WORK will start next month on a £300,000 scheme to improve a pedestrian precinct in Keighley town centre.

A major section of Low Street and the whole of Cooke Lane will be resurfaced using natural stone paving.

New street furniture – including seats, litter bins and planters – will be provided.

And existing, heritage-style lighting columns are to be refurbished and fitted with new LED lights and electrical sockets that can be used for events.

For pedestrian safety reasons, a Traffic Regulation Order will be put in place to ban vehicle access between 10am and 4.30pm.

The scheme, being funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Local Transport Plan, has been designed by Bradford Council’s landscape design and highway maintenance north teams. Work will be carried out by its in-house contractor, which will liaise with affected businesses throughout.

A council spokesman said: “The scheme will bring about much-needed improvement to this area by creating a more inviting, high-quality pedestrian environment.

“Although the work will be disruptive in the short term, the completed scheme will provide a more attractive, safer and welcoming space which will also support retailers and other businesses in the town centre.”

The initiative is welcomed by Keighley Business Improvement District (BID) and the town’s Airedale Shopping Centre.

BID manager, Paul Howard, said: “Investment in Keighley town centre by Bradford Council is most welcome and we are delighted the works will commence shortly. The scheme will enhance the recent works to the North Street area through the Townscape Heritage Scheme and the memory garden on Church Green.

“The project will certainly help us in our efforts to provide an enhanced visitor experience in the town centre.”

Airedale Shopping Centre manager Steve Seymour said the work would “much improve” the pedestrian areas and make them more accessible for customers and visitors.

“I look forward to the following phases of these works to the rest of Low Street and surrounding areas,” he added.

Councillor Kim Groves, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport committee, said she was pleased to see the scheme getting underway.