A KEIGHLEY councillor has called for the derelict site of the stalled Worth Valley Shopping Centre complex to be cleaned up.

Members of Keighley Town Council were reacting to the announcement – revealed in last week's Keighley News – Leeds-based developers Stainsby Grange will no longer be leading the delayed £30 million project.

Bradford Council has said it is working with a new potential developer to create a shops and leisure scheme on the five-acre East Parade site.

But speaking during last Thursday's full town council meeting, Cllr Michael Westerman urged the district council to take action to make the land more attractive for any new enterprise.

Addressing Keighley Central district councillor Khadim Hussain, he asked: "Will Bradford Council ask Stainsby Grange to clean up the mess because as it is at the moment, no one else will touch it?"

Cllr John Kirby asked if there was any reason behind Stainsby Grange pulling out, adding: "With the Broadway shopping centre in Bradford now opening, Keighley seems to be being left behind.

"We're left with a big, gaping hole, which looks disgusting, and nothing seems to be happening.

"The residents of Keighley want to see people coming here and investing in the town. Bradford Council needs to do a bit more."

Cllr Hussain responded: "The council will make sure they clean the site up and make it useable. It's privately owned land, but this is a prime site in the town.

"There will eventually be effective use of that site. I can't give you the reason why they [Stainsby Grange] pulled out."

Cllr Hussain faced questions about other parts of the town centre, including news the former post office in Towngate might accommodate a bookies.

Cllr Ian Dermondy warned: "We'll have five bookies within less than a five-minute walk of each other. Can we appeal to people who let these properties out to give more consideration to what type of business they let to?

"People are leaving Keighley to shop at the Broadway centre instead."

Deputy mayor, Cllr Gary Pedley, asked what was happening with the former Keighley College buildings in North Street and Cavendish Street, which have now been empty for five years.

As previously reported in the Keighley News, Bradford Council has been unable to find a buyer for the North Street former college building. The sale of the nearby Cavendish Street property has been held up because it first needs to be authorised by a Government department.

Cllr Hussain said: "Bradford Council has been pursuing this but the Government is dragging its heels.

"We've been banging our heads against a brick wall, and we're no nearer to finding out who is behind this stagnation.

"You should be writing to your MP to find out what the Government is doing."