Businesses and councillors are to join forces in an aim to give a fresh boost to Brighouse.

The Brighouse Regeneration Forum is set to meet for the first time next month, bringing together ward councillors in Brighouse and Rastrick and business leaders from the existing Build a Brighter Brighouse Project (3Bs).

The new group aims to bring together all bodies involved in the town's regeneration to boost links with Calderdale Council and attract new investors.

And Tesco, Boots and Sainsbury's - which is set to open a new supermarket in Milestone Wharf in December - will be invited to join the group if they agree to contribute to regeneration costs in the town.

Brighouse ward councillor Dorothy Anderson said: "The forum will be the chance involve a wider base of business people in Brighouse.

"Businesses have a big stake in the town and they are able to take a long-term view without a political slant.

"At the moment there are several fragmented groups.

"We feel we are at the bottom of the list of Calderdale Council's priorities and this will give us a far stronger voice."

Brighouse town centre manager Bill Terry said the 3Bs would continue to instigate regeneration but the new forum would provide a policy overview.

"The ward councillors felt they wanted more involvement in the town's regeneration," he said.

"Getting councillors involved will also give the 3Bs and other groups a more direct input into the council which will speed up communication."

Since the launch of the 3Bs in 1989, the group has managed to transform Brighouse's canal banks, the open-air market, and, more recently, has attracted Sainsbury's to the town.

The new forum will invite the 3Bs and the Brighouse Business Club to nominate members to its meetings.

Calderdale and Kirklees TEC has pledged to support the costs of a regeneration project officer. Calderdale Council plans to reduce its financial support to the project but an increase in support from businesses is expected to make up any shortfall.

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