YOU can almost hear the collective sigh of relief resonating around the town.

This week's news that clothing giant Next is close to signing up for a unit in the planned Worth Valley Shopping Centre will ease a few jitters.

Bulldozers moved in some time ago to clear the East Parade site in readiness for construction of the £30 million development.

But the longer the flattened landscape remained untouched, coupled with an ominous silence from the company behind the scheme, the more fearful people understandably were becoming that Keighley could be left with a barren wasteland.

There is still a considerable way to go, but at last there are positive signs that things are moving and progress is being made.

Next coming on board will hopefully provide a catalyst and other potential, big-name tenants will follow in its tracks.

Keighley is already proving a draw for national retailers – with several targeting the town in recent times – and the progress of this venture can only help instil confidence in others and open a few eyes to what the town offers.

Shopping and leisure provision here is already the envy of many similarly-sized towns.

The new development will boost that offer, with all the attendant benefits of increased visitors, more jobs and a stronger local economy.