Ilkley and Menston are going to be missing a very familiar face in the next round of local council elections in May.

Audrey Brand, who has served Ilkley Parish Council for the last 16 years, has decided not to stand for re-election.

Councillor Brand, who is one of three Menston representatives on the council, has been chairman twice and has also worked as chairman of the planning committee for 10 years.

She said: "I've really enjoyed this work. I shall miss it.

"It's really a full-time job for me. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it."

Coun Brand said the role of a parish councillor involves taking pride in the community and serving its residents.

"You've got to think of the residents, because that's why you're there."

During her 16 years on the council, Coun Brand has always served on the planning committee. And she said that planning issues have changed a lot in that time.

"We've got many, many more since when I first started.

"Now we're dealing with about 500 applications a year."

She also said planning issues have been getting bigger over the years, citing housing developments at Ilkley College and Scalebor Park in Burley-in-Wharfedale as examples.

"Being planning chairman is a great deal of work, requiring site visits and working with residents."

And she said that as a councillor: "You're always on a learning curve. However much you know, you can always learn more."

Coun Brand is one who knows the importance of learning, as she worked as a teacher for 12 years at Aireborough Grammar School in Guiseley before joining Ilkley Parish Council in 1990.

And with Burley and Menston splitting from Ilkley Parish Council this year, Coun Brand felt it was the right time for her to go.

She said: "It'll take a lot of money and time to set up a parish council. If you've done 16 years and worked really hard at it, you don't like to see it change.

"But because change is coming, it's time to make the break."

Coun Brand also said that she would not stand for re-election because: "Now my husband (Barry) is retired we want to spend time together doing the things we enjoy."

She said they are active in the Yorkshire Society, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Menston Methodist Church.

And she said she might even lend Barry a hand building dry stone walls for the National Trust and mending stiles for the Rambler's Association.

Coun Brand said she will have many happy memories of working on Ilkley Parish Council, and will miss things like public inquiries, which she said were like "playing chess".

She also complimented her fellow parish councillors, Bradford planning officers at Ilkley Town Hall, parish clerk Chris Dale and former clerk Miggy Bailey.

"It's been good working with a good team. We have worked well together."