BOLD ideas to make Keighley a more integrated and successful town were broadcast at a conference.

The event, called “An Integrated Keighley?” was led by MP John Grogan, working with the town council, Bradford Council and also Keighley College, which hosted the gathering today. (Jan 18)

The initiative follows a Government a green paper which identified five areas across the country, including Bradford and Keighley district, which required support to promote integration.

Up to £50 million has been allocated to these areas, to support activities encouraging people from different communities to mix.

Conference speakers included Kim Leadbeater, sister of murdered Batley & Spen MP Jo Cox, Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev Toby Howarth, Imam Mohammed Hussain, of Keighley Central Mosque, Bradford Council leader Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Samayya Afzal, from Muslim Council of Britain and Bradford Lord Mayor Cllr Zafar Ali.

Among invited guests were representatives from charities, religious groups, community welfare organisations, businesses and West Yorkshire Police, along with professionals from the education and health sectors.

The day featured discussions, workshops and a film about social cohesion in Keighley.

Addressing the conference, Mr Grogan acknowledged this was not the first time such a project had taken place in Keighley.

He said sport was one way to break down barriers between communities, citing the enthusiastic response to showing the England football World Cup semi final match on a big screen at Cougar Park.

He also suggested Keighley should set itself a target to ensure all its residents can speak English, arguing this was a very progressive aim.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said Bradford and Keighley district had not waited to be told from outside how to tackle integration, but was already pursuing its own strategy.

Stressing the key role of workplaces, she added: “If you’re in employment you have a great opportunity to meet people who you’d not have met otherwise.

“It’s work that brings people together regardless of where they are from.

“It’s also about having pride in where you live. I believe that if you live somewhere with a healthy town centre you feel better about yourself, and when people are happier its easier for them to get on with people from other communities.

“We are a place of faith and politics in Bradford district. These are things we talk about all the time here.

“This can be uncomfortable for many people but we have to embrace those differences. Talking about things makes us stronger – who wants to be bland?”

Cllr Ali said: “I’m pleased to see MP John Grogan has taken the lead in bringing people together to discuss the ways forward. I am myself, a long-time resident of Keighley and I know and love the town and its people.

“We have a wonderful mix of communities and looking at fresh, different ways of bringing people together will be stimulating and rewarding.”

Ms Afzal said barriers to integration include discriminating against minority job seekers and unfairly accusing Muslims who embrace the democratic process of infiltrating and subverting the system.

She said building a cohesive society is a responsibility for everyone, and should not be about “civilising” migrant communities.

Guests who added their own input included former town mayor Graham Mitchell, who praised Keighley as a place of charity, goodwill and co-operation.

He said far right groups such as the British National Party and English Defence League had failed when they tried to destabilise the town.