From civic divorce to sunshine drink - your views (From Keighley News)

From civic divorce to sunshine drink - your views

8:27am Thursday 7th June 2012 in Readers' views By Letters to the editor

Is it time Keighley and Bradford ‘divorced’?

Sadly, I feel the need to write to the Keighley News regarding the tragic news of Stainsby Grange’s approved developments on East Parade.

The go-ahead in regard to this new cinema and shopping centre is ridiculous on numerous levels. Firstly, the backlash towards Keighley Picture House is disgusting, outside development has mostly eroded the culture of Keighley to the point where Keighley has little of its own to distinguish it.

Mr Morris’ establishment (one of England’s oldest standing cinemas) has long being a part of Keighley’s historical value but now, our local council has put paid to that.

Secondly, how many more people are going to be put out of business?

It’s not nasty to suggest this development will kill numerous cafes close by. It will, it has to. Yes there will be jobs made by this development but when everything is run by outside developers and when local people are being forced out, then how, how can this be a worthwhile venture?

I find it humorous to read that Mr. Williams feels it will “refocus Keighley as the main Airedale destination with shops in a format that retailers want in the 21st Century”.

The fact is Keighley already has Cavendish Court, Airedale Shopping Centre, Victoria Arcade and Keighley Market, do we need another collection of shops under one large roof, when many of these already standing sites are virtually ignored by any investment and our local council.

Lastly, when Keighley was amalgamated with Bradford, we were assured it was not a takeover but a marriage, yet this appears to be another example of the polar opposite. Is it not time, that Keighley and Bradford were divorced?

How has it become that people, like Charles Morris and local shops, who have tried to establish a stand-out factor within Keighley, are being shunned in favour of Bradford Met-influenced development. In the words of one famous gentleman “England expects every man to do his duty” surely Keighley expects every councillor to show these people the door by doing their duty.

KATHLEEN GREEN

Elam Wood Riddlesden

Critic hopes for new civic centre success

At last the Keighley Council Civic Centre is open.

I have fought tooth and nail against this project since it was first brought before council.

My many reasons, known by the Council’s hierarchy, were primarily that no professional economic assessment of the undertaking was ever made and analysed, and if it was, the ratepaying public was not informed of that analytical report.

It seems the hierarchy refused to take notice of the many well-documented research reports of the severe economic downturn in this country, estimated by experts to last for a decade or so.

However, now the project is open, one can only hope my assessment was totally wrong and that the Keighley public will benefit from the financial wizardry created by the experts in Keighley Town Council.

I sincerely hope the many public promises made by Councillor John Phillips, chairman of the finance committee, on behalf of the management and hierarchy within the council, the ‘many partners’ in the project were ready to sign up as tenants and so ‘definitely’ reduce the Keighley precept, as promised at the beginning of this project, is met.

Finally, with so much money being generated by the council, I make this solemn promise, if in the next council budget the precept is cut by 25 per cent, I will place a public apology in this newspaper stating I was wrong in my condemnation of the workings of this council.

DAVID SAMUELS

Highcroft Gardens Thwaites Brow Keighley

Town put on a really good Jubilee display Yesterday, 29 May, I travelled to Heywood near

Rochdale (population about 30,000), Colne (about 23,000), and Cross Hills (about 4,000).

In Heywood I counted maybe a couple of dozen union flags; in Colne maybe around the same with bits and bobs of bunting.

Driving through Cross Hills Main Street I was amazed and delighted by the overwhelming masses of flags and bunting outside almost every shop; the clever red, white and blue flower arrangements of the local schools; and by the general feeling of a town pulling together to really make a show to honour the Jubilee.

Glusburn Council, the local school children and all those decorated shops deserve huge praise for putting on a colourful and fun show. Size clearly isn’t everything!

ALLAN FRISWELL

Keighley Road Cowling

Thanks to council for a very enjoyable day

What an enjoyable day my friend and I had on Saturday at the Keighley Civic Centre.

We listened to Haworth Brass Band in the morning. We then had lunch in the cafe – very nice. In the afternoon the Craven Accordian Orchestra entertained us.

Both concerts were super with audience participation.

The venue is a credit to the council. No charge was made, but a donation box was provided. A big thank-you to Keighley Town Council for an enjoyable day.

DINAH WHITTINGHAM

Mollie Hudson Riddlesden

The sun’s out – must be time for a drink!

Does anyone remember the I Spy books?

This was a series of books in which children were encouraged to while away the endless hours of a car journey by looking for specific objects and marking them off in a small book.

How times have changed! The recent weather means I can now while away the hours by inventing my own categories.

These include youths walking from local shops carrying large boxes of lager on their shoulders, people looking rather the worse for wear rather earlier in the day and the competition to see who has the most painful looking sunburn.

Would anyone care to explain to me why the appearance of the sun means that its time for a drink?

Not just one, but a day spent on a wooden bench or metal chair at the side of a busy main road? I just thought I’d ask, that’s all.

ANTONY SILSON

Skipton Road