BANDAG has praised Keighley Town Council for its efforts to create new woodland and improve footpaths in the North Beck valley.

The Keighley campaign group was delighted the £40,000-plus project supported its own vision of a footpath network linking central Keighley with the moors beyond Laycock and Oakworth.

BANDAG chairman, June Newell, described the town council’s actions, in partnership with other organisations, as “fantastic”.

She said: “With a couple of hundred yards of additional footpath it could put Keighley on the map nationally as 'Keighley's gateway to the Pennine, Millennium and Brontë Way'.

“Any move toward this realisation is surely a good thing. The council is continuing to conserve, preserve and enhance the North Beck. This valley has so much potential.”

BANDAG spoke out after the town council magazine, KTC Connect, highlighted the multi-agency Guardhouse Urban Woodland Project.

The town council has been spearheading work since last year to revitalise a strip of land it owns on the Guard House side of the North Beck.

The sloping land, near the North Dean Road allotments, has been described by the town council as uninspiring, disused and unwelcoming.

More than 9,000 trees and shrubs are being planted, creating new wildlife habitats and an uninterrupted band of trees from the town centre to Newsholme Dene. Paths are also being cleared.

Landfill charity WREN is providing £43,000, with further cash coming from Keighley Town Council and Trees For Cities.

BANDAG praised the project because it both enhanced one of BANDAG’s projects – protecting local footpaths – and because the land lies within the organisation’s heartland.

Although it now runs several environmental campaigns, BANDAG began as the Braithwaite and North Dean Action Group to protect the North Beck valley from a new housing estate.

Mrs Newell wrote to several town councillors this week to express BANDAG’s gratitude.

She said: “It was great news to learn that 8,000 deciduous trees have been planted in the North Beck.

“Your works include footpath upgrades, enabling both adults and children to enjoy bio-diverse walks across town, away from traffic."

Mrs Newell added the footpath improvements also cut down journey times for people across the valley to get to school or work, such as between Fell Lane and Braithwaite.

She said: “Keep up your good work and please press for the realisation of the ‘Gateway – Keighley’ – the town’s population deserves nothing less!”

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