CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight any attempt to close Haworth Visitor Information Centre (VIC).

The battle-cry was issued this week as Bradford Council launched a public consultation over the future of its tourism service.

A review commissioned by the local authority is recommending that Bradford VIC should be retained, at the expense of the district's three others – Haworth, Ilkley and Saltaire.

Among those vehemently against the move is Haworth trader, Nikki Carroll.

"It makes absolutely no sense to close the Visitor Information Centre," she said.

"It's a ludicrous proposal. I will do all I can to oppose it and would urge other people to make their views known too.

"The council was very eager in its support of the Tour de France when that came through the district and was keen to build on the legacy, plus we've seen a surge in tourists since the BBC screened the To Walk Invisible Bronte drama at Christmas.

"Bradford Council should be doing more to promote tourism and bringing people into smaller villages, rather than focussing on the city centre."

And ward councillor Rebecca Poulsen said the proposal was "nonsensical".

"The Haworth building is leased rather than owned by the council which I suspect is a factor behind this," she added.

"Haworth is where the tourists go and that's where a VIC is needed.

"It's beyond belief that the council would contemplate closing it."

According to the review, carried out by TEAM Tourism Consulting, Haworth VIC is the most expensive of all four to run – at over £101,000 a year.

Its estimated income is £19,000, second only to Ilkley – much of whose revenue is from ticket sales for the King's Hall.

The review team concedes Haworth is "the key VIC".

"It deals with the most visitor enquiries and probably adds the most value to the destination," it states.

But the recommended option is that all should be shut except Bradford VIC, which would be refocussed as a "welcome and interpretation centre".

The move would save about £244,000.

Council chiefs say they need to slash the tourism budget by £172,000 by 2017-18 and are keen to hear public opinions on the proposals.

People can also comment on a so-called destination management plan, developed with ideas from a wide range of businesses, attractions and volunteers involved in the visitor economy.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, executive member for environment, sport and culture, said: "We hope people will give their views of what they would like to see the tourism service deliver.

"Obviously there are changes in consumer demand which mean people book trips and find out information in different ways such as from websites, social media and online booking sites, so we have to bear all these things in mind."

For more details and to give your views, visit bradford.gov.uk/consultations.

The consultation runs until March 5.