Local Democracy Reporting Service

Social distancing measures in Harrogate and Knaresborough will remain in place for another three months – with some traffic cones being replaced with planters, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Reuters/Toby Melville/File Photo

Parking suspensions and road closures introduced in the towns to give priority to pedestrians will be extended until 31 January, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

Traffic cones along James Street and Albert Street in Harrogate will also be replaced with “much more attractive” planters, the council said.

It comes after a planned trial to pedestrianise James Street was delayed after complaints from the town’s business sector.

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council had hoped to test out the idea this year – but have now pushed it back to 2021.

The authorities said they had listened to feedback from businesses and will keep the current measures under review.

Parking spaces between Princes Square and West Park on the A61 in Harrogate will also be reopened under the recently announced changes.

Wakefield Trinity end a 10-game losing run as they come from behind to stun Huddersfield Giants in Super League.

Greg Eden scores a hat-trick of tries against his former side as Castleford seal victory against Hull KR in Super League.

South Yorkshire business owners say strict restrictions will bring further financial hardship.

Stoke City defender Nathan Collins has the red card he was given in the 2-2 draw with Barnsley rescinded.

A glass-fronted restaurant and holiday lets will be built on a site beneath Scarborough Castle.

The annual event will allow people to control the laser light show above Leeds with their smartphone.

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The new Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has taken his seat in the House of Lords.

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Wire

It marks a return to the upper chamber for the Church of England's second most senior clergyman, who already had a place on the red benches in his former post as the Bishop of Chelmsford.

Mr Cottrell, who was enthroned as the 98th Archbishop of York on Sunday, took over the role from John Sentamu.

The 62-year-old was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Bishop of London Sarah Mullally as he swore the oath of allegiance to the Queen during the short introduction ceremony in the Lords.

He is among the 26 lords spiritual who have their places reserved in the upper house for Church of England bishops.

Sheffield's Supertram network is to receive a £2.6m government funding boost to support the service as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The city's network is one of several across the North and Midlands to receive a share of £35m cash aimed at easing the financial burden on local authorities and operators, according to the Department of Transport (DoT).

The new 12-week funding boost brings the total extra cash awarded to Sheffield's Supertram since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to £9.4m, according to the DoT.

Light Rail Minister Baroness Vere said: "Trams serve as a vital link for communities...We know many people rely on these services every day.

"That’s why we’re continuing to fund services so they can operate safely during the pandemic."

About five million journeys are usually taken on the Sheffield Supertram - which runs between Sheffield and Rotherham and is operated by Stagecoach - every year.

Royal Academy of Music graduate Ke Ma will play a repertoire including Debussy and Chopin.

Burglars have stolen a dog, along with jewellery and cash, in a robbery in Huddersfield, police say.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The dog was taken during the break-in shortly after 13:00 on Monday in Riverside in the Clayton West area.

The stolen dog is a brown male sprocker spaniel called Charlie, who has a small amount of white under his chin and a half-docked tail.

He is two years old and is described as being "unusually fluffy" for this type of breed, with long hair around his legs and ears.

Anyone with information about the burglary, or the whereabouts of the dog, cash and jewellery, is being urged to contact police.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after shots were fired in Wath yesterday afternoon.

Image source, Google

Officers were called at about 16:20 on Wednesday to reports of "weapons discharges" from a dark grey/black car and a white BMW travelling in convoy on Quarry Hill Road.

Then, at about 16:30, a black 4x4 collided with a tree on nearby Hoober Lane/Angel Lane at Brampton Bierlow, according to South Yorkshire Police.

However, it's not yet clear if this vehicle was linked to the earlier shooting and no injuries have been reported, the force adds.

Two men, aged 24 and 25, have since been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and remain in custody, police say.

Officers are now asking for anyone who may have seen what happened, or who has information about the two incidents, to get in touch.

Anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage is also being asked to contact the South Yorkshire force.

A scooter and a bike were both hit by trains in the last month after being deliberately placed on a railway line in West Yorkshire, police say.

Image source, British Transport Police

These were just two of several similar incidents which have taken place recently, including several "near-misses", on the line between Leeds and Micklefield, according to British Transport Police (BTP).

Officers are now warning that vandals are putting their own lives and the lives of train passengers and railway workers at risk.

Insp Richard Price, from BTP, said: “In three instances recently, trains have struck obstructions placed on the line.

"Placing items on the tracks can ultimately cause a derailment and consequently serious injury and potential loss of life."

Matt Foote, Route Operations Manager for the area, said: “Any member of the public who goes onto the railway is putting not only themselves at risk, but also the wellbeing and safety of passengers and railway workers.

"Watching the trains go by is one thing, but laying objects on the track or throwing items at passing trains is reckless and irresponsible. ”

BTP says officers will be patrolling the line in a bid to clamp down on the recent criminal activity.

Extra pressure on the police as South Yorkshire moves to tier three coronavirus regulations at the weekend is being highlighted by the organisation representing rank-and-file officers.

Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley move into tier three - very high alert level - on Saturday.

Steve Kent, chairman of the South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: "If we get a flood of complaints from the public telling on neighbours, it's going to potentially cause us problems in terms of the sheer demand of it.

"Incidents of domestic violence, assaults and serious crime shouldn't be pushed aside by people saying, hypothetically, that a neighbour has a grandchild who has come round.

"My concern is the strain it could put on front-line officers out there, who are already, not far off the limit with what they're dealing with day in, day out."

Mr Kent says he's appealing to members of the public to "apply common sense, and to go along and support the rules as they are".

The region's police commissioner said officers were ready for the new rules.

The ceremony was organised at short notice after James Cavanagh became ill with Covid-19.

The Police Federation says policing in the region is already stretched before the restrictions begin.

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Leeds-based Northern Ballet has returned to the stage in what is believed to be the first major UK dance performance in front of a live paying audience since the coronavirus lockdown began.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The company, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, performed excerpts from a number of ballet classics at Leeds Playhouse on Wednesday night.

It had to abandon its planned repertoire for 2020 and choose work that would enable dancers, musicians and backstage staff to respect social distancing restrictions.

The Iconic Classics performance on Wednesday included dances from Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire and Giselle.

It was the company's first live performance in more than seven months, since the world premiere of choreographer-in-residence Kenneth Tindall's Geisha in March.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "We are delighted Northern Ballet is returning with live performances for the first time in more than seven months.

"We held one performance, the world premiere of Geisha, in March before Covid caused us to have to cancel everything else for the year."

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Ongoing restrictions have seen the dancers training and rehearsing while wearing face masks; having costume fittings, physio and make-up with staff in full PPE; social distancing in dressing rooms; a stage without sets; and a socially distanced audience.

David Nixon, artistic director of Northern Ballet, said: "Although we are still far from business as usual, we are thrilled to be able to return to the stage and present a significant run of live performances."

Services across northern England and the Midlands will receive up to £68m from the government.

Coach Richard Agar says Adam Cuthbertson may have played his last game for Leeds after being sidelined with a shoulder injury.

More than 100 people have answered an online plea for more information about knife-makers from the "Steel City" of Sheffield.

Image source, Helen Murray/Name on a Knife Blade

The Name on a Knife Blade project found new stories and unrecorded knives made in the city after its search for descendants of knife-makers last month.

One man even donated his own personal collection of Sheffield-made blades.

The Ken Hawley Collection now has about 1,500 stainless steel knives made by about 1,000 different makers.

The online archive , externalhas given "a new momentum to the search and has taken it worldwide", added archive volunteer Nick Duggan.