Regeneration work in Keighley has impressed another high-powered government official.

John Tench, a director of the Audit Commission, visited the town to see Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) schemes at first hand.

His tour focussed on some of the £191,126 of community safety projects funded through SRB over the past 12 months. Mr Tench immediately changed his speeches at two conferences in Chester and London so that he could mention the Keighley schemes.

Almost four million pounds of government cash has been spent on regeneration schemes in Keighley over the past 12 months. A high-powered committee of local people decided how best to spend the cash on projects helping businesses, communities and schools.

The money improved hundreds of council houses, helped create dozens of jobs, supported many voluntary groups and funded several anti-crime initiatives.

The Single Regeneration Budget money benefited thousands of people in central Keighley, surrounding terraced streets and the town's biggest council-housing estates.

Details of SRB spending for the 1997/98 financial year were revealed this week to members of Keighley Area Panel. The group, made up of Bradford councillors who represent Keighley, gave unanimous praise to the team behind the improvement schemes.

The largest amount of cash - more than £1.8 million - was spent on housing, including new low-rent housing around the town centre and support for young people.

More than £750,000 was spent on schemes to boost the local economy including shop and factory improvements, business advice, street lighting and waste minimisation.

Another £681,000 went on education schemes, including reading support, nurseries, anti-truancy work, worker training and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Community groups in Bracken Bank, Holycroft and Lawkholme benefited alongside organisations like the Domestic Violence Forum, SHAPE and Citizens Advice Bureau.

The area panel this week approved the latest £100,000 package of SRB projects which will help protect local jobs, support voluntary groups and stop youngsters playing truant.

They include a £42,000 engineering scholarship scheme for 20 young people and a £28,000 training scheme for local workers.

Also benefiting is Holy Family School, Keighley Furniture Store and the planned Oaks/Health Centre link-up. Local firms receiving grants towards improvement work are NSF Controls, Asset Womenswear, Autopoint and Cobra Design.

SRB coordinator Lyn Spencer told the area panel that a new delivery plan, detailing spending in Keighley for the next 12 months, had been verbally approved by the government.

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