'Green' cash could be available to help rail travellers reach Keighley town centre more easily. Town-centre bosses hope a possible grant from an environmental trust will pay for a signposted walking or cycling route from the railway station.

The signs would tie in with Bradford council plans to improve traffic flow and make the town centre safer for pedestrians. Proposals include a revamped bus station, new Cavendish Street pelican crossing and traffic light improvements at the East Parade junction.

Graham Mitchell, chairman of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, and Keighley Business Forum are spearheading talks with the North West Transport Environmental Trust. The trust gives out cash from the government's Landfill Tax for projects which promote public transport.

The signposting initiative is backed by Keighley Town Centre Management Group, which has members from the council, local shops, police and tourism groups.

Chairman Barry Thorne says a series of attractive signs are badly needed to link the central area with the railway station. He says: "There's nothing worse than arriving in a town that you're unfamiliar with and not knowing where the town centre is. People who arrive by train and have to catch a bus somewhere else need to know where to go."

Cllr Thorne hopes better directions will also encourage tourists arriving on steam trains to spend time in local shops.

Mr Mitchell says details of what money could be available will be known in about ten days after he meets trust officials.

He is working with Keighley Business Forum, which is heavily involved in local environmental projects, on the initiative.

Mr Mitchell suggests other bodies will have to provide partnership funding for a successful grant bid.

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