Eight public meetings are being held to give Highfield residents a chance to shape a bid for £4 million regeneration cash.

Local people can air their views on housing, health, crime, community safety, youth, business and the environment. They can put forward ideas for improvements to the team formulating an application for money from the government's Single Regeneration Budget (SRB).

The project has grown out of Keighley's existing SRB fund which is providing £18.7 million over seven years for the most run-down parts of Keighley.

The team responsible for writing the new bid stresses that community involvement is vital to its success. Highfield Action Group is already heavily involved, but other residents of all ages and walks of life are being urged to take part.

Each meeting will last up to two hours and concentrate on a specific issue already raised at previous meetings such as neighbourhood forums. All meetings will be held during February because a draft funding bid must be submitted to the government by the end of the month.

Once officials have commented on this first draft, residents will be consulted again and a final bid prepared for April. If the application is successful, Highfield people will join a special group responsible for spending the money.

The ambitious scheme involves restorations to run-down houses, environmental improvements and new community facilities such as play areas.

Andy Mudd, chairman of Keighley's SRB partnership board, believes many people will be interested in the meetings. He says: "We want people to speak to us about their hopes and fears, and shape the way things go in the future. The bid must be driven by the community."

People who do not want to talk at a meeting can go along to the SRB office opposite Keighley police station, write or phone 01535 618095.

The meetings: housing issues, Monday, Temple Row Disabled People's Centre, 6.30-8.30pm; community centre provision, Monday, Temple Row (small room), 6.30pm; general health issues, Tuesday, Highfield Middle School, 7pm; crime and community safety, Wednesday, New Devonshire House, Devonshire Street, 3.30pm; business issues, Wednesday, SRB office, 66 North Street, 5.30pm; youth issues, Thursday, Central Hall, Alice Street, 7pm; community and health issues (women only), Monday February 22, Playroom at 1 Devonshire Street, 1.30-3pm; environmental impact, Monday February 22, Temple Row Centre, 6.30-8.30pm.

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