APRIL

GUISELEY

PROTESTORS called for ‘joined up thinking, not joined up communities’ on a march to protect the greenbelt.

About 100 people took part in the protest to argue against development of the green buffer zone between Menston and Guiseley.

They were joined by campaigners from Ilkley.

Organiser Liz Kirkpatrick said the turnout on Sunday had been good despite the poor weather conditions.

She said: “Some had made their own banners and placards and all were very much against development on green belt land in Guiseley and Menston.

“Our theme was, joined up thinking, not joined up communities.”

She stressed: “If the Ings are built on then the communities of Guiseley and Menston will have merged and the green belt buffer between will be destroyed.

“This is contrary to government guidelines with regard to green belt.”

She added: “We want to make Leeds City Council think again about allowing developers to build on green belt before all the brown field sites are used up. The builders already own acres of brown field sites but have banked them and used them as collateral to raise money to buy more, easily developed, greenfield sites.”

ILKLEY

EFFORTS are under way to set up a building trust for the protection of Ilkley’s heritage, while talks continue about the future of the historic Manor House.

A councillor says she has had a positive reaction from various parties she had approached over the potential formation of a trust to protect some of Ilkley’s most beautiful buildings.

While Bradford Council is in talks with All Saints Parish Church and other organisations about transferring the Grade I listed Manor House Museum to community management, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth fears public buildings such as Ilkley Town Hall are in danger of falling out of use.

Cllr Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) believes a town buildings trust could help protect other buildings for the good of the community.

And she has revealed that a university has shown interest in using part of the town hall as a small museum.

She said: “There are public buildings which currently, due to reduction in council services and reduction in funding, are in danger of falling out of use.”

She claims the town needs to be prepared, as the Ilkley Town Hall complex and White Wells spa cottage on Ilkley Moor, could be “under a similar cloud”.

Ilkley Town Hall was built between 1906 and 1908 as new offices of Ilkley Urban District Council. It forms part of the civic complex with Ilkley Library and the King’s Hall theatre. Today, the town hall only houses Ilkley Visitor Information Centre – which Cllr Hawkesworth fears could be the victim of further austerity cuts in future – and Ilkley Parish Council clerk’s office. The parish council meets in the town hall’s council chamber.

MAY

OTLEY

THE LIBERAL Democrats are back in control at Otley Town Council after sweeping aside almost all comers.

The party may have suffered a torrid time nationally last Thursday, but it enjoyed emphatic backing from voters in the town - at the expense of Labour, who failed to win a single seat.

Lib Dem councillors now make up 18 of the 20 positions on the town council, with the remaining two going to Independent Nigel Francis and Green Party member Mick Bradley (both Danefield).

That represents a dramatic turnaround for the local party, which lost control of the council to Labour in 2011.

It also means the Liberal Democrats are now the dominant local force at town, city council and Parliamentary constituency - Greg Mulholland was one of just eight Lib Dem MPs to survive the General Election - level.

Town Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Prince Henry) had double cause for celebration, as he was also re-elected to represent the Otley & Yeadon ward at Leeds City Council.

He said: “It was a difficult night nationally but locally all our hard work paid off.

"I would like to thank all the residents of Otley and Yeadon for their continued support."

ILKLEY

(NB we seem to only have 2014 Carnival pics on the website, please attach one from this year if available)

CHEERING crowds lined the streets of Ilkley for the second time in two days today for the annual carnival, the day after the Tour de Yorkshire cycled through.

There were record entries with 1,400 colourful characters parading in the sunshine for the fiesta that attracted around 10,000 onlookers.

Among the VIP judges of the floats and tableaux was the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Mike Gibbons.

“I’ve been coming to the carnival for about 25 years and every year it gets better,” he said.

“The crowds are incredible, which shows what it means to local people, and Ilkley has put on a magnificent show.

“To have this support from people is greatly appreciated.”

This year’s theme was fantasy and fiction with Alice in Wonderland the most popular choice with Mad Hatters and living playing cards processing led by the City of Leeds Pipe Band.

Alice proved a triumph for this year’s overall winner, the WTA Dance Academy.

Highly commended in the Schools category were Ben Rhydding Primary School for Peter Pan and All Saints’ Primary School for Willy Wonka.

JUNE

GUISELEY

PLANS for an Aldi at Guiseley are back on the table after the company resurrected the scheme.

A public consultation about the proposal was originally held in 2011 and planning consent was given in 2012 before the cut-price food chain had managed to buy the land behind the Wetherby Whaler.

The proposals ran into difficulties but now Aldi has confirmed that it has bought the site after "long and drawn out negotiations" and that it intends to submit a new application to amend the previous consent.

The company has sent out a newsletter to 1,800 local residents and businesses inviting them to a drop in meeting to find out more about the scheme.

The meeting will take place from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday, June 23, at Guiseley Football and Cricket Club, at Nethermoor Park.

The proposed White Cross store is expected to create up to 50 new jobs if it is approved.

Aldi says its original proposals were well received by the public and now it is hoping for a good response from its forthcoming community consultation event.

The newsletter said: "The proposals offer the opportunity to redevelop this long term brownfield site bringing many benefits for local residents including increased food shopping choice and 50 local jobs. Aldi stores focus on serving the surrounding neighbourhood, providing a local store for residents with everyday items available at low prices, giving residents an alternative to traditional supermarkets. Aldi customers save around 40 percent on their shopping without compromising on quality."

ILKLEY

HUNDREDS of people have paid tribute to a hard-working Ilkley councillor who died suddenly last month.

A service of thanksgiving and remembrance took place at Christchurch in Ilkley yesterday (June 3) for Councillor Paul Kitching, who died on May 20 at the age of 70.

Councillor Kitching had only just become Vice-Chairman of Ilkley Parish Council days before he passed away, and was about to become president of Ilkley Rotary Club.

He recently chose Ilkley and District Good Neighbours, and Ilkley outdoor education centre Nell Bank, as his chosen causes to support in the year ahead.

His family requested donations to Nell Bank in lieu of flowers at the service this week.

Ilkley Parish Council also held a minute's silence before its meeting on Monday night (June 1) to remember Councillor Kitching.

The Council said: "He was heavily involved in the development of Ilkley's Neighbourhood Plan amongst many other things in the local community. Paul will be sorely missed by all of his colleagues at the Parish Council and by the community as a whole."