THE owners of an ice cream parlour have been ordered to dig up paths round their crazy golf course.

But Geoffrey and Audrey Wraithmell, who own Charlotte's in Whitley, say they would rather shut than do the work.

Councillors on Kirklees's Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-committee voted for an enforcement order demanding the Wraithmells rip up asphalt paths around the golf course because they were not approved.

Mr Wraithmell laid tar near the golf course to improve access for disabled people and to stop children's shoes getting muddy.

But although he did have permission for the course, which is in the Green Belt, he did not apply to put down asphalt.

Kirklees planners were alerted after a complaint about the £12,500 works on the course, which is behind the parlour in Whitley Road.

Mr Wraithmell, who opened the parlour seven years ago and employs 15 staff, says the councillors' decision is ridiculous.

"I am not changing it. I would rather close the place down," he said.

"When I put the tarmac down I did not even think there would be a problem. I just wanted to make it better for the customers. The walkways mean people in wheelchairs can get on the course and even play.

"It also stops the children getting muddy and the parents complaining there is mess everywhere.

"The site is better now and more likely to get people coming. That means more children are out in to the fresh air and doing activities."

Mr Wraithmell said councillors did not even get off their bus when they came to visit the site

"The councillors had their minds made up before they even came to the site," he said. "They parked about 500 yards away, sat in their bus for about five minutes and then left."

A petition can be signed at the parlour.

A Kirklees spokesman said:

The original permission did not include the surfacing arrangements.

"The sub-committee backed enforcement because of the harm this urban form of development caused to the openness of the Green Belt."