Multi-agency approach to keep Ilkley beauty spot clean (From Ilkley Gazette)

Multi-agency approach to keep Ilkley beauty spot clean

8:20am Saturday 17th July 2010

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Efforts to stop anti-social behaviour and litter on popular riverside recreation fields have been declared a success, but police say they will keep up the pressure.

Inspector Sue Sanderson says a day of action is planned in conjunction with Bradford Council youth service and cleansing officers this summer as part of ongoing efforts to keep one of the most visited parts of Ilkley clean and trouble-free.

However, she said there had been a “big reduction” in the number of calls to police this summer about the East Holmes Field area and riverside area north of the River Wharfe.

She puts the improvement down to an increased number of patrols by Neighbourhood Policing Team officers, and work by Bradford Council to stop litter building up.

“It’s being patrolled extremely regularly every day and to date, we are not getting the number of anti-social behaviour calls we’ve had, or calls about rubbish left by the riverside,” said Insp Sanderson.

“Bradford Council obviously have someone who works over the weekend clearing rubbish and that’s made a significant different to the riverside.”

The extra patrols follow a rash of complaints last year, particularly after one hot weekend last summer saw food packaging, disposable barbecues, drinks cans, abandoned clothing and dog dirt strewn about East Holmes Field. There were also complaints at the time about the behaviour of some of those among the crowds visitor the leafy riverbank spot.

Police and Bradford Council came in the firing line from members of the public about the situation.

Some blamed visitors from out of town, although police later spoke to Ilkley residents in relation to anti-social behaviour.

Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Brian Mann, commended as initiative around the riverside as “excellent”.

Insp Sanderson said the planned day of action is hoped to include educating the public about litter and dog fouling, as well as offering crime prevention advice.

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