A rescue plan to save Shipley public toilets is being fine-tuned by traders enraged by Bradford Council’s decision to close the market square block which is used by 45,000 visitors a year.

Toilets in Haworth and Baildon have been given a stay of execution, Shipley and Bingley are set to lose their toilets in 2015 to save £29,000.

But Barry Cooper, chairman of Shipley Town Centre Business Partnership, said its members have vowed to save the toilets and the job of the attendant.

“It is disgusting that the Council is closing a facility people are only ever forced to use by necessity,” said Mr Cooper.

“And it’s a crazy waste of money as they were only refurbished six years ago at a cost of £81,000.”

Mr Cooper, of Perkins Jewellers in the Arndale Shopping Centre in the town centre, said partnership members had also been galvanised by proof of how much the toilets were used.

He said: “We were told the total cost of running them is £38,000 per year and the annual turnstile revenue was £9,000 giving a cost of £29,000.

“At 20p a go, that means they were used by 45,000 people – and that’s according to the Council’s own figures.”

Last December stall holders on Shipley market began a petition against the closures and Mr Perkins said shopkeepers and other businesses would be working with them.

Councillor Martin Love (Shipley Green) said he strongly backed the campaign to save Shipley toilets, saying: “Closing them would have a drastic impact on the town.”

Bradford Council’s executive member for environment Coun Andrew Thornton blamed the decision on the need to meet tough public spending targets imposed by Westminster, but said talks were ongoing.