NEWS that Haworth's two remaining public toilet blocks could close as part of Bradford Council's massive proposed budget cuts has met with dismay.

The blocks at Haworth Central Park and the Bronte Museum car park are earmarked to shut, saving more than £53,000 a year in running costs.

They are among seven public conveniences under threat across Bradford district. The total saving would be £144,600 a year.

Worth Valley ward councillor Rebecca Poulsen started a petition to save the toilets in the park nearly three years ago when the facilities were then at risk of shutting.

Reacting to confirmation that they are again in danger, she said: "I think it's a very short-sighted proposal to not just close the toilets in the park that we battled to keep open but also to close the toilets in the parsonage car park.

"We could have no public toilets at all in the biggest tourist area in the district. This will affect tourism, which is something that brings in a lot of money.

"Coach companies won't travel to places where there's no public conveniences for people to use.

"At this time, these cuts are part of proposals which are out for consultation. I'm encouraging as many people as possible to get involved with that consultation and make their voices heard about the impact this will have on the village.

"Nothing has changed since we stopped the park toilets being closed. We need these toilets, they are essential."

Councillor Gary Swallow, chairman of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council, said: "Our feeling is that it's absurd for Bradford Council to even consider having a major tourist destination like Haworth with no public toilet facilities for visitors.

"Bradford Council is happy to take substantial amounts from Haworth in the form of business rates from shops, bed and breakfasts and restaurants.

"But these businesses can only be sustained if we have tourist facilities, including public toilets.

"We'll be meeting in the near future to discuss what our response will be, and I'm confident we will be strongly opposing these plans."

Gill Hill, chairman of the Friends of Haworth Central Park, said: "I think it's disgusting, especially as they are keeping the toilets open at City Park when we probably have more visitors in Haworth than they do at City Park.

"It's not easy to try and run toilets using volunteers. You'd need to pay someone.

"In this day and age when you go abroad there are public toilets all over the place. In the name of decency why can't England have them as well?"

Bradford Council chiefs are hoping community organisations will come forward to run the facilities.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, executive member for the environment, said: “Although the council will no longer be able to fund these toilets it is hoped parish councils, voluntary organisations or other community groups may take them on and keep them open."

In recent years, public loos at Penistone Hill above Haworth have also been lost, together with blocks at Keighley Market, East Morton, Cullingworth and Silsden.

A massive package of proposed cuts has been approved by the council's ruling executive.

Libraries and community halls are also among services set to be targeted as the authority prepares to slash £82 million from its budget.

A public consultation is now under way, and is accessible via the Bradford Council website.