AN HISTORIC hotel and former “hydro” is set to clash with councillors over plans to open a new spa to members of the public.

Craiglands was granted permission last year to build nine houses in its grounds, in a move designed to generate funds for improvements, including a new spa in the basement of Craiglands Hotel in Cowpasture Road, Ilkley.

Conditions attached to Bradford Council planning approval included a ban on future occupants of the homes keeping dogs or cats, and a restriction stipulating that the spa was to be used only by hotel guests.

Bradford Council later agreed to vary conditions, saying the pet ban was “unenforcible”.

The hotel, one of Ilkley’s key hydropathic establishments in the Victorian era, has now applied for the removal of the planning condition relating to the use of the spa.

But two of Ilkley’s ward councillors have objected, claiming it would exacerbate problems with parking and nearby roads.

Councillor Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) says the full planning application for houses – which will take up parking space in the grounds - should go before the Council again.

He believes any change to the planning consent would be “more than a minor change” which would affect the overall site, and have an impact on the nearby community.

Coun Smith said: “Recently there were 750 visitors to the hotel at a weekend and car parks and streets around were over full – even the bus could not get through on Crossbeck Road.

“Removal of this condition will require a rehearing of the proposal for the housing on the hotel’s car park.”

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said she would oppose any relaxation of the conditions regarding the spa.

But a covering letter from planning agent, WalsinghamPlanning, said the restriction placed on its client’s business was inappropriate, and quoted National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) policies.

They also quote a highways officer who said the hotel was within an acceptable walking distance of the town centre and would not expect the spa to generate a significant number of additional vehicle trips on its own, as most customers would still be hotel guests.

“We agree with the officer’s view that the majority of the spa trade will be drawn from hotel customers. It is wholly appropriate that ‘day’ guests should be accommodated by the spa, as the highways officer states in his response,” said the agent.

The application to remove the planning condition will be determined by Bradford Council.