A MAJOR Keighley transport festival has been derailed for a second time.

The heritage extravaganza was originally scheduled to take place over two days last year, but was postponed due to the pandemic.

It had been rearranged for this May.

But now organisers have decided to put the event on hold for another 12 months.

Planning for a festival first began in 2019. It was instigated by the then MP, John Grogan.

The aim was to showcase Keighley’s long history of canal, road and rail transport in May last year – with activities taking place at locations including the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley College, the Airedale Shopping Centre, Rail Story Ingrow, the civic centre and Cliffe Castle Park.

“A very great deal of detailed work and planning was done in 2019 and 2020 but the first lockdown prevented the festival from going ahead last year,” said the event’s co-ordinator, Graham Mitchell.

“All arrangements were ‘put on ice’, with the intention that the ‘oven-ready’ event could take place in May this year.

“But in recent weeks, the partner organisations have reluctantly agreed that large public gatherings are unlikely to be permitted in May – and that even if some social movement is allowed, the policing of social distancing and the wearing of masks would make the festival a very different event from the joyous fun affair that we had all originally planned.

“Whilst we are delighted that the NHS vaccination programme has progressed rapidly amongst seniors, a large part of our target market is young mums and dads with families, who may not be vaccinated until late summer.”

Mr Mitchell says the ‘In Motion’ festival is now scheduled for June 2 and 3 next year, to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Holiday.

Celebrations will be taking place across the nation to mark the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Mr Mitchell said: “We very much hope that the transport festival will be a major contributor to the Jubilee Weekend in Keighley.

“This is especially the case as Keighley Town Council is the principal funder of the festival and 2022 is the 90th anniversary of the demise of Keighley Corporation trolleybuses and the creation of the much-loved bus company, Keighley-West Yorkshire Services Ltd. We will have appropriate vehicles on display from each of those transport operators.”

A host of activities will be taking place nationally as part of the four-day Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

And a special medal will be awarded to people who work in public service including representatives of the armed forces, emergency services and the prison service.