A POLICE chief is to be asked to speak to Addingham Parish Council amid fears that Ilkley Police Station could close.

This follows news that in future Ilkley police officers will be briefed in Shipley and parish councillors are also concerned that it could affect a police presence in the village.

Councillors agreed at last week's meeting to write a letter inviting Chief Superintendent Graham Sunderland, divisional commander of Keighley Police, to speak to them regarding the move.

Councillor Alan Jerome said: "We are getting a worse and worse service, we are paying our taxes for them and we get less and less of a service and something has to be done about it.

"Addingham residents will feel they don't want to pay that part of the council tax any more. We should ask Graham Sunderland to visit us. We want him to attend our next meeting because we are very anxious. It seems they do not think we need an adequate police presence in the village."

Anxieties have been raised now a new initiative is being introduced to brief the division's police officers in Shipley.

The move is part of a restructuring of the Keighley Division, which could see more officers being brought into Ilkley.

The initiative will give officers up to date information and let them have access to more equipment.

Addingham Parish Council chairman Gordon Campbell said: "I am told the police station in Ilkley is going to stay open but we will just have to wait and see."

He said he had been to a meeting with senior police officers last year and was told that the three biggest drains on police resources were pensions, salaries and property in that order.

"You can't do much about one and two but you can about number three if they are looking to make savings - the building would be quite valuable," said Coun Campbell.

However, Chief Supt Sunderland has stressed that the move will not mark the closure of Ilkley Police Station.