Councillors have called for a full response from West Yorkshire Police over concerns for the future of policing in Ilkley, as opening hours at the town’s police station are set to be slashed to just one day a week.

An Ilkley parish councillor wants assurances that the number of police officers will not be reduced in the next 12 months.

And another raised concern about the police “flagrantly ignoring” the town’s council, despite general public consultation about the move.

The Riddings Road police station will only open its helpdesk to members of the public on Thursdays from July 15, amid a West Yorkshire force-wide review of front desk opening hours.

It follows an announcement just last month of opening hours at the Ilkley station being cut from five days per week to three.

Councillor Gordon Perry said: “I raised concern about this the last time, when we were told that the police station was being reduced to three days a week. At the time I said this could be the thin end of the wedge.”

He asked why the council had not been consulted directly, and asked if the council should express “real disappointment” about the decision and concern that it and its views had been ignored. “What’s it going to be next month?” he added.

A decision was taken earlier this year to reduce helpdesk hours across the force, following a county-wide West Yorkshire Police Authority public consultation in 2012.

At Monday’s Council meeting, Coun Paul Kitching pointed out higher figures for some types of crime in May 2013 compared to the same period the previous year. “Reducing police station hours is a very public act. People all over the town, particularly elderly people, will be saying what the hell is going on?

“How confident can we be, and what assurances can we have, that numbers of people on the beat in Ilkley, as opposed to sitting in the station, will be maintained for the next 12 months? I’d like a full response on that.”

Airedale and North Bradford divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Angela Williams, told the Gazette this week the decision followed consultation and a survey of visitor numbers at police stations.

“The footfall data from the various helpdesks showed that Ilkley Police Station was not a viable option to continue to open as on average there were five callers per day in an eight-hour period,” she said. “However, we have listened to the public and in view of that we’ve made arrangements to have one individual cover the helpdesks at Shipley, Eccleshill and Ilkley, Monday to Friday.”

Chief Supt Williams stressed the Neighbourhood Policing Team would continue to work from Ilkley Police Station, and residents would be able to use a phone outside the front door to contact officers when the station is closed.

The previous reduction in hours was due to a civilian member of staff in the division leaving.

Ilkley and Keighley MP, Kris Hopkins, said: “This is a managerial decision taken by the police, but it is clear that there is a greater demand – both from the public and from the Government – for more officers to be out on the beat rather than sitting behind desks.

“I support this approach which has already led to significant recent falls in crime. However, it is important that this does not lead to a large increase in 999 calls.

“It would therefore be helpful for the police to seek to communicate how any perceived liaison gap is best filled.”