A disused building in Lawkholme could be turned into a high-tech training and education centre.

Sangat Community Association plans to spend £300,000 renovating Cater House, which lies almost opposite its current premises in Marlborough Street.

The group would continue to run activities such as a daily drop-in session at its present base but all training would move to the new two-storey building.

Cater House would also become one of four new "online centres" in Keighley as part of a government initiative to improve access to information and communication technlogy.

The £502,180 Keighley scheme would see 65 computers with video cameras and Internet links installed across the town.

The aim is for people, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, to try new technology and move on to further learning and training opportunities.

Keighley College, the Russell Street Project and Keighley Disabled People's Centre are involved in the project with Sangat.

Khadim Hussain, manager of the Sangat Community Centre, is hopeful he will be able to find the entire £300,000 cost of bringing Cater House up to scratch.

Money has already been promised by Keighley Single Regeneration Budget and the Department for Further Education and Employment. English Partnership may offer funding.

Mr Hussain stresses that Cater House will be open to everyone in Keighley, not just Asian townspeople.

He says: "We're in the heart of the Asian community but we want to focus on the wider community.

"All our events and services are open to every section of the community in Keighley. We aim to strengthen our partnership with key agencies in Keighley."

Mr Hussain says recent Sangat activities, such as first aid training, computing and fitness sessions, have attracted both Asian and white people.

Mr Hussain hopes Cater House will be open to the public in time for the next school year starting in September 2001.

Sangat this month applied for planning permission to change the use of Cater House to education and training.

A previous application several years ago was successful, but expired last February.

The Sangat Association leases Cater House from Bradford council at a nominal rent.

The Online Centres will help create a "community of learners" and allow an extra 400 local people to learn Information Technology and related skills.

The aim is to have 6,000 centres around the country within two years, allowing training to be taken into the community.