Tracy Brabin

Max, from Pontefract, won the Year Four category with a poem named “Seven things found in my mum's Amazon delivery”.

Pontefract boy wins prestigious Young Poets Laureate programme

A key bus route between Dewsbury and Wakefield has been saved after being withdrawn by bus operator Arriva.

Key bus route between Dewsbury and Wakefield saved

Passengers can now make use of 141 spaces at Normanton Railway Station – an increase of 91 – after the new car park opened today.

Nearly 100 new car parking spaces open at Normanton Railway Station

The Wakefield Futures Commission held its first meeting at Wakefield Town Hall on Wednesday December 18.

Commission holds first meeting over future of education in Wakefield

An aerial view of Wakefield city centre

Commission launched over the future of higher education in Wakefield

Railway line off Wheldon Road, Castleford. Picture by Google

Plan for Castleford railway bridge is approved

Beginning in January 2025, ‘The Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme’ is now open to people from underrepresented backgrounds with a track-record of writing for any genre, who live or work in West Yorkshire.

Writers in Wakefield get chance to ‘get in and get on’ in the screen industry

Single bus fares in the region will remain capped at £2, until the end of March 2025.

West Yorkshire Mayor announces £2 bus fare will last until March 2025

Victim Support marked their 50th anniversary at Junction 32 with Mayor, Tracy Brabin and Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper.

Home Secretary helps celebrate major milestone for Victim Support in Castleford

Arriva said areas including Wakefield, Castleford, Dewsbury, Halifax and Leeds will be affected from February next year.

Arriva confirms bus service cuts in Wakefield, Castleford, Dewsbury and Halifax

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin

Mayor warns Arriva bus service cuts to key routes in Wakefield are imminent

Denise Jeffery accused the company of “disgraceful behaviour” as she urged fellow councillors to back a campaign to protect the loss of key passenger routes across the district.

Wakefield Council to ‘take on’ Arriva over bus service cut threats

Arriva has been accused of treating passengers with “contempt” over plans to make more “devastating” cuts to services across West Yorkshire.

Wakefield school bus routes under threat in latest Arriva cuts

West Yorkshire Mayor with representatives from the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, the University of Huddersfield and the University of Leeds .(Faye Hatton Photography )

New innovation space opens at Pinderfields Hospital to boost research

Yvette Cooper MP at Liquorice Bush.

Yvette Cooper MP: Safety in our town centres is crucial

Mayor Tracy Brabin's new “Careers in the Arts” initiative aims to showcase the variety of roles on offer in the region’s creative industries.

Mayor launches free support for schools to get students into creative careers
Almost 200 secondary schools and colleges across Wakefield, and the rest of the region, are set to receive free support to educate young people about careers in the creative industries.
Kara McKune

Ossett Bus Station. Photo: Scott Merrylees

Jade Botterill MP: Striving to improve public transport

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire has launched the “Solar Together” scheme, which Wakefield residents can now sign up for.

Mayor announces new solar panel scheme to lower energy bills across Wakefield

The West Yorkshire Vision Zero Strategy aims to improve road safety and save lives.

Plan to stop road deaths and serious injuries in West Yorkshire launched

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Matthew Morley, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for planning and highways, launched the boost to bus services at the city's bus station in February.

Bus service improvement scheme hit by driver shortage

Under the Conservatives school budgets have been squeezed and the school curriculum has become far too narrow so teenagers who are better at technical skills, or sport or music, don’t get the chances they need.

Yvette Cooper MP: Give our young people their future back

Tracy Brabin was re-elected for a second term as the Mayor of West Yorkshire. Picture by Steve Riding

West Yorkshire Mayoral Election results as vote counting concludes

Leeds Civic Hall. Leeds City Council is the lead authority in the mayoral election which will take place on May 2. Picture: Simon Hulme

West Yorkshire mayoral election 2024: Polling date and full list of candidates

The multi-million-pound investment was announced by Active Travel England on Saturday (March 23).

£5.5 million boost announced to improve active travel across Wakefield

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin

Mayor takes buses back under public control in Halifax, Wakefield and Dewsbury

Plans for a tram system running in West Yorkshire have been set out as the West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin aims to revolutionise the region's transport network.

Mayor sets out plan for tram system in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Matthew Morley, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for planning and highways, launched the boost to bus services at the city's bus station.

Wakefield bus passengers to see extra services on eight routes
Service improvements have been announced on eight bus routes serving the Wakefield district.
Tony Gardner

The Safer Communities Fund aims to support victims of crime and trauma.

One million pounds seized from criminals gifted to local community projects

West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, has already made a difference with her £2 fare cap on our buses and has laid out the road map for a new era of West Yorkshire transport. Photo: Getty Images

Simon Lightwood MP: Empty slogans from Conservatives

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, introduced Mayor’s Fares in September 2022.

£2 bus ticket scheme extended after getting more people using buses

Andy Wallhead and Tracy Brabin

West Yorkshire Housing Partnership appoints new chair

Mayor of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Tracy Brabin, has said better bus services "are a vital part" of her "mission for a better-connected West Yorkshire".

Some Wakefield bus routes to double in frequency and a new service starting

The Hepworth Wakefield will host Mayor Tracy Brabin for a special Q&A event.

Mayor to hold Question Time event at The Hepworth Wakefield

The Orange Wallet Travel Card gives people with communication difficulties or disabilities a subtle way of letting bus drivers know that they may need extra time or help.

Scheme breaks down travel barriers for bus passengers with hidden disabilities

The new scheme will supports passengers with communication difficulties or hidden disabilities.

Orange Wallets scheme launched for bus passengers with hidden disabilities

The funding was announced by Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.

£11.4million investment announced for businesses across Wakefield and Dewsbury

Two events will be held in Wakefield as part of a major consultation on the future of buses in West Yorkshire.

Wakefield to host consultation events on the future of buses in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, will lead a West Yorkshire delegation around the US.

Tracy Brabin launches American trade mission to increase investment in region

Emergency services, road user groups and local councillors shared ideas on how to improve road safety within the region.

New road safety scheme aims to eradicate West Yorkshire traffic deaths by 2040

Birkwood Plant Training in Crofton is the first beneficiary of West Yorkshire's new £2.5 million Rural Fund.

Wakefield business receives first award of mayor's new £2.5million scheme

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government had asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.

Plans to close rail ticket offices scrapped

Fatima Khan-Shah was appointed by the Mayor to be an Inclusivity Champion for the region earlier this year.

New West Yorkshire women’s group launches at Wakefield's Tileyard North

Madness at The Piece Hall

Production Park to team up with Halifax Piece Hall for ‘creative bootcamps’

The announcement of the go ahead for a public consultation was said to be a "milestone on the bus reform journey".

Public consultation to go ahead on potential bus franchising throughout region

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has launched the second round of her Cost of Living Emergency Fund for local charities and voluntary organisations.

Mayor announces £2million fund towards cost of living crisis support

The special meeting comes after the Combined Authority carried out an assessment into the options for reforming how buses are ru.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority to discuss plans to franchise bus services

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, at the Walk it Ride it campaign launch.

New sustainable travel campaign launches across West Yorkshire

People relying on public transport across the district have suffered in the past 12 months as operators have axed or reduced services .

Wakefield bus users can expect 'good news' over new routes and services

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin

Mayor signs joint statement on rail ticket office closure consultation

The new ‘You Can Make it Here’ support package will help people into West Yorkshire's growing creative industries.

Mayor launches £1.7m package to boost creative industries in West Yorkshire

Communities can apply for grants of up to £50,000 to deliver projects that help their area become greener.

New £50,000 grant announced to help communities tackle climate change

Voluntary and community groups and social enterprise organisations will be able to apply for grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 to reduce carbon emissions in Wakefield.

Community groups to benefit from grants up to £50,000 to become greener

Over 2000 children in the region have been supported to walk, cycle and wheel to school thanks to a pioneering programme being led by the Mayor of West Yorkshire.

Children encouraged to get their little feet moving by walking to school

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has written to the Transport Secretary demanding an immediate halt to a consultation into plans to close various rail station ticket offices across the region.

Mayor calls for halt to 'fundamentally flawed' ticket office consultation

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority have approved a multi-million pound scheme to reinstate bus services across the region.

Transport leaders approve £3.8m funding to restore West Yorkshire bus services