PARISH councillors in Ilkley are demanding that the town be allowed to keep its second fire engine at the station on Little Lane.

But the loss of the appliance looked increasingly likely this week after a sub-committee of West Yorkshire Fire Authority agreed that it should be removed.

Brigade chiefs claim there are not enough firefighters to man the engine and that the town can manage with one appliance - as it has done for more than a year.

"At Ilkley we haven't had enough firefighters to mobilise the two engines currently sited on station for the past 15 months, or been able to rely on two for three years," said Kevin Arbuthnot, West Yorkshire deputy chief fire officer. "Ilkley is not a busy station, in fact the number of fires has fallen by 45 per cent in three years."

But at a meeting this week, parish councillors criticised the authority for failing to recruit more firefighters.

"I would to urge them to retain the second fire engine. Although we haven't had many fires in Ilkley we do not know what the future holds. It could be disastrous, especially if we have a hot summer," said Coun Kate Brown.

"If we don't retain a second engine in Ilkley it could be disaster at a time when Ilkley is particularly crowded," added Coun Mike Lynes.

He also expressed the fear that without a second engine the authority would say it was not economical to run the station at all.

The council agreed to write to West Yorkshire Fire Authority questioning why recruitment of firefighters in Ilkley was so poor and demanding that the second engine be kept.

Craven councillor Eric Dawson, vice-chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of West Yorkshire Fire Authority, which agreed to the removal, told the Gazette the town should not have to 'survive' with one appliance.

"I did not agree with the majority vote that the second engine be removed," he said. "I think they should have made a better effort to get more volunteers. The building is built for two retained fire engines and it should be staffed accordingly."

A decision on the removal of the engine can only be taken after a public consultation, which was launched this week.

"It's good that we have got into the public consultation arena," said district councillor Martin Smith. "The public are being encouraged to put pen to paper and let their views be known. I just hope that some of them are fit enough to assist with the manning of the engine."

Anybody wanting to make representations should do so in writing before June 11 to the Public Relations Manager, West Yorkshire FCDA, Oakroyd Hall, Birkenshaw, Bradford BD11 2DY.

A special hotline has been set up giving information on the proposal and the consultation process on (01274) 655717.