POLICE surgeries set up for

community consultation could face the axe if attendance does not improve, it has been warned.

Inspector Paul Clynch, head of Ilkley police, said if numbers do not swell he may be forced to pull the plug on the idea.

He said: "I do not want to cancel them but if surgeries do not improve that's the only alternative.

"I cannot justify tying up an officer for a whole day."

The monthly surgeries were

established in Addingham, Burley and Menston to allow people in the

villages to have regular contact with police.

So far attendance has been less than encouraging - despite villagers constant calls for police presence.

Only a handful of people turned out to voice their concerns at the surgery in Burley-in-Wharfedale.

In Menston, where police even paid to rent a meeting place, not a soul appeared.

And Addingham Parish Council have gone so far as to ask the police to reduce the number of surgeries.

Coun Alan Jerome, chairman of the parish council, told Sgt Robert Marshall, at a recent meeting: "We do not want to lose the surgeries all together. Surgeries should be less often and for a shorter length of time."

They also suggested that the

surgeries could be better publicised in the village.

Dennis Warwick, chairman of Burley Community Council, said: "We learned about the restart of police surgeries in Burley at our last Neighbourhood Forum in mid-October. They are to occur monthly and there have been two so far.

"The Burley Community Council committee welcome such surgeries, as they allow people with a matter to discuss, to do so in a face to face situation. They are a good idea in principle.

"If few people have availed themselves of the opportunity, there could be a few possible reasons. Perhaps they have not been advertised very well.

"Perhaps the day or the time chosen have not been convenient. Perhaps the place, in the College building, is not seen to be as much part of the village as it used to be."

Mr Warwick said the community council committee would be very happy to discuss these issues with Inspector Clynch, or one of his officers, at one of their meetings.

He added: "At least we hope that he will allow the surgeries to continue a little longer, so that more people will know of the opportunity."

Coun Audrey Brand, of Ilkley Parish Council, which takes in Burley and Menston, said: "This is extra help that the police are trying to give the residents and I am sorry it has not been better supported.

"We would lend our support to him and combine efforts, if it would be a help."

Insp Clynch added: "We have gone to a lot of time and trouble getting these surgeries set up.

"We always get complaints about a lack of contact and I thought this would be a good idea for people wanting that contact."

He urged villagers to show their support for the service.