Ilkley should not start to sink under the weight of rubbish, a parish councillor has urged.

Coun Audrey Brand (Con, Menston) is sickened by a 'paper trail' of filth when making the journey from Menston to Ilkley, via the moor road.

She believes the time has come to address the issue head on, with an intensive education campaign and financial penalties for those who flout the law.

"As the millennium approaches I think it is time to clean up Ilkley," she said.

Coun Brand said Ilkley was happy to welcome tourists to the town and to enjoy the moor. However, it was not acceptable to have visitors leaving picnic rubbish and fish and chip papers strewn across the countryside, streets and roads.

Coun Brand, speaking at Monday evening's Ilkley Parish Council, felt an anti-litter scheme, backed with Council funding and sponsorship, could have a real impact.

She said: "I think a lot of people have forgotten about litter and need re-educating about the problem. Start with the schools, make children aware of the issue again."

Coun Brand, turning to Keighley Area Panel officer Patrick Lawton, asked if support for such a campaign would be forthcoming.

She focused on the efforts put into tackling the dog fouling problem across the district, suggesting similar efforts would be needed to tackle litter.

Mr Lawton said: "Would we be prepared to support an anti-litter campaign? An unreserved yes."

Litter is not the sole concern of councillors. District councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) has received feedback from Ben Rhydding residents who filled in a concerns survey issued by the Conservatives.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "Litter was mentioned numerous times, particularly rubbish dropped

by schoolchildren. Something needs to be done. I fully support Coun Brand's anti-litter

campaign."

Coun Hawkesworth warned the schools review changes would mean more children walking past residents homes - the issue had to be addressed.

Coun Brand hopes to make some progress on the issue at the next Ilkley Parish Council finance and general purposes meeting.

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