Local News
Keane Duncan defends campaign as Conservatives lose North Yorkshire mayor election
Keane Duncan has defended his campaign for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire after the Conservatives lost the election to Labour. Mr Duncan admitted that the national political picture “inevitably” affected his race to be mayor, but said Rishi Sunak should stay on as Prime Minister. Labour’s D...
Harrogate businessman broke man’s jaw in unprovoked pub attack
A Harrogate businessman has narrowly avoided jail after breaking a man’s jaw with a single punch – apparently because the unsuspecting victim was wearing an orange hat. Robert Darling, 27, who was unknown to the victim, sidled up to the man who was sat talking to friends outside a pub in Starbec...
Glum Tories in Harrogate see blue wall crumble in Rishi Sunak’s backyard
There was much talk at the last general election about the collapse of Labour’s red wall in its northern heartlands. Today’s York and North Yorkshire mayoral election was an opportunity to see if the Conservatives’ blue wall of control in England’s largest county was equally wobbly. It had c...
Labour’s David Skaith pledges to ‘get basics right’ as mayor
Newly elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, has pledged to “get the basics right” as the first mayor of the county. The Labour Party candidate won the inaugural mayoral election with 66,761 votes. Speaking after the result, Mr Skaith, who is originally from Harrogate, said he...
Tense day ends in clear victory for Labour’s Harrogate-born mayor
Labour’s David Skaith emerged as the clear winner today in the race to become York and North Yorkshire’s first directly elected mayor. Mr Skaith beat Conservative rival Keane Duncan by almost 15,000 votes, in a result announced at Harrogate Convention Centre at about 2.30pm this afternoon. The m...
As it happened: Labour’s David Skaith wins North Yorkshire mayoral election
Labour’s David Skaith was elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire at Harrogate Convention Centre today. Mr Skaith will be paid £81,300-a-year to lead the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, overseeing an annual budget of £18 million. He will have new devolved powers from Westminst...
Summer timetable announced for Nidderdale Dales Bus
Summer timetables have been released for the Nidderdale Dales Bus service. The 820 and 821 buses, which start in Keighley, will run on Sundays and bank holidays throughout the summer. Both services will depart from Keighley Bus Station at 9.25am, through to Norwood, Fewston and Swinsty and Fewston r...
Bomb disposal called after WWII bullet found near Harrogate
An area near Harrogate was yesterday cordoned off after a WWII bullet was found. In a statement by North Yorkshire Police, the force said the “live bullet” was found yesterday (May 2) on Law Lane, in Shaw Mills. Police said a family, who were walking on a footpath, “stumbled” across the live...
Political leaders say North Yorkshire mayor vote ‘too close to call’
Political leaders in North Yorkshire and York have said the region’s first mayoral election was “too close to call” as voters went to the polls. Ahead of the result of the vote being declared at Harrogate Convention Centre at around lunchtime on Friday (May 3), bookmakers had Labour’s David ...
Brew York to open today in historic Knaresborough pub
The Mitre in Knaresborough is to reopen today under the ownership of Brew York. Brew York acquired the pub, whose future appeared uncertain after it closed last year. The Mitre is one of three venues taken over by the independent brewery via an agreement with Market Town Taverns. Brew York, which ...
Person hospitalised after industrial accident near Boroughbridge
A person was taken to hospital following an industrial accident near Boroughbridge on Tuesday. Yorkshire Ambulance Service today said the incident was reported just after 10pm on April 30. A spokesperson said the ambulance was dispatched to a unit in the Becklands Close area of Roecliffe. One patien...
Harrogate primary school launches bike-lending scheme
A Harrogate primary school has launched a free bike-lending scheme. Oatlands Infant School, which is part of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, recently unveiled its ‘bike library’ to promote health and wellbeing. The school said the scheme will mean pupils, staff and family members can borro...
Harrogate to get its first repair café
A repair café is to open in Harrogate. The initiative, which is part of an international movement, promotes repairing items as an alternative to throwing things away. People are encouraged to come along with broken items and get them fixed on the spot with the help of volunteer repairers. There are...
Man arrested after making ‘threats to kill’ on Harrogate road
A man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill on a Harrogate road last night (May 1). North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today firearms officers were called to Woodfield Drive at about 7.40pm after receiving a concern for safety report. In a statement, the force told the Str...
Bookies name favourite in North Yorkshire mayoral election
Labour’s David Skaith is leading the race to be named mayor of York and North Yorkshire, according to Oddschecker. The betting company said in a press release today Mr Skaith had a 63% chance of victory in today’s poll. Conservative Keane Duncan is second in the betting, with a 30% chance, Liber...
Plans for extension at Knaresborough Waterside home approved
North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to demolish two outbuildings on Knaresborough’s famous Waterside to facilitate a housing extension. The three-storey property is in a prominent location on Waterside Road, which runs along the banks of the river Nidd and is a popular walking route for tou...
Northern Gas Networks apologises over ongoing Pannal roadworks
Northern Gas Networks has apologised after residents complained about ongoing roadworks in Pannal. The company started utility repairs and maintenance work on the A61 Leeds Road near to the traffic lights at the junction with Follifoot Road two weeks ago. The work includes temporary traffic lights i...
Six people on roof attempt to burgle Harrogate house
North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information following an attempted burglary at a home in Harrogate. According to a police statement today, five men and one woman climbed onto the roof of the home in St John’s Crescent in the Bilton area at 5.47pm on Tuesday (April 30). They then tried to f...
Grandsons’ vintage tractors to star at Tractor Fest
Grandfather Bill Moody’s passion for vintage tractors extends to his young grandsons whose special tractors will be starring at this year’s Tractor Fest extravaganza. Bill, 74, from West Auckland has a 10-strong collection of vintage tractors and is a regular exhibitor at Tractor Fest – the UK...
Forestry England to create 35-hectare woodland near Harrogate
Forestry England has announced it is to create a 35-hectare woodland near Harrogate. The woodland will be located at Haverah Park between Beckwithshaw and Killinghall. It will be known as Coronation Woods to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. The site will become the second Forestry Engla...