A KEIGHLEY company has pledged its commitment to the town with two major developments.

Multi-award-winning motor dealer Colin Appleyard is carrying out an extensive revamp of its Suzuki showroom site, in Halifax Road.

The £750,000 venture includes a road-widening scheme to provide easier vehicular access, additional parking spaces for customers and a 'handover bay'.

As part of the initiative, due to be completed later this month, there will also be a larger forecourt.

And increased demand for car servicing has created the need for an extra workshop bay.

Meanwhile, an expansion project is underway at the firm's Wellington Road multi-franchise motorcycle showroom.

The company recently bought the former Hargreaves building adjacent to the showroom, which will allow for an extension to the bike workshop facilities and extra customer parking.

The changes will also create an enlarged used-bike showroom, plus the building will house additional workshop bays for Appleyard's nearby Nissan dealership.

With the company's sales of Suzuki cars continuing to grow – there has been a nine per cent year-on-year increase, bucking a national trend which has seen overall new-car sales drop by about a fifth – managing director Robin Appleyard is confident about the dealer's future in Keighley.

He said: "Ever since my father opened our motorcycle dealership in 1971, to be followed nine years later by the country's first Suzuki car showroom, Keighley has provided the base for the company's expansion into a multi-million pound business.

"These latest developments show we have every confidence in the future of retailing in the town."

Mr Appleyard added that the firm's commitment to Keighley had been further endorsed by the successful purchase of the Nissan dealership five years ago, where sales are also going from strength to strength.

The company also has Suzuki car dealerships in Huddersfield and Ashton-under-Lyne. In addition the branches hold official Subaru franchises.

Appleyard's former Shipley showroom was recently relocated to Canal Road, in Bradford.

Colin Appleyard Cars has won a clutch of awards over the years.

Its successes have included several Suzuki Dealer of the Year accolades.