PEOPLE across Keighley went to the polls yesterday to have their say over the future of the town's former college site.

And the majority of electors have said the land should be retained as a public open space.

It is planned to build a multi-million-pound health and wellbeing centre on the site, at the junction of North Street and Cavendish Street – which backers say will provide a massive boost to healthcare provision in the town, regenerating the plot and bringing jobs into central Keighley.

But campaigners are calling for the land – which was grassed over following the demolition of the old college buildings – to be retained as an open area, and the ‘health hub’ built instead on an alternative brownfield plot in the town.

Three questions were put to the electorate, and responses were:

Do you want a health and wellbeing hub in Keighley? Yes 5,027; No 933

Do you want a health and wellbeing hub on the vacant land at the corner of North Street & Cavendish Street? Yes 2,669; No 3,294

Should the vacant land at the corner of North Street & Cavendish Street be recognised as a public open space? Yes 3,750; No 2,352

It had been decided at a parish meeting, held at Keighley Civic Centre last month, to hold a poll to give the whole electorate – around 40,000 people – an opportunity to have its say.

The voting process was overseen by Bradford Council.

The number of people entitled to vote was 40,436. Number of votes cast was 6,479 – a turnout of 16.02 per cent.

Keighley town mayor, Cllr Luke Maunsell, says: "Electors in Keighley called for a parish poll in order to enable them to have a say on the future of the old college site.

"They did this as they felt strongly on the issue and didn't feel that this was being adequately appreciated or heard. Well, they have been now.

"The majority have voted for it to be designated a green space and against a hub being built on the site in one of the most significant, democratic votes in recent Keighley history.

"As mayor, I fully respect this decision and urge that this view is taken seriously by those with the power to act.

"This parish poll has received a lot of undue and unfair criticism seemingly by people fearful of listening to the electors of the town.

"We live in a democracy, people have a right to be heard but above all a right to be respected and defended when they speak up.

"This has ultimately been a useful and good democratic exercise which would have been unnecessary had simple steps been taken beforehand to listen to and facilitate alternative views from the start.

"I hope positive change can come from this to make sure that this town's voice is heard clearly and loudly in any future decisions on the hub and is above all given the right platforms and opportunities to be listened to going forward."

Keighley MP Robbie Moore says: "Keighley has spoken, and must be heard. This is an absolutely emphatic result, which clearly shows that people right across Keighley want to keep our much-loved green space on North Street green. I am so grateful to each and every one of the hard-working campaigners who have done so much to make this result possible.

"What is clear now is that Bradford Council must listen to the clear view of my constituents in Keighley and protect the green space from development. We should have never been in this situation in the first place, and they must now give serious consideration to the many brownfield sites we have in Keighley and ensure the health and whellbeing ub is built in a suitable location, so it can provide its important provision as soon as possible."

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw - Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport - said: “Everyone wants a health centre in Keighley town centre. Whilst the turnout was very low, that remains clear. We know that some people want it on a different site, the reality is though that it can only go in one place. This site is to be given free to the NHS by the council and our cash-strapped NHS doesn’t have any money to buy an alternative site. 

“We have to act now because £3.4m secured through the Towns Fund will otherwise be lost along with the opportunity to bring 200 jobs into the town centre.

“Both the town council and Robbie Moore MP sit on the Keighley Towns Fund board where this has been discussed in detail a number of times. To see them put forward questions in the poll suggesting there is a suitable selection of sites to choose from is deeply disappointing and misleading. The NHS trust will of course incorporate as much greenery and public space into the design as possible, this is clearly shown in the early designs.

“You have to question the value to the Keighley taxpayer at a cost of £70,000 to run the poll, which is over £10 per voter and nearly ten per cent of the town council annual income which might have been better spent on the town centre or supporting residents with the cost of living crisis. Especially when a similar number of people have already expressed their opinion via two petitions with nearly 2,000 people against the proposals yet almost 3,000 people in favour.

“Our focus remains on working with the Airedale NHS Trust and other partners to deliver the best scheme possible for the people of Keighley.”