A DISTRICT councillor is supporting efforts by the Braithwaite People’s Association (BPA) to refurbish its community centre and provide new services for residents.

Adrian Farley is also helping to bring together community groups and public bodies to improve life for people living on the former council estate.

He has highlighted the importance of the recently-formed Braithwaite Improvement Partnership (BIP) to encourage such joint work.

Cllr Farley was among those who attended a recent event organised by the association at the Keith Thompson Centre to research the needs of residents and let them meet staff from key organisations.

The event was run in the form of a fun day, with activities hosted by groups like Keighley Healthy Living, Keighley and Ilkley Voluntary and Community Action, Keighley Cougars and Incommunities.

Association volunteers encouraged members of the public to put forward their priorities, including potential locations for new play areas, as well as gather support for much-needed repairs to the Keith Thompson Centre.

Cllr Farley accepted the need to refurbish the well-used building in Guard House Ring, which he described as “beyond its sell-by date”.

He praised the work of the BPA, which has been run entirely by volunteers since being formed almost two decades ago.

Cllr Farley said: “They are hard-working, dedicated individuals, who come together with a desire to make the area better for everyone.”

Both Cllr Farley and the BPA had become involved with the BIP, whose objective is to bring together agencies for the good of the Braithwaite and Guard House estate.

He added: “There’s so many agencies working here and there’s a lot of potential for them to work together, as well as a potential for duplication.

“I think there are a lot of issues in Braithwaite – a number of years of lack of investment and things not being done.”

Cllr Farley was pleased many of the organisations had attended the Keith Thompson Centre event to talk to residents in person.

He particularly wants to work closely with social landlord Incommunities, which owns most of the homes on the estate. He said many residents attending his surgeries were reporting delays with repairs.

BPA recently launched a new appeal to find cash to either replace the Keith Thompson Centre or carry out ongoing repairs, including a piecemeal replacement of the outside walls.