People are invited to have their say on how up to £20m should be spent in Keighley, as part of a consultation which launched today (Friday).
Keighley was one of 75 places around the UK selected to share £1.1billion over the next ten years, as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns scheme, from the Government's Levelling Up programme.
The award is in addition to the £33.6m previously granted in 2021 through the Towns Fund. The Keighley Town Board has been set up to oversee both streams of funding and will develop a long-term plan for the Keighley and surrounding ‘Brontë Country’ area.
A consultation, both online and in person, is now under way, seeking local people’s views on:
- Improving transport and connections to make travel easier for residents and increase visitor numbers, to boost opportunities for small businesses and create jobs
- Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour
- Enhancing the town centre to make it more attractive and accessible, including re-purposing empty shops for new housing, improving green spaces and street cleaning
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said:
“This additional investment is testament to the good work of our Towns Fund Board in delivering the £33.6m secured already.
“£20m over ten years will make a difference in the area, but it is important to us to find out how local people want to see the money invested.
"We’ll initially be looking at the first three years, with a pipeline of projects to follow and there will be further opportunities for people to have their say.”
Chair of the Keighley Town Board Tim Rogers said:
“My vision is to use this multi-million pound investment from the public purse to create an environment where the private sector can see a sustainable return on any investment - allowing Keighley to realise its potential in economy, skills, heritage, creativity and transport aspirations.
“In order to do that we need to work together in a truly collaborative way. I really want to hear from people in all communities, and from businesses, schools and colleges in Keighley and the surrounding area on what they want to see.
"This really is our time to shape our own future over the next ten years and beyond and I want to encourage everyone to have their say. We are here to listen and make lasting positive changes for the future.”
The consultation will run until 21st July online here, with an interactive map, as well as in-person drop-in sessions to be announced shortly.
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