Two major developments which will impact on the future prosperity of this area have been revealed this week.

Firstly, more details of the new £20m Asda superstore have been submitted covering "reserved matters" on design issues.

The exact location of the store highlights just how close it is to the town centre.

Secondly, plans have been made public showing the new entrance canopy at Keighley Market Hall. Looking at that illustration there is every right for traders and customers to be highly delighted. It will add a whole new dimension to the town centre.

More and more initiatives like this are going to be needed to combat the potential impact of the new Asda store on the retail sector.

In some ways the supermarket giants can fight it out between themselves - they have the financial clout.

But what is going to be done to protect the smaller traders who make a massive contribution to the well-being of the town and of course the traders in our many other nearby towns and villages.

We have to see through all the smoke surrounding hundreds of new jobs and make sure that this development doesn't cost any more.

Once again we call for dynamic, positive leadership from our elected representatives at town and district level to come up with a strategy to make sure the numerous smaller shops, which have been loyal to the area for many years, stay in business.