Local Democracy Reporting Service

Detailed plans to fix Wakefield County Hall’s leaky roof have been put forward, with parts of the historic building at risk of collapse.

Image source, Google

The landmark Grade I-listed structure, which accommodates about 500 council staff, is in desperate need of refurbishment.

A 2019 report said "urgent and essential" repairs to the roof were required to prevent parts of the building from caving in, after a number of significant leaks in recent years.

Meetings were moved out of County Hall at the start of 2018 as a precaution after rainwater damaged some of the plasterwork inside.

Employees meanwhile, have complained about the building becoming a “dark and dingy” place to work.

A total of £6.5m of public money has been set aside for the scheme, which is subject to planning permission.

An application put forward by Wakefield Council’s property partner Engie earlier this month, said that a "backlog of disrepair and defects" needs to be fixed.

A heritage statement by the company said the repairs would be “historically sympathetic” to the rest of the building, which dates back to 1898.

Pigeon spikes will also be put on the new roof to prevent bird droppings.

If approved, the work is expected to take around two years to complete.

The Environment Agency is warning people to avoid part of the River Leven during August.

An investigation has been launched into the actions of a police officer who was filmed apparently restraining a man and saying "chill out or I'll choke you out", the police watchdog has said.

Image source, IOPC

The video shows an officer wrestling a man to the ground in Spring Hall Lane, Halifax, before holding him with an arm around the neck.

During the video, a voice can be heard saying "chill out or I'll choke you out, chill out or you're going to sleep".

The officer involved has been suspended by West Yorkshire Police pending an investigation and the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

In a statement, the IOPC said it would be investigating the incident.

IOPC Regional Director Miranda Biddle said: “We can understand why the images circulated have caused considerable public concern and we would like to reassure members of the community that we have taken the decision to independently investigate this incident after West Yorkshire Police made a voluntary referral to us.

“An investigation has now commenced to ensure that we are able to fully understand what happened. It is vital that we are able to impartially determine the facts.

“We have already begun to gather evidence but we would like to speak to anyone who was in Spring Hill Lane in Halifax at around 15:00 on Sunday who may have witnessed this incident.”

Doncaster Rovers sign Stoke City goalkeeper Josef Bursik on a season-long loan deal.

Families of those who died in the Manchester arena attack speak of their grief and loss.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Wakefield Council’s chief executive Merran McRae is to step down from the role at the end of September to "focus on her recovery" from cancer.

Image source, Wakefield Council

In a statement issued on Thursday morning, she said the move would allow her to focus on her recovery and spend more time with her family.

Ms McRae, who took over the position at the head of the council in 2017, had previously been chief executive at Calderdale Council for five years.

She returned to work earlier this summer after a period of time away, having been diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year.

Ms McRae said she was "incredibly proud" of Wakefield and admitted the decision to leave her post had been an "incredibly difficult decision to make".

"As many people are aware, this has been a particularly challenging year for me, health wise." she said.

“Although it is with a heavy heart that I have decided to request early retirement, I am confident that it is the right decision for me personally, allowing me time to focus on my recovery and spend quality time with my family."

A council spokesperson said: "Merran will continue as Chief Executive until the end of September whilst interim arrangements are put in place."

There have been hundreds of near misses in Catterick since lockdown began, the MoD says.

Favourite Love eases to victory in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York, with Alpinista second and One Voice third.

A 13-year-old boy is in hospital with serious injuries following a collision in Halifax in the early hours of this morning, police say.

Image source, Google

The boy was a passenger in a silver Vauxhall Meriva when it hit a barrier on Ovenden Road at about 02:15, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Four teenagers, aged 13, 14, 15 and 15, who were also travelling in the car, which is believed to have been taken without consent, have been arrested and remain in police custody.

PC Andy Richardson said: “This has clearly been a serious incident which has resulted in a child receiving some significant injuries.

“A full investigation into the circumstances of what took place is under way."

Anyone who saw what happened, particularly anyone with dashcam footage, is asked to contact police.

A "pop-up" cycle lane which was installed in Sheffield to help people move across the city during the coronavirus lockdown is to be removed by the council.

The council hoped the segregated lane on Penistone Road and Shalesmoor would "encourage people to continue walking and cycling following the coronavirus lockdown".

But the council now says it's stopping the scheme following feedback.

Councillor Bob Johnson, from Sheffield City Council, said: “We have been monitoring the impact of the scheme since it was implemented and feel that with traffic rising to close to normal levels and the summer holidays coming to a close it is now time to end this trial to minimise disruption in the area.

"This was always intended to be a temporary scheme and it has given us the valuable opportunity to see how active travel infrastructure can be incorporated into our highway network moving forward, at a time when traffic has been at an unprecedented low."

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa is set to sign a new contract and fans don't need to worry about his future, says chief executive Angus Kinnear.

Rotherham sign defender Wes Harding from fellow Championship club Birmingham for an undisclosed fee.

The group, who normally feed people at a business centre, have been offering takeaway curries.

Police are asking for help to find this missing 15-year-old girl from East Yorkshire:

Image source, Humberside Police

Caroline Smith was last seen at Flemingate shopping centre in Beverley on Tuesday at 16:00.

She has now been reported missing.

She is described as being about 5ft 3ins tall, with dark brown hair.

Caroline wears glasses and at the time she went missing she was wearing blue jeans, a cream top with flowers, a black jacket and a black choker around her neck with a silver buckle.

She could be in the Bridlington area, police believe.

Anybody who has seen Caroline, or knows where she might be, is asked to get in touch with Humberside Police.

Barnsley sign LASK midfielder Dominik Frieser for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.

Police in West Yorkshire say they're "concerned" about a 15-year-old boy who's been missing for more than a week.

Image source, West Yorkshire police

Denzel Muduma, 15, was last seen in Bradford on 11 August.

The teenager is thought to have links to the Holmewood and Bierley areas of the city.

Det Ch Insp Andy Farrell said: “We are appealing to the public to help us trace Denzel as he has been missing for over a week now.

“I would also like to remind anyone who is allowing him to stay at their home that they may be committing a criminal offence.”

Anyone who sees Denzel, or who has information about his whereabouts, is being urged to contact police.

The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has been jailed for at least 55 years for the murders of 22 people - including several from Yorkshire.

Image source, GMP

Hashem Abedi helped his older sibling Salman to plan the atrocity that killed 22 men, women and children and left hundreds more injured on 22 May 2017.

Manchester-born Abedi, who was in Libya when his brother detonated the explosive, had denied helping to plan the attack at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

At his trial, jurors were told how the brothers worked together to source materials used in the bombing.

On 17 March, he was found guilty of 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder - encompassing the injured survivors - and conspiring to cause explosions.

Sorrell Leczkowski, from Leeds, Marcin and Angelika Klis, who were both from Poland and lived in York, Kelly Brewster, from Sheffield, Wendy Fawell, from Otley, and Courtney Boyle from Gateshead, who was a student at Leeds Beckett University, were among those who died as a result of the bombing.

Abedi refused to come into the court at the Old Bailey for the sentencing.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told the court: "The stark reality is, these were atrocious crimes. Large in scale, deadly in intent, appalling in their consequences".

Southend United sign Barnsley winger Jordan Green on a six-month loan.

A seven-year-old boy who died after being hit by a car in Bradford has been officially named by police.

Image source, Google

Malakye Hall died in hospital after being hit by a black Toyota Auris estate in Manchester Road, close to the junction with St Stephens Road, at about 22:00 on Tuesday 11 August.

The driver, a 29-year-old man from Bradford, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released under investigation.

West Yorkshire Police say officers are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of the crash and are supporting the families of those involved.

League One side Hull City sign midfielder Greg Docherty from Rangers for an undisclosed fee.