Giant screens have been provisionally booked to ensure large crowds can watch next summer’s Tour de France passing through Keighley district.

Keighley Town Centre Association (KTCA) chairman Steve Seymour said the screens could potentially be based in locations such as Victoria Park, the grounds of Cliffe Castle or at sites in the town centre.

“We’ve looked at a number of locations where we could have these screens, but they have to be approved by the local authority,” he added. “This has to go through the planning process because there are public order and public safety considerations.

“We’ve provisionally booked some screens because we know there won’t be enough vantage points for everyone to see the race route. Of course some enthusiasts will want to get up close and personal, but you still need large areas where thousands of people can congregate, buy food and drink and watch the race via these big screens instead.”

Mr Seymour said the KTCA was also investigating ways of expanding the town’s public toilet provision. He said with the market toilets currently shut, it only left about a dozen available in the bus station and the Airedale Shopping Centre.