First bus franchise contracts signed, Reform UK mark 100 days in Wakefield ...

First contracts for West Yorkshire’s franchise-era bus operation get signed

First Bus and Transdev have been announced as the first two bus operators to have signed contracts to operate the franchise model in West Yorkshire.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said that First Bus would manage routes across Huddersfield and some parts of Leeds, while Transdev would be in charge of services in Dewsbury.

Tracy Brabin, the mayor of the WYCA, described the signing of the first contracts as a “landmark moment for bus franchising”.

“For the first time, operators will run buses on behalf of the people of West Yorkshire, to standards set by us,” she explained.

“Bus franchising takes us closer to our bold vision of a region-wide integrated Weaver Network and a better-connected, more reliable and affordable transport system for West Yorkshire.”

The franchising model for buses in West Yorkshire, which will put services across the region under public control by the end of 2028, is part of the WYCA’s integrated transport system, the Weaver Network.

Other developments include a new mass transit system powered by trams and more connected active travel options (from walking and cycling to wheeling).

The decision to award a contract to First Bus was criticised by Better Buses West Yorkshire’s Gareth Forest, who told the BBC last month that First Bus was “one of Britain's worst bus operators”.

Reform UK mark 100 days in control of Wakefield Council 

Reform UK has said that it has taken “real, practical action” since taking control of Wakefield Council after May’s historic local elections, which it claims has delivered “actual change” to residents in the city.

Karl Johnson, the leader of the council, said that the party had been “spending money wisely, cutting waste, and improving our communities” in its first three months in office.

Highlights over the first 100 days include setting out ten priorities to deliver practical improvements, “undeclaring the ‘climate emergency’” (single quotation marks are the council’s own) and launching a new economic growth plan, the Reform UK-led administration said.

“This is just the beginning,” Johnson noted. “Over the next few months, we'll be driving forward our budget efficiency programme to make sure every pound of taxpayers' money is being spent wisely and is focused on your priorities.”

"We're determined to keep delivering the change people voted for. Making our district an even better place to live, work and invest."

Reform UK picked up 58 of the 63 seats that were being contested in May, mainly at the expense of Labour, which was all but wiped out.

It now has only one councillor – Wakefield East’s Mohammed Ayub. Prior to the 2026 local elections, the council has been under Labour majority control since 1974.

Ilkley councillors call on Addingham residents to ‘have their say’ on house building proposal

Residents in Addingham are being urged by Ilkley’s trio of Conservative councillors to have their say over plans to build 55 new homes on land south of Main Street in the village by 16 September.

Jane Sellers, Richard Downey and Andrew Loy called on locals to review the proposal and pay particular attention to the impact that the development would have on the conservation ground, the cricket ground and local infrastructure.

Expressing his concerns about the scale and location of the proposal, Downey, who was elected in May, said that it was not a “small infill development”.

“It would place 55 houses on open land within the conservation area and immediately beside the cricket ground,” he explained.

“The Addingham neighbourhood plan identifies the view from the cricket ground across these fields as important, with the old stone barn acting as a focal point. I encourage residents to examine the application and ensure that Bradford Council understands the nature and extent of local concerns.”

The vision of the Addingham Neighbourhood Development Plan 2018–2030 is to maintain Addingham’s identity as a village.

“The traditional Lower Wharfedale character, special setting in the landscape and biodiversity of the parish will have been protected and enhanced,” the document states.

“And the village will have accommodated necessary new development without damaging these special features and will also have strengthened its resilience to climate change.”

Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway to open – over a year later than planned

Leeds City Council has announced that Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway is on track to open in October 2026, four years after work began – and over a year later than planned.

Led by Network Rail in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the £46.1 million project has been beset by delays. It was originally set to be complete by the autumn of 2025, then it was pushed back to the summer of 2026 and then it was supposed to open this month.

An exact date has not been named by the council. Instead, the local authority has said that it will open in either early or mid-October. 

“The station gateway scheme will create a safer and more welcoming and accessible environment for everyone using the station’s main entrance,” said James Lewis, the Labour leader of Leeds City Council.

“I know it’s taken time, however, Leeds City Station is built on a massive and historic set of Victorian brick arches which need maintaining and the two schemes have gone ahead together.”

Speaking in December 2023, Tracy Brabin, the mayor of the WYCA, said that the complex and important work being done was “laying the foundation for a fantastic gateway to the city”.

She added: “What we want to see next is a commitment from the government to a station fit for the next 100 years, so that we can continue to grow our economy, boost connectivity and tackle the climate emergency.”

Reform UK-led Kirklees Council flag policy update “abandons” rainbow flags

Reform UK-led Kirklees Council has adopted what it describes as a simplified approach to flying flags on council buildings – and it no longer includes pride flags.

The local authority said that its principal flags would be the Union Flag, the Flag of St George and the Civic Flag of Kirklees.

Other flags permitted to be flown would be allowed on specific “named days”. This includes Yorkshire Day, Armed Forces Day, Merchant Navy Day, Commonwealth Day, National 999 Emergency Services Day, Remembrance Sunday and Holocaust Memorial Day.

Reform UK’s Sarah Wood, who heads up the council and who went viral when she admitted during a council meeting that she didn’t understand what was going on (“we understand that because we don’t understand it …”), said that the new policy “set out a clear approach across Kirklees”.

She added: “This is about having a straightforward approach to flags and celebrating the things we have in common: our country and our community.”

Speaking to the BBC, Andrew Cooper, leader of the Green Party opposition, described the announcement of the new policy as “divisive”.

“With so many problems facing the people of Kirklees, it is disappointing that the first thing Reform decided to do is create division when there are so many other issues that need their attention," the councillor told the broadcaster.