MAJOR plans for a new police station in the centre of Keighley have been shelved.

The multi-million-pound facility was due to be built on the former college site in Cavendish Street.

But West Yorkshire Police say the proposal isn't feasible – and the force is instead now looking at developing a new station on its existing Airedale House site in Royd Ings Avenue.

It was announced in 2019 that state-of-the-art new police premises were to be constructed on the old Cavendish Street college plot, and the news was welcomed at the time by community leaders – who said the move would be a boost for the town and the fight against crime.

The police station used to be situated in North Street prior to the present Royd Ings Avenue base opening in 2005, and many people were unhappy at the time about the move away from central Keighley.

Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, said this week that work had now begun on the plans for a new station at the current site.

She said: "West Yorkshire Police have been exploring options for a new police station in Keighley town centre but unfortunately have found that no available sites are suitable.

"They are now looking at plans for a new station on the existing site at Airedale House. That work has just started, and further updates will be given in due course."

Keighley town mayor, Councillor Luke Maunsell, said he was "disappointed" at the decision not to build on the town centre site.

"I recall the fury at the time over the initial move away from the centre and am aware of remaining concerns over this," he added.

Bradford Council says the decision will not affect plans for a health and wellbeing centre on the neighbouring ex-college site.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw – the council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport – said: "We’ve worked hard with the police to get this town centre station over the line, but sadly it’s not proved possible.

"This decision by the police doesn’t affect the proposed health and wellbeing centre next door.

"Given the police decision, we are now exploring conversations with our partners about potential options for future uses of the site we’d earmarked for the police station."