The government’s Levelling Up Minister, Jacob Young, has visited Keighley and the Worth Valley to hear from local organisations about how government levelling up funding is helping to regenerate the area.
Accompanied by local MP Robbie Moore, Minister Young’s visit commenced at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, which recently received £1 million from the government's Community Ownership Fund,
The Minister was greeted by KWVR Chairman Matt Stroh, Operating Company Chairman Nick Bennett, Finance Director John Hinchcliffe, and Operations and Business Manager Noel Hartley, where the group boarded a steam train which travelled from Oxenhope to Keighley.
Stopping at Bridge 27 - the focus of the government's recent million pound funding - the Minister heard how the Bridge had reached the end of its useful life and how closure would have meant cutting the railway line in half, causing huge social and economic impacts to the area.
The rebuild means the KWVR will have a brand new bridge with a 120-year design life.
The group then stopped at the Great Northern Junction, where they discussed introducing the need for signalling schemes at Keighley and Haworth to meet the rising demand of tourists visiting the area.
The group finished then their journey in Keighley at the Water Tank House, which is being turned into a visitor centre with levelling up funding.
Mr Young then visited Providence Park, which is currently under construction, to hear how a £6 million grant agreement with the government is helping to develop up to 7 industrial units at the site, bringing jobs and growth to the local area.
Finally, Minister Young concluded his visit at the Sangat Centre, which has received a total of £370,500 of funding directly from the government for major refurbishments to the centre’s roof and facilities.
The visit closely follows news that local MP Robbie Moore had been successful in securing an additional £20 million package of levelling up funding for Keighley, on top of the £33.6 million already secured.
Robbie Moore, Keighley's MP, added:
“For too long, Keighley’s part-time politicians of the past failed to properly stand up for our town. But now things are changing. Since being elected in 2019, I have helped secure record amounts of government funding specifically ringfenced to get the regeneration of our town going again.
It was therefore a pleasure to show the Levelling Up Minister just how this national funding is having a real impact on the lives of everyday people. As we speak, repairs and restorations are currently underway to buildings across our area - all on the back of government investment - and on top of the recent announcement of a new Airedale Hospital for our area.
I look forward to working with all involved to make sure these new investments are a success and thank the Minister for his time visiting our mighty town.”
Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young, added:
“I know how hard Robbie Moore has worked to make sure towns like Keighley get the funding they need to thrive, and it was great to see how our investment is already making a huge different to local people’s lives at the Sangat Centre and on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, as well as how we’re investing in the future at sites like Providence Park.
”I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone I met today for giving me such a warm welcome to your town, and to Robbie for inviting me here. Keighley is a fantastic place, and it was brilliant to visit today.”
