People with visions of how towns, cities and villages could look in the future often come in for a great deal of stick.

Quite often their plans look like something out of a science fiction set or cartoon, and the end result can bear little resemblance to the original blueprint.

But that is not a bad thing. Two more exciting future developments are currently being looked at -- one in the immediate future and another a few years hence.

Movable trees, an amphitheatre and an open-air market are among ideas for a revitalised Church Green. Hi-tech lights embedded in the ground could change colour and mood according to the seasons.

A detailed plan is being drawn up which town centre bosses believe is most likely to meet public approval.

The second idea is to put together a package for a £4 million lottery bid to improve Cliffe Castle Park. This newspaper has once again given its full support to the idea and is asking its readers to help draw up a wish list of new amenities for the popular park.

Older readers are being asked to recall attractions of by-gone days so they can be restored to their former glory. The park has to be restored to something like its old condition to comply with the heritage bid. That said, it also has to reflect what people want now.

You only have to look at the work done in Lister Park at Bradford and the plans for Roberts Park at Saltaire to see what could happen.

The shame is that it will be three years before the park bid can be submitted -- but it is essential that work begins now. It is hoped a friends group will be set up to help drive the initiative forward.

A bustling, booming town centre with a great choice of shops combining its hertiage with modern design is a major foundation stone of Keighley's future prosperity.

Before any cynics step forward they should take a good look round at what is happening in other parts of this country -- and elsewhere in the world -- to see just what can be done.

The masterplan for Airedale has stressed from the outset that the open areas around the district are assets to be treasured. Cliffe Castle park fits that bill.

Every plan being put forward for the future of Airedale is realistic and achievable given a fair wind stand a good chance of becoming a reality. Constructive criticism is fine but simply knocking ideas just for the sake of it is not on.

With local elections just round the corner it is worth getting a firm commitment -- no waffle -- from candidates as to how they will fight for the future this area richly deserves.

It is also worth asking what part they will still play in making things happen even if they are not the winner.