A GRANT programme to help businesses in outlying parts of Keighley has been highlighted to politicians.

The district councillors discussed the South Pennines Leader initiative, which spends European money on projects that create jobs and economic growth in rural areas.

Members of the Regeneration and Economy Scrutiny and Overview Committee heard last month that five projects in Bradford district were going through the grant process.

Two businesses, Keighley Tree Services in Cross Roads and Fanny’s Farmhouse Cheeses in Riddlesden, have since been granted cash.

The committee were told that South Pennines Leader had a budget of £1.29 million to spend between 2015 and 2019.

The initiative is administered through rural regeneration company Pennine Prospects, with successful applicants chosen by an action group of businesses, community and council representatives.

Priorities included increasing farm productivity, supporting micro and small businesses, supporting rural tourism, providing rural services, supporting cultural and heritage activity, and increasing forestry productivity.

The Keighley Tree Services project centres around low-grade timber from under-managed local woodlands, which is currently not financially viable to process due to competition from the imported firewood market.

The company, based in Halifax Road, will aim to increase the volume of production through a better recovery rate and other efficiencies.

Grant funding will contribute towards 40 per cent of the costs of new hardstanding, a cross-cut log saw, a tracked woodchipper and a firewood screen, with Keighley Tree Services providing the other 60 per cent.

The grant top Fanny’s Farmhouse Cheeses will help cover the costs of building a traditional cheese dairy and the installation of a cheese production plant. Production will centre on goats' milk.

South Pennines Leader is seeking more applications from Keighley businesses soon, so projects can be delivered by the March 2019 deadline.

Visit southpenninesleader.co.uk for further information.