Co-operation is the way to achieve improvements, says councillor

Bradford Council executive member for the environment and Ilkley ward councillor, Anne Hawkesworth, spoke after criticism of the state of Ilkley’s infrastructure by Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Alan Morrell, last week.

Coun Hawkesworth warned that the public sector could have small budgets in the years to come, and called for teamwork between bodies such as local groups and the parish council as the way forward.

Coun Morrell hit out at the maintenance of Ilkley’s swimming pool and library and claimed public facilities are being allowed to fall into disrepair.

The parish council also debated a 324-name petition calling for much-needed public toilets in the town’s bus and railway station area, agreed to pay more than £1,000 towards the refurbishment of a war memorial and heard that brown tourism signs will not be on their way to Ilkley.

However Coun Hawkesworth said brown tourism signs promised for the entry points into town are on their way, although a tourism sign asked for within the town centre had been refused, in line with English Heritage guidelines against cluttering the streets with signs.

Coun Hawkesworth also spoke in support of co-operation between organis-ations with an interest in Ilkley Moor, following a recent meeting between the Friends of Ilkley Moor and represent-atives of the Bingley Moor Partnership, the organisation thay holds a ten-year shooting rights lease for Ilkley Moor.

“It’s only through co-operation we’re going to achieve anything,” she said.

“It’s not a hidden fact that the public sector is going to be not so flush in the nest few years. It’s co-operation that will enable us to do anything.”

She said she was interested to study the dog walkers’ good practice guide, and proposals for good practice around shooting on the moor, recently drawn up by the Friends of Ilkley Moor.

“I’d be interested to see what their suggestions are,” said Coun Hawkesworth.