Spring clean in pipeline for Ilkley's The Grove (From Wharfedale Observer)

Spring clean in pipeline for Ilkley's The Grove

10:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Amanda Greaves

Central Ilkley shopping street The Grove is in line for a spring clean, with pavement repair work and efforts to alleviate issues over pavement parking and advertising A-boards.

Bradford Council is also expected to step up efforts to prevent town centre pavements being repeatedly damaged by delivery vehicles parking on them.

The move follows a call from a ward councillor for local authority wardens to enforce the rules on vehicles parking on town centre pavements.

Pavement parking is being blamed for cracking flagstones on the streets.

A Bradford Council officer this week told Ilkley Parish Council a spring clean will take place on The Grove, and action us being planned to tackle issues of pavement parking and A-boards cluttering the streets. She said the pavement on The Grove is to be steam cleaned, chewing gum and other rubbish removed, and damaged pavements will be fixed.

Ilkley’s three Bradford District councillors, Mike Gibbons (Con, Ilkley), Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) and Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) are putting ward funding towards the work.

The three councillors are also funding other improvements, including lighting in nearby parkland Mill Ghyll.

Bradford Council officer Sue Gledhill said the council is also looking into measures such as bollards, in an effort to stop vehicles damaging pavements on The Grove and council wardens are to keep a watching brief on the situation.

But not all local councillors are happy Bradford Council is doing enough to look after The Grove.

Ilkley parish councillor Mike Ridgway asked why the council was paying for repairs instead of pursuing utilities contractors who have dug up the pavement and not replaced flagstones.

The parish council also heard Bradford Council is to look closely at the issue of A-boards on the streets and work with businesses, following complaints.

Parish councillor Stephen Butler, also a senior member of Ilkley Business Forum, asked to join council officers on a tour of the town centre over this issue.

He said Bradford’s standard policy on A-boards had “absolutely no relevance” to Ilkley, and businesses were keen to work on a policy suitable for the town.