A campaign has started to save a Haworth public toilet block from closure.

The toilets in Central Park are earmarked to shut as part of cost-slashing plans by the Labour group which runs Bradford Council.

Villagers and ward councillors have slammed the proposal and a petition has been launched.

And there are demands to know why an older toilet block, in the village’s Bronte museum car park, are being retained at the expense of the park facility.

“It seems absurd to me that the Council wishes to close the relatively new, modern, award-winning toilets in Central Park while leaving the old ones open,” said Worth Valley Councillor Glen Miller, who is leader of the Council’s Tory group.

“It is a perverse decision and I cannot help but wonder whether this proposal was put forward by someone in City Hall in Bradford, who has never used either of the public toilets provided in Haworth village.

“My ward colleagues and I have been inundated with calls from local residents all making exactly the same point as us.”

He said he and his fellow Worth Valley councillors – Rebecca Poulsen and Russell Brown – were supporting a petition opposing the move, which they hope to present to next month’s full Council meeting.

Coun Miller said he would also be writing to the Council leader, David Green, asking him to change the plans.

He added: “The proposals are purportedly open to consultation, so Coun Green has the opportunity to amend them to ensure that Haworth residents and visitors are provided with the best facilities available. I will be calling upon him to use his influence on the matter.”

Village stalwart Mike Hutchinson, who runs a bed and breakfast business and is on Haworth’s Christmas and Hallowe’en committees, also condemned the proposal.

“It’s ridiculous,” he said.

“They have spent a lot of money on those toilets, which are used by tourists and locals alike. To close them is nonsense.

“Haworth is a tourist area yet the council keeps chipping away at what is supposed to be a jewel in the crown.”

Councillor Andrew Thornton, the council’s executive member for environment, sport and sustainability, said the authority had to find ways of balancing the budget and difficult decisions have to be made.

“Closing some public toilets is among the proposals and would save £210,000 a year,” he said.

“But we are looking at ways of mitigating the impact, reviewing access to toilets in council and other public buildings and encouraging businesses to open up facilities.”