KEIGHLEY’s former police station in North Street could again house the town’s police.

West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is considering returning officers to what is currently Keighley Civic Centre.

Keighley Town Council, the current owners, have invited the commissioner, Mark Burns Williamson, to reinstate the building as the town’s police station.

Mr Burns-Williamson this week revealed the suggestion would be looked at as part of a review into the current police station on Royd Ings Avenue.

And he pledged to meet with the Council’s Civic Centre Strategy Committee to discuss the “proposals that would be a benefit to this community”.

The hope of a return to the town centre by Keighley police was first raised in February by Councillor Anayat Mohammad, chairman of the town council’s Civic Centre Strategy Committee.

He revealed he had written to the Mr Burns-Williamson that the Civic Centre would be an ideal location if it was decided to close the station in Royd Ings Avenue, the future of which has been under review for two years.

Cllr Mohammad told his fellow committee members: “We’re aware there’s confusion around the police station and we’re aware that Keighley needs a police presence.

“We have a building which could once again be a prime site for a police station.”

Mr Burns-Williamson this week confirmed he had received Cllr Mohammad’s letter regarding the Civic Centre.

He said: “The proposal outlined within the letter will be considered as part of the review into Keighley’s Police Station, which will also involve consultation with the community, community representatives and key stakeholders.

“I am absolutely committed to protecting neighbourhood policing and to ensuring an appropriate and sustainable policing presence in Keighley so that police officers and PCSOs working in partnership with others can continue to keep Keighley safe and feeling safe."

The police station idea grew out of discussions over what Keighley Town Council could do with the troubled Civic Centre.

The North Street-based civic centre opened as a police and forensic science museum in 2012 after the town council bought and converted the empty building using two loans totalling £1.1 million. The museum has since closed.

Although the museum, along with a cafe and gift shop in the building no longer operates, the civic centre does accommodate the town council’s administrative office and hosts meetings by dance groups and other organisations.

Earlier this year, town councillors decided to seek additional quotations for the cost of fixing the building’s ailing central heating system, after being quoted prices ranging from under £20,000 to more than £84,000.