Cash from the Budget to cut hospital waiting lists was been welcomed by Airedale Community Health Cou-ncil chief officer John Godward.

But he says waiting lists must be prioritised so treatment goes first to those with painful or life-threatening conditions.

Mr Godward says the £500 million cash boost will not have much impact in areas where there are huge waiting lists caused by staff shortages.

Keighley Pensioners Action Group chairman Harold Forsyth is angry the Chancellor did not target any help for senior citizens. He says planned cuts in the married couple's allowance will affect pensioners who have savings, taking them above the tax threshold.

He says: "The increased tax on petrol will cost my wife and I 28p a week. We're gaining nothing."

Budget measures like the Childcare Tax Credit should make the cost of child-care more affordable for low income families.

That's the view of Bryan Walkeden, co-ordinator for Keighley single parents nursery and after-school service Kiddicare. He says: "There's a lack of affordable child-care. This measure could mean even the cost of private childcare becoming more affordable."

Keighley estate agent Andrew Earnshaw does not expect house sales to be adversely affected by the Budget. Mr Earnshaw, who works for the Green Partnership on North Street, says he is looking forward to a good year of selling. "Miras has stopped where it is, and stamp duty has remained the same for houses round here," he says. "The housing market has been bouyant and there are a lot of houses coming on to the market."

Bracken Bank community worker Ian Kayley welcomes Budget measures to help working mothers and jobless people He says: "Any increase in allowance for women is a good thing, especially for childcare. We have young mothers in playgroup, and given the chance they would work."

On a personal level, Mr Kayley remains sceptical about any Budget. "Whatever they give they'll probably take away," he says.

Elderly clients of Keighley's Senior Health Awareness Project are unhappy the Budget offered little for elderly people. But they were gratified to hear the Government has pledged an extra £500 million for the National Health Service. Co-ordinator Linda Wright says: "If hospital waiting lists can be cut that will go some way to helping them."

A cash boost to help homeless people find jobs has been welcomed by Keyhouse housing advice service boss Jackie Coutts.

She hopes the planned 'mentoring' scheme will offer the homeless as good a chance as anyone else to take up the New Deal. A national network of mentors will help, advise and motivate people who might otherwise be excluded from the government jobs initiative.

Jackie says: "It's desperately needed."

People can't seek work when they've got nowhere to live."

The Budget is good for business, according to Keighley accountant and Business Forum chairman Tim Parr.

Mr Parr, a tax partner at Howarth Clark Whitehill, says further reduction of Corporation Tax gives a very good rate of taxation.

He believes people operating as sole traders or partnerships may be able to halve their tax bills.

He also says tax and benefits changes will enable low income families to keep more of what they earn, and should help solve local staff shortages.

The Budget did little to protect the environment, says local Green campaigner Penny Ward.

She believes the Chancellor's planned tax cuts for small cars, and further proposals for next year, are not enough.

She says: "It was very much a budget for welfare, which is welcome, but when it comes down to the environment he didn't perform.

"I would have liked to see a real commitment to public transport. There is a need to reduce car usage and emissions."

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