This week, work will begin on replacing 15 benches in the Town Hall Square. Keighley Town Council are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Square and have invested approximately £6,000 in the new benches. The new benches are manufactured from 100% recycled materials with a wood grain effect. They are durable, long lasting and will help to reduce future maintenance and upkeep costs.
Cllr Luke Maunsell, Chairman of the Allotments & Landscapes Committee which oversees the Town Hall Square commented, “Around a year ago, Cllr Mark Curtis and I submitted a motion to the Town Council.
Within this motion, was a desire for the Town Council to declare a Climate Emergency and to take meaningful action to help do our bit for the planet.
It passed and, since then, action has been taken to lower the carbon footprint of the Council including (but not limited to), paperless meetings and recycling at the Civic Centre beyond other measures.
I am proud that this commitment has extended to the committee I Chair and will help to ensure that the Town Hall Square remains a place to be proud of! It is the heart of the town and my committee will always maintain it to the highest standard possible.”
Some of the benches which have been earmarked for removal are being donated to the Lion’s Den, a Men’s Shed project based in the grounds of Cliffe Castle. Over the coming weeks the benches will be renovated as part of the Lion’s Den Winter project.
Allan Clark the representative from Lion’s Den commented, “we are currently planning to manufacture a series of raised bed planters and a site has been assigned for these in the grounds of Cliffe Castle, however we also need seating, which we were going to make after the planters. When the opportunity arose to try and incorporate a number of the benches from the Town Square, we heard the Town Council were replacing some benches. We sought permission to acquire the old ones, so we can repair and refurbish as an activity for our members where cost of repair is not the priority.”
The Lion’s Den Men’s Shed targets membership from, but not exclusively, mature men who may be suffering from Mental Health and Wellbeing issues, Loneliness, Isolation and Bereavement. They are a peer to peer support group using the activities to engage with members.
The Town Council have also launched a new Community Development initiative “A Seat with a View” where some of the old benches can be repaired and re-sited.
Work on installing the first batch of new benches will be completed this week with the remaining benches being installed early in the new year.
