ILKLEY Parish Council has submitted a proposal to Bradford Council to fund the town's Visitor Information Centre.

The move - if approved by Bradford Council's Executive on Tuesday - will see the facility move from its current location in the town hall into Ilkley Library.

The Parish Council has proposed contributing £19,000 per year for a period of two financial years (2018/19 and 2019/2020). This will fund two members of staff. The VIC will have a retail space to offset any other running costs.

The proposal forms part of a new approach to tourism in the Bradford district, which will see the Bronte Society take over Haworth VIC and Shipley College have an information point in Victoria Hall, Saltaire. Bradford VIC will remain in its current location until 2019 whilst new delivery options are developed.

Other recommendations include developing a team of pop up volunteers at key events across the district to act as ambassadors; developing themed visitor experiences and creating a tourism digital media officer.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's Executive member for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: "The advent of new technology and the need to save money calls for a new approach and as more and more people access their information online we need to ensure they can get quick and easy-to-follow facts at the tap of a finger.

"The visitor economy currently generates around £612m and we are hoping this will increase to more than £725m through raising the profile of the district and providing more compelling reasons for people to visit."

Ilkley VIC was threatened with the axe by Bradford Council as it looked at ways to cut £172,000 from its tourism budget. Consultants recommended closing the offices in the tourist hotspots of Haworth, Saltaire and Ilkley - but retaining the Bradford city centre office.

Speaking last month as proposals to save Ilkley VIC were being thrashed out, Ilkley Parish Council Chairman Stephen Butler vowed the parish council would provide the best service they could for tourists visiting Ilkley. He said: "Bradford MDC want to do their best for tourists too, despite the difficulties, and we will help as much as we can.”

Councillor Mike Gibbons (Con, Ilkley) added: “We are committed to the retention of the visitor centre in Ilkley. Not only for use by the residents but also for the many thousands of people who visit our town throughout the year.”