AN INITIATIVE to equip Oxenhope with publicly-accessible defibrillators is due to receive two devices, subject to the necessary funding being found.

Oxenhope Parish Council clerk Elaine Pearson updated councillors on the scheme at their latest meeting last Wednesday.

She explained that Heartsafe Communities has allocated two defibrillators, one of which should be located at the Co-op in Station Road and the other at Oxenhope Railway Station.

In a written report to councillors, she said it is looking "very positive" that the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway could come up with the £995 required in two years' time for the device at the station.

She said the railway does not want the cabinet housing the defibrillator to be installed on the actual station building. Mrs Pearson suggested it could instead go on the outside of the railway's planned new cafe, if this development does go ahead.

She intends to approach the organisers of the fundraising Oxenhope Straw Race to see if they will be prepared to contribute money towards the station defibrillator.

She added: "As regards the defibrillator to be located at the Co-op, I am to discuss the funding of this with Dave Jones, Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) community defibrillation officer, as there is a registered charity that supports the YAS."

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