ATTEMPTS to secure the future of one of Ilkley's best-loved buildings have taken a step forward.

Lovers of Ilkley's historic White Wells spa cottage want to set up a Trust which will take it out of the hands of Bradford Council.

They have put together a petition which outlines their intentions and handed it in to City Hall.

The petition follows a meeting last year which was called to examine the best way of preserving the building complex, which includes a dilapidated public toilet.

But the moves to create the Trust are causing concern for the present tenants of the building, Mark Hunnebell and Joanne Everall.

The future of White Wells, in its dramatic setting high up on the moor above Ilkley, has been thrown into sharper focus by the actions of Bradford Council's asset management team.

It has been examining ways of raising millions of pounds to refurbish run down council owned buildings and wants to sell off some of its estimated £620 million assets.

This led to fears that public buildings in Ilkley, including White Wells, could be up for grabs to commercial companies.

Although such a move seems unlikely, Bradford environment boss and Ilkley District and Parish Councillor Anne Hawkesworth thinks that City Hall would be happy to pass on White Wells to a dedicated Trust set up in the town.

She said: "The fact is that it is a liability. As far as the council is concerned - it is not and never will be a priority."

She said she hoped it would be passed over to a Trust run by people who cared about it, thereby opening the gates for Lottery grant applications and financial help from other bodies, including Ilkley Parish Council.

But Coun Hawkesworth wants White Wells handed over with a large wad of endowment cash from council coffers to help with the maintenance bills.

Concerned tenant Mark Hunnebell told the Gazette: "We attended a meeting at the Manor House on the subject of a Trust fund being created to replace Bradford Council as the landlords of White Wells.

"From our perspective there are a number of unanswered questions particularly about the ongoing funding of such a 'Trust' in the longer term, and how our business will be affected. Until we have been informed of just how the proposed 'Trust' would operate, what it would entail, and what the implications for us would be, we will remain concerned. However, we will reserve further comment until we know more details."

Already a transfer into the ownership of the body which took over the refurbishment of the two chapels at Ilkley cemetery, has been ruled out for White Wells.

Derek O'Hearne, of Grove Road, Ilkley, is the chairman of the Bradford Buildings Preservation Trust (BBPT). He said that the tenancy agreement at White Wells, ruled out a commercial landlord/tenant relationship.

As well as maintaining the caf, spa bathroom and house, the landlord was also responsible for the maintenance of the public toilet buildings.

They are in need of a major refurbishment because of tree root damage to drains but so far Bradford Council has merely shuffled responsibility for the work between equally cash-strapped departments.

Mr O'Hearn explained that the the BBPT was a rolling Trust which took over buildings and refurbished them with the help of various grants before leasing or selling. Any money obtained was then used on the next project.

It could not take over ownership of White Wells and continue to fund the long term on-going maintenance.

Mr O'Hearne said: "We had a meeting with Coun Hawkesworth and said we would be happy to help in advising on the formation of a Trust and whatever expertise we had to offer, but we don't have funds for that type of project."

After spending £45,000 on the cemetery chapels the BBPT wants to lease them out with a covenant to make sure they are maintained properly.

A copy of the petition has been sent to Councillor Simon Cooke (Bingley Rural - Con), who is in charge of City Hall's asset management team. Coun Cooke has strenuously denied any plan to sell off any of Bradford's historic assets. A response to the petition is expected later in Spring.

Coun Hawkeworth said: "I think Bradford Council would be quite happy to hand it over."

The biggest obstacle to any deal is expected to be the amount of money the city council was willing to donate for maintenance.