A RAFT of improvements is planned across Keighley following the award of £750,000.

The cash has been made available to the constituency, as part of the Government’s Towns Fund, to be spent on projects in this financial year.

Initiatives include an £83,000 scheme to replace 23 CCTV cameras in the town, which are deemed to be beyond economical repair, plus the installation of two extra cameras in Low Street and a video link into the Airedale Shopping Centre.

There will be a £220,500 package of measures to improve parks.

Activity routes and trails will be created at Cliffe Castle Park and nearby Devonshire Park, with measures to ‘link’ the two sites such as jogging trails and tree walks. Outdoor gym equipment and new signage will be installed.

At Victoria Park, the multi-use games area will be refurbished, and walking and jogging routes and outdoor gym equipment provided.

Improvements are also planned at Lund Park and to park areas in Surrey Street and Thwaites Brow.

The Industrial Centre of Excellence will receive £123,000 for equipment to support engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships.

Upgrades are planned to 11 bus stops to provide real-time travel information, with an allocation of £96,250.

Funding of £90,000 has been awarded for improvements to Postman’s Walk, a footpath linking Oakworth Road and West Lane.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway will receive £86,000 for various measures, including the refurbishment of toilet facilities, a coach renovation and new catering equipment.

And drug and alcohol agency Project 6 is being allocated £15,200 for a planned community garden.

The Towns Fund cash is welcomed by Keighley MP Robbie Moore, who says it is additional funding from the Government pot for improvement schemes that can be undertaken during the current year.

“We need to start getting positive projects under way in Keighley and this immediate investment of £750,000 will help," he said. "I believe it will contribute towards making a positive difference to the lives of people here in Keighley.”

The funding for the Surrey Street and Thwaites Brow parks is welcomed by Keighley East ward councillors Caroline Firth and Malcolm Slater.

"We are elated that after two years of discussions with our parks department about much-needed improvements to these two parks the funding has become available," said Cllr Firth.

Cllr Slater said: "We are thankful to council officers for ensuring the parks were on the list and we look forward to working with them and residents – particularly young people – to improve this play provision.”