Shahid to meet with council leader and chief exec
14 September 2007
The government minister will meet with Chief Executive Rob Vincent, Director of Regeneration Ken Gillespie and council leader Robert Light and follows recent claims from the MP that Dewsbury was suffering as a result of neglect from Kirklees.
Last month the Labour MP announced the creation of a new strategic partnership, Dewsbury Forward, which will be officially launched later this year and will work alongside the council and the regional development agency to help attract investment and coordinate development.
Speaking ahead of the meeting Mr Malik said: "The council is a vital vehicle in terms of helping to drive forward the regeneration of Dewsbury, and on that basis it's absolutely critical that they work with local stakeholders, listen carefully to people in the town and progress in a considered and thoughtful manner."
Mr Malik said that he hoped his many years of regeneration experience at local and national level would prove useful and stressed the importance of listening to and prioritising local people.
"Plans for the future of the town must account for the desires and wants of local people. Hurrying into anything that has not been thoroughly thought through could be counter productive"
"The revival of the town centre and the renewal of the town as a whole are too important to be left to others, it's up to local people, local businesses and local voluntary organisations to lead and support regeneration. Dewsbury Forward will play the challenging role of providing the local strategic leadership that will help ensure effective regeneration."
ENDS