OCTOBER

GUISELEY

PROPOSALS for a town council in Guiseley have been rejected after opposition from residents.

Monday's meeting of Leeds City Council's general purposes committee decided not to progress the plans any further.

Campaigners were hoping the committee would support the scheme and recommend its approval, which would have meant it then going before full council.

But widespread opposition saw the proposals thrown out.

Guiseley and Rawdon councillor, Graham Latty, who is a member of the committee, said: "There had been a number of representations received by the council since the formal consultation period ended, all of them opposed to the plans, and it was clear to me there simply was not the body of support within Guiseley for creating a town council.

"I have made my views plain about the proposals – Guiseley does not need another tier of government and the Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum is already dealing with matters, such as the neighbourhood plan. The forum can now continue that good work without having to deal with another tier of local government.

"In the future, if the people of Guiseley ever express a desire for a town council, then the city council will have to look at the proposals again. But, for the moment at least, the current plans for a town council are no more. I would like to thank everyone who wrote in to the council expressing their views."

ILKLEY

BRADFORD Council's most senior officer discussed Ilkley's biggest issues during a top-level visit to the town.

But an overall solution to parking problems is said to be outside of the authority's budget.

The local authority's chief executive, Kersten England, met councillors Martin Smith and Anne Hawkesworth on her visit to the town on Friday to hear concerns about housebuilding allocations, planning, school places, parking and other issues.

She was joined by the council's assistant director of planning, transportation and highways, Julian Jackson.

Councillors learned the Core Strategy consultation, based on a Government planning inspector's initial comments, may start this month, with responses being considered and proposals discussed in council in April 2016.

Commuter and general parking shortfalls were high on the agenda, with a focus on commuter and general parking shortfalls due to people from outside the area travelling into Ilkley to use Metro trains.

A possible park and ride at Addingham, improvements to car parking at the stations and within Ilkley were among the suggestions

NOVEMBER

ADDINGHAM

A PLAN for 38 new houses in Addingham has been given the go-ahead by Bradford Council.

The Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee granted permission to William Brear And Son Ltd and Mulgrave Properties on Wednesday (November 4) for the development on land at The Acres, subject to a planning agreement.

The planned development includes 11 affordable homes.

There were 11 objections to the scheme, plus seven letters of comment sent to the Council, raising concerns about traffic on nearby Bolton Road, and the shortage of local schools places.

Council officers recommended a Section 106 planning agreement, which would secure money from the development for schools places provision.

At Wednesday's meeting, councillors amended the conditions, agreeing that Addingham Primary School, rather than Silsden Primary School, should have priority.

In their report to the Committee, council officers said: "The development of this unallocated site with residential development in the manner proposed is considered an appropriate development of the site that gives the opportunity to provide a sustainable pattern of development within the urban fabric of Addingham.

"It is considered that the development creates a bespoke and well designed scheme which provides a suitable mix of housing and which appropriately respects the qualities of the site and character of the surrounding locality."

Officers felt the the provision of an access to the site via The Acres was acceptable and would not create any adverse or severe consequent effect on highway safety or the movement of road users.

A group of local residents, Addingham Planning Scrutiny Group, made representations to ward councillors over the terms of the Section 106 agreement - and in particular the initial recommendation of allocating money to Silsden

Primary School instead of Addingham Primary School.

OTLEY

OTLEY now has its very own budding Guide Dog puppy – and very cute he is, too.

Otley the dog is a Golden Labrador/Retriever cross, who was born on September 25 this year.

He travelled up to Yorkshire from Leamington Spa last week, and will spend the next year with a puppy walker before a decision is made about whether he is suitable for full Guide Dog training.

Funds for the puppy, and his future training, were raised by Otley-based Guide Dogs supporter, Pat Brown, earlier this year.

Pat braved temperatures as low as -26°C when she undertook a 220-kilometre dog-sledding challenge, aged 60, in the Arctic Circle in February.

Her fundraising brought in £5,973, smashing her £5,000 target, and she hopes Otley will enjoy a special bond with the town he has been named after.

Pat said: "He will be with his puppy walker for the next ten to 12 months and, during that time, I will hopefully get several reports on his progress, and get to meet him and his walker.

"I have arranged with the Otley Town Council offices in Orchard Gate to display any updates in one of their windows, so if anyone wants to find out how he is doing, that is the place to go.

"With his puppy walker, Otley will be fully socialised by going into cafes, shops and so on, as well as travelling on buses, trains and, of course, cars.

"He will hopefully then go on to do his basic training at one of the four Guide Dog centres in the UK. There, he will learn how to work in harness with his blind or partially-sighted handler."

DECEMBER

OTLEY

'A HUGE feather in Otley's cap'.

That was the general reaction to this week's announcement the town is to host the start of both Stage Two of the men's race and the women's race.

Otley Courthouse was packed with dignitaries – including MP Greg Mulholland, Leeds City Council leader Cllr Judith Blake, and Otley Town Mayor Cllr Philip Bye – for the reveal on Wednesday.

And they all responded to the news with hearty applause.

Cllr Bye said: "I think this is wonderful for Otley and we are all very proud.

"We've already got a World Champion, in Lizzie Armitstead, from the town and Otley's always been a cycling town – people come from far and wide to cycle the hills around here.

"To be one of the start towns for next year's Tour is a fantastic thing and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I'm sure the public, from all over, will turn out in force to support the race, and it will be great for business, too."

This year's race did come past Otley but it bypassed the town centre itself, to the disappointment of many.

Cllr Sandy Lay (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon), who had been lobbying for the 2016 event to include the town, said: "I'm really pleased Otley has been chosen as the Saturday start for the men's race and the start of the women's race.

"I look forward to seeing the many residents and visitors come out in force to support the riders, the town and its businesses and, hopefully, Lizzie."

Mr Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) hailed the news as "hugely exciting".

He said: "This is wonderful for the town and area, and a huge feather in Otley's cap as a world famous cycling town.

ILKLEY

ILKLEY'S historic Manor House could be put up for sale by Bradford Council next year, it has been claimed this week.

Bradford Council officers are poised to recommend to executive members in January that they go ahead with selling off the Grade I Listed landmark, says Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Brian Mann, despite talks with

officers about the possibility of a scheme to reopen the building to the community.

The iconic Castle Yard landmark, part of which dates back to medieval times, was given to the people of Ilkley by benefactor Percy Dalton in 1955. It was opened as the Manor House Museum and Art Gallery in 1961.

Transferred from the ownership of Ilkley Urban District Council to Bradford Council in 1974, it was closed by the local authority earlier this year due to budget cuts.

A feasibility study looked into future options for community management, and Ilkley's All Saints' Church later went on to become the council's preferred partner, but subsequently pulled out of the project.

Ilkley Parish Council and other organisations have been in talks with the local authority in recent weeks to enquire about alternative plans, but say they were dismayed to discover the sale of the building looks likely.