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'It’s time to talk up Keighley'
Keighley has a buoyant economy and a vibrant future.
That was the resounding message from a regeneration conference held in the town.
And delegates at the event, in Dalton Mills, agreed it was time to "talk up" Keighley.
Many residents wrongly saw the town as a failing one and had negative views about its economy, unemployment situation and crime levels, the conference heard.
Andy Taylor, of the Airedale Partnership, said there was clear evidence the town was performing well. He added that developments at Dalton Mills were an exciting example of the investment coming into Keighley.
Ian Bond, of Park Lane College Keighley, said it was time to raise aspirations in every field.
And his comments were echoed by David Moss, of Bradford Council's economic development unit, who said the key to future success were partnerships focussing on raising young people's skills.
Funding was available but businesses, training agencies and voluntary organisations must be organised to access the cash and develop the opportunities that would serve the town into the future, he added.
Councillor Andrew Mallinson - the council's portfolio holder for regeneration - said it was important that when businesses moved into the town and looked for skilled workers, young people had already been given the training opportunities to acquire those skills.
More than 40 people - representing all aspects of business, training and economic regeneration in the town - attended last Thursday's event, organised by Regeneration Keighley.
Michael Scarborough, a board member of the organisation, told us: "It was agreed that what was needed now was action not more talk and small discussion groups focussed on what those actions might be.
"It was felt there must be more effort to get young people directly involved in training and regeneration. Equally important was the need to work in partnerships that would deliver a strong economy and above all raise aspirations and make early improvements to the town's image and its perceptions of itself."
Pam Essler, chairman of Regeneration Keighley, thanked the speakers and delegates.
She said a lot of fresh investment was heading to the town, for example the new college and Asda superstore, and the conference had shown there was the enthusiasm and energy to create the partnerships to respond to this and deliver a bright future for Keighley.
A follow-up meeting has been arranged to develop an action plan.
9:28am Friday 7th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Respect For ALL, Keighley on 10:10am Fri 7 Mar 08
i've been talking keighley up since i moved here in 2000.
i could see the sleeping potential then, if only we could get others to notice and to put up the investment in the town.
sure, it's not changing how some would like it to. but it's still changing and it WILL be for the greater good.
and it's about time it got appreciated.
i've been talking keighley up since i moved here in 2000.
i could see the sleeping potential then, if only we could get others to notice and to put up the investment in the town.
sure, it's not changing how some would like it to. but it's still changing and it WILL be for the greater good.
and it's about time it got appreciated.
Posted by: Greg Mendelson on 10:49am Fri 7 Mar 08
Talk it up all you want - town centre shopping and retail diversity in Keighley is finished when Asda opens.
Talk it up all you want - town centre shopping and retail diversity in Keighley is finished when Asda opens.
Posted by: Worth Valley Observer on 6:22pm Fri 7 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Greg Mendelson[/bold] wrote:
Talk it up all you want - town centre shopping and retail diversity in Keighley is finished when Asda opens.[/quote] You are so right in your statement Greg, shame other can't see past the end of their noses. We all want to see Keighley vibrant but it is the lies that make you think what the heck are these people playing at.
Greg Mendelson wrote:
Talk it up all you want - town centre shopping and retail diversity in Keighley is finished when Asda opens.
You are so right in your statement Greg, shame other can't see past the end of their noses. We all want to see Keighley vibrant but it is the lies that make you think what the heck are these people playing at.
Posted by: Homefinder UK Ltd, Keighey on 12:36pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Keighley is a great place and I for one am proud to call Keighley my home and the base for my business. Yes it has it's problems but where doesn't, yes we have crime, transport, education and social issues but everywhere else in the country has these too.
The "time to talk Keighley up" is a good thing for the area and one that we all should buy in to as local residents or businesses. The only way that this town can continue to be great is to attract new businesses like Asda, improve on the education system with expansion and improvement (Park Lane College) and continue to make small steps that can only happen with the support of the community.
Keighley is a great place and I for one am proud to call Keighley my home and the base for my business. Yes it has it's problems but where doesn't, yes we have crime, transport, education and social issues but everywhere else in the country has these too.
The "time to talk Keighley up" is a good thing for the area and one that we all should buy in to as local residents or businesses. The only way that this town can continue to be great is to attract new businesses like Asda, improve on the education system with expansion and improvement (Park Lane College) and continue to make small steps that can only happen with the support of the community.
Posted by: DJ, Australia on 12:39am Wed 19 Mar 08
vibrant future what a joke, is that why people are leaving the area.
vibrant future what a joke, is that why people are leaving the area.
Posted by: mac, a better place on 5:14am Thu 20 Mar 08
i too have moved out of keighley its sad to see what the place has become wouldnt even go back for a visit the place is a dump
i too have moved out of keighley its sad to see what the place has become wouldnt even go back for a visit the place is a dump
Posted by: Frank, Haworth on 11:55am Fri 21 Mar 08
Yes indeedy, let's all talk up Keighley. 'Hitman sprays garage with bullets.''Jail for man who worked at drug farm' 'A girl films a murder and gets two years.' I havn't even got past page two of the KN yet for Heavens sake. I'll talk it up when there's a good reason to.
Yes indeedy, let's all talk up Keighley. 'Hitman sprays garage with bullets.''Jail for man who worked at drug farm' 'A girl films a murder and gets two years.' I havn't even got past page two of the KN yet for Heavens sake. I'll talk it up when there's a good reason to.
Posted by: yaz on 1:44pm Fri 21 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Frank[/bold] wrote:
Yes indeedy, let's all talk up Keighley. 'Hitman sprays garage with bullets.''Jail for man who worked at drug farm' 'A girl films a murder and gets two years.' I havn't even got past page two of the KN yet for Heavens sake. I'll talk it up when there's a good reason to.[/quote] But it is only a small minority in relation to the total. Places like Lawkholme and Showfield need financial aid to benefit the community.
Frank wrote:
Yes indeedy, let's all talk up Keighley. 'Hitman sprays garage with bullets.''Jail for man who worked at drug farm' 'A girl films a murder and gets two years.' I havn't even got past page two of the KN yet for Heavens sake. I'll talk it up when there's a good reason to.
But it is only a small minority in relation to the total. Places like Lawkholme and Showfield need financial aid to benefit the community.
Posted by: James Lannen, Hawoth on 1:58pm Sun 23 Mar 08
[quote][bold]yaz[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Frank[/bold] wrote: Yes indeedy, let's all talk up Keighley. 'Hitman sprays garage with bullets.''Jail for man who worked at drug farm' 'A girl films a murder and gets two years.' I havn't even got past page two of the KN yet for Heavens sake. I'll talk it up when there's a good reason to.[/quote] But it is only a small minority in relation to the total. Places like Lawkholme and Showfield need financial aid to benefit the community.[/quote] Yaz, theres many areas within Keighley that could be a lot better than they currently are not just Showfield and Lawkholme, Parkwood, Woodhouse, Braithwaite and Beechcliffe all have problems too.
Frank, Good news rarely makes good news, it doesn't sell papers so please don't just take the reports in the KN as a generalisation for the entire Keighley area it's just the KN make more of the bad news in order to sell more copies of it.
Reasons to talk up Keighley:-
The 10K Ksport event just the other week, Improvements to Church Green and Keighley Market, A new improved Keighley College, lowest unemployment statistics for years, just to name a few.
Keighley isn't all bad, and it's negative comments that encourage the minority to thrive.
yaz wrote:
Frank wrote: Yes indeedy, let's all talk up Keighley. 'Hitman sprays garage with bullets.''Jail for man who worked at drug farm' 'A girl films a murder and gets two years.' I havn't even got past page two of the KN yet for Heavens sake. I'll talk it up when there's a good reason to.
But it is only a small minority in relation to the total. Places like Lawkholme and Showfield need financial aid to benefit the community.
Yaz, theres many areas within Keighley that could be a lot better than they currently are not just Showfield and Lawkholme, Parkwood, Woodhouse, Braithwaite and Beechcliffe all have problems too.
Frank, Good news rarely makes good news, it doesn't sell papers so please don't just take the reports in the KN as a generalisation for the entire Keighley area it's just the KN make more of the bad news in order to sell more copies of it.
Reasons to talk up Keighley:-
The 10K Ksport event just the other week, Improvements to Church Green and Keighley Market, A new improved Keighley College, lowest unemployment statistics for years, just to name a few.
Keighley isn't all bad, and it's negative comments that encourage the minority to thrive.
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