Plans for visitor facility are given the green light

Long-time cafe owner Toni Falconi has been granted permission for an extension to his snack kiosk – sited in a former water pumping station – and provide indoor seating for visitors.

Previous plans to build a new visitor centre and cafe by the prominent landmark, and more recently a plan to extend the kiosk, have met with opposition because of concerns about developing the sensitive green belt moorland spot.

Mr Falconi, who has operated a snack kiosk at the landmark for more than two decades, successfully gained permission to convert the former Yorkshire Water building to a snack kiosk, also providing public toilets, in 2011.

Two messages of support for the latest plan were sent to Bradford Council, one welcoming ‘long overdue’ indoor facilities, and another from the Friends of Ilkley Moor.

The Friends said: “The Cow and Calf Rocks are one of the most important and iconic landmarks in the region. There has, for many years been need of first class visitor amenities. The Friends think this need was only partially met when the existing cafe was allowed and the proposed extension goes a long way towards providing the facilities that this location demands.”

Ilkley Parish Council recommended approval of the plans, but concerns were raised by a ward councillor about the site being ‘spoiled’ by seating, tents and flagpoles, road safety in light of poor sight lines and traffic turning into the site.

Ilkley Civic Society asked for a condition indicating precisely which temporary structures at the cafe should be removed.

Bradford Council officers said the new extension proposed is significantly smaller than the previous scheme, which was rejected by the Council. They granted permission, acting under delegated powers.

In their report, they said: “The officer view is that the volume, footprint and physical form of this new proposal are all such that it would not be a disproportionate addition.”