A LOT of space is used up in your letters column by correspondents wanting to change the structure of our local government.

Together with the two local MPs, those wanting change seem to think Bradford Council does a bad job for Keighley and that somehow changing things will make it all better. The triumph of hope over experience, I would think.

Most of the considerably reduced Bradford budget is spent on statutory services for the elderly, the young and the disabled.

Bradford also looks after the waste services and has done its best to deal with a diminishing budget, and now, with recycling, may even make money. The highways of Keighley are being tackled, as recent repairs in the town centre and Steeton testify.

With £300 million in cuts to make it is inevitable some pet projects, or even what many of us would regard as ‘essentials’, will disappear. To my mind, complaining about Christmas lighting in the face of not being able to provide for our elderly is showing a mistaken sense of priorities.

Keeping a track of what’s reported in the Keighley News and asking, quickly reveals some of the funding we do receive – £370,000 for the refurbishment of Cliffe Castle, £600,000 for Haworth Main Street, the £7 million planned investment for traffic congestion at Hard Ings Road, £1.4 million coming with the Business Improvement District, investment in Holden Park, East Morton and Cross Roads Park and £100,000 for play area development to be used with local groups.

Bringing in new commercial development is more of a challenge and it is notable that when Mr Hopkins was in charge in Bradford, the big hole remained.

It is now filled and the challenge is to encourage development in Keighley.

Removing obstacles to investment is being achieved, attracting new investment is being encouraged, by Bradford Council and by its members locally.

If a new leisure complex is built in Keighley, would it be used or does everyone prefer to catch a train to the bright lights of Leeds? I have too often watched films almost alone in the Picture House.

Returning to the local democracy theme. The two local MPs will, of course, know their Government has no intention of returning power to Keighley or Shipley. It wants directly-elected mayors to cover a much larger area. In other words, to reduce local democracy.

PAUL GODWIN Bogthorn, Oakworth