Keighley is going for gold!

Bloom bosses are stepping up efforts to tidy the town after it narrowly missed out on a top accolade.

And they are appealing for people to ‘adopt’ an area to keep clean.

Keighley won a silver gilt award in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom contest.

But the group, which spearheads the town’s entry, has just learned it was “within a whisker” of gaining gold. David Petyt – Keighley in Bloom (KiB) vice-chairman – said points were deducted last year because of damaged hanging baskets, poorly painted street furniture, weeds and litter.

“We would like to recruit either individuals, groups of neighbours or organisations, such as Scouts, to adopt a piece of road and help keep ‘their patch’ clean and tidy,” he added.

“We’re not looking to replace what the council does, but to add to and improve what is already carried out, especially on the route we choose for the judges, and also this year on the Tour de France route.

“This could easily be done by local people, acting as lengthmen for their piece of road, in a few hours a week.”

KiB chairman, Philip Smith, said the town gave a strong showing last year but aimed to up its performance.

“We are determined to do better in 2014 and hopefully gain our first-ever gold award,” he said.

Among the individual Yorkshire in Bloom successes last year was the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, which won gold in the visitor attractions category as well as a discretionary tourism award.

The floral displays surrounding Keighley Cenotaph – planted by gardener Steve Thorpe for Keighley Town Council – ensured the site won the best memorial in Yorkshire award. And there were also several silver gilt accolades.

Mr Petyt said the KiB partnership is also seeking a couple of administrators this year. “They would join us at our monthly meetings, make decisions about the future and help the partnership keep moving forward,” he added.

Anyone interested should contact Stephanie Bottomley on 01535 618095 or via stephanie.bottomley@bradford.gov.uk, or call at the Keighley Town Centre Association offices at 68b North Street.