FIRE safety chiefs are being asked to hold off marketing Haworth's mothballed fire station to give local campaigners a chance to take over the building.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority will consider the request, which is designed to give a community group time to flesh out plans to turn the property into an emergency services hub.

Chairman of the Friends of Haworth and Worth Valley Fire Station Steve Thorpe said his group has submitted written proposals setting out how it would run the property.

"We're very hopeful," he said.

"We'd like to get the police based in this building instead of in the Contact Point [in Changegate] and we're still hoping the ambulance service will have a rapid response vehicle based there.

"We're waiting to hear what the fire authority has to say to the hard work we've done. The most important thing is securing the building before it gets put up for sale."

The fire station closed on December 31 as part of a major cost-cutting programme.

A recommendation to be considered by the community safety committee tomorrow says initial discussions with the Friends of Haworth and Worth Valley Fire Station have been very positive.

It adds: "Members of the Community Safety Committee are requested to approve a delay in marketing the former fire station for sale for two months."

The same report says options available to the fire authority include selling the station to the community, leasing it at the market rate or leasing it at a reduced rate.

It adds: "The potential sale value of the fire station is between £150,000 and £200,000, with a potential rental income of £10,000 to £15,000 per year.

"Until the negotiations with community representatives are concluded, this represents a loss of potential income.

"The annual running costs for the building when operating as a fire station was approximately £14,000.

"Now the building is empty, the annual costs are significantly reduced but are still approximately £4,700.

"There are also ongoing financial risks associated with vandalism, including fire, and a gradual deterioration of the fabric of the building."

Mr Thorpe said: "We've put together an action plan showing how we'll be applying for funding and explaining that we would be able to sustain the building if we get hold of it."

The friends group's next meeting is on Tuesday, April 28 at 7pm in Haworth Primary School.

* Businesses are still being sought to sponsor a 2016 calendar to raise cash for the fire station project. Call 07969 658743 for further information.