A £500,000 environmentally friendly visitors centre could be built on Otley Chevin.

Lindsay Marsden, treasurer of the Chevin Eco Centre group, told Otley Town Council's Environment and Economic Development Com-mittee that a feasibility study had been commissioned.

The study, partly paid for out of a £310 grant from the town council, will look at various sites for the centre and what the centre would include.

It is hopes the centre would slot seamlessly into its surroundings.

It would be used by walkers, youth groups and as a base for park workers.

Ms Marsden told Monday's meeting that the suggestion for a centre had come from discussions with Otley people and Chevin rangers.

"The idea is that it would be a centre for people who visit the Chevin, an information point."

She added discussions had taken place with Leeds City Council about its possible future involvement.

"The centre would be low impact and not intrusive. The feasibility study would look at several sites including Shaw-field Car Park."

The group believed the centre would cost around £500,000 depending on what it contained.

Councillors were told that once the feasibility study had been completed, the group would consider funding options, including getting companies and individuals to sponsor parts of the building.