I understand that Northern Rail have applied for change of use for their former ticket office at Ilkley Railway Station.
If I understand correctly, they propose that the former ticket office premises be used for a cafe? There is already an Italian cafe in the station and lots of different types of eating establishments around town in competition with each other and struggling to survive in a period of deep recession.
A better use would be to convert the empty premises to fully accessible public toilets much requested by individual members of the public and community groups over many years as needing to be placed at or close to Ilkley railway station. Ilkley is, after all, a tourist town known both nationally and internationally for its unique town centre – beautiful surrounding countryside and, of course, the famous moors.
Hebden Bridge, a much smaller rural town by comparison, has updated its existing toilet facilities at the station in recent years and they are superb!
Northern have recently completed their development at Ilkley station with a new ticket office, waiting room and sheltered areas. Now would be the perfect time to provide fully accessible toilet facilities at the station.
Kathy Best
Leeds Road, Ilkley
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