Ilkley needs to shake off a title which no tourist town would care to be associated with, it has been claimed.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) was appalled when she was approached by a visitor to the town and told Ilkley had the worst toilets she had ever visited.

"This is not something you want to hear and I would like to see this situation resolved as quickly as possible," she said.

"We need to see action and I will continue to press for desperately needed improvements," said Coun Hawkesworth.

The state of Ilkley's toilets has caused outrage throughout the year. Homosexual graffiti, locked toilets and more significantly, a lack of toilets, has caused councillors to voice disgust on numerous occasions.

Miggy Bailey, Ilkley Parish Council clerk, has been informed improvements will be forthcoming, but she feels they do not go far enough.

A letter from Bradford Council's cleansing deparment, has informed Mrs Bailey the council will shortly be upgrading the central car park toilets and providing an attendant.

"I am sure this will be welcomed but it simply does not deal with the wider problem," said Mrs Bailey.

"Visitors coming in to Ilkley on the bus or the train do not have anywhere to go. It is a long way for elderly people to walk to the toilets in the central car park," she said.

Bradford Council has said high priority is placed on toilet facilities in tourist areas such as Ilkley but much of the toilet budget is eaten up tackling vandalism.

The possible damage to Ilkley's tourist reputation also concerns parish councillor Barbara Cussons (Con, Ilkley). Coun Cussons voiced disgust during the height of the tourist season as she watched a shop wall being used by a man to 'relieve' himself.

Fellow councillors agreed public displays of urination were unacceptable and that people must not be allowed to voice the excuse 'I had nowhere else to go'.

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