Michael Graham

The former Wilko store on Kirkgate, Wakefield, looks set for demolition along with other commercial properties as part of a scheme to redevelop the city centre.

Former Wilko store among city shops set for demolition to regenerate Kirkgate
Former Wilko store among city centre shops set for demolition v.2

Wakefield Exchange (WX) opens for the first time on Friday (February 21) to mark the starts of the city's annual Rhubarb Festival. Image: Wakefield Council

Wakefield Exchange: City’s new events venue set to open for Rhubarb Festival

Michael Graham, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, (left) and council leader Denise Jeffery look at plans for the city's new Cathedral Square project.

New public events space in Wakefield to be 'heart of the city'

Plans have been submitted to demolish a derelict Castleford pub as part of a major project to turn the town's riverside into a tourist attraction.

Plans submitted to bulldoze former Castleford pub as part of town revamp

River Aire at Castleford

Regen chief says £24m Castleford revamp almost ready to start

Left to right: Tom Frater, regional director at Historic England, Louisa Brooks, City and Provincial Properties, Michael Graham, Wakefield Council cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, and Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief execut

Phoenix Mill: City’s oldest riverside textile mill to undergo major regeneration

Councillor Michael Graham is Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Growth at Wakefield Council. PIC: John Clifton

Exciting things are happening in Wakefield - Michael Graham

Plans to turn the former Avondale Fisheries, in Thornes, Wakefield, into a HMO have been re-submitted. Residents began a campaign to stop the scheme in August 2022.

Controversial plan to turn former fish shop in Yorkshire into HMO re-submitted

Wakefield Council's Lib Dem group members Rachel Speak (left), group leader Pete Girt (centre) and Adele Hayes (right)

Kellingley Social Club: Answers demanded over £10m revamp

The Wood Street Collection in Wakefield will create a community of accessible homes and a new community building in Wakefield’s Civic Quarter. The first homes will be complete by mid-2025. Picture: Vector Design Concepts

First look at what city's transformed civic quarter could look like by 2025

Work is expected to start turning Welbeck landfill site, in Wakefield, into a country park.

Yorkshire rubbish tip to be turned into ‘must-visit destination’

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley.

New plans to be revealed for £10m revamp of former social club

Artist impression of how the Cathedral Square project could look.

Cathedral Square project: Council to buy business to meet ambitious deadline

The derelict former Crimea Tavern pub, on Savile Road, Castleford.

Derelict pub to be bulldozed as part of £1.2m regeneration plan

A developer has lost his appeal after being refused permission to turn the former Avondale Fisheries, in Wakefield, into a house share for 14 people. Residents began a campaign to stop the scheme in August 2022.

Plan to turn Yorkshire chippy into house share for 14 people turned down

Memories of Tickle Cock bridge naming row evoked as councillors agree to accept Castleford station revamp money

Councillors struggle to keep straight faces while discussing Tickle Cock bridge

The prized caiman has been removed from Wakefield Museum

Prized stuffed caiman removed from Yorkshire museum to return to Lancashire

Pontefract Castle

King Charles III coronation celebrations could be broadcast at Yorkshire castle

Stadium in Yorkshire to get £1.5m to replace ‘crumbling’ athletics track

Stadium in Yorkshire to get £1.5m to replace ‘crumbling’ athletics track

Residents have reacted with fury over a developer’s amended planning application to turn a former chip shop into a house share.

Revised chip shop housing plan branded ‘cynical’ and ‘abhorrent’

Sir David Attenborough admiring the Waterton Collection during a visit to Wakefield Museum in 2014

Top public school asks Yorkshire museum for return of taxidermy collection
Wakefield is to lose a famous collection of preserved animals and objects which belonged to Victorian conservationist Charles Waterton.
Tony Gardner

Painters at work on the White Horse

Yorkshire’s White Horse of Kilburn painted for first time in 4 years

BBC Wire

Residents launch campaign to stop former fish shop being turned into house

Pontefract Liquorice Festival returns this weekend, celebrating the town’s heritage.

The story of Pontefract's centuries-old association with liquorice

Keir Starmer was in Wakefield recently ahead of the local elections.

Fourteen Labour officials resign en masse over Wakefield 'stitch-up'

The Conservatives suggested switching some streetlights off in parts of the district where residents have demanded it.

Tories at war as proposal to turn streetlights off after midnight savaged

Layla Baker of Lobby 1867 bar. Photo: Scott Merrylees

What to expect from Wakefield's Rhubarb Festival

The roundabout is used by thousands of drivers a day.

Revamp of 'nightmare' Newton Bar roundabout in Wakefield to go ahead

Freya Cox is among the stars appearing at the Wakefield Rhubarb Festival

Great British Bake Off stars amongst line-up for Wakefield Rhubarb Festival

Dewsbury Road, Lupset

5G mast WILL be built in Wakefield after government overturn campaign victory

County Hall in Wakefield

Police probe after 'vile' racist letters sent to four Labour councillors in Wake...

The council insists it won't consider late-night blackouts.

'We'll never turn the lights out after midnight' - council leader
The leader of Wakefield Council has said the local authority "would never switch the streetlights off", in response to public safety concerns.
David Spereall

Henry Moore's Two Large Forms pictured at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Competition intensifies over bids to become the next City of Culture

Many a homeworker has been frustrated by slow internet during the pandemic.

'Quicker to get on a bus than send an email': Pleas to address internet speeds

Welcome to Yorkshire chair Peter Box asked councils for a £1.4m bailout to help keep running in June.

Wakefield Council set to help bail out Welcome to Yorkshire with £78,000 payout ...

Ravenscar (photo: Ceri Oakes)

North York Moors to feature in BBC series about the British countryside

Councillor Wassell was first elected to Normanton Town Council in 1987 and served the town on Wakefield Council from 2012.

'A great man who made a difference': Tributes paid to long-serving Normanton cou...

The public reaction to plans for a link road around South Featherstone will have an impact on the decision to forge ahead with the proposals. Credit: John Clifton

'There’s no point in doing it if people don’t want it' - Public to have say on p...

The view from Sutton Bank where the North York Moors National Park Authority wants to create a new 2.8km cycling trail.
Picture by James Hardisty.

Animal welfare clash over plan for new cycling trail at one of Yorkshire's best ...

Emergency crews attend the Lupset fire

Councillor warned the authorities about former Lupset club before devastating fi...

A new charitable trust could help attract more funding to boost conservation work in the North York Moors National Park. Pic: Mike Kipling

Moors trust bid makes progress

A North York Moors National Park sign at the foot of Sutton Bank

National Park may become a charity in face of cuts

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Park fears traffic blight as bus service is closed

Four held after Scarborough murder hunt

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Youth on murder charge

The sealed-off seafront in Scarborough

Family speak of loss after nine held over resort stabbing death

Night sky video: Parks turn to dark side and strike back in star wars

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Tourism drive to halt national park’s falling visitor numbers

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Brakes applied to green way to travel in the North York Moors

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Salmon river power plans stepnearer as wildlife fears refuted

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