ILKLEY Cricket Club has submitted a planning application in a bid to retain four advertising boards which bring in vital revenue.

The advertising boards are located on sites owned by the club on Denton Road, Ilkley, and have been in situ for around 15 years. They bring in revenue of around £4,000 a year for the club.

President of Ilkley Cricket Club, Richard Simpson, has penned a letter to Bradford Council's planning department as part of the application outlining why the funds raised by the boards are so important to the club's existence.

He says: "Due to extremely generous sponsors and supporters, the club has been able to survive a disastrous few years. We were severely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic with revenues down by over 50%. The revenue from our sponsorship activity is absolutely vital.

"Perhaps more significantly we have had to clean up after five devastating floods in four years. On each occasion the clubhouse and ground were completely flooded causing huge damage to fixtures and fittings and undoing most of the ground care work on the square and the outfield. Whilst some of these losses were covered by insurance, a significant number are not. Consequently, our insurers have now informed us of a 200% increase in our premium and placed an excess of £40,000 on the policy.

"In order to continue to provide opportunities for our youngsters to get involved in our great game, Ilkley Cricket Club needs the support of generous and compassionate businesses.

"With this in mind, we need to retain the ability to raise revenue from sponsors and supporters. The PR from compassionate support of organisations like ours resonates with our advertising customers and is a vital lifeline for the club.

"After an extremely difficult few years, we are looking to get ourselves back on our feet and looking forward to the future."

Mr Simpson said the club would be pleased to work with the council to find an acceptable solution, whether it be a specified design or some other stipulation such as a requirement to maintain the grass verge adjoining club property on Denton Road.

Ilkley Cricket Club has been promoting cricket in Ilkley since 1850 and was a founder member of the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League.

The club runs four senior teams and nine junior teams in all age groups for boys and girls aged six to 17.