The district’s heritage champion is hoping historic Saltaire can ride on the success of the Tour De France when the Grand Depart comes to Yorkshire this summer.

Councillor Val Slater said discussions were ongoing within the Saltaire Steering Group, which she chairs, about making the most of the influx of tourists expected in the region in July.

Ninety-eight per cent of Yorkshire is less than an hour away from the route and community leaders in the village hope to draw people to the area, possibly by hosting an event.

“People are looking at what we can do,” Coun Slater said. “Statistics have shown that when people come to the area for the Tour, they tend to come in groups of four and maybe only one wants to see the Tour, so we’re looking at what we can do to attract those other people to Saltaire.

“When it was suggested to the steering group, they thought it was a very good idea.”

A new management plan is being drawn-up for Saltaire to satisfy UNESCO guidelines, which granted the village World Heritage status in 2001 because it was considered an outstanding and well-preserved example of a mid 19th century industrial town.

Those working on the plan, led by World Heritage Site Officer Helen Thornton, aim to make more of the status, which only 28 places in the UK have been granted, and enhance tourists’ experience.

Miss Thornton said the village was a good place for people to visit as part of their Tour De France trip.

“Saltaire is a logical place for those people to come to,” she said.

The Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France is expected to cost Bradford Council £731,000, but also bring millions of pounds to the district when it passes through places including Keighley, Ilkley and Haworth.

The spending includes £350,000 towards Welcome To Yorkshire’s successful bid to bring the race to the district and £200,000 for highway repairs.