On 12th May I attended the Urban Renaissance Town Teams Meeting held at Ferrybridge Community Centre, there were two presentations regarding the 5 Towns Skills Academy which is to be a £25m investment in a new building at Glasshoughton, and the future of the Fryston / Wheldale Site which is being reclaimed by English Partnerships.

The meeting also received a progress report on other Towns including Knottingley, we were told that Urban Renaissance is a 25-year strategy and within it were proposals for the Knottingley Greenhouse Park and opportunities opened up by the new A1, along with the preservation of Knottingley’s limestone walls.

I raised the potential for further developments around the A162 and that some possibilities are being lost because developers are already developing some of the land around the canal frontage that was earmarked for longer term developments.

I expressed the view that future developments had to be in keeping with the wishes of local residents.

In order to progress it is the intention of the three local councillors to press for a development strategy for Knottingley to be produced.