Latest local news

A new 1,000 place Sixth Form college will open in Keighley in 2026, although the hunt is still on for a town centre location.

Cash boosts from the Keighley Towns Funds have recently boosted two local businesses creating four jobs plus two apprenticeships, and other businesses are still invited to apply.

Bradford Council is trialing closing eight its Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC), including Golden Butts in Ilkley, every Monday until further notice.

An 18th annual black-tie dinner supported by local companies and held at the Craiglands in Ilkley has raised over £58,000 for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.

Councillors have approved a scheme for 25 homes to be built on a field in Cononley.

Skipton has again been included in the top 20 ‘happiest places to live’ in the UK, ranked 6th nationally.

Midwives at Airedale Hospital are offering new and expectant parents a range of hand-knitted baby items to help keep babies warm this winter.

There are some TV shows that hold a special place in the hearts of the nation and one of those is undeniably The Vicar of Dibley.

Young People aged 15 to 20 from the Ilkley and Keighley areas are being encouraged to put themselves forward to help shape the cultural celebrations across the district in 2025.

Councillors have approved an application to build a children’s role play and gymnastics centre on a farm in Cross Hills.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to an attack in Skipton at the weekend which left a 14 year old boy with facial injuries.

The family of a Silsden boy who died on Boxing Day last year are supporting Martin House Children's Hospice's Christmas appeal.

North Yorkshire Council has approved an application to build six homes on a neglected piece of land in Sutton-in-Craven.

New lights have been introduced in Aireville Park in Skipton to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists during the winter months and darker evenings.

Organisers of Haworth's Santa Fun Run are hopeful it will take place this coming Sunday, after the fundraising event was postponed at the weekend.

Bradford Council’s Cliffe Castle Museum and Park will be helping the people of Keighley to get into the Christmas spirit with two special weekends of festive activities over Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 and Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December, between 11am to 3.30am on each day.

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, the official dedicated charity of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, invited local funeral directors to meet with them for a Networking Breakfast Event on the 22 November.

Ilkley Good Neighbours has introduced a second ‘Moving On Friendship Group’ following a large increase in demand for its popular social gathering meetings.  

Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has opened a petition for residents to sign if they back his calls for a full inquiry into child sexual exploitation across the Bradford district.

A Keighley businessman has been fined £10,000 for failing to put right unauthorised engineering works at a rural site that began in 2017.

The Skipton branch of Barclays is one of 18 more that will close over the next year, following an announcement by the bank.

Businesses have voted for a second five-year term of the Keighley Business Improvement District (BID), following a ballot of town centre firms.

Ilkley Blacksmith, Tom Bromley, is opening his new shop, Burnt Orchid, on Wednesday 6th December, located on Wharfe View Road.

North Yorkshire Council has recommended that councillors approve an application for a children’s role play and gymnastics centre on a farm in Cross Hills.

Taylored Dental Care in Keighley has announced the opening of a third surgery at its Cavendish Street practice this month to deal with increasing demand.

Skipton Rotary Club has gifted 80 Advent Calendars to children currently staying on Ward 17 at Airedale General Hospital.

A local environment charity is set to  start work on improving an historic pathway to enable more people enjoy the River Worth, following a boost of almost £60k from the Keighley Towns Fund.

Ilkley Carnival has announced its 2024 primary beneficiary as parent-run autism support group, AWARE.

The Ilkley Business Improvement, a business-led and business-funded organisation, has welcomed the appointment of three new voluntary directors to its board as well as a previous director.

Taking a look at the autumn entertainment at Ilkley Playhouse for Rombalds Radio is Caroline Mutton.

Recent polling suggests Skipton's Conservative MP could lose his seat to Labour at the next general election.

Ilkley Round Table has pledged its support to The Principle Trust Children's Charity with a donation of £5,618.03.

As a result of ASLEF strike action, Northern services will not operate on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines on Friday 8 December, with additional disruption expected between 1-9 December due to action short of strike.

St Margaret’s welcomes 30 local charities and community groups each with its own beautifully decorated tree to make up a sparkling display in church on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December.

Keighley Market is giving people the chance to get creative and crafty in free festive activities over the coming weeks.

McDonald's has been granted permission to make changes to a building that will allow it to open a new branch on the A65 near Burley-in-Wharfedale.

A Ben Rhydding shop could be closed, demolished, and replaced by a drive-through cafe if newly-revealed plans are approved.

Police are asking people to keep an eye out for a stolen Land Rover Defender which was taken from Bradley on Monday evening.

North Yorkshire Council has agreed to scrap parts of its £7.8m Skipton Gateway scheme due to cost pressures.

Two Rivers Concert Band will be delighted to welcome as many people as possible to “Sounds Jolly”, its 2023 Festive Concert.

Craven’s longest serving independent family butcher, Drake & Macefield reflects on this year’s significant milestone - 125th years in business spanning three centuries, operating three branches and delivering direct to customers.

For the first time in recent history, Ilkley Manor House is offering a unique heritage festive-dining experience in the week building up to 25th December.

An appeal to allow a new café to be built in Ben Rhydding has been dismissed by a planning inspector.

Local bus operator The Keighley Bus Company invites new starters and career switchers to find out more about working for the company at the depot open day next month.

It’s been a momentous year for Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society, alongside celebrations to mark its centenary, the society has been exploring ways to move forward.

It’s full steam ahead for The Northern Swing Orchestra as it prepares for its forthcoming festive concert ‘Swing into Christmas’, on stage at The King's Hall in Ilkley on Friday 22 December 2023

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, the official charity of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, is looking for donations of gifts for patients who are in hospital on Christmas Day.

Mortens of Ilkley is stocking real Christmas Trees again this year and a donation from each sale will go to the local charity Ilkley and District Good Neighbours.

Ilkley Letting Agents, Whitaker Cadre is partnering with Nell Bank Charitable Trust to support its mission to provide outdoor learning experiences for children.

'Fat Lad At The Back' co-founder Lynn Bye from Ilkley is among a list of 100 women from across the UK recognised for their work encouraging other women to get on their bikes.

Starting Friday 24th November, 53 Degrees, Ilkley’s new music venue on Leeds Road, will be hosting three Music Nights to celebrate its official opening and to welcome new faces.

Ilkley’s historic King's Hall & Winter Garden is to open its doors again this Christmas for a free open day full of festive fun.

Council officers are recommending that Councillors approve a planning application from McDonald's for its new restaurant on the A65 between Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale.

The Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks (FOIRP). who have transformed the parks by the River Wharfe in the town, has issued its latest Annual Report, which sets out the groups continued achievements and also appeals for more members as the work load increases.

Dobson & Robinson in Ilkley will close in the New Year after the owners failed to find a buyer after being for sale for four years and losing key accounts with major brands.

Father Christmas will visit Ilkley early this weekend when he comes to switch on the new Christmas lights on Saturday, 25th November.

This Sunday will be a busy day for Mary Wild from Skipton, as the 91 year old takes part in the Great Skipton Santa Fun Run then flicks the switch to light up the town's Christmas lights.

Ilkley Manor House is all set for the festive season, kicking off December with its hugely popular Christmas Makers’ Fair on the 2nd and 3rd.

The countdown has begun for a highly anticipated late night shopping event in Ilkley on Wednesday 6th December. Over 60 of the town’s shops and businesses will be staying open until 7.30pm for locals and visitors to enjoy a festive shopping experience.

"Wow what an amazing relaunch concert for the Airedale Symphony Orchestra". After eight months away from performing, the orchestra and concert audience made up for lost time with great music and enthusiastic support at the King's Hall in Ilkley.

The Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival has announced it is expanding its 2024 line-up to include chart-topping music acts who will join its stellar line up of celebrity chefs.

A charity that works to support economically and socially disadvantaged people in Keighley is set to modernise its facilities after a £140,000 boost.

This December, theatre enthusiasts are in for a treat as Peter Whalley's compelling play, "Dead of Night," unfolds its gripping tale at Keighley Playhouse. 

Keighley has been awarded £19.8 million of government funding which will help the town become a national leader in advanced engineering, manufacturing and robotics.

Creative volunteers from Emerald Publishing Ltd have painted an eye-catching mural on Keighley’s Hainworth Wood Community Centre, as well as giving the interior a fresh coat of paint.

Ilkley Community Enterprise, which runs the Outside The Box Cafe, is putting on a packed programme of activities to highlight the achievements of people with a learning disability.

Ilkley Rugby Club is excited to announce the installation of a brand new state-of-the-art LED scoreboard at its home ground.