AMBITIOUS plans revealed this week to transform one of Keighley’s most iconic buildings into a new visitor centre to boost the town’s tourism trade have received strong backing.

Councillors are raving about proposals to develop the railway station’s historic water tower into a pioneering exhibition and education facility.

Politicians welcomed both the centre’s potential for attracting tourists to the town, and the heavy involvement of young people in the project.

Teenage volunteers from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) will staff the centre at weekends to help enthuse youngsters visiting the world famous heritage line.

School groups will visit the centre during the week, and links could be forged with nearby Keighley Campus to promote interest in ‘STEM’ subjects, such as engineering.

Railway bosses will soon begin applying for grants to cover the estimated six-figure cost of converting the landmark 130-year-old building.

Keighley Mayor, Coun Graham Mitchell, a former KWVR chairman, praised the railway for pushing ahead with a scheme offering so many benefits.

He said: “It can only be beneficial to the tourist potential of Keighley. The longer you can keep people in one location, the more they spend.

“The water tower is a piece of historic railway infrastructure in Keighley.”

Coun Mitchell was particularly pleased the railway is involving its flourishing Young Persons Group in both planning and running the centre.

He added: “The railway is one of the few voluntary-operated organisations with a considerable number of young people.”

The large space beneath the former Midland Railways tower – which still supplies water to steam engines operating on the line – has for many years been a store room.

Matt Stroh, chairman of the railway’s Preservation Society, hopes the centre will be up and running during next year, with contents including a display of Midland Railway artefacts and a model railway.

He said: “To tell our story through the eyes of young people is critical. They are our volunteers of the future.”

Keighley Area Committee chairman, Coun Khadim Hussain, said the “superb” project would boost what was already a huge visitor attraction.

He added: “It’s an excellent initiative that will empower young people and encourage them to look into history. By manning the centre, they will learn life skills.

“My background is engineering, so I would snap up the opportunity to support this venture.”