From Keighley News, July 3rd, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

KEIGHLEY’S John Grogan was among more than 200 MPs who attended a mass lobby at Westminster. The Time is Now gathering, which attracted over 12,000 people in total, demanded action on the climate and environment. Organiser of the lobby was the Climate Coalition and Greener UK.

From Ilkley Gazette, June 19th, 2019

ST John’s Church, Ben Rhydding, held its second Animal Blessing Service on Sunday, June 16. In attendance was a selection of lovely dogs, a hamster called Timmy, and included prayer and blessing for several cats, represented by their human carers and by pictures. The congregation prayed for all those who work to care for animals such as vets and farmers and those working in animal protection and welfare organisations throughout the world such as WWF. Each animal present received a blessing and after the service both animals and their humans enjoyed some treats. Donations given for the human cake treats, raised over £46 for three chosen charities - WWF, RSPCA and CIWF (Compassion in World Farming).

From Wharfedale Observer, June 18th, 2019

MEMBERS of a creative business hub in Ilkley are looking forward to sharing their wares with the public at a celebratory Open Doors day on Saturday [22 June] from 11am to 3pm. The Castle Collective is made up of tenants of the 150-year-old cottages in Castle Yard, next to the 14th century Grade 1 listed Ilkley Manor House. The businesses have been moving in since 2018, after the Ilkley Manor House Trust took over the running of both sets of buildings from Bradford Council, with the aim of creating “an ambitious heritage, learning, creative and leisure quarter” in the town.

From Press Gazette, June 7th, 2019
Written by Charlotte Tobitt

Ongoing cuts to local commercial radio stations across the UK will “add to the serious decline in local news for UK citizens”, MPs declared this week. However Global Radio, the commercial operator which has made the biggest changes to its local scheduling since Ofcom changed the minimum requirements last year, said it has increased its news team by ten per cent. In October last year Ofcom reduced the minimum number of locally-produced content hours for local commercial radio stations from seven to three. It also widened the geographical areas in which local content could be made. An Ofcom spokesperson said this would allow stations to “put more resources into making high-quality local content” by giving them more freedom on how and where they produce programmes in the face of “unprecedented challenges” from digital services and changing listener habits.

From Keighley News, June 6th, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

A COMMUNITY is fighting plans for housing on a greenfield site. Residents, the village school and MP have all lodged objections against the scheme. It is claimed the proposed development of up to 35 homes, plus an access road, on land at Eastburn will put massive strain on the existing infrastructure. Fears have been voiced about flooding and sewage problems. And there are anxieties that the access route will jeopardise road safety. Keighley MP John Grogan says he has received "many representations" from residents about the proposals, for a site between Croft House and Green Lane.

From Wharfedale Observer , June 6th, 2019
Written by Claire Lomax

A LIFELINE school bus service has been saved from the axe following a campaign by Ilkley parents. In March single mother Jenna Midgley, of Bolling Road, Ben Rhydding, was shocked to receive a letter from West Yorkshire Combined Authority informing her the P99 Mybus primary school service would be withdrawn on September 1 as it no longer met the authority's value for money criteria. The bus serves Ben Rhydding Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Ashlands Primary School and All Saints CE Primary School. Jenna, 34, feared she would lose her job and her home without the dedicated bus to take her daughters Denver, five, and Darienne, six, to and from school. Her fight to save the bus led to the creation of a Friends of the P99 Bus service who met with the authority during a consultation period.

From Ilkley Gazette, June 5th, 2019

THE second Ilkley Town Meeting to discuss how to safeguard the River Wharfe in Ilkley takes place on Thursday, July 11, 5.30pm to 7pm in Christchurch on The Grove. Becky Malby of the Ilkley Clean River Campaign said: “We are campaigning to stop the regular discharges of raw sewage into the Wharfe at Ilkley.