Newsletter Issue 01 - October 2004
MAYOR'S MEMOS-1974 AND ALL THAT Yes people remember that date, when Keighley Borough Council was swallowed up by Bradford MDC. Suddenly we had no Council and no Mayor. The Civic Regalia, which some say, and I agree, is the finest in the area, became museum pieces. Due to the foresight, and some sterling work by a number of local people, in 2002 Keighley Town Council came into being, and yes we had our own Mayor again. This year I became the third Mayor of the newly constituted Town Council. I follow in the footsteps of Councillor Martin Leathley, 2002/03 and Councillor Nancy Holdsworth, 2003/04, both of whom did some exceptionally fine work. I am both proud and privileged to be given this opportunity to represent all of you and the Town of Keighley. What does a Mayor do? You may ask!! Well, beside parading around in a chain at various functions, both in and out of Keighley, I am the Chairman of the Town Council. I am responsible for chairing the Full Council meetings ensuring that they proceed in a proper and orderly manner, which they usually do. We are quite a well behaved lot these days. I also have to take decisions in the day to day running of the Council. I suppose you may say, "The buck stops here." I am helped greatly in taking these decisions which will, I hope, benefit us all in the long term, by other Councillors and the Town Clerk's office. I suppose you might say I lead...but only for one year. With the help and support of the people of Keighley of all persuasions, and we are a diverse lot, moving forward to rolling back the clock in a lot of areas, for the benefit of all Keighley's residents. If you think that 1974 was a bad year, let us all strive together and have pride in Keighley, and then we might be able to say in the future ... 2002 was a good year. Councillor Allan Rhodes CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL The second Christmas Carnival organised by the Town Council will be held on Sunday 5 December. Application forms are available from the office.
LOOK OUT FOR FATHER CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL 2003 Keighley Town Council launched the Christmas Carnival which is sponsored along with other local organisations. The Carnival started at 10.00am with the opening of a variety of different stalls on Low Street. A variety of Street Theatre, including a Fire Eater, Dizzy and Dotty the comical caroling duo, a Punch and Judy Show, contributions from local groups in and around the Airedale Centre and lot of festive music provided shoppers with entertainment. With Children's Rides, a Fair Organ and Mulled Wines all available, the occasion was a great success in the run up to Christmas. Keighley Town Council will be holding the event on Sunday 5 December following its success last year. KEIGHLEY DAY 2004 In 2003 Keighley Day was held to celebrate the first anniversary of the decision to have a Town Council. The overall theme of the event is to celebrate who and what makes up the essence of Keighley. The celebrations are an opportunity for all the varied cultures within Keighley to show everyone else their history, traditions, what they are proud of and their hopes for the future. Following its success, Keighley Day was held this year on the 20 March. A wide variety of stalls were again to be seen on Low Street and there was entertainment for all ages. However, the weather was not kind to us and the stalls had to be abandoned after lunch due to high winds. ST GEORGES DAY 2004 A Chinese Dragon and a French Market in Cavendish Court made an alternative slant on the Town Council St George's Day celebrations. A glorious day brought out the crowds to Keighley to enjoy the sunshine and listen to the nine Town Criers spouting forth in an attempt to raise lots of money for the Town Mayor's charity and the new twinning arrangement with Manzini in Swaziland. A great day was had by all - a must for 2005!! KEIGHLEY IN BLOOM Judging for this year's Keighley in Bloom took place on 15 July. It was a wet and windy day but the judges were complementary when they said how much had been achieved in the town over the past five years. The local competition for Best Kept Garden and Best Kept Commercial Premises are ongoing and residents are encouraged to enter in future years. LIBRARY CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS Keighley is proud to have the first Carnegie Library and this August market its Centenary. The Duke of Devonshire, the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of West Yorkshire attended the celebrations which included the unveiling of a plaque and entertainment in the Town Hall Square. POLICE AND TRAFFIC MATTERS The Watch and Transport Committee is a Partnership Committee with an operational Police Inspector as a full (non voting) member. The Town Council has achieved the respect of three Divisional Commanders and many Police Officers based in Keighley. The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Graham Mitchell, attends weekly briefings of the Town Centre Team in addition to quarterly Strategic Analysis of Crime Meetings. Many issues have been raised, debated and actioned. BUS 59 From 1901 to 1932, Keighley Borough Council ran its own public transport and bought its last Layland Titan Motor bus, no 58,in 1932. Councillor Graham Mitchell and a group of volunteers from Keighley Bus Museum Trust have restored a Layland Atlantean open top double decker in the old Keighley Corporation Tramways livery of burgundy & cream with the Keighley Borough Coat of Arms on the front and sides. It has been numbered "59" to preserve continuity! TOWN COUNCIL FUNDING SCHEMES The Acorn Fund was set up in April this year. Funding is granted to assist community based activities which are considered to be of benefit to the community and where the activity could not go ahead without financial assistance. The maximum amount that can be awarded under this scheme is £250. To date ten applications have been successful. The fund has helped many residents clear derelict land, work towards the external appearance of a village hall and form a Friends of Oakworth (Holden) Park. In addition, the fund has benefited such groups as the CAB, Showfield Activity Club, Brownies and Guides in Oakworth, Sport Keighley for summer activities, the Air Training Corps for a training week, St John's Ambulance for first aid bags and equipment and the HYT Keighley Youth Theatre putting on a show. From the Acorn Fund comes the Oak Fund - a fund for grants over £250. Still in its early stages, this fund will benefit large projects which at the end of the day is for the Keighley Community. Application forms are available from the Town Clerk or Ward Councillors. PLANNING The Town Council makes recommendations on planning applications which affect the Town Council area. Over 500 applications were considered this year. Anyone wishing to object to an application, should send their objection to the Town Council as well as the Local Planning Authority. ALLOTMENTS The Town Council owns its own allotments in Keighley - some 480. Since 1974, after Local Government re-organization, Bradford have managed them. From next April the Town Council takes over the management of the allotments - our first service as a Town Council. MANZINI The Town Council, through the efforts of the Mayor in 2003/04, Councillor Nancy Holdsworth, formed an alliance with Manzini in Swaziland, a town of similar size but whose people are substantially less fortunate than the people of Keighley, although it is appreciated that Keighley has its own problems. There are many problems such as lack of recourses for the hospitals where patients have to sleep on the floor, education for only those who can afford to pay and more importantly a poor water supply. The support of our local Keighley News has helped in encouraging the support of local schools and community groups to learn about Manzini and to want to help the city and its people. Our Ambassador, Liz Reeder, who lives in Keighley but whose family are still in Manzini, will be journeying there in September. We are sending a twinning agreement via Liz for the City Council along with the funds raised through the Mayor's Charity for a much needed four wheel drive. We look forward to hearing and reporting on her visit in our next issue. COMMITTEES
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