A FURIOUS Keighley town councillor said a valued local community centre was "on the verge of closure" and accused the town council of neglecting his ward.

Speaking during a town council meeting where councillors voted to give £80,000 to three other organisations to fund community development workers, Cllr Ron Beale said it was "shameful" that Hainworth Wood Community Centre, which serves about 100 people each week, had its funding bid rejected.

"They need help and are on the verge of closing their doors because Keighley Town Council isn't doing what it was set up for," he said.

"Woodhouse is a very deprived area and that centre is the hub of the community. Woodhouse hasn't had a penny from the town council."

Addressing councillors last Thursday, (April 20) Cllr Beale, who represents Woodhouse and Hainworth ward, added: "Woodhouse is Keighley's forgotten ward and it's disgusting that we're not helping people there. I hope you're proud of yourselves."

But Cllr Gary Pedley, who proposed the community development funding package said he was disappointed with Cllr Beale's stance.

"This funding was never about sustaining a community centre, it was about providing community work across an area," he said.

"The application from Hainworth Wood Community Centre fell at the first hurdle because it didn't show a willingness to support a whole area.

"We'd never agreed that we would just be supporting a community centre."

The groups that did receive funding were: Bracken Bank and District Community Centre – £30,000, Keighley and Ilkley Voluntary and Community Action (KIVCA) – £25,000, Highfield Community Association – £25,000 and Dementia Friendly Keighley – £10,000.

The first three of these organisations will use the money to employ community workers.

Although they are based in central Keighley, Bracken Bank and Highfield, they will share the town between them to ensure every neighbourhood received support.

The grants could see community workers Pip Gibson and Jo Horrox retain their jobs. The pair were threatened with redundancy this spring when cash-strapped Bradford Council pulled its funding.

Keighley Town Council has plugged the gap in funding left by Bradford's withdrawal.

But it could not employ Pip and Jo directly or hand money over to their employers – Bracken Bank & District Community Association and KIVCA.

Instead these groups had to apply for cash along with any other local organisation that believed it could provide similar community development work.

They and Highfield Community Association now have money to carry out 80 hours of community work each week in the town council’s area – Keighley West, East and Central wards and Oakworth.

Pastor John Smith, chairman of Hainworth Wood Community Centre, said: "We're naturally very disappointed to have failed in our funding bid.

"Our development worker has been unavailable due to illness which made it difficult for us to show we could carry out this community work.

"But we've spoken to other people about them stepping into the community worker role. We'd need funding to employ them.

"The big problem facing us is that we've currently no qualified person to take responsibility for the managerial side of things at the centre."

Pastor Smith said some refurbishment has been done to the Hainworth Wood Road premises, but warned that more is needed.

He said the centre hosts organisations and activities such as a cafe, an over 50s group, children's groups, knitting classes and arts and crafts sessions.

"It's a lovely place and closure would be very regrettable," he said. "But it's something that may happen if we can't get some help from somewhere.

"We'll do everything we can to keep it open."