Local Democracy Reporting Service

It's been claimed some older council-owned buildings in Leeds could be “leaking energy like a sieve”.

Image source, Google

The comments came during a discussion on plans from Leeds City Council to reduce its carbon footprint.

During the meeting, the council’s director of housing, Neil Evans, said: “There are a number of buildings dotted around the city not very well-used or maintained.

"We should probably explore whether someone else could look after them better," he said.

“We can’t have the situation we’ve got where buildings aren’t being properly used or maintained and are leaking energy like a sieve.”

Leeds City Council announced a climate emergency earlier this year and plans to be carbon-neutral by 2030.

A report by council officers claims the authority must reduce its estate to make sure it meets the requirements, and claims it's already consolidated 13 of its city centre buildings into just four.

A road in South Yorkshire is expected to be closed for "several hours" after a crash this afternoon.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Emergency services were called to Kingsforth Lane in Hellaby at about 14:15 after reports of a collision.

South Yorkshire Police's Operational Support team said the road is "expected to be closed for several hours".

People are being asked to avoid the area.

A race in Peterborough was cancelled and another in Birmingham shortened amid security concerns.

A man who set fire to a bank in Hull leaving part of the city centre "in lockdown" has been given an indefinite hospital order.

Ahmad Mohammed was seen brandishing a meat cleaver inside Santander on King Edward Street before starting the blaze on 11 September 2018.

He also entered Barclays Bank where he splashed petrol before being chased to the railway station by officers.

At Hull Crown Court, a judge described it as "a severe case of schizophrenia".

During sentencing, Judge Paul Watson said the 25-year-old, of Innsworth Garth, Hull, was suffering because of "his time and pressures" in Syria.

Supporters of Sheffield Botanical Gardens say they have been left "devastated" after thieves ripped large quantities of lead from the roof of the Glass Pavilions.

Police were called to the gardens on Friday morning after the thieves struck overnight, stripping lead from the Grade II*-listed buildings.

A van was later found abandoned behind the building where it had become stuck in the mud after becoming weighed down with the stolen metal.

Jill Sinclair, chair of the Friends of the Botanical Gardens, said it was not the first time the building had been targeted but it had caused "the most damage".

"We're just devastated that such a beautiful building that has been restored at a cost of millions have been damaged. It's just heartbreaking."

Ian Turner, the curator of the Botanical Gardens, said: "We're still looking at the damage and what need to be replaced but we are estimating [it will cost] tens of thousands of pounds."

South Yorkshire Police has appealed for anyone with any information about the incident to come forward.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Ancient woodland shrouding the reputed grave of Robin Hood is at risk of being felled as part of a £69.2m road scheme.

Image source, LDRS

The proposed route will involve cutting into woodland bordering Wakefield Road between Cooper Bridge and junction 25 of the M62 at Brighouse.

It's to create a link road between the A62 and A644.

The Kirklees Estate, in Clifton near Brighouse, includes an 18th Century stone folly that is said to mark the final resting place of perhaps the world's most famous outlaw.

Image source, LDRS

According to local legend, Robin Hood died in a priory near Huddersfield and was buried nearby.

The grave and priory are on the private Kirklees Estate, which only opens to the public one weekend a year.

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne "forcefully and sloppily" kissed a woman on the lips while drunk on a train, a court has heard.

Image source, PA Media

The 52-year-old is accused of an "unpleasant" sex assault on the service from York to Durham in August 2018.

The ex-England star, who denies sexual assault by touching, told passengers he had "kissed a fat lass" to give her a "confidence boost", jurors were told.

The complainant was left "shocked and upset", Teesside Crown Court heard.

The jury heard Mr Gascoigne put his hands on the woman's cheeks and kissed her.

After his arrest, he told police it was "a peck on the lips" and indicated he did not consider it a serious matter.

The trial continues.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Traders affected by scaffolding which has been in place in part of the city centre for about two years are to get financial help, Sheffield City Council has confirmed.

Business rates for traders on Chapel Walk are to be reduced by 15% and developers behind the scaffolding have agreed to provide compensation.

The move comes after Carl Dunne, of Cards and Gifts on Chapel Walk, raised the issue at a full council meeting after suffering a 35% loss in profit.

The scaffolding was originally put up as part of work on a £4.6m scheme for student apartments two years ago.

Since then, the company responsible ran into financial difficulty and stopped trading.

New developers are set to start working at the site next week.

A CCTV image has been released of a man police want to speak to in connection with the sexual assault of a 33-year-old woman in Huddersfield.

Image source, WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE

West Yorkshire Police said the suspect initially approached the woman at the railway station before walking with her towards Southgate where he grabbed her and sexually assaulted her in a doorway.

He then picked up the woman’s bag and phone before walking off.

The incident happened between 02:45 and 04:00 on 23 June, police say.

Officers want anyone who recognises the man in the image, or who witnessed the incident, to get in touch.

Rail passengers in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have been warned to expect five weekends of disruption on the East Coast Main Line early next year.

Image source, LNER

As part of a £1.2bn investment programme, London North Eastern Railway has promised more frequent services and an extra 10,000 seats a day, along with with faster journey times.

There will be five weekends of reduced service on the East Coast Main Line, with passengers along the route urged to check before travelling and to allow additional time for their journey.

These dates are:

• Saturday 4 - Sunday 5 January

• Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 January

• Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 January

• Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 February

• Saturday 15 - Sunday 16 February

Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, has apologised in advance for the disruption:

Leeds United could compete with Manchester City if proposed investment from the Middle East goes through, according to their owner.

Sir Cliff Richard has announced he's set to come to Sheffield as part of his 80th birthday celebrations.

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Cliff, who turns 79 today, released a host of tour dates for his Great 80 Tour next year.

He'll be in Sheffield on Sunday 4 October at the City Hall with tickets going on sale next Friday.

A motorcyclist has suffered "serious and potentially life-threatening injuries" in a collision with three parked cars in Hull, police say.

Image source, GOOGLE

The incident happened on De La Pole Avenue at about 10:50 on Saturday.

The 25-year-old man was riding a red and white scrambler motorbike when he collided with the stationary vehicles.

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.

A man jailed for prolific sex crimes against Malaysian children has been found stabbed to death in a Yorkshire prison.

Richard Huckle, from Ashford, Kent, abused up to 200 children.

In 2016, he was given 22 life sentences after admitting 71 charges of sex abuse of children aged between six months and 12 years, between 2006 and 2014.

It is understood he was attacked in his cell at Full Sutton Prison near York.

Police have charged 22 people as part of a crackdown on the supply of class A drugs in West Yorkshire.

Image source, PA Images

Twenty men and two women were charged as part of a week-long campaign across the Bradford district.

Officers say more than £15,000 worth of drugs were seized along with property, vehicles, clothing and about £2,000 in cash.

Det Insp Matthew Walker, who led the operation, said: “The people of Bradford are fed up of drug dealing taking place on the streets of Bradford which tarnishes the reputation of this city.

“We are committed to tackling those involved in the supply of drugs in the district."

Scarborough playwright and director Sir Alan Ayckbourn has officially opened a new theatre rehearsal space for students in the town.

Image source, Advent Communications

The Tony, Olivier and Moliere award-winning writer opened a space to be used by students at Coventry University's Scarborough campus.

Sir Alan (pictured sitting) met 15 students studying on a new Acting BA (Hons) degree course, before declaring the rehearsal space open by cutting a ribbon.

He told the students: “The rehearsal room is one of the most important rooms in my life. I spend more time there than I do in the actual theatre."

More than 300 people have signed a petition opposing the idea of culling peacocks in a Doncaster village where some residents say the birds are damaging their cars and gardens.

People living in Finningley say the twenty or so birds are scratching their vehicles by standing on them and eating the plants in their gardens.

However, others say the colourful animals are the reason they moved to the village.

The petition was set up after it was suggested that the animals could be culled.

Will Bedford, from the Parish Council says it's looking at reducing the amount of birds but "we're definitely not talking about killing them".

"The village overwhelmingly likes the peacocks, so I don't think it's something we'll see disappear from our village", he said.

A council meeting will take place tomorrow night to discuss the options.

A disabled man from Leeds says he has been forced to choose between paying for tablets or food after he was refused benefits.

Neil Alexander, who has had serious kidney problems since birth, said "it feels like they just want you to give and curl up and die" after he was turned down for personal independence payments (PIP):

Jessica Leigh, from disability charity Scope, said: "Fundamentally PIP is not fit for purpose. We need to see a system that provides support when people need it, not months afterwards having gone through a process of appeals."

The Department for Work and Pensions said it was committed to ensuring disabled people get the support they're entitled to.

Four men are due to appear in court later today in connection with the theft of an ATM at Holton-le-Clay.

The machine was taken from the McColl's store in Louth Road at about 02.30 on Friday.

Following a pursuit, during which a Humberside Police vehicle was rammed and damaged, the ATM was recovered by officers from the back of an abandoned Transit van.

Four men aged between 32 and 38, from Doncaster, Alfreton and Newark, have been charged with offences including burglary, theft and assault.

They are due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court later today.

Police say a drunken digger driver who ran a red light right in front of them has been arrested.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

It happened in Sheffield over the weekend.

Writing on social media, external police said: "I think we’d all agree that drink driving is a stupid thing to do, even more so if you choose to do it in a bright yellow digger, then go through a red light, all in front of a police car."