Market traders campaigning to stop the closure of public toilets say shutting them would be “taking away a basic human right.”

Three Shipley traders have drawn-up a petition which they hope colleagues, shop workers and customers will sign in a bid to stop initial budget proposals being voted through next year.

In October, Bradford Council leader David Green announced the authority had to slash £89 million from its budget, lose 700 jobs and strip front-line services amid Government cash cuts.

Suggested cutbacks include closing all public toilets, except those in “high traffic tourist areas” such as City Park, Saltaire and Ilkley.

The toilets in Shipley are next to the town’s market, which is open three days a week. Traders say they have been unofficially told that they will have to approach shop-owners or go to Asda to use the toilet.

Margaret Tucker, Amanda Lodge and Gayle Rodgers are now circulating a petition calling on the Council not to close the facilities.

It says: “not only do we feel it’s taking away a basic human right, but we feel it would have a massive impact on the foot fall in the heart of Shipley.”

Mrs Tucker said: “All town centres need toilets. We really rely on them. Every time you go in there’s always someone in.” Gordon Peel has worked on a fruit and veg stall on Shipley market for 39 years and said the toilets closing would be “another nail in the coffin” for the town.

John Priestley, who has runs a CD stall and has worked on the market for about 30 years added: “The person who thought up this idea probably sits in an office with all the facilities.”

Mohinder Birdi has run a fashion stall for six years on the market. He said: “Surely the Council has got to provide toilets for the traders?”

Councillor Andrew Thornton, the Council’s executive member for environment, sport and sustainability, said: “The unfair and disproportionate Government cuts imposed on Bradford Council mean that reductions in frontline services are unavoidable but we have sought to mitigate these impacts.”