Keighley News
Car parks may be run by town
8:30am Monday 20th February 2012
Keighley Town Council is ready to take on the running of all Bradford Council’s car parks in the parish, the meeting heard.
Watch and transport committee chairman Councillor Graham Mitchell confirmed his committee believed it was realistic for the town council to take over all three of the facilities.
He said committee members also agreed that the town council should consider taking over the management of all grit bins in Keighley parish. He said if both steps were approved they would still depend on the town council coming to a suitable financial arrangement with Bradford Council.
He stressed he was not yet formally proposing the measures, because they needed to be considered by the management and staffing committee. He noted that the town council was currently responsible for 30 grit bins, including 18 which were bought new and 11 taken over from the district council.
l Coun Sally Walker warned that charities supporting vulnerable people were very worried about the Government’s proposed changes to the system of giving out benefits.
She was speaking after attending a meeting with Horton Housing, a charity providing supported accommodation to those in need, including people in Keighley.
She said organisations like Horton were concerned about plans to give housing benefit cash directly to the vulnerable individuals, instead of to the charities which currently received it on their behalf.
“This is something that is going to affect a lot of people in this town,” she said.
l Sportkeighley is planning a day of activities to make sure the Olympic Torch gets a big reception this summer.
Coun George Metcalf said it would include five-a-side football, cycling and athletics and would be run by Sportkeighley, with assistance from other organisations and volunteers. He said one of the venues would be Victoria Park.
“This will help ensure that there is a big crowd to greet the torch,” he said. “We’re confident that the event will be a success and will inspire people of all ages to participate in sport.”
l Keighley Town Council deserved recognition from the local press for its role in focusing attention on traffic congestion, according to Coun Mitchell.
He was reporting on the outcome of a joint meeting of the Traffic Advisory Panel and the watch and transport committee, which was attended by Bradford’s portfolio holder for regeneration, economy and sustainability, Coun David Green.
Coun Mitchell said: “I’m grateful to the Keighley News for their comprehensive coverage.”