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Tony Gardner, Local Democracy Reporter

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Tony Gardner is a Local Democracy Reporter who covers Wakefield Council

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Articles by Tony Gardner, Local Democracy Reporter

Andrew Wakefield said the planned policy change by Wakefield Council would “target” bereaved residents and failed to support small business owners.

Cabinet member opposes council plan to scrap empty home tax discount

An announcement on the future of The Ridings Shopping Centre is on the way

Major announcement on The Ridings to come ‘within weeks’

Temporary classrooms were installed to ease disruption caused by the discovery of Raac at St Thomas à Becket school, in Wakefield

Major shake-up planned for school after RAAC safety concerns

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper leaves following a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London.

MPs urge council to scrap plans to end two-hour free parking

Kathryn Pybus and Lisa Hudson urged councillors to reject plans to building 151 canalside homes at City Fields in Wakefield.

Narrowboat residents furious as plans for canalside homes approved

Residents and councillors have started a campaign to save two historic chapels in Knottingley Cemetery.

‘We won’t be selling them’: Two historic chapels given new hope

Wakefield Council has scrapped plans to transfer ownership of a former public swimming pool and leisure centre to a community trust.

Council scraps 'ridiculous' £1 leisure centre community trust transfer

Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell.

Wakefield Trinity heroes tipped for city’s highest honour after win

Members of the Reform group unanimously voted in favour of the motion, which urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to shut down Urban House and Cedar Court Hotel as asylum accommodation sites.

Council calls on Home Secretary to shut two asylum centres

The proposals for the scheme next to the Aire and Calder Navigation form part of the wider City Fields development.

151 new homes planned for canalside site despite wildlife concerns

ION Property Developments Limited has been chosen to deliver the 110-room venue on the site of the city’s former Westgate Station.

Work to start next year on ew 110-room city centre hotel
Regeneration plans for new city centre hotel take major step forward

Police dog Roxy was on hand to help sniff out offenders during two days of action at Wakefield Westgate

Police dog Roxy helps uncover drugs as arrests are made in crackdown

Senior councillors are poised to agree to proposals to scrap two-hour free parking across the Wakefield district.

Drivers face end of two-hour free parking under new council plans

Featherstone Rovers' Millennium Stadium, Post Office Road, ground.

Featherstone Rovers’ future boosted by major stadium rescue plan

The council sold Woolley Hall at auction for just over £1.5m in August as part of efforts to save costs.

Historic mansion sale paves way for hotel, spa and wedding venue

Wakefield Council has approved proposals to knock down the fire-damaged Castle Grove Infants School site to allow the 76-bedroom facility to be constructed.

Fire-damaged school to be demolished as 76-bedroom care home approved

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026 and the site was prepared for redevelopment

Council vows to plug £1m gap to deliver Knottingley redevelopment

Plans to install a bandstand inspired by the work of Dame Barbara Hepworth in Horbury's Carr Lodge Park have been given the go-ahead

Controversial Hepworth-inspired bandstand wins planning approval

Bidders battle over vacant Wakefield pub as hammer falls at £445,000.

Former pub goes for £445k after bidding soars past £150k guide price

The former Pontefract Swimming Pool is now under offer

Offer made for former swimming pool that's been vacant for five years

Plans have been submitted to expand the clinical research centre at Pinderfields Hospital as part of a scheme worth almost £2million

Medical trials centre set to be expanded with £2million project

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026

Town regeneration 'faces £1m funding gap' as it's hit by rising costs
The first phase of work is under budget pressures

Plans have been been lodged to convert the former Northern Social bar in Pontefract town centre into a HMO

Former sports bar could be turned into house share with 18 bedrooms

CGI of proposed development at Broad Cut Farm, Wakefield

Appeal after Wakefield council rejects plans for business park on farm

A unit is set to be moved from Pinderfields hospital while A&E is upgraded

Hospital unit to be moved to former care home during A&E upgrade

The former NatWest branch in Pontefract town centre.

Plans approved to remove artwork from former town centre bank

Hundreds of new homes could be built at Wheldale Farm, Castleford, as part of regeneration plans for the town

Town set for up to 800 new homes as plans for major sites move forward

Wakefield Council looks set to sell more public buildings across the district

Plans approved to speed up sale of council buildings

Residents and councillors have started a campaign to save two historic chapels in Knottingley Cemetery

'We don't want to lose them': Campaign to save cemetery chapels

Plans have been submitted to build a new Co-op store in Ackworth

Plans submitted to demolish garden centre and build new Co-op store

Wakefield’s 50 favourite things revealed after 600 nominations from locals

Wakefield’s 50 favourite things revealed after 600 nominations

The former NHS office building in Wakefield city centre is to be converted into an apartment block

Former NHS office building set to become 46 new city centre flats

South Elmsall Market is one of six local markets operated by Wakefield Council

Market set for major rebuild after being branded ‘not fit for purpose’

Wakefield Council has launched a public consultation on its home-to-school transport policy

Parents asked for views on major school transport changes

AQMAs in Pontefract, Knottingley and Castleford centres are set to be lifted

Pollution zones set to be scrapped after improvement in air quality

King Street Health Centre. Google image

Under-review NHS walk-in centre has seen an 18% drop in patients

The Little Un pub in South Elmsall

Pub applies for new alcohol licence with live music plans

Wakefield Council has approved proposals to turn Hightown Parish Church All Saints in Castleford into a family home.

Historic 19th-century church to become five-bedroom family home

Kirklees Magistrate's Court

Fly tipper caught after GPS tracker was hidden inside hot tub

The proposals include building four self contained apartments at the Georgian property on Bond Street in Wakefield.

Former dental surgery could be transformed into four city centre flats

A meeting heard talks were due to begin later this year on a business case for the so-called Wakefield Futures Centre.

£533m economic boost could hinge on ambitious new skills centre

The Albion Inn, on Greenhill Road, Eastmoor, is due to go under the hammer later this month.

‘Excellent potential’: Pub that has stood empty going under hammer

Celebrating 135 years of telling Leeds' stories

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