KEIGHLEY’S £1 million Big Local regeneration programme has been awarded an extra £105,000.

The windfall will help the volunteer-run Big Local group look at ways to continue improvements once the existing 10-year programme finishes.

The Keighley Big Local Partnership is about halfway through its programme but members are already discussing ‘legacy’ projects to continue their work.

Big Local aims to improve life for residents in the ‘Keighley Valley’ area, which takes in Stockbridge, Worth Village, Parkwood, Hainworth Wood, Wesley Place and parts of Ingrow.

The programme is run entirely by residents of the various neighbourhoods with support from paid worker Shaun O’Hare.

The Keighley group heard this month that, along with all the UK’s other Big Local areas, they would receive an extra £105,000.

The money represents returns on investment from the original £150 million Big Local pot.

Big Local groups across the country are each spending their £1 million shares of the pot gradually over 10 years, meaning the rest of the cash accrues interest.

Mr O’Hare this week issued a joint statement with Airedale Enterprise Services, which is providing professional advice for the Big Local volunteers.

They said: “We are exploring options to sustain investment in our areas way beyond the 10-year Big Local programme.

“Big Local Partnerships are seeking longer-term economic security through mergers with other organisations and investment in revenue-generating projects.

“Examples include providing social housing and promoting community enterprise with surplus generated reinvested into more community projects”

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Mr O’Hare said the Keighley Big Local Partnership comprised 15 residents, from teenagers to pensioners, representing communities such as the Grange estate, Stockbridge, Dalton Lane, Strong Close, Thwaites Brow, Parkwood, Hainworth Wood, Woodhouse, Spring Bank and Red Holt.

Big Local trustees said they had decided to bring forward the distribution of extra investment because several Big Local areas were approaching full spend of their £1m. Keighley Big Local can access its share once the Partnership has included £105,000 within the next review of its spending plan. Trustees say this should enable members to plan for the future.