Local Democracy Reporting Service

One of Leeds’s tallest buildings could be demolished to make way for a student accommodation block more than double its size.

Image source, Google

Early plans have emerged which, if given the go-ahead, would see the construction of a 43-storey student accommodation building on the site of the Arena Point tower.

The proposals, which are set to go before Leeds City Council planning chiefs later this week, are what's known as a “pre-application”.

They include blueprints for the building which is expected to house nearly 700 students.

It will add to current tall building developments in the area around the Merrion Centre, including the 23-storey Symons House, the 27-storey White Rose View and the 37-storey Hume House.

The 19-storey Arena Point building, formerly known as Tower House, was built in 1965.

There is a growing and "extremely concerning" number of seriously ill people in hospital with coronavirus, the leader of Sheffield City Council has said.

Image source, PA Media

Her comments were made after it was announced earlier that South Yorkshire is to be placed under tier three restrictions from Saturday - the highest level of the coronavirus alert system.

Councillor Julie Dore said "doing nothing is clearly not an option", but she added that financial support needed to brought in to help people and businesses in South Yorkshire.

"People should be given the same level of support as they were in the national lockdown to help them get through these incredibly challenging times," she said.

"While government are providing extra funding, they are giving South Yorkshire a standard package of support which they are providing to the areas going into tier three. This will not allow us to provide the support for people that is needed.

"We will continue to push government to provide enough support for people and businesses as they are now placing us in these measures which will have such serious consequences for the people most impacted.

“We can and will get through this, but we will only do so by pulling together. The government’s approach at this moment in time will not bring about this togetherness," Councillor Dore added.

Some businesses in York would be better recompensed if the city was put in the top tier of coronavirus restrictions, a health boss has said.

Image source, PA Media

Under the Chancellor's Job Support Scheme, which replaces furlough at the start of November, workers at firms told to shut because of coronavirus rules over the winter will receive at least 67% of their pay from the government.

The Director of Public Health for York says: "Under the current rules, businesses like pubs and restaurants which might find themselves impacted by tier two rules don't receive any compensation from the government.

"But if the city was in tier three, then they would get financial compensation. So there are mixed feelings as our numbers continue to rise."

This morning it was announced that from Saturday, people living in South Yorkshire will be placed in the tier three – the very high alert category.

The tier three rules for South Yorkshire apply to everyone living in the region's four local authority areas.

Businesses fear for the future as South Yorkshire faces the highest level of Covid restrictions.

Train services through Selby have resumed after earlier disruption caused by a boat colliding with a swing bridge in the town.

Image source, J Thomas/Geograph

The boat hit the bridge, which runs over the River Ouse, just before 11:00, said Network Rail.

Buses had been replacing trains between Hull and Selby and other services were diverted while engineers carried out safety inspections on the bridge.

People living in Barnsley have been giving their views on the announcement South Yorkshire will be subject to stricter coronavirus restrictions at the weekend.

From Saturday, the whole of South Yorkshire will move into tier three - the highest level of the coronavirus alert system.

Market stall trader John Duffield (above) said: "It's a bit worrying for us, we don't know what the future is going to be. We don't know if we're going to be open next week or not. Our customers are panicking a bit by now, too."

Eric Roland (below), who lives in Barnsley, said he thought going into tier three was a "good thing".

He added: "We're not getting any better. We need to get better sometime. I think it'll help sort it out if public houses get shut where people seem to gather.

"Nobody is bothered about wearing masks. Even in shops, they don't wear them. I'm 84, we lived through World War Two. This is worse really."

But Maureen (below), from Barnsley, said she thinks the decision to move South Yorkshire into tier three was "ridiculous".

She said: "We should never have been in lockdown. All the people who are vulnerable should have been helped and kept safe.

"I look at it this way, I've not got all that many years left of me and I'm not going to be fastened in a house when the government have got it all wrong."

June Watkins, out in Barnsley with her daughter Chloe this lunchtime (both pictured below), said: "I think it's a good thing, I really do.

"It should have happened a couple of weeks ago. People are not doing what they should do. If people use their common sense and did what they should do we'd be fine but they're not."

Chloe, a university student in Leeds, added: "Nobody is following the rules."

Deborah Walker (below), from Barnsley, said: "I think we need a short, sharp shock and if everyone gets on board that's what it will be and we'll go into it and come out of it all better off.

"I do feel sorry [for businesses] but it's necessary. We need to get it under control."

Two men have been arrested after a number of shots were thought to have been fired at a house in Bradford.

Image source, Google

Damage "consistent with bullet holes" was caused to the window of the house on Coleshill Way in the early hours of Tuesday morning in what police said was a "targeted" incident.

Two men, aged 36 and 44, have been arrested overnight in connection with the incident and both remain in custody, officers say.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who saw anything suspicious in the area, is being asked to contact West Yorkshire Police.

The "largest" military exercise to be run by the Royal Air Force in the UK for over a decade has begun off the Yorkshire coast.

Image source, UK MOD/Crown Copyright

The RAF, Royal Navy, US Marine Corps and United States Air Force are taking park in Crimson Warrior - a "high intensity tactical training" exercise over the North Sea and North East of England.

More than 70 aircraft are taking part and includes fast jet flying, the RAF said.

The exercise started on Monday and runs until 5 November.

James Vincent
Political Editor, BBC Look North

The imposition of tier three - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions on South Yorkshire has seemed inevitable - but it has taken a while.

While the focus was across the Pennines on Manchester’s negotiations with government, South Yorkshire was doing its own deal.

A £41m funding package to help businesses and test-and-trace is a similar amount given to a similar-sized city region - Liverpool.

But was it a deal at all? The leader of Rotherham Council Chris Read has described the government’s approach as "tawdry".

He says the government had a funding template and that there have been no meaningful negotiations at all.

All train services heading to and from Selby have been disrupted after a boat hit a swing bridge in the town.

Image source, J Thomas/Geograph

Train services through the station may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes, said train operator Northern.

The disruption is expected to last into the early afternoon, added the company.

The first affected train was the 10:17 Hull to Halifax which is currently delayed at Selby.

:Any updates on the situation can be seen here, external.

Police searching for a man who's gone missing in Leeds say they're "very concerned" for his welfare.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Jason Brown, 40, went missing from his home in Pudsey shortly after 21:00 last night.

He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with orange trim, light grey Nike bottoms and blue Nike trainers

Det Insp James Entwistle said: “We are very concerned for Jason’s welfare and urgently need to find him and check he is okay.

“We currently have officers out searching for him and we would like to hear from anyone who has seen him or who has any information that could assist.”

We look at the tier two restrictions imposed in parts of Yorkshire and the reasons for them.

South Yorkshire has been moved into the highest tier of the coronavirus alert level - tier three - with restrictions coming into force at 00:01 on Saturday

This means people living on South Yorkshire will not be allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of your household, or support bubble, indoors.

People cannot meet in private or pub gardens, but can meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as they are not in a group of more than six.

Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals. Alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

People are being advised not to travel into or out of tier three areas, other than for work, education, youth services or because of caring responsibilities.

Extra measures for tier three areas can be introduced, following discussions between central and local government.

The restrictions will be reviewed again within a maximum of 28 days, it's been confirmed.

Tributes have been paid to a 10-year-old boy who died when his bike was hit by a car on Anlaby Road in Hull on Monday.

Image source, Family Photo

A vigil has been held at West Park to remember Steven Duffield and an online fundraising page has been set up to help support the family.

Almost £3,000 has so far been donated.

An 11-year-old boy, who was on the same bike remains in a critical condition in hospital.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences in connection with the crash.

Humberside Police has appealed for witnesses or anyone who has dashcam footage from driving in the area at the time to contact the force.

People who "wilfully flout the law" surrounding the new tier three coronavirus restrictions in South Yorkshire will be fined, the region's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has said.

Image source, Dominic Lipinski/PA Media

Dr Alan Billings says he's spoken to the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and senior officers after the announcement South Yorkshire will move into tier three of the coronavirus alert system.

He said: "I have no doubt that they will continue to do this [enforcing the new restrictions] in a proportionate way, but we should be in no doubt that there will be enforcement activity if people wilfully flout the law.

“Of course, the police cannot be everywhere all the time.

“It is essential, therefore, that we all play our part."

The agreement to move South Yorkshire into the highest coronavirus alert level - tier three - will come with a "local lockdown lifeline", the mayor of the Sheffield City Region has said.

Image source, UK Parliament

From Saturday, people living in South Yorkshire will be placed in tier three.

This means pubs and bars will have to close unless they are serving substantial meals.

Households cannot meet both indoors and outdoors, with people being advised against travelling in or out of the area.

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said as part of the agreement with government to move into tier three was that they'd get an economic "local lockdown lifeline" for local councils.

He said: "The new restrictions will be introduced alongside resources which mean we are better equipped to control the virus and limit some of the damage on jobs and businesses.

“While infection rates vary across South Yorkshire, collective action was the only practical choice to keep everyone in our region safe.

"If restrictions are effective, individual local authorities will be able to move to lower alert levels as soon as it is safe to do so, in consultation with fellow local leaders, myself and national government.

“However, to reach that point as quickly as possible, it’s critical people in South Yorkshire follow the new restrictions as soon as they are in place."

South Yorkshire has been moved into the highest tier of the coronavirus alert level - tier three - with restrictions coming into force on Saturday, the region's mayor has said.

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley are to have extra restrictions following an agreement between him and the government.

He said: "We all recognise the gravity of the situation and have taken the responsible route to ensure we save lives and livelihoods, and protect our NHS.

"More older people are contracting the virus. The number of people with COVID in our hospitals has doubled over the last ten days, with no signs this will relent over the coming weeks.

"Inaction was not an option."

Tier three is the highest level in the government's coronavirus alert system, with the region moving up from tier two.

Tier three - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions are to be imposed on South Yorkshire, it's just been confirmed.

Image source, Reuters/Toby Melville

Up until now, tier three restrictions were only applied to Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region.

The Greater Manchester area will also be subject to tighter restrictions, the government says.

From Saturday, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield are to move into the "very high" alert level - the highest set out by the government.

Previously, South Yorkshire was placed in the "high" category, which was tier two.

Under tier three:

• Pubs and bars not serving substantial meals have to close
• Household mixing is banned both indoors and outdoors
• There is guidance against travelling in or out of the area

Live reaction as South Yorkshire agrees move to 'very high' Covid alert level