The Ilkley Clean River Group (ICRG) held an Earth Day and Water Action Day event in town on Saturday which had great support.
The event started with an open Town Meeting at Christchurch, which was attended by many residents, along with agencies, Robbie Moore MP and Ilkley Mayor Cllr Mark Stidworthy.
A spokesperson for ICRG said: “At the meeting we secured a commitment to get back round the table across the agencies to work out the real costs for cleaning up Ilkley, rather than the flag waving numbers quoted, and a plan for Ilkley.
“We also secured a commitment from our MP Robbie Moore to get the whole stretch of the River Wharfe at Ilkley within the designation zone so we can actually secure funding to sort out Ashlands works.
“And we have secured a commitment from Yorkshire Water to collaborate on where they are going to invest to upgrade the river, this was outside of the Town Meeting, but as part of the process.”
The day followed with the Declarations of the Rights of the River, by Ilkley Town Crier, Isabel Ashman (video below), along with seminars, talks, a film ‘Beneath British Waters’, exhibition and a plunge in the Wharfe.
Throughout the afternoon a Street Party was held on The Grove with everyone invited to bring a picnic and enjoy live music from local groups and performers, there were also stalls from local groups and play areas.
The group have a number Thank Yous:
“Thank you to Christchurch for being super stars and tolerating our prolonged setting up, and early start.
Thank you to All saints & Clarke Foley for lending us tables and chairs.
A HUGE thank you to carnival team who a week before Carnival gave up their Saturday to sort the road closure.
Thanks to Sophie for lending us bunting.
Thank you Bettys and Tesco for picnic food.
Thanks to Mortens who rescued us with vans at short notice.
Thank you Nick at Ilkley Chat for all your support and connecting Ilkley together.
Thank you to Mark from Wetherby for providing projector, laptop and a brilliant film.
And finally thanks to the gang of volunteers who just turned up on the day!”
“This really is a great place to live.”