THE boss of one of Keighley's oldest manufacturing firms has suggested using the former Keighley College site as a base for the town's emergency services.

Graham Richardson, the managing director and proprietor of A1 Roper Ltd, in Worth Way, said using the land for this purpose could well be the answer to the town's chronic traffic congestion woes.

He warned that many opportunities have been missed in the past to solve problems with the road network.

"My office and works is in Worth Way – formerly Parker Street – where for more than 40 years, I've witnessed the increased demand on this bypass from ever-increasing traffic," he said.

"The town’s infrastructure does not provide for quick and efficient transit and I think, in particular, of the public services – police, fire and ambulance – who are based at various parts of the town at Royd Ings Avenue, Hard Ings Road and Bradford Road.

"They struggle to negotiate urgent, safe and efficient passage through the town from each of their headquarters.

"Travel to the west and south of the town is compromised by the heavily-congested town centre, whereas the north and east are at some advantage."

Earlier this month, plans to demolish part of the old college, replace it with a temporary garden and eventually a £19 million public sector and community hub were approved.

The disused building at the junction of North Street and Cavendish Street has been on the market for almost two years, but no buyer has been found.

A three-part proposal for the demolition of the existing site, a three-year temporary replacement landscaping area and car park, and an outline application for a public sector hub was approved by Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee on July 13.

The part of the old college site in Cavendish Street, which does not include the older buildings, is being handled separately, and does not form part of this application.

Mr Richardson added: "The site could be put to better use than a public leisure place.

"In any case, we already have adjacent the finest Town Hall square in the country, plus several unused-and-abused public parks.

"The former college site is the hub of the town and central to all areas, therefore travel from there is less onerous and the least distance to anywhere on the periphery of the town.

"Consideration should be given for the construction of a modern, public-services centre on this site. It would accommodate the police, fire and ambulance services under one roof and in one place with a shared control and management resource. "Keighley would derive an efficient co-ordinated public facility, rationalisation of economies, an ‘accessible’ police presence returning to the town, existing buildings sold to assist with finances and good use of this site for the benefit of all.

"This would be a viable investment, and would be well-received by the public."

l See letters on pages 12 and 13 for further comment on this issue