AN eyesore site in Addingham could soon get a makeover if a bid for funding from a regeneration project gets the go-ahead.

Parish Councillors will find out at the end of this month whether a bid for cash to help the clean-up of a former garage has been successful.

The owners of the site, which lies between the telephone exchange and the cricket ground on Main Street, is the subject of planning permission for a new motel, but there has been little sign of building activity since planners gave the go-ahead originally around 10 years ago.

The site, formerly Dickin-son's Garage, lies derelict and a fence surrounding it on Main Street, is falling to bits.

Addingham parish councillors have until March 9 to put in an application for clean-up funding to the Bradford Vision community fund.

Chairman Gordon Camp-bell said: "We are investigating it and aim to put in an application on behalf of the village to clean up the site we have already got the owner's permission to do it. It is a mess at the moment."

Planning permission was granted in 1996 for the motel and a further application to change the details was passed in 2005.

At the time the parish council did not support the application, preferring it to be developed for new housing which would take pressure off more sensitive areas of the village by making use of a developed area.

When it was debated, parish council vice-chairman Michael Aldridge told the Keighley Area Planning Panel: "The building is totally out of character with the surrounding area and most unattractive. The development will do nothing to enhance the village."

Yesterday Coun Campbell said: "Our primary objective is to have the site redeveloped, either as the long-awaited motel or, if we can have the site re-designated as brownfield rather than green belt in the next UDP (Unitary Development Plan) housing would be a possibility."

Addingham Civic Society has already declared its support for the parish council clean-up project which would involve building a new fence.

Parish councillors have been in contact with local companies to get an estimate for the cost of the project and will have to make a presentation to the body awarding the funds to press their case.

Bradford Vision is a Government funded project to designed to help local councils improve their community.