A PARISH poll called to challenge the new 20mph zones in Ilkley will cost taxpayers more than £40,000, it has been revealed.
The poll took place after residents voted to hold it at a packed meeting in October last year at the King’s Hall in Ilkley, instigated by the Ilkley Road Safety Action Group (IRSAG).
Opponents to the road calming measures voiced their disquiet at the plans, which they claimed were being forced through despite widespread opposition.
Now the final bill from Bradford Council for implementing the poll has landed on the doormat of Ilkley Town Council.
The figure includes VAT, which means the final figure that will come out of town council coffers is £41,238.39.
Town Mayor Karl Milner predicted it would cost £30,000 when he branded the exercise a “zombie poll” that would make no difference.
While a majority voted against the 20mph scheme, Bradford Council has now carried out the works in Ilkley.
But the Conservative group on the town council said the higher-than-expected cost was “just the price to be paid when democracy is ignored”.
The bill was made public at the town council meeting on Monday evening.
Cllr Milner, who said he was speaking in a personal capacity, said today: “The only possible outcome of calling a Parish Poll when the orders for work had already been sealed was that Ilkley residents would be footing the bill."
The meeting that decided to push ahead with the Parish Poll was called by IRSAG.
James Stretton, of the group, told the T&A's sister paper, the Ilkley Gazette the group was still formulating its response but added that for comparison, the cost of staging last May’s local elections was about £16,000.
Mr Stretton said he understood councillors have requested a breakdown of the costs, which he said should be put in the public domain before IRSAG formally commented.
Cllr Milner, though, said the group had been "pleaded with" over the poll and said it was made clear it "could have no effect on the 20mph scheme which the public had already voted for in a referendum".
Cllr Steve Butler, speaking on behalf of the Conservative councillors on Ilkley Town Council, said that although the Tories did not call the Parish Poll, they entirely supported the right of the electorate to do so.
He said: “It is shameful that the results of the consultation process, the voices of residents who attended the largest meetings ever organised by the town council and the results of the Parish Poll have all been ignored. The Conservative councillors will query why the cost of the poll was so high but feel that this is just the price to be paid when democracy is ignored.”
Bradford Council has been contacted for comment.
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