THE parish council for the tourist hotspot of Haworth faces the prospect of having to ask parishioners to stump up extra cash to keep the village's public toilets open.

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council has been in talks with Bradford Council over the future of the toilet blocks in Haworth Central Park, and the Bronte Parsonage Museum car park.

The district council will be withdrawing funding from both blocks from April next year, but despite discussions with the parish council future funding arrangements for the loos remain unresolved.

Parish councillors in Haworth are appealing for outside input to help them put together a viable solution.

Parish council chairman Cllr Gary Swallow has now warned: "We're currently facing the prospect of raising our precept request for 2018/2019 significantly to ensure that the current toilet facilities within the historic tourist village of Haworth, remain open post March 2018.

"Bradford Council has indicated that it intends to withdraw financial support from these facilities.

"We believe this is an extremely short sighted decision, given the value which Haworth brings to the Bradford district, in terms of tourist revenue alone.

"The impact removing the toilet facilities would have on the tourism trade in Haworth, which supports in excess of 60 businesses, is significant.

"Coach companies have already indicated they will not come to Haworth, should the appropriate facilities not be in place.

"The risk to jobs in this sector is our primary concern, along with a further reduction in vital community facilities for our parishioners.

"We've recently collected 1,775 signatures from both a public petition and an online survey, all unanimously in support of retaining our current toilet facilities.

"Our parish council has recently engaged in high level discussions with Bradford Council regarding the potential for capital investment in these facilities, which would assist us greatly if we are to be left in a position where we've no choice but to take the toilets on.

"As a parish council with an annual income totalling less than £50,000 to be shared across three villages, this will have major implications for us going forward.

"We have recently been quoted in the region of £30,000 to bring these blocks up to the required standard.

"We hope that these talks can continue in a positive vein.

"However, due to the strength of public feeling regarding this matter, we also have a duty to raise our petition with Bradford’s full council, and will be looking to do so, in the very near future."

Haworth Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council is in the process of bringing together a working group to fully explore all options in relation to the future running of the toilet facilities.

Cllr Swallow said: "We really need input from interested parties outside of the parish council, and would appreciate any support from within the village.

"People should please contact clerk to the parish council Lisa Balderstone on 07944 298124 if they feel they would be able to assist in this matter."

Bradford Council has previously estimated that pulling its funding from Haworth's public toilets would save it more than £53,000 a year in running costs.

The district council argued that it was having to make tough decisions in response to massive cuts in funding from central government.