Youngsters in Ilkley could soon take advantage of top sports coaching if a Shipley businessman has his way.

Brendan Larkin wants to build a youth sports academy on land at Dansk Way near Leeds Road, Ilkley. If planning permission is granted the one-storey building will contain four courts which could convert to one large hall.

Mr Larkin said the academy would aim to give children aged five to 13 the chance to get involved in organised sport.

The academy will be run by Mr Larkin's son who is a fully-qualified and experienced sports manager. It is expected around 12 people will be employed full-time and part-time if plans for the centre are approved.

"It will be re-thinking the whole sports philosophy. We want it to be fun but we want it to be more than a leisure centre provides," Mr Larkin said.

As well as traditional sports such as soccer, the centre will also provide opportunities for other activities such as archery, and fencing.

Parish council planning committee member Roy Fox expressed support for any expansion in sporting facilities for the town.

"Various people have been talking about it for a few years. There is a need to provide extra sporting facilities," said Councillor Fox.

Coun Fox has been supporting the idea of using private money to create a leisure centre at the swimming pool complex on Denton Road.

"We have a wealth of sporting talent in the area and the more sporting facilities we have in the town the better," Coun Fox said.

He said that a survey had found there was a large demand from the town's youngsters for extra sporting opportunity, particularly indoor courts and sports halls.

Ilkley planning officer Martyn Burke said the Dansk Way land was designated for employment use.

But the sports centre, could be viewed as a special case and provide jobs of its own.

A sports centre building could also be adapted for other employment uses if the business later closed down or moved.

The sports academy plan will be discussed by Ilkley's parish plans committee on Tuesday.

If there are no serious objections, outline permission could be granted by Bradford planning officers in a few weeks' time.

Then the proposals will have to go before the Keighley area planning committee in May.

A recent idea was to extend sports facilities at Ilkley's Grammar School for local youngsters but this was hampered by funding problems.

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