LOCAL groups and politicians have welcomed news that the centre of Keighley will become a "core walking zone."

West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transport Committee approved plans to create walking zones in five areas across the County at a meeting on Friday.

National and European experts will help develop the plans to improve conditions for people travelling by bike or on foot at key locations across the region.

In Keighley that will include getting more people walking through Keighley town centre, particularly to Keighley Station and Keighley College, rather than taking short car journeys within the town.

MP John Grogan said he was a big fan of walking around Keighley town centre and he did it all the time.

He said: “If you get chance to raise your gaze above street level there are some really good buildings like the library.

“The Royal Arcade is a hidden gem and I think one good move would be to design a better walking route from there into the Airedale Shopping Centre.”

The Walking Zone proposal was also welcomed by by Graham Benn, chairman of Keighley BID (Business Improvement District) which works to encourage more people to shop in Keighley and visit local attractions.

He believes pavements and roads in the town centre would benefit from improvements to help pedestrians get around safely.

He said one route ripe for improvement was along Cavendish Street, which runs past his shop, DIY Solutions, and connects the bus station and Airedale Shopping Centre with the railway station and Keighley College.

He said: “It’s difficult to cross at the Sainsbury’s junction, and also to cross Bradford Road at the bottom of Cavendish Street to reach the railway station and college.

“Anything that makes it easier for people to access the shopping centre is obviously a benefit to us.”

Safety concerns in Cavendish Street were also raised by district councillor Abid Hussain, whose Keighley Central ward would include the zone.

He said: “Cavendish Street is a mess for pedestrians at the moment because of the roads. The Sainsbury’s junction is very dangerous place to walk across.

“I would certainly welcome the Walking Zone on safety grounds, and I hope it comes about as quickly as possible. It’s a great opportunity for young and older people to have easier access around the town centre.”

Keighley environmental pressure group BANDAG this week pointed out that the Walking Zone idea is not new, since the council’s Core Strategy from the early 2000s called for investment in walking routes to encourage less car use.

The group called on Bradford Council to fulfil its legal duties for existing paths in the proposed zone, including reopening illegally-locked rights-of-way and clearing fly tipping.

A spokesman said: “Once opened, upgraded or cleared, the thousands of people who used to use these routes will once again use them.”

At the same meeting, plans to improve cycle links in South Bradford were also approved. The scheme will attempt to link with the Spen Valley Greenway, and encourage more people to cycle to Low Moor Station.

Dubbed the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, the scheme will feature include projects in Bradford, Leeds, Kirklees, Wakefield and Calderdale.