THE WHITE Wells toilets on Ilkley Moor could be re-opened following complaints from residents and warnings about a potential public health risk.

Covid-19 safety measures mean the toilets would have to be cleaned twice a day if they were to be re-opened.

Town councillors have asked for costings, which will be brought back for them to look at this month, and they are also checking whether they can recoup some of the money from Bradford Council.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of Ilkley Town Council this week and members also looked at the problem of the over-flowing litter bin in the same location.

Many public toilets around the country were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and although other conveniences in Ilkley have opened up again the White Wells toilets have remained closed.

Councillors heard this had led to a number of complaints from residents who were getting in touch with the town council on a regular basis.

One of the complaints talked about visitors who were looking to use the toilets at the week-end, and who were disappointed to find them closed, despite the signposting at the White Wells car park.

It said a large number of people go out walking in the area and it warned of the unsanitary effects on the moor if the toilets were not open.

Town clerk Louise Close told the meeting the toilets had to be covid safe and she said cleaning, which is paid for by the town council, would have to increase. She said the car park toilets were being cleaned four times a day and that the White Wells toilets would need to be cleaned twice a day.

Cllr Owen Wells backed the idea of extra cleaning and said he thought there could be scope to recoup some of the cost from Bradford.

The meeting heard that if the toilets were re-opened the bin could also be emptied more frequently.

Cllr Mike Gibbons told the meeting there was a potential public health issue if the toilets were not re-opened.

Members agreed that costings should be worked out and brought to the finance committee on October 19.