A PROPOSAL to temporarily shut the police and forensic science museum in Keighley Civic Centre has been approved.

Members of Keighley Town Council voted in favour of the recommendation at their monthly meeting last Thursday. (April 9) A previous motion to temporarily close the museum, which was put forward by councillor Amjid Ahmed and deputy mayor cllr Javaid Akhtar, was defeated in January.

However, town clerk Tom Ferry subsequently advised councillors to revisit their earlier decision, warning them that he had received no clear guidance on whether the council had the legal authority to operate such an attraction.

Cllr Akhtar said the council now needs time to work out whether it has the necessary authority to trade from the North Street civic centre.

He was not present when the latest motion to close the museum was due to be voted on at last week’s meeting, so the proposal was instead put forward by cllr Ron Beale.

The motion was comfortably carried, despite six councillors voting against it.