TWO Keighley play areas are being refurbished.

Upgrades are being carried out to the park at the top of ‘the Twines’, at Thwaites Brow, and the Beeches site in Surrey Street, Stockbridge.

Equipment is being added and replaced.

Keighley East district councillor, Malcolm Slater, said: “We have been speaking to our council parks team about upgrading the play spaces for about two years.

“As a result, officers secured funding from the Government’s Towns Accelerator fund.

“We are delighted that young people in these two areas – and other local families – will benefit.”

Consultation exercises were held to develop plans for the play areas.

The Beeches scheme – which has also received £15,000 from Keighley Big Local – will include a metal trim trail, basket swing, seesaw, roundabout, gym equipment and picnic benches.

Thwaites Brow is also getting a trim trail, picnic benches and basket swing, plus a tube slide.

Councillor Caroline Firth, who also represents Keighley East, said: “Huge thanks must go to Keighley Big Local for the additional funding towards the Beeches project – and to the Friends of the Twines for working with us on the Thwaites Brow play area.

“We are grateful to the council parks team in Keighley for turning this project around so quickly to ensure we make use of the funding and have a positive outcome for the young people in our communities.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for healthy people and places, welcomed the schemes.

And she said consultations about further investment in play areas across the district would begin at Easter.

She added: “It’s great to be improving these two play areas in Keighley East, which will benefit local families.

“Thanks go to the ward councillors, officers and external partners for the work they’ve put in to make it a reality.”

Keighley Big Local development worker, Shaun O’Hare, said: “The improvement of the Beeches play area is a great example of everyone working together to sustain and upgrade a popular community asset.

“The investment in the play area is also an investment in the communities we serve – and Keighley Big Local is proud to be a partner in the scheme.”

The Big Local initiative has been involved previously in clean-ups at parks including the Beeches site. Mr O’Hare said green space and the street environment always came top in the list of things residents regarded as most important.

Work on the upgrades, being carried out by Silsden-based Pennine Playgrounds, is expected to take about six weeks to complete. The Beeches scheme has started and work is due to begin at Thwaites Brow next week.