More than 100 jobs will be created if plans by national brewing giants Whitbread to build a £2.5m hotel and restaurant complex in Crossflatts, near Bingley, get the go-ahead.

Dozens of more jobs in the construction industry will follow as the massive scheme covering 10,400 square metres of the old Sandbeds garden centre near the roundabout by the Magnet showroom, will take around six months to complete.

The mostly two-storey building will feature accommodation commensurate with a three star hotel, a Travel Inn with 41 bedrooms costing £38 a night and a Brewers' Fayre family licensed restaurant complete with fun factory.

There will be provision for 130 car parking spaces, with areas reserved for the disabled. Whitbread's communications co-ordinator Cheryl Brooks said: "We have been looking at sites in the area and will be delighted if it comes to fruition. It is quite a nice site with access onto a main road, the A650.

"We would hope to start work at the end of the year or early in 1999. It will be good news jobwise as most posts will be filled by local people."

A Keighley planning spokesman said the application would be discussed in committee on October 15. She said that there had been three objections from local residents traffic and noise fears and concern that the development would be obtrusive.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer welcomed the proposed development: "It will give employment and additional leisure facilities for the area. Keighley and Bradford are becoming increasingly popular as tourist destinations and I can only welcome the proposals."

Iain Copping, director of Keighley Business Forum, said: "I am delighted to see development taking place. I think we need better hotel provisions in the Aire Valley".

Bingley Police Inspector David Drucquer said he had not decided whether or not to oppose the application, which will be heard at Keighley Court on September 16.

Leisure centre gearing up

A £3.5 million leisure complex will generate more than 40 new jobs as Bradford's biggest health and fitness centre prepares to open its doors.

Cottingley Manor Health and Leisure Centre has been created from the shell of a former school.

It is set to officially open on September 27 when former Bradford doctor David Bareford will be demonstrating the skills that won him the world hot air ballooning championship.

The venture is the brainchild of five hospital doctors and five local businessmen. It offers Bradford's growing band of fitness enthusiasts a novel combination - the latest in leisure and also health care advice.

"This is one of the biggest and most exciting developments Bingley has witnessed recently," said Dr Liakat Parapia, a consultant haematologist at Bradford Royal Infirmary and chairman of the company behind the venture.

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