Ilkley Civic Society invites public to debate Good, Bad and Ugly

Ilkley Civic Society is inviting members of the public to join its meeting on 22 October for a discussion about design and conservation in the town, exploring how decisions are made about what constitutes a good, bad or ugly design.

At this time of year, the Society would normally present awards recognising the best design and conservation projects in Ilkley. However, due to the low number of projects completed over the past year, the Society has decided to defer the presentations until next year.

Instead, the October meeting at Church House will feature a presentation examining how design and conservation are judged, with opportunities for audience participation and members of the wider Ilkley community to share their views.

With Ilkley's building stock predominantly Victorian, the meeting will consider how contemporary building proposals should be assessed and how the spaces between buildings can be protected and managed. Other topics will include balancing the needs of pedestrians, motorists and other users of public spaces, finding the right balance between housing and employment, and exploring the extent to which the community can influence the planning system.

The discussion will also consider whether local people can influence other departments within Bradford Council that have the power to make decisions outside the conventional planning process.

The Society hopes the meeting will encourage an open debate about the future of Ilkley's built environment and help residents understand how they can contribute to decisions affecting the town's character and development.

Ilkley Civic Society welcomes everyone interested in the future of the town to attend, share their opinions and learn how to have a voice in shaping Ilkley's future. The meeting will start at 7:30pm on 22 October at Church House, All Saints Church in Ilkley.