A HALF-million pound grant for town centre improvements in Ilkley has led to accusations of local councillors feathering their own political nests.

The row broke out at a meeting to approve the grant over the next two years when Labour group leader Ian Greenwood (Little Horton) accused the Conservatives of putting extra money into the budget without telling anyone.

Officers had added £10,000 into Ilkley's transport budget for this year for preparation work to be done in advance of major works, such as creating new pedestrian crossings.

Coun Greenwood said the sum had been put in 'one millimetre' high figures in columns giving details about the scheme.

He accused executive members Simon Cook (Bingley Rural) - Ilkley's Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate at the next General Election - and Environment Chief Anne Hawkesworth (Con - Ilkley) of spending money in Ilkley to

further their own political

interests.

After the meeting Coun Greenwood told the Gazette: "We need a dispassionate judgement of what takes place rather than filling someone's political pockets. Coun Hawkesworth should have indicated why Ilkley was put into a programme it had not been in."

But Coun Greenwood's comments prompted Coun Cook to accuse the Labour group of trying to cut investment in Ilkley. "When the Labour party see just £10,000 as too much for Ilkley it tells us volumes about their dislike of the town and their attitude to

successful and thriving communities."

Coun Hawkesworth said the £10,000 in the scheme for this year had been put into the budget by officers using delegated powers so preparation studies could be carried out.

She also said that the scheme which will see more than half a million pounds spent in Ilkley had previously been approved when the Labour Group was in charge at City Hall.

According to Coun Hawkes-worth, Ilkley was last in line for council cash after money had been approved for major improvements in other town and city

centres.

She said: "I make no apologies for the money being in the budget. It was in the budget last year, and town centre schemes are seen as a priority. All the other towns have had a considerable amount

of money allocated to their

centres."

The money will be used to improve traffic management in Ilkley to cut down the number of road accidents, improve the environment, ease congestion and make the town more pedestrian friendly.

Its allocation will depend on the level of investment from central Government.