An unpopular Keighley shopping arcade could be given public cash to help improve its image and attract more customers.

Owners of Cavendish Court have asked Single Regeneration Budget bosses for cash to help provide new flooring and heating. They claim at least one existing tenant is willing to make a substantial investment and a town centre trader plans to take on a large retail unit.

The SRB partnership board last week decided to delay any funding decision until it hears concrete details of the arcade owners' plans.

Andy Mudd, the board's chairman, stressed his members' commitment to the future of Cavendish Court. "It is an important part of the centre of Keighley," he said. "We want to see development that contributes to the town's regeneration."

The board, which met last Thursday, agreed to fund a counsellor at Holy Family School for one term, rather than the full year applied for. It also approved grants for Keighley Furniture Service, a new engineering apprenticeship scheme and a planned link-up between voluntary groups and Keighley Health Centre.

The SRB board turned down a proposal to use unemployed youngsters on the government's New Deal scheme to surface unadopted Keighley streets.

Members deferred decisions on grant bids by drugs agency Project 6, to employ a worker in the Asian community, and the proposed Training Voucher scheme.

They also refused to give extra cash to the newly-opened Shimla Spice Restaurant to provide ventilation for the cellar. The SRB board has already given the business £27,500 towards the cost of rebuilding its South Street property.

One of the government's top men in the North toured Keighley last week to witness regeneration work at first hand.

Top civil servant Jeremy Walker toured the town with Keighley's Single Regeneration Budget bosses. Mr Walker, a regional director based in Leeds, was shown how the government's £18.7 million cash boost is being spent. He saw how Keighley firms are creating new jobs and protecting employers by improving or expanding their premises. He also saw improvements to town centre buildings and some of the thousands of Keighley council houses being renovated.

Mr Walker told us he was very impressed with the commitment and partnership work of the SRB team in Keighley.

He said: "It's good to see that the government's investment is producing visible results.

"There are both economic and environmental improvements. We're clearly helping businesses to compete better, create new jobs and improve the look of sites."

"SRB has clearly made significant differences already and that bodes well for the future."

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