Keighley's Town Centre Management group is the best in Britain.

The team was named the best in the UK during this year's Property Awards at a glittering ceremony in London this week - beating Bradford into second place.

As the celebrations continued town centre manager Sandra Parnham revealed that the group has big plans for the future. "Just because we have won doesn't mean we can sit back on our laurels," she said. "The work must go on."

The future business plan includes making the safety of shoppers a top priority, along with increasing street entertainment and involving more children in looking after their town.

Keighley scored highly because the team involves many big and small businesses, as well as the Airedale shopping centre. Judges were also impressed with the shop front clean-up, Christmas lights scheme and summer flowers.

The 18-inch tall bronze award, which arrived in Keighley this week, will get pride of place in a glass cabinet in the town hall. It was presented on Monday night at the Grosvenor Hotel, London, home of the previous day's British film awards, the Baftas.

Cllr Thorne describes the award as 'brilliant' and says: "I feel very proud of the way we worked together to achieve this."

Leslie Ord, manager of Keighley Business Forum, says the award will do a great deal to attract more visitors to the town. She says: "It is a prime example of what effective partnerships can achieve."

Menswear retailer David Petyt, a retail member of the town centre management, agrees that the 'fantastic achievement' will encourage more people to visit Keighley.

He says: "This is what was needed - people working together for the same goal."

Mrs Parnham hopes more businesses will support the management team and take it seriously as it tries to capitalise on the victory. She says a newly-launched venture, Keighley Pride, has already attracted an additional 15 members, but there are 450 businesses in the town. She also says there are plans to upgrade the front of Keighley Market.

Keighley's town centre scheme gets £11,000 in funding from six big companies and organisations - Boots, the Halifax, Marks & Spencer, Sunwin House, the Airedale Centre and Bradford council. Mrs Parnham says more big companies are seeing the benefit in supporting town centre schemes.

Organised for later this summer are five days of street entertainment, plus entertainment in the Airedale Centre, and the group will continue to organise displays in empty shops.

Opinion, page 10

The winning team, page 13

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