A SENIOR councillor who sparked anger when he described Keighley as “a dying town” has put forward a ten-point revival plan.

Cllr John Pennington, the Conservative group leader on Bradford Council, is proposing a series of measures which he says will help breathe new life into the town.

His suggestions include a hotel instead of the planned hub on the former college site in North Street, with a park in front dedicated to Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom Moore.

He also wants a police presence returned to the old police station, now the civic centre.

Other ideas include free two-hour on and off-street parking, a new website promoting Keighley, a marketing campaign spotlighting the town’s attractions and its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales, free visitor information and maps, and support for two rail projects – the linking-up of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway to the mainline network and the reopening of the Skipton-Colne line.

Cllr Pennington – who represents Bingley ward on the council, but lives at Riddlesden – says action is desperately needed to rejuvenate the town.

And he warns that if proposals to pedestrianise Cavendish Street go ahead, they could sound a further death knell.

“Something must be done,” he said.

“In Cavendish Street there are ten empty units, a boarded-up heritage pub, vacant apartments and the once-grand Victoria Hotel which has been closed since 2012.

“If the street is shut to traffic, you can kiss goodbye to the remaining shops.

“The council-owned and run market has empty stalls and there are vacant units in the Airedale Shopping Centre.

"North Street has some wonderful buildings – however, many are empty and unloved."

But he is accused by the leader of Labour-run Bradford Council, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, of "doing Keighley a disservice".

She added: "Keighley is a huge contributor to the economic success of the district.

"Whilst Cllr Pennington knocks its hard-working people and businesses at every opportunity, we are getting behind them to get things done."

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, the executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, says Cllr Pennington is "out of touch" with what's already happening in Keighley.

He added: "The council, Keighley Business Improvement District and other partners identified many of these issues a long time ago and are now delivering much of what he’s belatedly calling for. We have a marketing and visitor information push, free on-street parking, we’ve got the Discover Keighley website, we support the Skipton-Colne rail link and have lobbied his Government to invest in it, plus we are working closely with the police to enable their return to the town centre.

"We are delivering on our positive vision for Keighley, together with partners, by investing in the town’s infrastructure and revitalising its heritage."