Yorkshire Times

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Government Now Requires Licenses For One In Five Workers

A new paper published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) argues that rapidly increasing regulation of the labour market since the 2008 financial crisis is a key part of the explanation for Britain's poor productivity performance.

P.ublished 31st August 2026

Three In Four Brits Call For Plastic-Free Festivals

Image by Tania Van den Berghen from Pixabay

As festival-goers head to some of the season's biggest events this bank holiday weekend, from Reading and Leeds to Creamfields and Notting Hill Carnival, new research reveals the sheer volume of single-use plastic left behind across a UK festival season.

P.ublished 29th August 2026

Leeds Wizard-Themed Mini Golf Giving Away 100 Free Games To Mark 1st Birthday, Plus Drinks For A Pound

Leeds’ wizard-themed mini golf venue The Hole in Wand is giving away free admission and other bargains as it celebrates its first birthday. On 1 September, the first 100 guests will receive free entry, and on 2-4 September, the first 100 guests to say “Happy Birthday” can play for a fiver, including a magical potion worth £3.49.

P.ublished 31st August 2026

Ripon Rejoices In A Summer Of Fun, Sun And Increased Footfall

Facepainting in the Cabman’s Shelter Photo: Juliet Hawkins, Ripon BID

Ripon’s summer season of family fun events comes to a close on Market Square on Saturday (August 29th) with seven hours of family-focused activities. Running from 10am until 5pm, the event being organised by Ripon City Council, will include free fairground rides for children of all ages, a football shoot out, balloon modelling, fun with bubbles and face painting.

P.ublished 28th August 2026

Drivers Face Flash Flooding Risk As Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings Follow Hot Weather, Cautions The AA

Drivers warned to expect sudden surface water and localised flooding as heavy, thundery showers follow the recent hot, dry weather. Hard, compacted ground following prolonged dry conditions can increase surface run-off during intense rainfall. “Conditions can change incredibly quickly when a thundery downpour hits.” - AA expert patrol

P.ublished 27th August 2026

Letter To Editor: Protect Your Hearing Health

Dear Editor, Some of life's best moments come with a soundtrack – whether it's at a music event, a festival or a night out with friends. It's how many people connect, celebrate, and make memories. To keep it that way it's really important to protect your hearing health.

P.ublished 27th August 2026

Chief Executive Speaks Of Pride As He Announces Retirement

The chief executive of North Yorkshire Council has spoken of his “immense pride” at helping to shape the authority’s future as he has announced he is to retire next year. Richard Flinton has confirmed that he will step down from the role as the council’s most senior officer at the end of March next year following a local government career that has spanned almost 40 years in North Yorkshire.

P.ublished 27th August 2026

Caldbeck Transmitter Celebrates 65 Years On Air

The UK’s third tallest structure, Caldbeck transmitter station, is celebrating 65 years of keeping communities across Cumbria and South West Scotland connected through television and radio services. The transmitting station, which first went on air on 1 September 1961, serves around 280,000 homes and has become one of the UK's most important broadcasting locations.

P.ublished 26th August 2026

Computer Says No!

Photo: El Jundi on Pexels

Car tech computer confusion has become one of the UK’s top five causes of breakdowns, the AA reveals. Whilst people might be used to ‘computer says no’ at home or work, many are being flummoxed by the technical complexity of their vehicles.

P.ublished 25th August 2026

Britain’s Tax System Has Become More Economically Damaging Since The Financial Crisis, Says New IEA Briefing

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Britain’s tax system has become more economically damaging since the financial crisis, says new IEA briefing. The worst may be yet to come. Taxes on investment have risen sharply on two occasions in recent years – immediately after the financial crisis, and once more after the pandemic. This time, there is little prospect that they will fall again.

P.ublished 24th August 2026

Twenty One Week Driving Test Backlog Locks Neets Out Of A Job, New Research Reveals

Image by Robert Fotograf from Pixabay

Britain’s young people are being locked out of work by an entrenched driving test backlog, a leading think tank has revealed. Learners in England must now look around 21 weeks ahead to find an available driving test, more than four times the five-week wait in 2020, according to analysis of new Department for Transport data by the Centre for Social Justice.

P.ublished 24th August 2026

Leeds Team Delivers UK First With Breakthrough Treatment For Life-Threatening Abnormal Tangle Of Blood Vessels In The Brain

Zehair Ayub photographed in Radiology Theatres, Leeds General Infirmary

A man from Bradford has become the first patient in the UK to benefit from a groundbreaking new treatment for a disabling and life-threatening arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

P.ublished 24th August 2026

CrossCountry To Run A Full Train Service On Monday 24 August

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry will run a full train service on Monday after a power outage affecting its control centre resulted in major disruption across the network on Sunday 23 August. The operator plans to run a very limited number of trains from around 18:00 today and a full service tomorrow (Monday 24 August).

P.ublished 23rd August 2026

428,000 Miss Making Tax Digital’s First Filing Deadline – Azets

Almost half the people eligible for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax have missed the first filing deadline, according an analysis from international accountancy and business advisory group Azets. Figures from HMRC showed 436,000 taxpayers filed their first MTD for Income Tax quarterly update on time on August 7 – 50.5% of those who should have.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Revolutionary Yorkshire Water-Saving Device To Feature On National Television

Jason and Belle Richardson's SealStop device, born out of a smallholding frustration, has already picked up 12 awards and sales in six countries — now it's heading for prime-time television. A device dreamed up to solve an everyday nuisance on a Pocklington smallholding is about to be pitched to some of the sharpest minds in British business.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Three In Ten Drivers Now Have A Dashcam And Are Using Footage To Support A Claim – The AA

A study carried out by The AA’s Accident Assist claims service found that 30% of drivers now have a dashcam, compared with 20% in 2018. This 10 percentage-point rise means dashcams are becoming an increasingly common source of potential evidence following road collisions.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Aldi Calls On Families To Apply For Its New Superfam Pass

Families can now apply to get their hands on Aldi’s brand-new Superfam Pass, which offers one lucky household a full year of free groceries. Aldi is launching a Superfam Pass to give one lucky household a full year of free groceries. Britain’s biggest discounter is on the lookout for a household of devoted Aldi shoppers, offering them the chance to have a year’s shopping covered.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Live Facial Recognition To Be Used At Leeds Festival

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

West Yorkshire Police will deploy Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology on the external perimeter of Leeds Festival for the first time this year as part of the wider operation to help keep festivalgoers safe, prevent crime and create a secure environment for everyone attending.

P.ublished 20th August 2026

UK Inflation Rises To 2.9% As Energy Bills Bite — Economists Split On What Happens Next

Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Experts agree the jump was driven by the Ofgem price cap rise, but disagree sharply on what government and the Bank of England should do about it UK inflation rose to 2.9 per cent in July, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, with economists and commentators broadly agreed on the cause but divided on the remedy.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

North Yorkshire Moors Railway Opens Its Doors For Heritage Open Days 2026

Pickering Station

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is inviting visitors to discover the people, places, and stories that have shaped the heritage railway as it takes part in Heritage Open Days 2026 with a programme of free events across Pickering, Goathland, and Grosmont.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

Young Savers Twice As Likely As Baby Boomers To Delay Life Events Due To Money Worries: 67% Vs 31%

Two-thirds of young savers have postponed a significant life event they could genuinely afford, held back not by a specific bill or shortfall but by a broader unease about their financial position, new research from LHV Bank has found.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

Sky Bet Ebor Community Sweepstake 2026 Shortlist Revealed

Sky Bet has partnered with York Racecourse for the Sky Bet Ebor Community Sweepstake 2026 and has now officially revealed the 22 Yorkshire-based shortlisted charities, foundations and community groups set to take part.

P.ublished 18th August 2026

Job Vacancies Sink To Near Six-Year Low As Pay Squeeze Tightens

Unemployment holds at 4.9% but economists warn of a "stuck" labour market, with private sector wage growth at its weakest since 2020. Britain's jobs market showed fresh signs of strain this morning as official figures revealed vacancies have fallen to their lowest level in more than five years, even as pay growth in the private sector slowed to a near six-year low.

P.ublished 18th August 2026

Record Number Of Patients Wait On Trolleys In England’s A&E, Overcrowding Remains Widespread

The latest Emergency Department (ED) performance figures from NHS England, covering July 2026, show that last month was the worst July on record for 12-hour waits, with over 150,000 patients waiting more than half a day in major (Type 1) EDs. It also shows that more than 47,000 patients who attended major EDs spent over 12 hours waiting on a trolley.

P.ublished 18th August 2026

‘It Was My Twin Brother’, TPE Reveals Excuses Heard From Customers Travelling Without A Valid Ticket

Revenue Protection Image: © TransPennine Express

From blaming a twin brother to eating the evidence, TransPennine Express (TPE) has revealed some of the more unusual excuses its revenue protection team has heard from customers travelling without a valid ticket. Among them was a customer caught using a child ticket for the second time.

P.ublished 17th August 2026

Government Must Be Honest About UK Energy Demand In Its Response To Rosebank Consultation

Image: Jan-Rune Smenes Reite Pixabay

The government must be honest about the UK’s energy demand in its response to the public consultation on the Rosebank oilfield, says David Whitehouse chief executive of Offshore Energies UK The government response to the public consultation which closes today [Monday August 17th] will set the direction of the UK’s future energy policy, industrial resilience and its route to net zero.

P.ublished 17th August 2026

Circus Comes To Minskip As Popular Scarecrow Weekend Returns

The village of Minskip, near Boroughbridge, will hold its annual Scarecrow Competition on the weekend of September 5–6, raising vital funds for St John’s Church. This year’s theme is The Circus, with scarecrows lining the main street in a colorful display created by local residents.

P.ublished 17th August 2026

Fifth Heatwave Set To Increase Water Demand As Yorkshire Water Urges Using Water Wisely

Scout Dike Reservoir summer 2026 Photo: Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water is reminding customers to use water wisely as the UK’s fifth heatwave of the year arrives, with temperatures in the region set to reach more than 30 degrees. Yorkshire Water is preparing for the increased demand expected during the latest heatwave.

P.ublished 14th August 2026

The Government Has Moved Power North. Now Britain's High Streets Need Better Local Intelligence

Devolution has just gained a scoreboard.

P.ublished 14th August 2026

Vet Issues Urgent Warning To Dog Owners After Toxic Giant Hogweed Discovered In Preston

Following reports of giant hogweed being found in Preston, dog owners are being urged to learn how to recognise the dangerous plant and know what to do if their pet comes into contact with it.

P.ublished 13th August 2026

Armexis Urges Swift Action To Keep The UK Safe

ARMEXIS, the Harrogate-based armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer, has called for the UK to move swiftly beyond spending announcements and to rebuild its defence manufacturing capacity to keep the country safe.

P.ublished 13th August 2026

Alison Brooks Architects To Lead £30m Restoration Of Gisburne Park Estate

Grade I-listed Ribble Valley hall set for hotel, members' club and wellness centre, with planning applications expected in November Alison Brooks Architects has been appointed to lead a £30 million redevelopment of Gisburne Park, a 1,000-acre estate near the Ribble Valley, converting the historic house into a members' club, boutique hotel and wellness centre.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Jigsaws Childcare Nursery Completes £700,000 Redevelopment

(L-R)Helen Smith, Business Manager at Jigsaws Childcare Nursery; Hayley Crossman-Shaw, Head of Family at Hetherton’s Solicitors; Jessica Roberts, Head of Corporate at Hethertons Solicitors

Jigsaws Childcare Nursery in Church Fenton has completed a £700,000 redevelopment, supported by Hethertons Solicitors, boosting capacity from 51 to almost 80 children. The not-for-profit nursery, established in 2007, offers full-day care, wrap-around school clubs and provision for children with special educational needs.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Aldi Urgesshoppers To Donate These Everyday Items To Help Local Foodbanks This Summer

Photo: Aldi

Foodbanks are calling for donations of everyday essentials this summer as families face extra pressure during the school holidays. To help shoppers support their local communities, supermarket Aldi has revealed the products charities say are needed most, making it easier for customers to donate while doing their weekly shop.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Property Expert Warns Affordability Remains Biggest Obstacle As "Cautious Optimism Returns To UK Housing Market".

Image: Lewis Kang'ethe Ngugi on PExels

A property expert says improving confidence is encouraging buyers back into the market, but affordability remains the biggest barrier to a sustained recovery. Jonathan Rolande believes the UK housing market is showing signs of stabilising after a prolonged period of uncertainty.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Almost A Fifth Of Britons Have No Clear Long-Term Financial Priority

Image by mejiamelissa from Pixabay

Almost a fifth (18 per cent) of UK adults do not have or cannot identify a long-term financial goal, new research from Scottish Friendly has found. Nearly one in five people surveyed told the mutual they did not know what they wanted their finances to achieve over the next five years or more, according to its latest Family Finance Tracker research.

P.ublished 11th August 2026

Britain Spends More On Planning Applications Than Japan Spends On Extending High-Speed Railways Through Earthquake-prone Mountains

New research from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) reveals the true scale of Britain's infrastructure crisis, showing that the UK pays several times more than its European and Asian peers to build major transport infrastructure, and waits far longer for it to open.

P.ublished 10th August 2026

Popular Yorkshire Artisan Market To Make North East Debut Next Week

Popular Yorkshire market, Little Bird Artisan Market, will make its Tees Valley debut on Friday 7th August, bringing together 30 independent makers, artists and food producers for a new event hosted at Teesside Park. Running from 10am to 4pm, visitors will be able to discover everything from handmade gifts and home fragrance to artisan food, sweet treats and unique artwork.

P.ublished 6th August 2026

Younger Savers Turning Back On ‘Outdated’ Rainy Day Savings Approach, Research From LHV Bank Reveals

Younger savers increasingly feel the concept of ‘saving for a rainy day’ is outdated, and are focusing their efforts on saving for specific goals, new research from LHV Bank has revealed. The survey of more than 2,000 savers found 44% of respondents aged 18-24 felt the idea of rainy day savings was outdated.

P.ublished 5th August 2026

Which Yorkshire Beach For Swimming? Sea Water Purity Compared, 2026

School holidays and warm weather are here and our Yorkshire beaches beckon. But where is safe for swimming along England’s often polluted coast? Thankfully there is largely encouraging information for Yorkshire from the government Environment Agency’s most recent ratings of sea water purity. This makes clear where swimming is safest and where it’s most likely not.

P.ublished 4th August 2026

Waspi Campaigners “Absolutely Determined” In Fight For Justice As Calls For Talks With New PM Grow

Picture courtesy of WASPI

Campaigners have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, urging them to meet for talks on compensating millions of WASPI women. In a letter sent today, WASPI chief Angela Madden presses the new Labour leadership to urgently meet with campaigners to ensure 1950s-born women receive “fair redress”.

P.ublished 4th August 2026

YouGov/Cebr: Consumer Confidence Index: Perceptions Of Household Finances Improve

Overall consumer confidence saw incremental movement in July 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The index rose from 105.3 to 105.5 (+0.2). Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.

P.ublished 3rd August 2026

Britain's Housing Crisis "Entirely Self-Inflicted" Warns Economist

Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay

A new briefing from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Buildings: In defence of ‘stupid growth, is written by Kristian Niemietz, the IEA's Editorial Director, and forms part of a forthcoming IEA book, The Great Stagnation: Why Britain Stopped Growing, which brings together contributions from multiple authors, each examining a different explanation for Britain's growth malais…

P.ublished 3rd August 2026

Switch On Star Revealed

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

BBC Radio 2’s Paddy McGuinness is set to light up Blackpool’s biggest night of the year on Friday 4 September. Beloved television and radio presenter, comedian and author Paddy McGuinness will perform the honour of switching on the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations at this year’s Switch-On event on Friday 4 September 2026.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

The Worlds Finest Civilian And Military Aircraft Come To Blackpool

It’s just one week to go until the skies above Blackpool are filled with spectacular aerial displays from some of the world’s finest military and civilian aircraft. The Blackpool Air Show takes place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August, and the full flying programme has now been revealed. Crowds will be treated to a display by a MiG-17.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

Prime Minister – If You Care About Rough Sleepers, Focus On 5 Things

Focus4Hope’s CEO and founder Louise Reed works with West Yorkshire’s most vulnerable people, including those who are homeless. Here’s her message for Andy Burnham. 1. Prevent homelessness – don’t just react to it. The fallout that follows homelessness, including addiction, plummeting mental health and exploitation, is far more costly in human and financial terms than prevention.

P.ublished 31st July 2026

Northwest Bakery Wins Four National Accolades At Great Taste Awards

Four wins and two of them the coveted two-star kind — Altrincham-based Lovingly Artisan Bakery has enjoyed one of its finest showings yet at this year's Great Taste Awards. The Guild of Fine Food has revealed its 2026 winners, with the Northwest bakery — which operates across Altrincham, Manchester and Kendal in the Lake District — picking up two two-star awards and two one-star awards.

P.ublished 30th July 2026

BMX Champion Kieran Reilly Returns To Gateshead Roots For Metrocentre's Half Pipe Show

He's landed the world's first triple flair and taken Olympic silver — this summer, Kieran Reilly is bringing his talents back to the ramp where it all began. Team Extreme are returning to Metrocentre this summer with their adrenaline-fuelled Half Pipe Show, joined by a very special guest: record-breaking BMX rider and local legend Kieran Reilly.

P.ublished 30th July 2026

Wigan Grandfather's Sight Saved By "Life-Changing" Eye Test After Sudden Vision Loss

(L-R)Irem Ahmed, optometrist, Edwin Causey, Customer and Angela Higson, senior optical assistant

A 78-year-old Wigan man is urging others to act fast on sudden eyesight changes after a routine trip to his local optician uncovered a serious, life-threatening condition. Edwin Causey, of Warrington Road, Wigan, woke on Saturday, June 27, to find he had completely lost the vision in his right eye.

P.ublished 29th July 2026

Ripon Set To Celebrate Yorkshire Day In Style, With St Wilfrid's Procession Adding A Double Dose Of County Pride

St Wilfrid's Procession

If any city has a claim to being the most Yorkshire of all Yorkshire places, it is Ripon. Rooted firmly at the county's heart, reachable from every direction, and steeped in heritage and community spirit, Ripon is preparing to mark Yorkshire Day on 1st August in fitting fashion — doubly so, since the date coincides with the city's beloved St Wilfrid's Procession.

P.ublished 29th July 2026

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