Newsletter Issue 02 June 2005

Welcome to the Summer Edition of the
Keighley Town Council Newsletter.

A Message from the Mayor

For those of you who don’t recognise the picture, I am Tony Wright, the Town Mayor of Keighley for the Civic Year 2005/2006. This year looks set to be a very busy one as it is the 700th anniversary year of the Town’s Market Charter. The Council marked the start of this on St George’s Day with a giant cake and lots of Town Council events and activities. Watch out for further events including a “Home” market bringing together retailers from all parts of Keighley—show casing everything that you can obtain in Keighley. Look out for the Charter Beer to be available in local pubs and other places in the autumn.

Over the last Christmas holiday period, the Council lit up the Town Hall and installed street banners to compliment Bradford Met’s Christmas lights. We are in the process of upgrading the banner locations and will have 30 sites. Some have already been used for St George’s Day, the Gala and (soon) Keighley in Bloom. The Mayor’s Charities for this year are The Keighley Sea Cadets and Keighley MS Society.

The Town Council is a little over three years old and I believe we are going in the right direction, reconnecting all our Keighley communities, giving Keighley its identity back, raising local pride, making the town a little more interesting and colourful at times.

I want to see the return of more services to Keighley, indeed all, there is no reason why the services FOR Keighley shouldn’t be run BY Keighley!

Councillor Tony Wright Town Mayor

 

KEIGHLEY MARKET CHARTER — 1305-2005
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS ON 17 OCTOBER 2005

A potted history –
King Edward 1 granted the privilege to Henry de Kighley (Keighley) who held the title of “Steward and Master Forester of Blackburnshire, under the Earl of Lincoln”, a market charter to “hold a Market, Fair and Free Warren (catching rabbits, an important food source) in Keighley”.

For all but a few occasions during times of plague (when it was held at Exley Head), the market was held on the Church Green but in November 1833 it was moved to Market Place at the side of the Shared Parish Church (the small car park) and a new indoor market was built where the Market Hall now stands. This lasted 138 years to 1971 when the outdoor market was closed and the present indoor market replaced the original.

The right to hold the market had passed down the line of Henry de Kighley until it reached the ownership of the Duke of Devonshire who in 1929 commissioned Chatsworth Estates Co. to let it be known that he was to offer the rights of the market for sale. The then Keighley Corporation considered the price too high. In 1949 however, the Keighley Borough Council finally purchased the rights and property to the market for the sum of £60,000. With Local Government reorganisation in 1974 the market passed into the hands of Bradford M.D.C.

See the next issue for more details of what will be going on.

ALLOTMENTS – UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
From the 1st April the allotments in Keighley have been returned to the control of Keighley Town Council. There are 430 of them spread over 13 sites.

For current allotment holders this means that they will receive a new contract from Keighley Town Council. We have declared an “amnesty” for any people who have taken over a relative or friend’s allotment. All they have to do is contact the town clerk with the correct details so that our records are up to date.

We have now set on an Allotments Officer, Mr Lee Senior, who will be able to work with you on any ideas’, problems or concerns you may have. He can be contacted on 077664 02539.

There are some unused allotments and if you are interested in taking one contact the Allotments Officer or the Town Clerk, there may be incentives available if you hope to improve a plot.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Our third Annual Town Meeting took place in Swire Smith Hall on 23rd March. We may have to look for a bigger place next year as the hall was nearly full.

The Mayor, Cllr Allan Rhodes opened the meeting by mentioning the successes that Keighley Town Council has had this year including the prizes won for Yorkshire in Bloom and the erection of the town boundary signs. He went on to thank MG Stone for their donation of the “Garden of Remembrance” in the Town Hall Square. He mentioned that Keighley Town Council has also taken the lead in highlighting the state of the Library, Central Hall and Victoria Hall.

It was reported that plans and money are now being put in place to improve and restore these buildings. Looking to the future Keighley Town Council is a partner in the new Town Centre Association, the allotments have been returned to us and we plan to continue our work with the progress of the Airedale Masterplan.

The evening was rounded off by a very lively question and answer session, which brought up many more points. All in all a very successful meeting and we should have a very busy year this year.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Can you spot one of the Town Councillors in the photo, as he looked in 1945 at a Victory Party held in Keighley?

Our photo shows a Victory party in Back Florist Street. They had made their own paper hats and everyone brought their Christmas trimmings, sandwiches and cakes.

Being 1945 the ladies (you will note only one gentleman) had to “make do and mend” but the war had brought everyone together in a community spirit and on this occasion it was such a relief and joy that the war and the killing had ended and that fathers and sons would soon be returning.

Even the street was cleaned with “hot soapy (fairy of course) water”. The extra work, shortages, difficulties and fear, during the war, meant that people “pulled together” to give help and comfort and survive as best they could.

ST GEORGES DAY WEEKEND 24/25th APRIL 2005
Keighley was a very busy place over the St George's Day weekend.
On the Saturday we celebrated with the Town Criers competition, a market and a funfair. On the Sunday were the more formal celebrations with the Scout Parade and service and the Civic service. We also had the Keighley Muslim Association annual parade to celebrate the birthday of Mohammed.

THE TOWN COUNCIL GAINS "STREET CRED"
BY THE PURCHASE OF BUDDY BANDS
Not wishing to be outdone and in any way called old fashioned, the Town Council jumped on the band wagon and purchased a black and white buddy band for distribution through the Schools, Information Centre, Community Centres and other outlets highlighting its work for community cohesion and fight against racism.

Councillor Glen Miller who was instrumental in pushing for the buddy bands stated that "Direct and indirect racial discrimination is still widely prevalent in society today and Keighley's diverse populations makes it an obvious target for those who seek to prey on these differences." The bands have proved so popular that a further consignment was purchased.

KEIGHLEY CENOTAPH
Built some 80 years ago, in memory of the dead of World War One, the Grade II listed Cenotaph, in the centre of the Town Hall Square, has just undergone a much needed overhaul. Keighley Town Council is working in partnership with Bradford MDC to provide fencing around the edge of the stone plinth to prevent further chipping and damage.

We also would like to provide floodlighting for the monument, which is used every year for the Remembrance Day Service. The attendance at this service, which also honours the sacrifice of young lives for people's freedom in World War Two and more recent conflicts, has increased greatly in the last few years and has come to mean a great deal to a lot of people. We ask you to support us and respect what we are doing.

We have been told that the Cenotaph was raised by the families of Keighley each giving "One Shilling" towards it, a man's wage would be about "30 Shillings" per week, so this would be the same as giving £10 in today's money. A scroll recording the names of the families that gave money was put in the centre of the monument. Does anyone know what the names were or anymore details? -Please let us know.

 

TOWN COUNCIL GRANTS
The Town Council has awarded grants through its Acorn and Oak Funds and has also given special awards this year. Grants have been awarded to a wide range of organisations including Scout and Guide groups, sports clubs, St John Ambulance, Youth Theatre and Village Societies.

The grants have also gone to residents who as a group want to clear up derelict areas where they live and the system has provided skips for cleaning up areas of the town. Any residents wishing to make a difference in the area where they live and would like some assistance, should take advantage of the Town Council Acorn Fund.

The Town Council has been pleased to assist with special grants to organisations such as the Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for people with disabilities. The funding will help athletes from the Keighley area to attend the Special Olympics in 2005.

PATHS ARE FOR PEOPLE
Parish, town and community councils can play a key role in safeguarding a unique part of our heritage-the network of public footpaths, bridleways and byways. There can be no authority that know local paths as well as a local council.

The District Council has produced an action plan saying how they are going to improve the footpath and bridleway network. In order to move this forward we need to know about any paths that would be suitable for cycling or horse riding.

If you walk to work, the shops or to school, but cannot escape the traffic, is there an area where a footpath could be installed? Is there a path near you that needs smartening up? Please contact us with any information. We need suggestions to pass to the District Council.

Through the Town Council a number of rights of way have come to our attention where they are overgrown and unusable and we seek to ensure that such paths are improved everyone's benefit.

Gala joins in VE Celebration
Keighley Gala backed the call of British Legion "Veterans" to celebrate the 60th anniversaries of VE/VJ days and with the help of the Town Council made it an unforgettable day for many of our ex service men and women.

It was marvellous to see a group of Asian elder's, all of whom were service men serving in the Pacific Arena during the war. These men played a key part in ensuring that Britain is the free and democratic country we love today.

VE/VJ DAY CELEBRATIONS
The Town Council has invited the Peter Stuart Band to return to Town Hall Square in August to play to the veterans. A cream tea will be served.

Watch out for further details.

Keighley Town Council:

What it does and how it does it -
All 30 Town Councillors sit on the Full Town Council and the majority sit on the 5 committees of the Council.

The Town Council spends its precept on a number of projects and always uses it in the best interests of Keighley as a whole. There are certain duties that the Council must do but there are also a wide range of discretionary powers.

The Town Council continues to forge closer links with BMDC and other organisations and seeks external funding whenever it can for projects in the pipeline

Councillor	ADDRESS	PHONE NUMBER	WARD	CTTE 2005/6	FC	P	F&M	W&T	GP
Ahmed	45 Cliffe St,, Keighley	01535.667964	Highfield	W&T	8			8
Akhtar	9 Sandywood St, Keighley	07970.604314	Lawkholme & Showfield	W&T,F&M	8		19	11
Alderson	29 Box Tree Grove, Long Lee	01535.667267	Long Lee & Parkwood	W&T	6			6
Ali	2 Cark Road, Keighley	07940.741438	Town	GP,W&T	10			7
Baxandall	20/4 Laycock Lane, Laycock	01535.605257	Highfield	P, A,F&M	12	21	21
Brocklesby	11 Eelholme View St, Beechcliffe	01535.216321	Spring Gardens/Utley	GP, A	12	1			10
Burningham	14 Birchwood Drive, Utley	01535.661577	Oakworth	W&T	7				6
Clarke	7 Bankfield Drive, Braithwaite	07792.189430	Guardhouse		6	1
Edge	48 Kinara Close, Stockbridge	01535.611681	R’den/S’bridge	P	5	8
Earnshaw	12 Prospect Cres, Fell Lane	01535.664646	Fell Lane/Westburn	W&T	9			12
Evans	5 Lee Court, Thwaites Brow	07761.602403	Long Lee/ P’wood	GP	7				3
Holdsworth	High Court, Street Lane, E.Morton	01274.561304	Morton/Sandbeds	P	11	18
Horrell	32 Occupation Lane, Oakworth	01535.662384	R’den/S’bridge	GP	11	1			11
Hudson B	33 Bronte Drive, Oakworth	01535.604379	Fell Lane/Westburn	P	12	25			9
Hudson M	33 Bronte Drive, Oakworth	01535.604379	B’bank & Ingrow	P	11	2	16		10
Lockley	15 Exley Cres, Ingrow	01535.216361	B’bank & Ingrow	P	6	19
Mitchell	4 Dockroyd Lane. Oakworth	01535.645454	Oakworth	D.MAYOR	12			12
Miller D	Tan Y Bryn, 4 Cliffe Mill Fold, East Morton	01274.569286	Morton/Sandbeds	P	5	17
Miller G	51 The Chase, Shann Park	01535.600344	Spring Gardens/Utley		5		10
Newton G	21 Valley View Close, Bogthorn	01535.665615	Fell Lane/Westburn	F&M	9
Newton J	21 Valley View Close, Bogthorn	01535.665615	Knowle Park	F&M	11	1	22
Petyt	8-12 Hanover St, Keighley	01535.604853	Bogthorn/Exley Hd	A, F&M	9	1			11
Philip	6 Shann Cres, Blackhill	01535.607151	Laycock/ B’thwaite	A, F&M	10		23
Rhodes	10 Apsley St, Oakworth	01535.647652	Oakworth	GP, A	12	7	16	9
Roberts	12 Elmwood Drive, Ingrow	01535.606391	B’bank & Ingrow	W&T, A	11			7
Thompson	61 Delph House, Parkwood Rise	07731.869088	W’hse & H’worth	GP	10				10
Walker	6 Bar Lane, Riddlesden	01535.600307	R’den/S’bridge	GP, F&M	10		20
Westerman	61 High Spring Road, Long Lee	01535.606432	Spring Gardens/Utley	P,F&M	10	7	5
Wright	38 Hainworth Lane, Ingrow	01535.603316	W’hse & H’worth	MAYOR	12	22	11	10	8
Zaman	Mountroyd, 164 Highfield Lane, Keighley	07730.544789	Lawkholme & Showfield	W&T	10			6*
Town Clerk Mrs.M Bailey	Town Hall, Bow St, Keighley	01535.618252	E-mail	townclerk@keighley.gov.co.uk
Assistant Town Clerk Mrs D Spink	Town Hall, Bow St, Keighley	01535 618252	E-mail	debbie.spink@keighley.gov.co.uk