LARGE and small-scale road schemes alike are vital to Keighley’s economic success, says a government transport chief.

Parliamentary under-secretary Andrew Young spoke of the need to dovetail improvements of all sizes to ensure the town reaped the maximum benefit.

He said government investment in transport – which he claimed was the highest for many years – was also important for rail and air links so that journey times could be improved across the board.

Mr Young, the Under Secretary of State for Transport, spoke during his visit to Keighley to open MP Kris Hopkins’s annual Jobs and Careers Fair.

He said it was vital that Bradford Council continued its efforts to tackle Keighley’s long-running town centre traffic jam problems while working to improve district-wide transport links.

He echoed the call for action on congestion from businesses who either want to move to Keighley or expand within the town.

Mr Young said: “It’s most important that we recognise that road transport is a key driver of economic growth. It opens up commercial opportunities and residential growth.

“You can more easily bring your customers to your site, or bring your goods to your customers.”

Mr Young commented on the council’s current jam-busting plan for Keighley town centre, carrying out both ‘quick fixes’ and multi-million-pound long-term measures.

Mr Young said: “There’s always a requirement for short-term actions, but it mustn’t be at the expense of long-term strategic strategy making. We’ve got to get everything right, dovetailed with all the other investment.

“We are playing catch-up on transport in the UK after years of low investment that applies to governments of all colours. We are catching up now, with bigger investment in road, rail and air and maritime.”

Mr Young said his government had a significant ‘shopping list’ that covered roads of all sizes from regional trunk roads to local streets.

He said: “We have our national strategic road network, but it can’t exist in isolation. It can only be connected to the network by small roads.”

Mr Young cited the economy-boosting potential of projects such as an extension to the M65 from Colne into the Aire Valley towards Keighley – back on the table after

He recently met with campaigners calling for the reinstatement of the railway line between Colne and Skipton.

He added: “I recognise that this scheme will bring merit to this area but they are in the early stages of planning. It’s important that we do this, to get the plans right.”