TOWN tourism chiefs have given their backing to plans for an annual cultural festival to showcase Ilkley's attractions.

Ward and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth is now hoping to discuss her plans for a month-long event each August with Bradford Council officers and clubs and societies based in Ilkley - and is looking into setting up a company to run the festival.

Members of the Ilkley Tourism and Town Management Committee said at their meeting last Wednesday the proposed festival was an 'excellent idea', and asked Coun Hawkesworth to continue working on the plans.

Coun Hawkesworth told the committee the festival could tie together a number of annual events within the town, and help publicise other events in Ilkley's calendar, such as the Wharfedale Music Festival, rather than be in competition with them.

She hoped the new festival would not only bring together the community, but attract visitors into Ilkley. She said: "I suppose it's my aspiration, really, having seen Ilkley let its hair down for the Golden Jubilee, and people say how great it was."

Coun Hawkesworth says she believed the best way to keep the festival running over four weeks, would be to give each week a different theme. She planned to meet with a number of Ilkley organisations to discuss the formation of a company limited by guarantee to run the festival.

"We've got to have a varied programme, and we've got to have a programme that fits many people," said Coun Hawkesworth.

She said food could be one of the themes, and a theme such as sport could bring in events organised by Ilkley's sports clubs. Coun Hawkesworth said a marquee could be set up to provide changing facilities for sports clubs, or a venue for other events.

She will investigate if help, in the form of funding and expertise, could be available from Bradford Council

Other suggestions for the festival included the possibility of linking Ilkley Flower Show to the event, setting up a walking festival, holding an antiques fair, and introducing musical events, with musicians playing at the bandstand on the Grove on weekdays.

Committee chairman Councillor Mike Gibbons said: "It's an excellent idea, let's move it forward. We're having it at the most attractive time of the year, when the town looks at its best."

Fellow parish councillor, Mike Lynes, agreed that there was scope within Ilkley to set up a group to manage a future festival, although a member of the committee, Frazer Irwin, said the organisation of the festival would need wider support.

He said: "It's an exceedingly good idea, I just hope it doesn't end up with a small group of people working solidly to do everything for everyone else." There was also some concern at the meeting that many Ilkley residents would be out of town on holiday in August.

Coun Hawkesworth said if the event grew, the group or company set up to organise it could look into employing someone, in the same way as Ilkley Literature Festival had a director.