TOWN leaders are to debate lighting up Ilkley Skate Park after months of discussion by a police and community liaison group.

Ilkley Parish Council are to examine the advantages and concerns about lighting at the East Holmes Field skate park, after initial discussions last week showed divided opinion on the council.

They were asked to consider lighting by members of Ilkley Ward Tasking Group, who said that young skateboarders are still found skating on town centre streets, particularly on winter evenings when the skate park is in darkness.

Coun David Roberts, a member of the ward tasking group, told the council: "It's come up at most meetings at some time."

He said local police have discussed lighting with a Bradford Council parks officer and planning officer.

Other members of the parish council spoke out against lighting up the skate park.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth said when councillors were searching for a suitable site for the skate park, there was pledge made to residents that there would be no lighting.

Coun Audrey Brand said people living near the skate park would consider lighting to be light intrusion.

Coun Lexa Robinson asked what had happened to steering group PipeDream, which raised the money for and officially opened the skate park, and said parents and young people should form a group to look at solutions for any problems at the skate park, and consider having it supervised.

But Coun Caroline Jones suggested the skate park could be lit up until an agreed time on dark winter evenings, claiming it would cause no more disturbance to residents than in summer. Coun Brian Mann said he agreed with Coun Jones' sentiments,

He said there was a need to debate the issue and financing of lighting further.

A long-awaited bylaw banning skateboarding on the streets in Ilkley, Burley and Menston was said to have been held up, as legal experts believed the bylaw could not be isolated to the three communities, and would need to be made for the entire Bradford District.

The bylaw would enable police to enforce a skating ban on the streets. The parish council is to look into possible costs and other issues, before debating skate park lighting again at a future meeting.