Joe Willis

Punch Taverns has applied to extend the Crown Inn’s licence in Brompton-on-Swale, allowing opening until 1am most days and 2am on specified holidays, with later music and outdoor entertainment. A nearby resident objects, citing persistent noise from bands, DJs, karaoke, bingo, quizzes and sporting events, as well as concerns about outdoor drinking and a proposed beer garden. North Yorkshire Council’s licensing sub-committee is due to consider the application at a public hearing after discussions involving North Yorkshire Police and environmental health officials.

North Yorkshire Council has registered Hensall Methodist Chapel in Main Street as an asset of community value after Hensall Parish Council expressed concern that the underused chapel could be sold. The building hosts parish council meetings, playgroups, coffee mornings, yoga, singing, an over-60s club and other community activities, and is considered an important social space for Hensall and surrounding rural areas. The designation does not prevent a sale, but gives community groups advance notice and an opportunity to bid if the Methodist circuit decides to dispose of the property.

Approval was granted to convert the former Barclays Bank building in Grassington into a bakery and café with two flats above. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority unanimously supported the proposal submitted on behalf of Love Brownies. Supporters noted the strong design work and local demand, while concerns from the parish council focused on outdoor seating near the road and limited parking. Officials said public parking in the town would be available. The building, which closed as a bank in 2019, has previously served several commercial uses.

North Yorkshire Council unanimously agreed to formally oppose a government plan to house asylum seekers at the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse base, citing concerns about the site’s suitability for residents and asylum seekers. Councillors from multiple parties supported writing to the minister for border security and asylum to restate their objections, arguing that the rural location remained inappropriate despite national policy to move asylum seekers from hotels to former military bases. Debate included broader frustrations with national asylum policy, though leaders urged members to stay focused on local implications.

Local leaders in North Yorkshire argue that the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse site should be redeveloped for housing rather than used to accommodate asylum seekers. York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith calls the site a major opportunity to address regional housing shortages, while Deputy Mayor Jo Coles raises safety and infrastructure concerns related to its proposed use as an asylum centre. Local councillor Malcolm Taylor supports prioritizing affordable housing despite infrastructure challenges. The proposal to house up to 1,200 asylum seekers at the site is set to be discussed by the regional combined authority, following a government plan to use former RAF bases for asylum accommodation.

North Yorkshire Council reports progress in improving its planning department following past criticism, with two new principal planners and a senior planner recently hired and further recruitment underway. Officials say the additions are helping balance workloads and speed up application processing, with expectations of meeting statutory deadlines once the team is fully established. Councillor Angus Thompson, who previously criticised the department's performance, requested the update, while the council continues to attribute earlier problems to a national shortage of planning officers.

North Yorkshire councillors confirmed that a temporary banking hub in Stokesley is expected to open by the end of August after a reassessment by LINK, prompted by Rishi Sunak and local councillors, found the town now meets eligibility criteria. Local representatives described the decision as an important milestone supported by strong community backing. The facility will offer essential banking services following the closure of the town’s last bank branch.