Light at the end of the Tarmac as riddle solved

IT HAD been a community project to beautify a neglected layby, but the flowers planted by primary school children had barely seen sunlight before they were buried under Tarmac.

The incident, in September, left council officials scratching their heads as to who had done it, and why.

With the help of a professional gardener and some cash from the town council, the 11 Year Four children had cut back vegetation and planted foxgloves and poppies on both sides of a previously hidden bench, before eating a picnic at the site, in the village of Laycock, near Keighley.

Town councillor John Kirby said at the time that he was “disgusted” and that the children would be “devastated” to see their work spoilt.

A call to Bradford Council has now established that a “wellmeaning” driveway contractor was to blame. He had been working for a customer and was asked by a neighbour to fill in potholes with leftover Tarmac.

“Believing he was helping the local community and reducing waste, the contractor filled in the potholes and rolled the Tarmac but mistakenly covered the flower beds,” the council said.

The Shipley-based tradesman has told officials he would help to put things right by paying for new wooden planters which will be used by children to enliven the space with self-contained flower beds.

Bradford planning spokesman, Coun Alex Ross-Shaw, said: “We believe this is a simple mistake.”