Harry Williams

Several roads across North Yorkshire, including routes near Barden, Bell Busk, Cowling and Malham, are scheduled for temporary closures to allow essential maintenance. Closure periods may be extended, with maximum end dates ranging from November 24 to December 31. Signposted alternative routes will be provided, and motorists are directed to the North Yorkshire roadworks map for updates.

United Fuels and Energy Ltd, based at Snaygill Industrial Estate in Skipton, has applied to add another goods vehicle to its operator’s licence. The traffic commissioner has opened a 21-day public consultation, inviting nearby landowners and occupiers to submit written representations regarding any potential impact.

Skipton Town Hall will host a Summer Art Club workshop for 10- to 18-year-olds on August 24. Participants will design and decorate tote bags using painting, printing, embroidery and other techniques. Materials are included, the session costs £7.50, and attendees can choose between morning and afternoon drop-off sessions.

Skipton defeated third-placed Old Leodiensians by nine wickets in the Aire-Wharfe League Division Two after Finlay Walker took six wickets for 40 runs and Shahid Nadeem and Adam Harding shared a 121-run opening partnership. The result strengthens Skipton’s position ahead of their match against leaders Green Lane. In the Premier Division, Steeton beat Horsforth Hall Park by 97 runs after scoring 241-8, with James Robinson and Steve Pearson making key contributions and Paul Quinlan taking six wickets.

Hawkcliffe Farm Produce near Steeton and Utley celebrated its second anniversary with a three-day sampling event featuring home-bred beef, locally sourced meats and products from Yorkshire suppliers. Owners Sarah and Dan Thompson said the farm shop was continuing to grow, while MP Robbie Moore praised their work and encouraged local residents to support the independent business. The shop sells meat, vegetables, baked goods, ice cream, biscuits, honey and soap, and operates four days a week.

Settle Victoria Hall will host Strawberry Circus Day on Saturday, August 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family event will include bubble and circus workshops, a circus show, a bubble display and an aerial workshop. Tickets cost £4, with online booking fees or fee-free telephone purchase available, and children must be supervised. The venue may refuse entry to anyone who does not follow social-distancing, government or safeguarding requirements.

Settle College is celebrating strong A-level and vocational results, with students progressing to universities, apprenticeships, employment, gap years and specialist training. Immy Calverley, Freya Curtis, Edward Whaley and Cameron Ettenfield are highlighted for their grades and university destinations. Headteacher Gareth Whitaker praised students' hard work and character and thanked staff, parents and carers for their support.

Wharfedale defeated Old Rishworthians 50–12 in an entertaining pre-season rugby union fixture at the Upper Dale. After trailing 7–5 early on and losing a player to injury, Wharfedale took control through tries from Archie Brewster, Joe Charnley, Orson Hall, Henry Ellison, Jay Kay, Jack Kitching and Callum Trees, with Archie Haddon adding five conversions. Old Rishworthians contributed positively despite the one-sided second half. Wharfedale’s planned friendly against Kendal has been cancelled, and the team will now prepare for its National Two North opener away to Chester.

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams will perform at Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre on September 4 during its 2026 UK tour. The Hudson Valley band, known for combining Americana, southern rock, Celtic influences and British folk, has developed a devoted UK following since first touring Britain in 2008. The tour supports 13-Live, recorded at WAMC in Albany in 2024, with tickets available through the venue.

A summer art club for 10- to 18-year-olds will be held at Skipton Town Hall on August 17. Participants will use mixed media to create an original canvas inspired by a still life, John Bratby and the Kitchen Sink Realism movement. Materials are provided, the drop-off session costs £7.50, and attendees must be able to participate independently without parental supervision.

Rathmell Young Farmers’ Club celebrated its 80th annual agricultural show with more than 100 sheep, numerous competition entries and displays of historical memorabilia. Chairman Thomas Capstick praised members and contributors, while President Jonathan Wright highlighted the continuing involvement of his family. The event featured livestock, sheep, horticulture, cookery, handicrafts and tractor competitions, with Lexi Moorhouse, Charlotte Booth, Anna Booth and Capstick among the leading winners. A commemorative show dinner is planned for later in the year.

Nine students from Ingleton Kazoku Karate Club achieved their first Dan black belts after a grading on July 11. Chief instructor Andy Kewley praised their commitment and resilience, while the club highlighted its family-oriented approach, with four successful candidates forming father-and-son pairs. The new black belts will join the club’s senior ranks and continue training while supporting newer students.

Four Skipton Swimming Club athletes—Betsy Rider, Quinn Kelly, Will Skiggs and Stanley Dunne—produced strong results at the Aquatics GB Next Gen British Championships and the Swim England National Championships. Kelly won silver medals in the 100m breaststroke and freestyle, while Rider and Dunne reached national finals and Skiggs recorded a solid placing. The club credited the swimmers, coaches Ian Scrivin and Tim Redfearn, and their families, saying the results demonstrate Skipton Swimming Club’s growing strength on the national stage.

Steeton lost by six wickets to defending Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division champions Otley after being bowled out for 206. Ben Hemsley top-scored with 52, while Archie Cox and George Bell added late runs, but Otley chased the target in the 36th over after stands of 105 and 57. Steeton remain fourth and next face Horsforth Hall Park. In Division Two, Skipton were dismissed for 128 after Horsforth posted 202-8, with Matthew Cordingley making 94.

The 2026 Austwick Village Show attracted strong entries and visitors across art, flowers, produce, crafts and cooking, despite weather-related declines in flower entries and a slight overall fall from 2025. Melanie Greenhalgh won Best Exhibit in Show for a felted Old Father Time, narrowly beating Tony Horswill’s recycled-oak cabinet. The event’s income is expected to match or exceed last year’s total. Support from the Yorkshire Dales National Park included an £8,772 donation, while Eleck Energy Ltd sponsored solar panels and battery storage for the village hall. Patrick Grant of BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee welcomed visitors and joined the prizegiving. The next show is scheduled for August 7, 2027, with an AGM planned for October 28.

The Wedding Present are scheduled to perform at Settle Victoria Hall, accompanied by Voodoo Radio. The concert is due to start at 7:45 p.m., with doors opening 45 minutes earlier and an estimated 10:30 p.m. finish. Tickets cost £31 for standing or £32 for seated places, are generally non-refundable, and attendees must comply with social-distancing, government and venue safeguarding requirements.

Several planning applications have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council, including proposals for a detached home in Low Bradley, a fascia sign in Skipton, barn conversions in Sutton-in-Craven and Thornton-in-Craven, and a hobby room with solar panels in Thornton-in-Craven. Residents have 21 days to submit comments through the council’s planning portal or in writing.

Two North Yorkshire routes will face temporary closures from August 24 because of roadworks. The Barden Scale to Sand Bed Gate route is scheduled to close until September 14, with a possible maximum duration until November 24, while the Red Bridge to Church Close Farm route in Bell Busk is scheduled to close from August 24 to August 28, also with a possible extension until November 24. Access to properties will be maintained and diversion signs used where appropriate.

Gargrave defeated Glusburn by 284 runs in Craven Cricket League Division One after making 351-9 and dismissing their opponents for 67. Alex Lorimer, Chris Lambert and George Beckwith were the leading performers. Silsden regained second place by beating Hepworth & Idle, while Airedale and Sutton also won. In Division Two, Ben Sugden starred for Silsden II with an unbeaten 93 and seven wickets, while Thornton-in-Craven posted 300-5 largely through Shane Taylforth’s unbeaten 159. Glusburn II recorded the major Division Three chase, beating Cowling II with an unbeaten partnership from Umar Dar and Amir Javed.

Steeton defeated Burley by five runs in a tense Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division match. After posting 225-8, Steeton survived a late Burley recovery as the visitors finished on 220-9. James Robinson, Steve Pearson, Tremaine Dowrich and Archie Cox were among the key contributors. Steeton will next visit league leaders Otley. In Division Two, Guiseley beat Skipton by 71 runs after bowling them out for 130, leaving Skipton facing a crucial fixture against Horsforth.

Four Craven Cricket League matches were decided in dramatic finishes, including three last-wicket victories in the First Division and Cowling II’s two-run win over Skipton CI II. Sutton beat Silsden with Will Tedder hitting the winning six with the scores tied, while Glusburn chased 234 against Eldwick & Gilstead with one wicket remaining. Cowling defeated Haworth by 12 runs, and leaders Gargrave beat Airedale by seven wickets. Gargrave lead Hepworth & Idle by 34 points with seven matches remaining, while Wilsden hold a 39-point advantage in Division Two.

North Yorkshire Council plans to dispose of a parcel of public land at Colne Road/Crossburn Close in Glusburn and Crosshills. Residents and other interested parties can submit objections to Senior Estates Surveyor Catherine Moore by August 6, with the council saying it will consider all timely objections before making a final decision.

Ben and Jon Avison will debut their collaborative album and multimedia project Wild Wisdom: Songs of the Green Trails at Settle Victoria Hall, featuring music, storytelling and visual art with contributions from 20 artists. Guest performers Becky Taylor and Sam Lawrence will join the event, which runs from 7.30pm to 9pm with tickets available for purchase.

Multiple roads across North Yorkshire face temporary closures for construction and maintenance, including works on Gargrave Road in Skipton, Westgate in Kettlewell, and routes in Barden, Glusburn and Cononley. The projects involve highway improvements, utility works and repairs, with varying enforcement periods extending into late 2024 and beyond. Traffic signs and alternative routes will be provided, and inquiries are directed to contractors or North Yorkshire Council.

North Yorkshire Council has announced plans to sell a section of land at Colne Road and Crossburn Close in Glusburn and Cross Hills, inviting public objections within 14 days of a notice published on July 16. Residents can submit comments to Senior Estates Surveyor Catherine Moore by mail or email, and the council will review all objections before making a final decision. A detailed map of the area is available upon request.

Settle Victoria Hall will host Illyria’s outdoor production of The Three Musketeers on July 15, offering a family‑friendly adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ novel featuring comedy, action and swordplay. Tickets are available for adults and children, and the venue encourages visitors with specific needs to contact the box office in advance.

Several planning applications across North Yorkshire have been submitted, including a new agricultural building in Wigglesworth, a residential annexe conversion in Draughton, a holiday let conversion at the Old Post Office, and roof replacement work at the White Lion Hotel in Kildwick. North Yorkshire Council is accepting public comments for 21 days via its planning portal, with Head of Development Management Martin Grainger overseeing the process.

A touring show celebrating the music of Carole King and James Taylor will be performed at Skipton Town Hall on July 11, featuring renditions of several well‑known songs. The two‑hour production, which includes a 20‑minute interval, marks a decade of performances with previous sell‑out runs in the UK and US.

A new play titled Lives Along the Line, written by Joan Barnard and commissioned to mark 150 years of passenger travel on the Settle Carlisle Railway, will be staged at Settle Victoria Hall by theatre group The Vagabonds. The production draws on historical research about the railway and its communities. The performance is scheduled for Sunday, July 5, with tickets available at various price levels and entry beginning 45 minutes before the show.

Skipton Town Hall will host the rock ’n’ roll act Two Pianos on July 4, featuring Al Kilvo and David Barton performing music from 1950s icons including Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry. The show has earned strong praise from reviewers and tickets are available for £24.