After what seems an eternity, work has begun to finish the Shay Stadium and create a 21st-century mall on Broad Street.

All the posturing and false dawns behind us. A double whammy. The kind of news to lift the financial gloom hanging heavy over all of us.

Two projects guaranteed to enhance the reputation of the town, both in the way it looks and as an excellent destination for entertainment, shopping and leisure.

Work on the Shay began 10 years ago and was then abandoned. The site huts, mechanical equipment and buiders who are now on site are symbolic of change. A new start.

Now, like the town's football team, the stadium can rise from the threat of delapidation. A theatre of dreams that will hold 10,000 people.

Significantly it will not only be a home for sport but for learning, too.

For alongside the new changing rooms, control room, offices, shops and 300-seat banqueting suite will be classrooms for students from Calderdale College and Leeds Metro-politan University.

The Broad Street plan has been around longer and, in terms of the town's future prosperity, is perhaps even more important than the football stadium.

Scaffolding now surrounds the former Netto store and Star pub. The next step is demolition.

Then, providing there are no hitches, the town will get the kind of centre it has been begging for. One that will challenge other major towns and cities in West Yorkshire for business.

On taking his position as council chief executive, Owen Williams promised no more delays on key projects.

So far he is holding to his word. Progress only remains to be made on the Piece Hall.

But as the song goes, two out of three ain't bad. So let's make it a treble...