Councillors

Councillors of all political parties in Wakefield have unanimously voted in favour of a freeze and on their allowances.

Councillor allowances freeze unanimously approved

Members of the Labour-run authority will vote on two proposals put forward by Conservative councillors at a meeting on November 27.

Call for Budget U-turn and scrapping of £3 bus fares

The Labour-run authority, like many council across the country, is also facing mounting financial pressures.

Councillors set to vote for allowances freeze

Councillors were told youngsters at some schools across the district were about to receive support from Leeds-based organisation Zarach.

Bed poverty charity to help district’s sleep-deprived children

Wakefield Council leader Denise Jeffery said she did not think it appropriate for councillors to accept an increase in allowances as residents struggle with the cost of living crisis.

Councillors to be asked to vote for freeze on their own pay

Developer Banks Property has been given permission for a major residential development at an 11-hectare site to the east of Wakefield Road, Hemworth.

Major housing scheme for Hemsworth approved

Planning have recommended that a plan to demolish chicken sheds at farmland in Thorpe Audlin to build a house be refused.

Plan to demolish chicken sheds to build house on green belt adjourned

Taylor Wimpey has been granted planning permission to build over 400 homes on 18 hectares of land at Altofts Hall Farm.

Altofts homes plan set for green light after controversial development approved

Planning have recommended that a plan to demolish chicken sheds at farmland in Thorpe Audlin to build a house be refused.

Plan to demolish chicken sheds to build house ‘inappropriate’ for green belt

Annie Valentine is sick of people putting rubbish in the recycling bins.

'It grinds me down...it's not low-level crime when you live with it'

Wakefield Council’s planning committee turned down the proposals to construct a new building to store machinery at Foulby Farm.

Councillors vote against company’s plan to improve security at Wakefield farm

Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee is to reconsider plans to build 35 retirement homes on land off Nevile Drive, Walton.

New plans for Walton retirement village approved

The council’s corporate and resources scrutiny committee were told the sum is 3.5% above the council’s net budget of £285m.

Wakefield Council facing £9.9m budget overspend

Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee is to reconsider plans to build 35 retirement homes on land off Nevile Drive, Walton.

Redrawn retirement village plan recommended for approval

The former Kiko's nightclub in Pontefract town centre looks set to be sold off by Wakefield Council to make way for housing.

Former Kiko’s nightclub set to be demolished to build ‘iconic’ affordable homes

Councillors have granted a premises licence for The Corner Shop, Smawthorne Lane, Castleford, with a condition that alcoholic slush is not sold at the store.

Shop owner scraps ‘minefield’ plan to sell alcoholic slush
A store owner has been given permission to sell alcohol after councillors were told that he had abandoned plans to serve ‘vodka slushies’ to customers.
Tony Gardner

Gary Hough, 62, looks up to the skies outside his home surrounded in seagull

'Horrified' residents invaded by 'apocalyptic' swarm of seagulls

West Yorkshire Police has objected to a four-day eco-friendly festival being held Newland Park, Wakefield.

Four-day eco-festival plan in Wakefield approved

Coun Karen Bruce claimed that a Pop Tart was to blame for a dramatic toaster fire that nearly torched her kitchen.

I put a Pop Tart in toaster - my kitchen almost went up in flames

Councillors and residents opposed to proposals to expand the retirement living community in Walton village attended the planning meeting at Wakefield Town Hall.

Developer told to rethink retirement community expansion plan

Councillors have been recommended to approve plans to build 298 homes on land off Common Lane, Knottingley.

Plan to build 298 homes next former chemical works approved

Hazel Garth Care Home, Knottingley.

Call for answers over Knottingley care home closure

Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee is to consider plans to build 35 retirement homes on land off Nevile Drive, Walton.

More than 150 residents against village retirement community expansion

Plans to build 112 homes on land next to South Elmsall railway station have been recommended for approval.

Major housing estate set for land beside South Elmsall rail station

A ‘high number’ of Wakefield Council’s CCTV cameras are out of use or substandard, a meeting heard.

‘High number’ of CCTV cameras not working or substandard, report says

Philip Waller, 65, returned from a shopping trip last week to find that a broadband firm had erected the pole outside his house in Barnsley, South Yorks. Lee McLean/SWNS

Watch: Broadband pole was put outside my home but I had it taken down

1000s of households to get direct payment worth £125 - how to apply Alex Nelson

Wakefield Council looks set to scrap plans to build houses on the old Parkhill Colliery site at City Fields in favour of a new school.

Council set to scrap City Fields housing scheme to build new school

Wakefield Bus Station

Disruption at Leeds and Wakefield bus stations due to leaky roofs

Westgate, Wakefield

Frustration over decision to axe Wakefield rail services

The Redbeck Motel and Cafe, on Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, could be demolished to build 90 new homes.

Civic society against plan to demolish ‘literary significant’ Redbeck Motel

Michael Perkins is fighting for right to park on his own drive in Warndon, Worcester

Watch: Council ban owner of 'eyesore' motorhome from parking on drive

Wakefield Council has chosen Tony Reeves as the preferred candidate to take over as its new permanent chief executive.

Tony Reeves set to be council’s new permanent chief executive

Exterior of The Groucho, Dean Street, Soho. Image credit: DSEMOTION

Groucho Bretton: A-list celeb venue will put Wakefield ‘on the map’

Wakefield Council has rejected an application for a premises licence for a proposed Ukrainian grocery store, called Mleczko, on Kirkgate.

Alcohol licence application for Ukrainian grocery store rejected

Councillors have rejected Ossett Academy's application to build an artificial football pitch at Green Park.

School’s plan to build floodlit artificial football pitch in Ossett rejected

Steve Tulley, councillor for South Elmsall and South Kirkby.

Councillor warns of road safety risks and congestion over industrial estate

Up to 2,500 jobs could be created.

Plans for old power station site approved

Langthwaite Business Park, near South Kirkby could become home to a £51m national centre for creative industries.

Plan for major extension to Langthwaite Business Park set to be approved

Ferrybridge Power Station

Plan to redevelop former Ferrybridge C power station site could create jobs

Ossett Academy has applied to build an artificial grass pitch and changing pavilion with 76 car parking spaces on land at Green Park.

School's new floodlit 3G football pitch plan recommended for approval

Akef Akbar said he made the remark in response to being accused of being a Tory.

Wakefield councillor sorry for calling Labour opponent 'scum'

Tony Reeves was appointed as the authority’s most senior officer on an interim basis at a meeting on Wednesday (February 28).

Questions over £1,000-a-day pay for council’s temporary chief executive

County Hall in Wakefield

Maximum tax rise approved amid angry scenes in council chamber

Wakefield Council is also due to consider proposals for a new employment and logistics site beside junction 32 of the M62.

Campaigners plan legal fight to stop industrial estate

Councillors are being asked to approved the temporary appointment of Tony Reeves to replace outgoing chief executive Andrew Balchin.

Former chief exec of Bradford and Liverpool councils to take charge at Wakefield

The stadium upgrade will be funded by the creation of a new employment and logistics site next to junction 32 off the M62.

Castleford Tigers stadium redevelopment approved

Proposals for Castleford Tigers' ground includes building a new east stand.

Castleford Tigers’ future ‘at risk’ without £12m stadium funding, club warns

Councillors in Wakefield are being asked to vote for a maximum council tax rise of 4.99% and a package of cost savings worth £21m.

Maximum council tax rise and £21m savings plan to go to vote

Efforts are also being made to improve school attendance rates which fall below the national average.

Action promised as pupil suspensions double in Wakefield district schools

Proposals for Castleford Tigers\' ground includes building a new east stand.

Castleford Tigers major stadium upgrade recommended for approval

Efforts are being made to create a school uniform ‘gold standard’ across the Wakefield district.

School uniform ‘gold standard’ needed to stop parents being ‘threatened’

Cosa Nostra cocktail bar, Westgate, Wakefield

Cosa Nostra cocktail bar owners refused permission to open until 4am

Residents began a campaign to stop the scheme in August 2022.

Developer loses fight over plan to turn former fish shop into HMO

Councillors of all parties unanimously voted in favour of fully supporting a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire.

Call for better conditions for Wakefield bus drivers