The award-winning efforts of town centre managers to improve Keighley have failed to attract enough shoppers.

Takings in shops are among the worst in the country with nine out of ten reporting a drop in sales.

Problems such as poor toilets and street cleaning will continue to affect Keighley's future economic prospects.

These are among the revelations of a survey of town centres across the country by leading town planner John Lockwood.

But Keighley's Town Centre Management points out the survey was based on figures that are at least a year out of date.

They claim the past 12 months have seen new marketing initiatives, increased trade and a massive increase in shoppers.

John Lockwood, former director of a Halifax regeneration project, studied 280 towns and cities and suggested how they could attract more shoppers.

He particularly looked at the increasing role played by Town Centre Management -- partnerships of councils, shops, property owners and other organisations -- in improving towns' prospects. He says TCMs are transforming drab towns into vibrant places where improved promotion, environment and security is attracting people and lifting sales.

Keighley's own TCM won a "best in Britain" award in 1998 for its efforts to improve the town's appearance and involve businesses of all sizes.

It is part-way through a £300,000-plus marketing campaign which includes special attractions such as the summer children's festival.

Mr Lockwood accepts that Keighley -- largely thanks to the TCM -- has very good marketing and promotion, car parking, public transport and security. But he says the town centre has very poor toilets, little Sunday and late shopping, and mediocre street cleaning, policing and appearance.

Mr Lockwood says Keighley is affected by competition from shopping centres, including central Leeds, White Rose and Meadowhall.

His research reveals that over the six years up to the 1999/2000 financial year, less than half of Keighley's shops had takings above the rate of inflation.

The trend was downwards, with 90 per cent of stores doing worse that year than in the previous three years.

Councillor Andrew Mallinson, a member of Keighley TCM, says the picture is improving dramatically thanks to the efforts of town centre manager Sandra Parnham and her deputy Wendy Benson.

The number of shoppers coming through the doors of the Airedale Centre increased by almost half a million last year, he adds.

Cllr Mallinson, Conservative representative on the TCM, also cites the interest shown by supermarket chains in moving into Keighley or expanding, as well as other improvements on the horizon, including a new bus station, repairs to Cavendish Street canopy and redevelopment of Scott Street car park.

Cllr Mallinson says: "A strong partnership is now required of businesses, TCM and council to ensure the heightened interest in Keighley continues."

What do you think of Keighley town centre? Let us know by letter or e-mail to david.knights@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk