I WAS born in Keighley, and have lived here all my life. It was a great thriving town. We had a Keighley Council then.

I could cry when I see the litter and dirty areas in our town. I walk down Lord Street twice a week and the green area that is the old Mechanics site is a disgrace. It is full of coffee cups, food trays, rubbish of all kinds, cigarette stubs are in their hundreds. Surely people could put rubbish in a bag and stop throwing cigarette butts on the ground?

In January, volunteers helped to clean it up, but it is as bad as ever. What thanks do they get? Where has the pride gone? If ever there was any. The fast food places should make an effort to reduce the rubbish they cause. I dread to think what it will be like when they demolish the old college building. The old Mechanics site would make a lovely green park area to complement the Town Hall Square. It is great to see the hills around us and could be used for open-air activities. It could be a tribute park for our Mr Keighley, Ian Dewhirst, opposite the library he served so well. Please let us all make an effort to bring back the respect and pride into our town. Despite Bradford Met.

DOREEN GODFREY Keighley