Latest local news

The winners have been announced for the Spring section of The Friends Of Ilkley Riverside Parks Photographic competition.

If you are 18 or over you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination using the National Booking Service. There are also a number of local walk-in clinics scheduled for w/c 21 June.

Ilkley Manor House will be opening inside to visitors again from Saturday 3 July.

A fundraising event for St Andrews Church in Gargrave will see around 25 private gardens open to the public over the weekend of 17th and 18th July.

After two years closed, the redeveloped Skipton Town Hall is preparing to open its doors from Monday 21st June.

Pupils getting swimming lessons in Skipton will receive water safety training next week as part of Drowning Prevention Week.

The operator of local bus services across Keighley, Skipton and Ilkley says more 8 out of 10 of its fleet already meet the toughest clean air zone standards, and it's promising to go even further.

Keighley & Ilkley MP Robbie Moore tells Rombalds Radio why he thinks it's time for a full rebuild of Airedale Hospital in Steeton.

Police have reminded people of the dangers of swimming in open water after a man died at Ponden Reservoir on Tuesday evening.

Bradford Council has joined forces with education providers, employers and other organisations to help unemployed people in Bradford district into jobs and training.

Ilkley historian, Professor Mike Dixon, has recently published a biography of his local hero, Robert Collyer.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has launched a campaign to secure government funding for Airedale Hospital in Steeton to be fully rebuilt.

Craven District Council is inviting local sports clubs and parish councils to help it plan for future provision of pitches in the district.

Currergate Nursing Home has been awarded the highest award possible by Bradford Council's department of health and wellbeing, with 100% of staff having had a Covid-19 vaccination.

Members of the Friends of Wharfedale Greenway heard about the progress that has been made in planning the Wharfedale Greenway over the last year at their first general meeting recently.

The government has announced today (14 June) that most COVID-19 rules will remain in place in England for another four weeks.

Talk and Thrive is a new mental health support group for men starting this week in Ilkley.

Ilkley resident Anne Longfield - plus scout leader Ronnie Pickles and magistrate Margaret Smith from Keighley - have been recognised in the latest Honours List.

Bradford Council’s Director of Public Health is urging residents to get tested for Coronavirus as numbers of the Delta variant first identified in India continue to rise across the district.

A project to help older people in Silsden improve their technology skills is to return in the summer after proving a hit.

As part of the Manor House reopening plans a Makers Fair is being held in the courtyard at the Manor House on Saturday 26 June and Sunday 27 June from 10.30am – 5pm.

Ilkley’s historic hotel the Craiglands is re-opening its doors with a new team, a luxury new spa and a refurbished 700-capacity ballroom following a £2.2million investment.

Voting for the favourite photograph in the 2021 online Ilkley & District u3a Photographic Exhibition has ended in a three-way draw.

Due to Covid the normal huge biennial Skipton International Puppet Festival cannot happen this year, instead the organisers have programmed a series of puppet events for the second weekend of every month from June to November.

Craven District Council has employed two new enforcement officers to tackle littering and dog fouling in the district.

Ilkley Town AFC have announced that manager Simon Armstrong's team will be playing Guiseley AFC in a pre season friendly.

In its 21st year, the Ilkley Bandstand Charity have announced live music will return to the bandstand on The Grove from 4 July as long as Covid restrictions allow.

The Ilkley Half Marathon, organised by Ilkley and District Round Table, takes place on Sunday 11 July 2021 and aims to generate more than £40,000 for good causes in the local area.

Copper Spoon Cakery opens the doors to its shop on the Skipton Road, Ilkley on Saturday 12 June bringing its own style of contemporary cakes to the town.

Skills training schemes, town centre improvements and real-time bus information are among the projects set to benefit from £33 million awarded to Keighley.

Airedale Hospital has announced plans to build a new helipad so that patients arriving by air ambulance can be treated faster.

Awarding-winning Ilkley author, Alan Reynolds, has released his new riveting novel that will give readers a powerful insight into what life was like in the days leading up to the First World War.

Ilkley Literature Festival organisers are planning a return to live events this October, alongside a programme of pre-recorded and live-streamed digital author talks - this will be the first hybrid festival.

The monthly Real Food Ilkley market is back on The Grove this Sunday (6 June) between 10am and 3pm.

Network Rail is to run a local outreach programme to highlight the dangers of walking on railway tracks, following the release of images from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Community groups in Skipton are being invited to apply for grants of up to £1,000 for local projects.

Airedale Hospital has launched a new menu for patients, including a famous take on a popular dessert with a local name!

At its Annual Meeting on Monday May 24th, Ilkley Town Council re-elected Councillor Mark Stidworthy as Ilkley Town Mayor (and Chair of the Council), and Councillor Ros Brown as Deputy Mayor (Vice-Chair) for the year 2021 to 2022.

Volunteers are a vital part of the Ilkley Manor House Trust team, and the Trust is delighted to announce that they have been awarded the ‘People Can’ volunteering quality mark by Volunteering Bradford - a great way to celebrate national Volunteers Week, 1-7 June 2021.

Events will take place next week for the first ever Skipton Wellness Week, with organisers encouraging residents and local businesses to get involved.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is launching an appeal to recruit on-call firefighters to support rural communities in Ilkley, Otley and Silsden.

Wharfe Walkers Patrick Godden and Jack Hanson returned to Ilkley on Thursday having walked from the source of the River Wharfe in North Yorkshire to London to raise awareness and funds for Clean River Campaigns.

Councillor Alan Sutcliffe has been unanimously voted in to the office at the recent Annual Council Meeting.

Bakery firm Warburtons is opening a pop-up cafe in Skipton this week as it expands from bread to cakes.

Local people are being encouraged to join the NHS Big Tea event and help raise money for the health service in our area.

Musicians, singers and producers who are just starting out are being offered the chance to join a new programme called Craven Music Match.

The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities has given Craven District Council's bereavement services a rating of 98% while Skipton Crematorium has been awarded Gold standard status.

Skipton companies reopening following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions could get a visit from the council and safety inspectors.

An event's taking place next month to help local businesses in Keighley and Ilkley better understand the government's Kickstart Scheme, which supports young people into work.

Bradford Council says more than 200 small businesses have been helped via a free initiative providing support with challenges brought by the pandemic and Covid restrictions.

The return of the 5km Parkrun events at Skipton's Aireville Park and Cliffe Castle in Keighley have been put back until 26th June.

With summer, improved weather and visitor numbers fast approaching a trial scheme to manage litter better has been introduced in Ilkley Riverside East Holmes Field.

On Thursday 20 May, Keighley Town Council elected its new Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor for the forthcoming year. Cllr Julie Adams was elected as Town Mayor and Cllr Luke Maunsell was elected as Deputy Town Mayor.

Bradford Council is taking part in a national campaign to clean up and improve local public spaces ahead of the summer.

A former Ilkley resident is set to open a new specialist outdoor and bike store in the town he grew up in.

Saturday bus journeys to Harrogate as well as Malham and Settle are back on from this weekend for the summer.

Craven District Council has been awarded just under a hundred thousand pounds to run a series of community-led cultural activities on Skipton's High Street.

93 year old Betty Spensley was guest of honour at The Fleece in Addingham this week, which has reopened with her grandson as its new Head Chef.

The Mill House project on Sackville Street will include 86 suites for residential care and 8 supported living apartments.

The Football Association has confirmed that Ilkley Town AFC will play in the North West Counties Division One North next season.

Skipton's Artisan Market has announced plans to take place weekly on the canal basin off Coach Street from the end of May.

Patrick Godden and Jack Hanson are walking to Westminster as part of fundraising for the Ilkley Clean River Campaign.

A new one-mile sensory walk has been created in the grounds of Cliffe Castle and is being launched this week as part of Dementia Awareness Week.

9-year-old Bella from Oldfield Primary School in Keighley was this week crowned winner of Robbie Moore MP’s poster competition in memory of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Two men and a woman from Keighley have been charged as part of an investigation into right wing terrorism following raids in the town earlier this month.

As restrictions ease and events can resume, a revamped theatre space comes to Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School in Burley-in-Wharfedale, a fundraising effort over four years in the making.

Applications are now open for Ilkley Literature Festival’s annual poetry competition and festival Fringe events and they are inviting local poets and artists to get involved.

A new 'Edible Airedale' project to create a food forest in the grounds of Airedale Hospital has been completed, with 2,650 fruit trees planted.

The Prime Minister has announced that indoor hospitality will be permitted from next week - and the rule of six will apply in your own home.

Ten charities and community groups have been awarded funding through a new grant scheme run by the Rotary Club of Haworth & Worth Valley.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway will once again take a starring role as plans are announced for a sequel to the iconic 1970 film, The Railway Children.

Local people are voting on Thursday 6th May 2021 to select representatives for Bradford Council, a West Yorkshire Mayor and a North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner.

New signs at Ilkley Riverside Memorial Gardens were delayed due to the pandemic, but have now been installed.

The highly anticipated Ilkley Half Marathon, organised by Ilkley and District Round Table, is set to be the largest sporting event in Yorkshire since 2019 when 2,000 runners take on the course on 11th July 2021.

Two men and a woman have been arrested in Keighley and two properties in the town are being searched as part of an investigation into suspected right-wing terrorism.

Dozens of flags are flying in Skipton Town Centre to officially launch of the new project to celebrate the high street.

The first three weeks of a Spring Clean of verges along roads in the Craven district has resulted in the collection of more than three tonnes of litter.

Co-op stores across Ilkley, Adddingham, Silsden, Steeton, Cross Hills and Riddlesden are inviting local groups to apply for their Community Fund.

Bradford Council is starting some new outdoor activities aimed at children under 5 years old - with the first sessions taking place at Keighley's Cliffe Castle.

The Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks (FOIRP) are pleased to announce the planned works around the Memorial area in Riverside Gardens have now been completed.

The NHS in Bradford District and Craven is urging people aged 16 and over who provide vital care and support for others to come forward for their vaccination.

Keighley's MP has called on the authorities to do more to tackle trespassing on railway lines, after the emergence of more pictures of people walking on the tracks of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore and his counterpart in Shipley are to meet with government ministers to discuss a plan to remove the areas from Bradford Council control.

Skipton Town Hall will reopen on 21st June after the completion of a major restoration and redevelopment project costing £4.7 million.

Ilkley Camera Club’s Jack Sedgewick wins young photographer prize in national photo competition.

If you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 but want to get tested, you can now get a free Lateral Flow Test kit (LFT) from pharmacies in Ilkley, Skipton and Keighley.

Climate Action Ilkley is putting together a design brief to redevelop the land in front of the Playhouse between Castle Rd and the river. 

Positive news for families requesting primary school places for September across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys.

Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks are partnering with The 2 Minute Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to encouraging people to do a small amount of litter picking when they are out walking.

Cycling enthusiast Chris Riley and his fiancée Elle have been announced as the winners of a campervan offered as the prize in a crowdfunding effort to save Stump Cross Caverns in North Yorkshire.

Following the easing of lockdown restrictions, Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks are back and have started work on new memorial flowerbeds.

West Yorkshire Police say an unlicensed music event was shut down in Keighley over the weekend.

The latest phase of the roadmap out of lockdown has begun, with non-essential shops now able to reopen and outdoor hospitality permitted.

Former Mastermind and BBC radio and TV news presenter John Humphrys is to make a virtual visit to the Worth Valley when he takes part in an online event.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue is to benefit from a donation of copies of Coco The Cat, written by local author Alison Wainwright.

Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Prince Phillip.

A new group has been formed to support the planned Wharfedale Greenway, a planned route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders that will link towns along the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery in Ilkley last week.

Indoor swimming pools and gyms can reopen from Monday with stage 2 of the roadmap out of lockdown.

The Friends of Ilkley Moor Litter Pickers Group are celebrating the arrival of their new, superior litter picking equipment, bought through a grant from Bradford Council.

Police in North and West Yorkshire issue a scam warning as Census officers call on those who haven't completed their Census.

A picture shared by MP Robbie Moore on social media has provoked outrage after it showed a family walking along a local railway line.

The family of Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom Moore are encouraging people to celebrate his spirit of generosity by taking on their own charity challenge.

A short film documenting the epic fundraising journey of Embsay's Jo Moseley is to be shown at the Skipton drive-in cinema next week.

Ilkley Town Council’s Clerk, Mrs Louise Close, has recently left the Council to take up a new position as Chief Officer at Skipton Town Council.

Work has started on a project to further slow down the flow of water from Ilkley Moor into Backstone Beck which runs to the River Wharfe.

As part of the roadmap out of lockdown, the 'Stay at Home' message has now been dropped and two households can now mix outdoors.

Keighley's heroes are to be celebrated in a new exhibition being put together by the town council - and your suggestions are needed.

Craven District Council says work will start this spring to install solar panels on Skipton Town Hall and Craven Leisure along with other council buildings.

Bradford Council is considering implementing a ‘Public Space Protection Order’ at Ilkley Riverside to help reduce the anti-social behaviour by a minority of visitors.

Ilkley has been named the best place to live in the North and Northeast of England by The Sunday Times.

A virtual meeting to update residents in Ilkley on the progress of a partnership created to improve ecological status of the River Wharfe will take place on 13 May, ahead of the start of the 2021 bathing season.

Churches Together in Ilkley plan to mark Good Friday, 2nd April, with Cairns of 'Remembrance and Hope' at three churches across the town.

Outdoor fitness classes and Pitch and Foot games are getting ready to begin again in Skipton's Aireville Park from next week.

Buses used on the Dalesway route have had a makeover with the appearance of Dale the sheep, plus leather seats, wi-fi and USB chargers.

More than 20 Ilkley businesses are taking part in the Easter Trail which invites families to search for funky Easter egg images on display in selected shop windows around Ilkley town centre.

A local charity is raising funds that will help teach older residents how to communicate with links such as Zoom and Facetime.

A major repair scheme on Broughton Bridge outside Skipton is to commence to protect the historic listed structure and its vital link to Broughton Hall.

Fundraising to create a memorial to those who have sadly died in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding from coronavirus has nearly reached its target.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has secured a debate in Parliament to discuss the controversial  Keighley incinerator which was given the green light by the Environment Agency earlier this year.

llkley Literature Festival has announced a spring digital programme of Digital Events Exploring the Natural World which will begin later this month.

Major improvements to outdoor areas in Keighley are being delivered by Bradford Council through a fund designed to promote the regeneration of the town.

A local Keighley heroine is to be honoured by having one of the town’s streets named after her.

The team behind Skipton's Crafts In The Pen event say they're working on plans for a chocolate festival in the town in 2022.

Chocolatier Thornton's has announced plans to close all of its 61 shops, putting around 600 jobs at risk, including some in Keighley.

The Canal and River Trust says work will be completed in May to replace the damaged swing bridge between Aireville Park and Skipton Railway Station.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has criticised Bradford Council's handling of business grants for local firms who have had to close during the lockdown.

Join the U3A and Ilkley Civic Society to walk the second part of Ilkley’s Blue Plaque trail.

Households across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys will receive a letter asking them to to take part in the mandatory Census 2021.

Ilkley Town Council have called an Extraordinary Meeting for Friday (12 March) to consider plans to spend over £100k refurbing the Riverside Gardens toilet block.

A bid for over £25m to transform Keighley, was submitted via a Towns Fund Investment Plan to the Government’s Towns Fund in early February and is now awaiting a decision.

The Keighley-run Captain Sir Tom Moore Memorial Commission survey is now live and the commission, headed by local MP Robbie Moore, is asking residents to give their views.

Skipton Triathlon entrants have donated £7,818 to Sue Ryder Manorlands after the cancellation of the 2021 event.

The organisers of the Skipton Gala and the Ilkley Carnival have confirmed that their 2021 events will not go ahead, despite the end of lockdown restrictions before the summer.

Razorlight, Feeder, Scouting for Girls and Lightning Seeds are among the acts performing at the new Gateways event in Aireville Park.

Green-fingered people are being invited to take part in a competition to grow the tallest sunflower while raising money for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

Bradford Council’s consultation on its Local Plan continues with online public information sessions running until Friday 12 March.

People over 55 are being given computer tablets with access to the internet to help them get online and overcome isolation and loneliness during the pandemic.

Funds are still available through the No Child Cold campaign and organisers are encouraging any families in Keighley and Ilkley who are in need to come forward.

Ilkley District Councillors have started a fund to create a permanent tribute to those in the town who have sadly died from coronavirus.

Police are warning residents in the Aire and Wharfe Valleys of a National Insurance number scam.

Local data shows that 46,000 people across Keighley, Ilkley and Skipton have now been vaccinated against coronavirus.

Ilkley District Councillors Kyle Green and Anne Hawkesworth were joined by MP Robbie Moore and over 100 concerned residents at an online town meeting organised to discuss the emerging local plan proposed by Bradford Council.

Bradford Council says flags will be flying at half-mast this weekend to honour Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom Moore and mark the day of his funeral.

An appeal for donations to replace the money stolen from a 100-year old local man during a burglary has received national attention.

The first of five planned trails in and around the town has just been released.

Almost £6m is to be spent on improving walking and cycling access to Skipton's railway station - and local residents' views will help shape the designs.

Hidden Ilkley, a campaign that aims to showcase non-retail businesses has been launched on the new Discover Ilkley website, powered by Ilkley BID.

Work to remove a dangerous tree means that the A6068 will be closed outside the Dog and Gun pub at Glusburn for five days.

Residents across Craven and North Yorkshire are being urged to take part in a government consultation to determine how council services should be structured in the county.

Captain Sir Tom Moore has inspired a new generation of fundraisers and this week Airedale Hospital in Keighley, Captain Tom’s birthplace, received a special donation from 6 year-old fundraising champion Emilia Bailey.

Following the Prime Minister's announcement of a roadmap to the easing of the lockdown in England, we've got a handy guide to what's likely to happen and when.

Tributes have been paid online to Maisie Ryan and Oliver Knott, who were killed in last week's collision on the A65 Addingham bypass.

Utley Cemetery near Keighley has been described as a 'disgrace' and 'looking like a building site' by local politicians.

Two people in their 20s have been killed in a road collision on the Addingham bypass on Thursday morning.

Bradford Council has written to the government to request an urgent review after it stopped providing the district with home testing kits to identify coronavirus cases.

Bradford Council is supporting a fundraising campaign to install a bronze sculpture of Captain Sir Tom Moore in Keighley.

If you are looking for a purpose in your lockdown walk through Ilkley, you can do no better than to follow the trail of Ilkley’s blue plaque historic buildings.

Skipton Business Improvement District is working with Rombalds Radio on a new series of podcasts to help local companies as they transition out of lockdown.

Bradford District residents are being encouraged to go paperless before the end of the month with their Council Tax bills this year.

This year's local council elections - and a vote to pick a Mayor for West Yorkshire - will go ahead on 6th May with Covid safety measures in place.

Bradford Council is using government funding to support more than 7,000 families over the school holidays and working with local food banks to ensure no child goes hungry.

44 unwanted technical devices were donated by 28 Wharfedale households & organisations for redistribution to people who lacked digital access.

For 2021 the Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks is launching a photographic competition, your entry could be part of the groups 2022 Calendar.

North Yorkshire libraries are showcasing a wide programme of children’s half-term activities which can be enjoyed from the comfort of their home.

Young children and their families have the opportunity to get into yoga in the half term break with special free online activities organised by Bradford Council’s Libraries service.

There are drop off points in Ilkley and Keighley to donate clothing to the No Child Cold Campaign.

Keighley Town Council currently has two vacancies for Councillors.

Health professionals across Airedale and Craven are backing a new campaign to encourage people to talk about what they want to happen to their organs after they die.

A reward is being offered for the safe return of two soft toys which have gone missing from Silsden after being left out to spread Valentine's cheer to residents.

Home Instead Ilkley, which provides at-home care across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys is looking for new recruits to join its growing business.

Bradford Council is preparing a new Local Plan which sets out how the district will grow sustainably over the next 15-20 years and what it means for local communities.

Ilkley has come 10th and Skipton 12th nationally in a list of the country's leading shopping destinations, which has been put together by a retail property consultant.

An Ilkley Shop Assist volunteer found a novel way of getting the shopping delivered in the snow.

Ilkley Town Council’s Transport Sub-Committee will be discussing a proposed 20mph zone for Ilkley and other issues at its next meeting.

Ilkley BID has launched the new town website, Discover Ilkley has been locally created by a team of Ilkley businesses.

Plans for a memorial in Keighley to recognise the achievements of Captain Sir Tom Moore will be overseen by the town's MP Robbie Moore.

Keighley Bus Company operator Transdev is marking National Apprenticeship Week by creating three new engineering apprentice roles.

The Keighley Bus Company - which operates buses across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys - has issued a plea to customers to remind them to wear face coverings while on board.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore says there is light at the end of the tunnel with the rollout of the Covid vaccination programme.

Bradford Council’s Executive approved proposals to invest £100,000 on CCTV in Ilkley town centre at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale has raised vital funds for Martin House Hospice with a series of collections at the Tesco store on Springs Lane in Ilkley.

The family of Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom Moore say he has passed away after being treated in hospital for pneumonia and Covid-19.

Skipton BID is bringing a drive-in cinema experience to town for three days in March, with Rombalds Radio listeners asked to help pick which films will be shown.

Rotarians from Haworth and the Worth Valley have announced they are taking applications for small grants to assist local organisations.

A rare ingot made of lead has arrived in Skipton and will go on display in the Craven Museum in the town hall when it reopens later this year.

The Ilkley BID board of directors has welcomed the appointment of Felicity Gains as Ilkley BID Manager from 1st February.

Contractors have started work on Olicanian Cricket Club’s new clubhouse on Denton Road in Ilkley, 18 months after its former pavilion was destroyed in an arson attack.

Eighty-five new trees and shrubs have been planted on the steep bank above the skateboard park in Addingham.

The family of Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom Moore say he has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.

Work could start on improvements to the A59 between Skipton and Harrogate later this year following years of delays and closures due to landslips.

Government statistics show an increase of almost 400 police officers in the West Yorkshire force since the start of a nationwide recruitment drive after the last general election.

A Greener Skipton and the Dales event took place online with attendees interested in working towards a greener future.

Local GPs across Craven and Wharfedale are reassuring people that invitations are still being sent for regular cervical screening, and that it is safe to attend GP practices in person if they have been asked to.

Ilkley Literature Festival are delighted to release resources to offer support during the third national lockdown, including educational packs for children and tickets for a wellness writing course for adults.

Craven District Council is set to start work to redevelop its Waste Management Depot on Engine Shed Lane next month.

A commemoration event has taken place at City Hall in Bradford as official figures show that more than 1,000 people have now died in the district from Coronavirus-related causes.

Delayed plans to put CCTV cameras in taxis across Skipton and the Craven district will take effect from this year.

Culverts in Skipton's Aireville Park are being repaired to improve the flow of water along Gallow Syke and cut the chance of flooding.

Bradford Council’s Executive is to consider proposals to invest £100,000 in CCTV in Ilkley town centre.

Up and coming filmmakers - including one young man from the Keighley area - are being supported by mentors from the industry as part of efforts to expand cultural activity in the Bradford district.

More than a thousand responses have been received as part of a consultation on how to spend £25m of government funding on projects in Keighley.

Free workshops and one-to-one business support is available to small businesses in Keighley and Ilkley.

In an unusual step, Skipton Town Council has issued a public statement to say it has not been as competent as it should have been.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a fatal collision on the A6068 between Cross Hills and Cowling this week.

No Child Cold, a campaign which aims to make sure every child in the Bradford district is warm this winter has been launched today.

Bradford Council is to start work soon on a scheme to make a busy Ilkley town centre junction safer for pedestrians crossing the road.

Craven residents are being warned to be vigilant after reports of a person making scam calls suggesting people are entitled to a council tax refund.

The Ilkley Clean River Group is holding its first open public meeting since DEFRA awarded Bathing Status in December.

Local Ilkley resident Roger Miall is marking his 90th birthday and the Royal British Legion’s Centenary by cycling 100km in thirty days.

Residents and businesses are being warned to be prepared with the Met Office issuing an Amber warning of rain for Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

A Christmas tree collection and recycling scheme run by Worth Valley Young Farmers Club has raised more than £20,000 for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.

Police and public health officials have expressed their disappointment after signs in Cross Hills encouraging people to stay at home during the lockdown were defaced.

Darcey Charlesworth, a 19 year old fashion student from Menston, has rediscovered her love for painting during lockdown and recreated Keighley’s Sir Captain Tom Moore’s GQ cover.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has taken the ongoing fight against the Keighley Incinerator to Parliament.

Rail operator Northern is introducing reduced train timetables from Monday.

Ilkley Literature Festival Fringe have launched Chain Reactions – a collaborative, cross-artform digital project.

Businesses, community groups and organisations who are interested in working towards a greener future for Craven are being invited to an online event on Thursday January 21.

Climate Action Ilkley is working with Digital Access West Yorkshire (DAWY) by collecting unwanted tech for wiping and redistribution to those who’ll benefit instantly from digital access.

We're being urged to not travel out of our local area for daily exercise during the latest coronavirus lockdown.

Residents across Ilkley and Keighley are being urged to take extra steps to minimise the risk of the spread of coronavirus as figures show up to 70% of local cases are from the new strain.

People in the Aire and Wharfe valleys are being warned about cyber criminals piggy-backing on the NHS roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to try to steal from the vulnerable.

North Yorkshire and Bradford Council residents can continue to borrow library books during the current Covid-19 lockdown through a click and collect service.

Once again Mortens of Ilkley supported local charities with the sale of Christmas trees throughout December.

Climate Action Ilkley is starting a community eCargo bike project with funding of over £17,500 from the Postcode Local Trust.

With members in Ilkley, Wharfedale and Airedale, Ilkley & District U3A start 2021 with online talks and events covering topics such as Nostalgiafest, the solar system, an extraordinary family tree and Islamic architecture.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has introduced two new ‘Continuity of Carer’ teams, to deliver a more personalised service to new mums and their families.

Furever Loved Small Animal Rescue celebrated its 5th anniversary on 1st January.

Karen Goodman, the founder and chair of Ilkley charity LS29 Special Needs Support Group, has been recognised in the Yorkshire Women Volunteer Awards 2020.

Local scout leaders are among those named in the Queen's New Year's Honours list along with health professionals who live in our area and the Chairman of Keighley Cougars.

North Yorkshire is joining West Yorkshire as a Very High Alert Tier 3 area from midnight on Thursday 31st December 2020.

The new year tradition at White Wells can’t happen on Friday due to Coronavirus restrictions.

Keighley has been invited by The Yorkshire Society to host the official Yorkshire Day civic celebration in 2022 (1st August).

The Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice Christmas Tree collection service returns for 2021.

Bradford Council is launching a ‘Give a Toy’ campaign to bring joy to children from across all communities for the start of 2021.

The Keighley Towns Fund initiative is seeking the views of Keighley and Worth Valley residents on the various projects which have been proposed by local stakeholders.

Linley and Simpson - which has branches in Ilkley and Skipton - has purchased the 600-home lettings portfolio from Dacre, Son & Hartley.

People with no coronavirus symptoms can now have a lateral flow test in Keighley's Airedale Shopping Centre to find out within 30 minutes whether they have Covid-19.

DEFRA has today awarded a section of the River Wharfe in Ilkley with Bathing Water Status - the first in the UK.

Staff from the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust have recorded a medley of Christmas carols and songs to help provide festive cheer to colleagues, patients and the local community.

Ilkley Cinema is getting more than £200k from the government's Culture Recovery Fund, while the Keighley Picture House receives £80k and Skipton Plaza £47k.

Residents are being invited to watch online as the Lord Mayor of the Bradford district attends this year's city carol service at Bradford Cathedral.

Check out the changes to waste collections by Bradford Council and Craven District Council over the festive season.

A pop-up nature trail has been created in woodland near Ilkley to encourage people to explore and learn about their environment this Christmas.

Craven District Council is making improvements to Skipton’s Jerry Croft, to address road safety concerns.

West Yorkshire remains in Tier 3 and North Yorkshire in Tier 2, after the government announcement that a third of England's population will move to a new higher Tier 4 set of restrictions.

Residents of will once again get the chance to put questions to Bradford District's key decision makers and health experts about the COVID-19 response.

Bradford Council’s pledge to plant a tree for every child - 55,000 trees – over the next two years has taken a first step with new trees at Addingham Primary School.

Crafty Ilkley parents have been transforming unwanted school uniform into handmade teddy bears for a good cause.

Patients across Craven and the Bradford district have been receiving the first local doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

The Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is getting a share of £600m of government funding to refurbish hospitals, with 19 projects in the Trust being allocated cash.

A former Craven Herald journalist has launched a new business to help people write and publish their own memoirs as a book.

West Yorkshire Police have begun a week-long targeted operation to tackle organised crime, anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in Keighley.

Bradford Council has teamed up with Fruit Works to provide monthly two and a half hour sessions which will start in January.

An exciting opportunity is available for someone to help shape the future of the economy in Ilkley.

Nearly ninety local residents enjoyed a surprise Christmas treat, when   volunteers from a local charity delivered the presents of either a hamper or a potted plant to them in their homes.

A hundred members zoomed in throughout Ilkley, Wharfedale and Airedale as U3A held its Christmas Cracker concert last weekend.

Ilkley Town AFC are delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Holmshaw as new first team manager of Ilkley Town Women’s football team.

It’s full steam ahead on the Town Investment Plan to transform Keighley’s economic growth prospects with help from the UK government’s Towns Fund.

Join a virtual meeting on Monday evening December 14th to find out.

Craven District Council is inviting residents and businesses to have their say on new cultural and creative projects that could take place in Skipton over the next four years.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore launched his inaugural Christmas Card competition last month and has this week announced the winner, six-year-old Thomas Carpenter-Allum from Ilkley.

NHS partners, the police, the fire and rescue service, business leaders, charities and union officials all back North Yorkshire’s bid to drive post-pandemic economic recovery via a single new council.

A fundraising appeal has been launched for an Addingham man who has been left with sever spinal injuries following a bike accident earlier this year.

NHS England, which is leading the roll-out of the vaccine, has confirmed that the first batches will reach Bradford and Craven on Monday.

A permanent Covid-19 local testing site is scheduled to open in Skipton on Saturday, 12 December, to support the ongoing expansion of Covid-19 testing.

Bradford Council welcomes the introduction of lateral flow testing equipment and training for care homes across the district to further reduce the risks from COVID-19.

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore and Shipley MP Philip Davies have today learnt that the Environment Agency will grant a permit to Endless Energy to operate the controversial proposed incinerator at Marley on the outskirts of Keighley.

Northern, which run services on both the Airedale and Wharfedale lines, is calling on its customers to plan journeys carefully ahead of timetable changes from 14 December.

The Rotary Club of Haworth and Worth Valley has launched its latest fundraising appeal - creating a virtual line of pennies from Haworth to Oxenhope.

Ilkley Civic Society’s blue plaque scheme has a new installation, The Rombalds on Wells Road is the 20th plaque.

A county council report says more work is needed to better prevent a repeat of the impact of storms at the start of 2020.

Robbie Moore has told Rombalds Radio he is voting against the government tonight for the first time since he became Keighley and Ilkley's MP a year ago.

Eastwood Primary and Holycroft Primary are 2 of 11 local schools taking part in a pilot scheme designed to encourage more sustainable and healthy travel for school children.

Ilkley Round Table have confirmed their popular Santa Float will be bringing festive cheer this year but with a number of covid changes.

Library-goers will be welcomed back into Skipton library on Wednesday.

School and families are being encouraged to get creative outdoors this Christmas with a day at the Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre up for grabs.

As lockdown ends and Skipton moves into Tier 2 covid restrictions the full market will resume.

Local residents are being encouraged to take part in a consultation that will help determine what type of crossing to introduce across the bypass between Silsden and Steeton.

A West Yorkshire police officer who retired from the force due to ill health and work-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has written a book about the ups and downs of policing.

The government has confirmed that the Bradford district will be in Tier 3 of the new Coronavirus restrictions from 2nd December, meaning hospitality venues will not be able to open except for takeaways.

Skipton's regular Artisan Market has launched a website so that people can buy products from the traders at any time.

Ilkley Soroptimists have decorated a tree in the town's main car park orange as part of the United Nations' day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Skipton has been placed second in a national study to find the happiest place to live in Great Britain, behind St Ives in Cornwall.

A consultation will seek views on a proposed slight expansion in Menston of the Priority 2 catchment area for admissions from September 2022.

Benches made from fully recycled materials were installed in the Town Hall Square last week.

After an exceptionally challenging year for local businesses, Ilkley BID are engaging the help of Christmas Elves to bring some much-needed cheer to the town and encourage residents to shop local this year.

A group of doctors and nurses from the Airedale Hospital have been shortlisted for an NHS Parliamentary Award after being nominated by local MP Robbie Moore.

Local residents in the Aire and Wharfe Valleys will find out on Thursday this week which new coronavirus rules will apply from 2nd December.

Ilkley and District Good Neighbours has been selected to operate a project which will find out how people in the Wharfedale area are coping with the Covid virus.

A video commissioned by Ilkley Town Council has been released in place of the usual switch-on event for the town's Christmas lights.

The Royal Shepherd in Skipton is offering a completely free lunch for any former armed services personnel and war veterans when it reopens next month.

An online ebook has been launched to showcase Christmas gift ideas from Ilkley's independent retailers.

County councillors are being asked to pledge extra funding for the realignment of the A59 Harrogate to Skipton road at Kex Gill, if the cost exceeds the Government’s grant.

Velvaere has a simple mission, to bring people and communities together through well-being.

Airedale NHS Foundation has been allocated more than half a million pounds of government funding to introduce electronic prescriptions.

Local rugby league club Keighley Cougars has raised £3,446 for the Airedale Hospital Charity by selling special edition jerseys.

Businesses in Skipton are hoping to entice festive shoppers to the town this year with lights, painted shop windows, mulled wine stalls and a scavenger hunt.

22 year old Sam Clegg has been talking to Rombalds Radio about the surprise of his 'alternative' Christmas advert receiving more than 2.5m views on YouTube.

Ilkley Town Council is calling on residents to share their own home switch-on via social media on 21 November.

North Yorkshire County Council has announced the roll-out of permanent coronavirus testing facilities, with Skipton's due to open in the coming weeks.

Poundtoy is an online supplier of children’s toys at discount rates and the firm has recently moved to a new Keighley warehouse as the business continues to grow.

Schools across the district are encouraged to get involved in Road Safety Week (16-22 Nov), coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity.

The serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper who attacked and killed women in West Yorkshire in the 1970s and 80s has died.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a firearms discharge in Keighley on Tuesday.

Keighley's Cliffe Castle Museum and Park has been officially recognised as a pollinator-friendly site for bees.

A young singer-songwriter from Keighley has hit the national headlines and had more than 1.8 million YouTube views of his charity song, Don't Let Me Go.

Lateral flow tests which provide results in under 30 minutes could be used to enable care home visits and quickly isolate coronavirus outbreaks in schools in Ilkley and Keighley.

Craven residents are being invited to an online workshop to help celebrate the reopening of Skipton Town Hall by making bunting for the first exhibition.

Ilkley BID have launched two new trails on the LoyalFree town centre app and Westbrook Agency has set up the #Ilkleyisopen campaign.

Craven District Council approves submission of East & West model for local government reorganisation.

Libraries are still open – with some changes

Skipton won't see 2,000 Santas running around town this year - but local people are being encouraged to take part in their own 5k run, walk or cycle on 12th and 13th December.

Though Ilkley Manor House is closed to the public for the rest of the year they are keen to find ways of everyone still enjoying the space even if it is only from the outside.

Ilkley Town Council has joined with Rombalds Radio for a virtual remembrance service on Sunday both online and on air.

An Ilkley man is celebrating his 20th anniversary working with local charity Good Neighbours.

Residents across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys are now subject to national coronavirus restrictions until 2nd December - find out what you can and can't do.

Charity Made with Music is launching the first of four pieces of music recorded ‘as live’ in Ilkley Manor House.

Popular local visitor attraction Bolton Abbey has announced that it will remain open when new national coronavirus restrictions come into place from tomorrow (Thursday).

Keighley and Ilkley residents will get the chance to ask questions next week to the Council's key decision makers about the district’s COVID-19 response.

Rombalds Radio has teamed up with The Hive in Silsden and local firework company Optimum Fireworks to put a virtual firework show online this week.

Fostered children and young people in North Yorkshire are now benefiting from an award-winning fostering programme.

Ilkley Civic Society announced its annual Design & Conservation Awards winners in March but has been unable to hold a formal presentation of certificates to all the winners.

Ilkley Pool won't reopen until spring 2021 after investigations found some extensive repair work is required to make the pool safe.

Ilkley and Keighley won't now be moving into the Tier 3 'Very High' Covid Alert level this week as previously planned.

Keen photographers across Airedale and Wharfedale are being invited to enter their best images into a photography competition which will raise vital funds for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

Robin Snook has made the most of the extra time he had during lockdown by achieving a long held goal, to write a book about great sporting events he attended.

The whole of West Yorkshire is to be placed under the 'Very High' (Tier 3) level of Covid restrictions from Monday.

Craven District Council, Skipton Town Council and Skipton BID have confirmed that Skipton High Street will remain closed to traffic on market days until the end of December 2020.

The leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, says it is clear from their conversations so far that Government are unflinching in their resolve to put Bradford and West Yorkshire into Tier 3.

Cliffe Castle celebrated it’s first Apple Day last year and will again in 2020 but differently due to Covid-19.

Ilkley will soon see a revival of a weekly market each Saturday in a new prestigious location of The Grove.

Elective surgical procedures that require an overnight stay at Airedale Hospital have been postponed with immediate effect because of the high demand on the hospital.

With trick or treating unable to take place this year, an alternative has been organised for Ben Rhydding residents.

After 18 months, work has finally finished on expanding a section of the A650 through Keighley.

Bradford Council has installed a new pedestrian crossing complete with an anti-skid high grip surface and safety rails on Cowpasture Road outside Ilkley Grammar School.

Silsden's charity-run community centre The Hive has organised a firework-themed art competition for children of all ages, and adults too!

Bradford Council has announced plans to help feed 1000s of disadvantaged children during the half-term school holiday in Keighley, Ilkley and the Bradford District.

Keighley's Picture House and Skipton Plaza have both confirmed they will reopen on Friday 30th October after 7 months of being closed.

Restrictions in place because of Covid-19 mean that events will need to be different this year.

The Prince of Wales has recorded a special video message for staff at Airedale Hospital as it marks its 50th birthday year.

Bradford Library Service is offering the programme of yoga sessions for parents and carers as part of Bradford Baby Week from 9 November.

A group of local female fell runners are taking on a fundraising challenge by running a collective 5,000 miles.

Skipton library will next Monday launch a new digital heritage trail to bring the town’s past to life by using modern technology and historic photographs.

An interactive Halloween trail has launched around Ilkley town centre until 1st November with prizes from many local businesses.

Two degree students from Craven College are offering the chance to learn theatrical make-up tricks on 31st October in an online Halloween workshop.

Craven District Council is proposing to create a new conservation area in the village of Glusburn as part of a planning consultation.

The advice has been brought in by the Government in areas, including the Bradford district, where Tier Two lockdown status is in place.

Businesses and workers in North Yorkshire are being offered help to get fitter, save time and money.

Skipton Boat Trips, the Rendezvous Hotel and Keighley & Worth Valley Railway are among the attractions and venues shortlisted in this year's White Rose Awards.

The National Trust has announced plans to reopen East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley in November.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about a theft of two high-value E-bikes from the rear of a vehicle in Kilnsey.

Both Ilkley's Darwin Gardens Millennium Green and Cliffe Castle Park in Keighley have been awarded.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust have this week launched the first NHS ‘one-stop’ upper limb clinic.

A new survey is asking the community to share their thoughts on the Ilkley playground and the Riverside Parks.

Love Spiders is the theme of Bradford Museums’ family activities this half term.

An increased interest from local businesses has prompted Ilkley BID to offer a voluntary membership scheme to LS29 businesses who previously were not eligible due to their size or location.

The Ilkley and Keighley areas have been placed in the Tier 2 'High' alert for coronavirus restrictions, while Skipton is at the lowest 'Medium' level.

The Bronte Society, Jam on Top and the Thought Bubble Festival are sharing funding of around £230,000 from the government's Culture Recovery Fund.

Craven District Council has been awarded £66,099 from the government's Culture Recovery Fund to enable Skipton Town Hall to reopen in a Covid-secure way next Spring.

Alan Reynolds is celebrating this literary anniversary with the publication of a new novel, Trent Island.

Alison Wainwright has put this year’s Covid lockdowns to good use by publishing two books and is donating all her royalties to two charities with Yorkshire connections.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway has made a successful application to the government for financial help with its running costs through until next March.

Share your views on Ilkley Moor’s Peatland Heritage with researchers at the University of Bradford.

Police and fire officers from across the area are asking people not to hold unofficial firework events this year.

Dale Eddison have partnered with Greatwood Primary School in Skipton and has funded the purchase of sports vests.

A winter arts exhibition is being planned across the Bradford district with grants available.

Ilkley Literature Festival has announced the programme of its first ever digital events weekend, 23-25 October.

Students at IGS have published an anti-bullying book with help from the Ilkley Literature Festival.

MP Robbie Moore has launched a public survey seeking his constituents’ views on localised lockdown in the Keighley and Ilkley constituency.

Bradford’s Young COVID Ambassadors have launched a competition across the district to encourage young people to design their own face coverings.

Local children’s charity The Principle Trust is launching Mission 26, which aims to get 26 organisations to help raise £26k through fun fundraising.

Ilkley and District Good Neighbours has been given a donation by the Yorkshire West Riding Freemasonry sponsored by Olicana Lodge.

The Plaza Cinema in Skipton has confirmed that it is working on plans to reopen again after almost 7 months.

NYCC would like your views on the new layout of The Bailey/A65 junction in Skipton.

Under part of Bradford Council's plans to reopen its museums and galleries, Cliffe Castle will be open 4 days a week from today.

Local people can now access computer facilities and research collections at Keighley Library as part of a phased reopening.

North Yorkshire’s library service has launched an app to help customers to access library resources anytime, anywhere.

The Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale held its 7th Annual Recycle Event in Ilkley on Saturday 26 September.

The Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks (FOIRP) have had a busy summer of toil and achievement in Ilkley’s Riverside Parks.

13 winners shared the £8000 prize fund by shopping with Keighley's independents

Craven District Council is installing new signs in High Streets including Skipton and Cross Hills to improve social distancing and help shoppers and businesses feel safe.

A sweet and spooky pumpkin trail will help families across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys to celebrate Halloween.

TSB on Brook Street in Ilkley will close in 2021 following the Skipton branch which closed earlier this year.

A new campaign sheds light on how the virus has affected real residents of the Bradford District.

Police are reminding residents about bike security following an increase in thefts recently.

A more efficient winter gritting service in North Yorkshire has been agreed, resulting in significant savings without compromising on safety.

A new comedy film shot mainly in Ilkley starring Derek Jacobi and Roger Allam has been released this week.

Ilkley's Coronavirus Response Group says it is ready to help the local community again if a second wave of the virus hits the town badly.

Parking charges at Airedale Hospital are being reintroduced for patients and visitors from 5 October. 

Ilkley BID are delighted to have received £8000 from Ilkley Town Council to help fund the next phase of the Discover Ilkley project.

Between 5-10 October, Libraries Week 2020 will be celebrated with a huge programme of free online events and activities, plus competitions, quizzes and book reviews.

Keighley and Ilkley constituency is set to benefit from an additional £750,000 of funding for improvement projects thanks to a government investment.

Plans to resume Parkrun events in Skipton and Keighley from the end of October have been postponed following the latest government announcements on coronavirus.

Skipton will have a Christmas tree and lights this year - but the lights-switch on event and the town's Christmas Markets have been cancelled because of the pandemic.