Three Ilkley businesses are to be honoured for outstanding dedication and effort in sprucing up the town centre.

Lishmans Butchers, Betty's Tea Rooms and Booths Supermarkets have been chosen to receive certificates from Ilkley Civic Society, which recently carried out an in-depth review of the Ilkley conservation area.

The certificates give credit to buildings or alterations which have boosted the town centre. They are to be awarded tomorrow at Church House, Church Street, at the society's Annual General Meeting.

Now David Lishman, pictured above, owner of Lishman's Butchers, which was recently revamped, has urged larger retailers to make more effort to boost the town with attractive shop fronts.

He said: "I'm quite delighted. It's a nice gesture. If we keep to a more traditional theme in Ilkley, we can improve the town and that would encourage tourists and passers-by to stay."

He added: "There are some shops in town which don't seem to make the effort. They put up plastic fronts and expect everybody to flock to Ilkley and think that it will do."

Hilary Stammers, manager at Betty's Tea Rooms, also welcomed the certificate.

She said: "We are very proud because we feel that Betty's represents Ilkley in her former glory, and we have brought things back to the old Victorian style.

"It's lovely to be recognised by the local people, and it's nice to be able to give something back."

Atholl Robertson, manager of Booths Supermarkets in Ilkley, said: "Booths have designed and built shops that fit in well with the local environment. We generally build high quality buildings."

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