The potential problems with traffic flow through Keighley were highlighted recently with predictions that a permanent state of gridlock at certain times of the day was not beyond the bounds of possibility.

A perfectly reasonable and sensible call was made for a survey to be carried out to make sure this did not happen. Regrettably, the jury is still out on that one.

At the risk of stating the obvious, part and parcel of the wider picture is to encourage more and more people to use public transport for a variety of reasons.

As the number of commuters living in Keighley increases the need to meet their needs has to be put into the equation. K&DT have nailed their colours firmly to the mast.

Just as work begins to intensify on the future strategy of the area, with Airedale being identified as a major growth corridor connecting the district from Leeds to Craven, along comes yet another Monty Python foot from out of the sky.

This time Great North Eastern Railway decides to rain on the parade with its timetable changes to the early morning journey to King's Cross. It means Keighley's only direct train service to London will arrive half an hour later.

Not a great deal of time, some may say - but it is enough for business leaders to predict it is the death knell for the service, and frequent rail travelling MP Ann Cryer is fighting for the decision to be reversed.

GNER for its part feels it is still a good service as it arrives in London before 10am. Nonsense. It is a waste of time - for example it puts 10am appointments out of reach.

GNER must have looked at this scenario and have sound business reasons for making the change. Perhaps it would care to share its trains of thought with those working for the future of Keighley.

Even better, it could show its faith in the area by restoring the timetable. Otherwise travellers will need to find alternative ways of getting to London - defeating an object of traffic reduction.