Action Airedale was set up by Bradford council's Regeneration department, in particular cllr Anne Hawkesworth and Alan Mainwaring (then head of the Department of Regeneration - now retired). Their aim was to create a group to lobby the Regional Transport Board and national government to back schemes (mainly road building but not uniquely so) and make additional monies available.
80 businesses and organisations (mostly local businesses) were invited to join Action Airedale. Representatives from 10 of these turned up to the first, and so far only, meeting. These included representatives from Craven council, WY Metro, Airedale PCT, T&A, Keighley Cougars, Airedale Springs, Prospect Park, Leach & Thompson, Magellan Properties, and Magna Holdings. MPs (including Philip Davies) and Town and parish councillors were also invited. District councillors were curiously not invited, though Shipley Green Councillor Hawarun Hussain found out about the meeting and turned up, despite the lack of invitation.
Action Airedale is currently inactive but will meet again at some future date, as required.
Anne Hawkeworth, Conservative councillor for Ilkley
(Wharfedale), instigated Action Airedale and sought Philip
Davies's support to launch the lobby group.
Links:
Bid to form business coalition
to improve transport (14/02/07)
News release by Philip Davies,
MP (20/02/07)