A NEW group which was formed to improve riverside parks in Ilkley is to hold a public meeting.

The Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks group was launched in August and has already held a number of litter picks.

The organisation was set up to work with Bradford Council with the aim of improving the town’s parks and recreational areas beside the River Wharfe.

The group’s interim committee has been working on plans for improvements. It will now hold a public meeting to explain what has been done so far to establish the friends group. It will also discuss initial ideas about what should be prioritised.

The open forum will take place at the Clark Foley Centre in Ilkley, starting at 7.30pm on Thursday, November 15.

Organisers say they welcome anyone who is interested in making Ilkley’s riverside recreation spaces ‘parks to be proud of’.

Interim Chairman Ed Duguid said: “At the meeting we would like to get feedback on our initial ideas for priorities and to find those in our community who feel they would like to be involved as well as the skills or knowledge they can bring to the Group.

“We are also keen to add to our small Committee so that the organisational side of FOIRP can be strengthened and we can move our plans along quicker.”

Anyone who wants to become involved in the work of the new group as it continues to develop its plans and starts to take action is asked to come to the meeting. Interest can also be registered by emailing foirp.member@gmail.com.

A series of litter picks throughout August proved a big success - with a total of 35 volunteers turning out over three successive Tuesdays to lend their support to the clean-up drive.

Volunteers filled bags with rubbish including takeaway trays, plastic bottles, cigarette butts and paper.

The group will continue to monitor the parks areas over the winter and will organise more litter picks if necessary.