THE Brontë Society has proposed intervening to take over the running of Haworth's threatened Visitor Information Centre.

The news has been revealed in a new council report, which is to go before Bradford Council's regeneration overview and scrutiny committee.

Haworth's Visitor Information Centre, at the top of Main Street, is one of three such council centre under review – the others being in Saltaire and Ilkley.

Consultants have recommended saving money by closing the offices in Haworth, Saltaire and Ilkley, and only retaining the one in central Bradford.

A formal decision is still to be taken by council bosses, but already community groups have been stepping in with plans to save their local tourist offices.

The proposal put forward by the Brontë Society recommends it take over the running of Haworth’s tourist office at the junction of West Lane and Main Street, allowing it to remain open at its current location.

The society's proposal explains: “This will provide strategic benefits for both organisations: it will provide the Society with a prominent Main Street presence in the town, including much-needed office space, while maintaining a Visitor Information Centre service in Haworth, promoting tourism across the entire Bradford district.”

Haworth Main Street trader Nikki Milner has previously promoted a petition calling for the centre in Haworth to remain open, arguing that the facility is of "paramount importance" to the village.

Reacting to the Brontë Society's plan she said: "From a personal point of view I can see how it could work well, and if it does allow the centre to be retained then that's great.

"It would be beneficial and I'm sure the village would work with the Society. I'd rather have this happen than lose it altogether.

"But I still think it's ludicrous that we're having to look at these different ways of keeping it open.

"I know the centre needs some improvements to make sure it's financially viable but Bradford Council should be ensuring it stays open anyway, instead of us having to consider these other options."

Worth Valley Ward councillor Rebecca Poulsen said that while she remained deeply unhappy with the original recommendation that Haworth's centre should close, she was pleased to see there is now an alternative way of saving it.

"I welcome the fact an organisation has come forward that has a vested interest in a successful tourism sector in the Worth Valley and Haworth," she said.

"Of course there is a lot of detail to work out. But subject to everything being agreed this is a much more positive outcome than just closing the visitor information centre, which would be ludicrous thing to do."

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 she and her colleagues were “working extremely hard” to save servies, where possible.

She added: “It's really encouraging we are having positive discussions with communities who are interested in taking on all sorts of local assets, including visitor information centres.

“We have consulted with residents and, as part of the review, recommendations have been made on options for visitor information centres, but the final decision has yet to be made.”