PARISH councillors in Haworth agreed to open negotiations with Bradford Council to have the village's public toilets transferred to Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council.

Members of the parish council voted unanimously in favour of the measure at their meeting yesterday. (Nov 6)

Council chairman, Cllr Gary Swallow, who proposed the motion, stressed this was only the beginning of what could be a long process.

"This is going to take some time to pull together but we need this motion to allow us to proceed," he added.

The motion explained that the negotiations would aim to have the asset of the village's Bradford Council-owned public toilet blocks transferred "on the most favourable terms" to the parish council, subject to scrutiny by the parish council's legal advisors.

The district council has said it will be withdrawing funding from Haworth's two public toilet blocks – in Haworth Central park and near the Bronte Parsonage Museum – from April next year to try and cut costs.

The Bronte Parsonage Museum is looking into building its own public toilets, but it is understood that if these are developed they would only be for museum visitors.

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council has previously warned that losing the village's accessible public loos would be a major blow to what is a popular tourist destination.

Cllr Swallow said he had been informed that some coach tour companies would no longer come to Haworth if the village ends up with no public toilets.