for youngsters. There is the park, the skateboard park, the tennis courts and Miss Porritt did not want this land to be anything other than a pretty meadow.

"It is a visual amenity and lots of people comment on how much they love having it there just as it is."