Spencer Stokes

Farmers at the Great Yorkshire Show voice concerns over heat-related fire risks, the loss of farmland, food security, and financial pressures linked to grants, taxation and supermarket pricing power. Some call for better government understanding of agriculture, while others stress the need for clearer exit options from farming and greater public awareness of food production. Large producers also highlight their dependence on supermarkets and frustrations with low pricing power.

Campaigners warn construction of the proposed 34‑turbine Walshaw Moor wind farm could add up to 148 daily HGV movements through the Yorkshire Dales for 16 months due to the need to transport more than 600,000 tonnes of stone for access tracks. The stone may be delivered by rail to Horton‑in‑Ribblesdale and Leyland before being moved by lorry, prompting local concerns about traffic and insufficient consultation. Calderdale Energy Park says transport options remain undecided, with several potential quarries and routes under review. The project, which would become England’s largest wind farm, is undergoing a statutory consultation and will be examined by the Planning Inspectorate in 2026 ahead of a final decision by the Secretary of State in 2027 or 2028.