Haworth feeling flush after refurbishment of public toilets

Public toilets at one of the district’s top tourist attractions have been completely refurbished, thanks to a massive boost from the Keighley Towns Fund.

The fund secured £130,000 for the modernisation, and the toilets on West Lane have just opened to the public.

A modern toilet block was built in Haworth Park in the early 2000s but the West Lane conveniences required investment to bring them up-to-date. This year alone more than 7,000 people used both sets of public toilets in Haworth.

Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to secure this funding for the public toilets in Haworth through the hard work of the Towns Fund Board and Haworth, Crossroads and Stanbury Parish Council, who have delivered an excellent scheme that I am sure will be appreciated by residents and visitors to Haworth for many years to come.”

Keighley Towns Fund Chair Ian Hayfield added: “The improvements mean the toilets are now more hygienic through fitting touch-less flushing toilets and taps. Investing in these toilets will make them sustainable well into the future because the refurbishment enables savings in energy and water usage.”

Haworth is one of the biggest draws for visitors across West Yorkshire, attracting more than 320,000 tourists every year, which benefits local businesses.

The Bronte Parsonage has more than 80,000 visitors per year, on top of the large numbers who come for the spectacular views of its quaint Main Street. The village hosts many events including the popular 1940s weekend, which brings in more than 40,000 visitors over the two days.

About the Towns Fund

The Towns Fund is a Government-funded support programme to boost the economies of towns across the UK. The programme is part of the Government’s Levelling Up plan. Decisions on grants are made by Towns Fund Boards for each town, which are made up of private sector representatives with support from Bradford Council.