Councillors are calling for plans to create a cycle route between Keighley and Oxenhope to be resurrected.

The ambitious scheme was first put forward 11 years ago, but never got off the ground.

But now, with Le Tour de France Grand Depart heading this way next summer, there is a demand for the project to be reconsidered.

Worth Valley Tory district councillors Glen Miller, Rebecca Poulsen and Russell Brown are all behind the idea.

Coun Miller, Conservative group leader on Bradford Council, said: “We will be asking council officers to look at the proposals and see if we can ascertain why the council and Haworth Civic Trust paid thousands of pounds for them to be drawn up, and then seemingly placed them on a shelf to collect dust and be gradually forgotten.

“I have looked again at the plans recently and the proposals are flexible, in that they offer more than one choice of route and have variations to alleviate potential concerns at certain points.”

He said the initiative would bring many benefits to the area, particularly with the world’s most famous cycling race coming through Keighley and the Worth Valley on July 6, 2014.

“At a time when we are encouraging people to lead healthier lives and reduce the use of motor vehicles – coupled with the visit of Le Tour de France – it seems appropriate to revisit the scheme and see if it is feasible for a route to be created,” he added.

“A cycle route between Oxenhope and Keighley would boost the local economy, as riders would visit cafes and bars, whilst some may only ride along the route in one direction and travel back on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

“This type of idea ticks so many boxes with its contribution to health, environmental and economic targets and, at present, I am in the dark as to why the feasibility works were never followed up.”

Coun Miller is to write to council leader, Coun David Green, regarding the issue.

“The council needs to look again at the situation and, hopefully, we can progress the scheme to completion this time around,” he said.