Bradford Council’s executive has agreed a referendum for May, or whenever the local elections take place. Steeton-with-Eastburn parish councillors and Silsden Town Council decided in 2014 to develop a joint plan. The final draft was completed late last year. The 87-page document will help determine issues such as which areas of land should be protected from development – and where development should be encouraged. Highlighted in the plan is a decline over the years in traditional employment opportunities. Three of Steeton’s mills have closed and the number of shops in the area has fallen. Silsden once had 15 textile mills, but all of those have now closed – with many converted into flats or demolished.