The news that the Bingley relief road is to be built has dispersed a huge black cloud hanging over Keighley. At long last there is a very real chance of taking even greater strides to regenerate the district and improve the lot of those who live, work and travel to and from here.

It will stop Keighley from being shunted into a

backwater.

But several issues must now urgently be addressed. Firstly, it is imperative that the schedule for building the road is announced. We must know when it is going to start and finish so that plans, some of which are already in place, can be activated.

Secondly, and just as important, just what is going to happen with Hard Ings Road and the Skipton-Kildwick road? Those who are in business or live and work in the Hard Ings Road area should also be told as soon as possible just what the 'scaled down' plans are going to be. As John Prudhoe of Fibreline says, it is no good being delighted until they know what the proposed

solutions are going to be.

Thirdly, the campaigns to improve and provide a good public transport system for the Aire Valley must

continue. The Bingley relief road is not the panacea for all the valley's transport problems and the views of those who do not share the joy that the road is to be built should be respected.

All that said, it is great news for Keighley and a victory well won by those who kept up the pressure on the Government for it to be built.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.