PLANS are progressing to save under-threat Haworth Visitor Information Centre, according to a new Bradford Council report.

The local authority has placed the future of its four visitor information centres under review, and consultants have recommended closing the offices in the tourist hotspots of Haworth, Saltaire and Ilkley, and only retaining the one in Bradford city centre.

A formal decision is due to be taken later this year by council bosses, and tomorrow a scrutiny committee will look at how community groups could step in to save the facilities.

The report, by strategic director of place Steve Hartley, says the Brontë Society still hopes to take on the running of a visitor information centre for Haworth.

In Ilkley, meanwhile, the report says, consultation is still ongoing with Ilkley Parish Council, which is considering funding two members of staff to retain a visitor centre in Ilkley Library.

But what will happen to Saltaire’s centre remains unclear.

Bradford Council has to save £172,000 from its tourism budget in the coming year.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, executive member for environment, sport and culture, said discussions in Haworth and Ilkley are “looking very positive”.

She added: “No-one has come up with definitive proposals.

"There are a number of options being looked at and questions from people in the community."

Cllr Ferriby said they are also looking at novel ways in which visitor information services could be delivered, either through the use of new technology or through pop-up tourism centres at some of the big events in the district.

She said she is looking forward to hearing the committee’s views.

She added: “They may come up with some interesting ideas and we need to pull all of these ideas together about how we deliver services differently.”