Talks over Ilkley missing out on free Sunday car parking are to take place with a Bradford Council car parks boss.

Ilkley and Haworth are the only major centres in the Bradford district to charge for parking in council-run car parks on Sundays, Ilkley Parish Council has learned.

Bradford Council offers free Sunday parking at car parks in Keighley, Bingley and Shipley, as well as Bradford city centre.

Concerns were also raised about the additional free parking offered in other towns in the run-up to Christmas – and the lack of publicity for limited periods of free parking in Ilkley’s central South Hawksworth Street in December.

Councillor Stephen Butler is planning to meet Bradford Council parking services manager Paul Ratcliffe next week, to discuss free parking.

Coun Butler heard about free parking in the district’s other towns when the parish council was contacted about Christmas parking arrangements.

He told councillors: “I was surprised to learn Ilkley and Haworth were the only car parks which don’t have free parking on Sundays throughout Bradford Met. That’s something I can’t understand..”

He claimed the authority seemed to consider Ilkley to be a “cash cow”.

Coun Butler, also a longst-anding member of Ilkley Business Forum, says the issue would also be of concern to local businesses.

Special Christmas parking arrangements were made on more days in December in the other towns, he said.

Councillor Brian Mann said he had raised the issue of free parking before with Mr Ratcliffe, and had been told Ilkley car parks were still full, despite the charges.

Councillor Mike Ridgway pointed out council parking wardens patrolled Ilkley on Sundays, issuing tickets.