Campaign to save Green Space Brought to forefront in Parliament

The campaign to protect the Green Space on North Street has been given national attention following a debate held specifically on the matter in Parliament. Keighley’s MP Robbie Moore took the unique opportunity to hold his own personal debate in the House of Commons Chamber to raise this matter, ahead of a public vote on whether to build on the Green Space on Thursday 21 July.

With the vote just this Thursday, Moore used the debate to make a final case for the argument against Bradford Council’s plans to build on the Green Space on North Street in Keighley. He stated that the site is a precious, unique site right in the heart of town, which has such an important role in making Keighley an attractive place to be. He also refuted Bradford Council’s argument that there is an ‘either/or’ choice between having a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub or building on the green space, with Moore citing the many other brownfield sites and empty buildings available in Keighley.

In his response on behalf of the Government, Minister Eddie Hughes praised Moore’s efforts, describing him as:

“incredibly passionate about this cause and a strong campaigner on behalf of his constituents.”

He was also supportive of the campaign, arguing that Local Authorities should listen to local communities, and the Government is working hard to discourage development on green spaces and encourage development elsewhere.

At the end of his speech, Moore also bought attention to the next generation in Keighley. He referenced a set of letters sent to him by students in Year 6 at St Anne’s Primary School, which is situated just up the road from the Green Space. The letters regarded how the Green Space must be protected from being built on and how much better the centre of town could look with more trees and green planting. Moore urged everyone in Keighley to vote to protect the Green Space for their sake on 21 July.

Robbie Moore MP said: “The campaign to protect the Green Space on North Street is so important, and I am using absolutely every opportunity I can to make our case. This included having the very unique opportunity of my own personal debate in Parliament specifically on the matter, meaning I could bring it to the forefront of attention.

It was good to have Parliamentary time to list the reasons for protecting the Green Space. This includes the fact it is a precious piece of land with so much potential to be a public open space in Keighley, and to build on the site would be irreversible. Indeed, I also got the opportunity to once again refute Bradford Council’s argument that this is an ‘either/or’ choice between protecting the Green Space or having a new Health and Wellbeing Hub; we can and should have both. It is deeply disappointing that no other sites have been properly explored or investigated for a new Health & Wellbeing Hub by Bradford Council.

With not long to go until the public vote, I will keep working hard to make sure as many people as possible vote to protect our Green Space on Thursday 21 July.”