Newsroom Archive

Indoor fitness classes, in water or on dry land, will not be taking place in Wakefield Council facilities when the new Tier 3 ‘Very High Alert’ level restrictions come into force at 00.01 on Monday 2 November.

The deadline for residents to take part in the Knottingley and Ferrybridge Masterplan consultation has been extended until November 14.

The entire Wakefield district, along with the rest of West Yorkshire, will be placed into ‘very high’ alert (Tier 3), in a bid to curb the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the region.

Wakefield Council has received three prestigious Green Flag awards including a first-time award for Pugneys Country Park.

Wakefield Council is inviting people to have their say on proposals to build a replacement for Thornes Park Stadium.

Wakefield is in Tier 2 – High Alert Level (Local Alert Level 2). The figures show that for the latest set of weekly data (between 14 and 20 October) Wakefield's positive case rate has increased significantly from the previous week – from 259.8 to 368.6 positive cases (per 100,000 population).

​Wakefield's Safer Together Partnership, which includes Wakefield Council, is delighted to announce the winners of a competition which helped to launch its new campaign to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

​The Leader of Wakefield Council has today confirmed that the Council will be stepping in to ensure that food is provided for those children who are eligible for free school meals this Christmas.

The draft plan includes the provision of 1,400 new homes each year until 2036 and the allocation of an additional 290 hectares of employment land.

The Leader of Wakefield Council has welcomed the new financial package for businesses but says government support does not go far enough.

Wakefield Council is encouraging the public to please remember at home this Remembrance Day (11 November) in order to keep everyone safe and follow national lockdown restrictions.

​Wakefield Council is reminding residents that it is more important than ever to get the free flu vaccine this winter to help protect those at risk and minimise further impact on the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.

​The district's Recovery Board has given the go-ahead for plans to be developed which could see partners provide much needed food for some of the district's most vulnerable children at Christmas after the Government failed to offer free school meals during the festive holidays.

Wakefield is in Local Alert Level 2 (high alert) – the figures show that for the latest set of weekly data (between 7 and 13 October) Wakefield's positive case rate has increased significantly from the previous week – from 194.9 to 259.5 positive cases (per 100,000 population).

​Wakefield Council is supporting National Care Leavers Week 2020 (26 Oct - 1 Nov) by showcasing and celebrating the successes of care leavers from across the district, and inspiring them to achieve their full potential.

​Residents in the Wakefield district are being reminded to respond to recent letters asking them to register to vote.

​The Leader of Wakefield Council, Cllr Denise Jeffery, has returned to Horbury Bridge to inspect a flood water pumping station following the Council's agreement to invest £300,000 to carry out further improvements in the area to reduce the risk of future flooding.

​Work is progressing well at Wakefield Council's Leisure and Wellbeing Hub in Pontefract Park, with the swimming pool starting to take shape as structural works near completion.

The Leader of Wakefield Council and the Chair of the district’s Place Board have welcomed Government emergency funding for local arts organisations that have been hard hit by Covid-19.

Wakefield Question Time will take place on Monday 26 October at 12pm where Council Leader, Cllr Denise Jeffery, will be answering questions about the district's schools.

Residents who need to self-isolate due to COVID-19 and will lose income because of this can now apply online on the Council’s website for financial assistance.

Wakefield is in Local Alert Level 2 (high alert) – the figures show that for the latest set of weekly data (between 30 September and 6 October) Wakefield's positive case rate has increased significantly from the previous week – from 106.2 to 191.8 positive cases (per 100,000 population).

The money will be used to install a new footbridge and lifts so that disabled people can catch trains to and from the station.

​The deadline for residents to take part in the Knottingley and Ferrybridge Masterplan consultation – either online, by sending a letter, via email or by making a phone call – has been extended.

Wakefield Council is reminding parents and carers to continue to maintain social distancing during school drop off and pick-ups.

​The Leader of Wakefield Council has warned the situation is now nearing a critical stage as local restrictions come into force in the Wakefield district, and urges residents to act now by following the rules to reduce the spread of the virus.

​Wakefield Council is asking the district's residents, businesses, and school children to share their thoughts and feelings regarding climate change.

​Wakefield Council is asking residents for their views on a number of options to improve Ings Road in the city centre.

​Earlier this year, Wakefield's annual Public Health Report was published, celebrating the resilience, stories and ideas from communities across the district during the coronavirus pandemic.

As of today, eight members of the workforce have tested positive for COVID-19, and effective measures, including additional cleaning, have been put in place as quickly as possible to help limit the spread of the virus.

The Council would like to remind people that all other restrictions apply including maximum length of stay time limits – despite being free of charge.

​Wakefield Council, along with partners across the district, will be supporting local businesses to register for the new Government Kickstart scheme which provides funding to create job placements and opportunities for 16 to 24-year-olds.

The 'Gigabit Voucher scheme' will offer vouchers of up to £7,000 for businesses and £2,500 for residents within areas of the district that currently have no or poor internet connection, which would subsidise the cost of installation of faster internet speeds.

The Council has received £1.9million from Historic England which it has match funded to enable it to make almost £4million worth of investment into renovating Upper Westgate's historic buildings, and adjacent yards and ginnels.

​West Yorkshire Trading Standards, in partnership with the five West Yorkshire councils including Wakefield Council, have been Highly Commended for their Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme at The Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards 2020.

​Wakefield Council is supporting World Mental Health Day (Saturday 10 October) which this year has a theme of 'mental health for all'.

​Wakefield's Safer Together Partnership, which includes Wakefield Council, is launching a new campaign to support National Hate Crime Awareness Week (10 -17 October) and is inviting local children to design a poster to help tackle hate crime.

​Plans to transform an important gateway into Pontefract, by demolishing a former nightclub and selling the former fire station site for new housing, are to be discussed by senior councillors.

The cash injection would be used to support a range of climate change initiatives and plans to reduce carbon emissions, with help for sustainable travel, such as cycling schemes and to make improvements to air quality in the district.

If approved, the money will be used to install a new footbridge and lifts so that disabled people can catch trains to and from the station.

Wakefield is now classed as an "area of concern" – the figures show that for the latest set of weekly data (week 39, between 21 and 27 September) Wakefield's positive case rate has increased significantly from the previous week – from 47.8 to 66.1 positive cases (per 100,000 population).

Plans for the transformation of Wakefield’s historic Civic Quarter into a thriving neighbourhood, with new homes and a stunning new community hub, have taken a major step forward.