COUNCILLORS are angry that the final chapter in a long-running toilet saga has not yet been written.

Bradford Council has promised refurbishments to the toilet block in the town's central car park, but parish councillors are fed up with 'talk and no action'.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth is furious that no date has been set for improvements or an exact sum revealed for the cost of the work.

The parish council's planning committee has seen, and approved, the plans for the proposed toilet refurbishments but still nothing has materialised.

Coun Hawkesworth has written to Bradford council officer Alan Baff demanding an end to what she sees as an 'on/off' situation.

She said: "We are continually promised things in Ilkley. This is not a one-off occasion. Money is allocated and then withdrawn."

She said on one occasion officers had told her that £100,000 had been allocated for the project. However, other suggestions were the project was not as yet funded.

However, Bradford Council has told the Gazette it is committed to carrying out the work, although no specific figure has been revealed, nor precisely when work is likely to start. A Bradford Council cleansing spokesman said: "The money to refurbish the toilets in Ilkley car park is in the capital programme and work should start on the scheme later this year."

"We intend to completely refurbish the toilet block and make better use of the space there. It will include a nappy changing room, an attendants' room, improvements to the disabled toilet cubicle and a complete refit whilst retaining the same number of toilets and urinals."

Coun Mike Lynes said Bradford was happy to make money from the car park in which the toilets were located, but questioned how much of that money was pumped back into Ilkley.

"It is about time Bradford was really brought to task. Money should stay within Ilkley each year," he said.

Coun Bob Jones said initial optimism may have proved costly. He said when the news of the refurbishment was first revealed, it may have caused councillors to ease off the pressure

"It was probably a relief," he joked. However, he said the lack of action was a serious issue and said the council should be 'pestered' on the matter.

Parish council chairman Coun Kate Brown said: "We will write and chivvy them along."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.