Keighley man Arthur Goff has been honoured for his work supporting fellow residents of council flats in the West Lane area of the town.

Arthur, 57, has been named this year's recipient of the Bob Pursell Award for achievement in 'tenancy involvement'. He is chairman of the tenants' association representing residents of West Lane, Leeds Street, Newtown Court and New-town Close.

The award was instigated two years ago in the memory of Bob Pursell who was a leading light in the Parkwood Rise tenants' group. Residents of any Bradford council property in Keighley can make nominations and the final choice is made by two housing officers and one tenant. Arthur was one of seven local people nominated for this year's award, which was presented on Tuesday during a ceremony at Parkwood Rise Community Centre.

Arthur was one of the founders of the West Lane group almost three years ago, building it into an organisation representing about 170 people in 90 flats and houses. It was set up after Arthur met an elderly woman who had lived in the flats 20 years but still didn't know her neighbours.

Arthur also serves on Keighley Tenants Alliance which brings together the 14 tenants' groups in Keighley, Bingley and Ilkley. The alliance works closely with the council on issues affecting their homes such as repairs, rents and improvement work.

Arthur is proud that his group was able to get the West Lane flats included in the Single Regeneration Budget programme, which is providing improvements such as double glazing. He also sits on the district tenants' federation and is Neighbourhood Watch coordinator for the West Lane flats.

Other nominations for the Bob Pursell Award were Fred Double from Woodhouse, Audrey Paige from Braithwaite, Bill Keefe and George Edge from Parkwood Rise, Louise Hall from Bingley and Janet Gent from Ilkley.

Gerry Pickersgill, Keighley's housing manager, is delighted that some were nominated by people from outside their own areas. He says: "There's a lot of networking going on."

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