A GROUP set up to keep Haworth's threatened community centre open is applying for cash grants.

The working group which was established to save what is now being called Haworth Village Hall and Community Hub, held its latest meeting last Wednesday. (February 25)

Parish councillor Ashna Yates, one of the group's members, said: "We've applied for grants to the parish council, Bradford Council community chest and also to the Craven Trust.

"We're going to apply to Awards for All for £10,000 which would go towards feasibility study work.

"Our new committee for the centre will take over from the old management committee on March 23.

"There are eight of us on the new committee, but we're going to ask people from some of the other groups which use the community centre to join us."

Cllr Yates stressed that she and her colleagues were keen to emphasise that the property, in Butt Lane, is still up and running and accepting bookings for events.

"We've had four banners promoting the centre made for us free of charge by APS Signs," she said.

"We now have to talk to Bradford Council estates management about asset transfer. Once we've taken over the building we'll have to start sorting it out and seeing what's needed in terms of repairs."

The community centre is owned by Bradford Council Youth Services, but has recently been subject to a review.

The district council said the building requires £509,000 worth of repairs and renovations, though cllr Yates argued that this work could be done more cheaply if local contractors were used.