Latest news with #Silsden
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Burning toxic waste 'like Bonfire Night', Bradford court told
A man caught burning hazardous waste on a Bradford farm asked Environment Agency officers "who grassed me up?", a court was magistrates heard how Scott Wilkin, 33, had been involved in the illegal burning of waste, including household appliances, in himself, Wilkin, of Riverside Road, said: "I didn't think I was doing a lot wrong - it was like what happens on Bonfire Night, just not on Bonfire Night."He was given a 12-month community order including 160 hours of unpaid work after he admitted burning waste without a permit. David Holmes, 69, of Henholme Lane, charged with the same offence, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Environment Agency carried out an investigation after complaints about burning on land off Henholme Lane in Silsden between October and January.A prosecutor told the court firefighters had been called to the farm on three occasions to reports of fires, and had told those present they should not be burning. 'Caught red-handed' Environmental officers visited the site on 5 November after reports of illegal burning of fridges, freezers, mattresses and other household prosecutor said Mr Holmes was seen sorting through the waste and told them they "had him red-handed".Mr Holmes allegedly said they were burning "fridges, freezers, everything" and that Wilkin would "bury" the waste pair were sent letters on 19 November ordering them to stop burning on the site, but a future visit found the burning had seemingly continued, the court was that visit, Wilkin confirmed he had received the previous letter, but asked officers: "How did you get my address? Who grassed me up?"The prosecutor told magistrates: "The defendant clearly knew he was doing something wrong," adding that the items being burned included "noxious and harmful waste".Wilkin said he had recently taken on the tenancy of the farm and had been trying to clear waste to make room for storing livestock."It never came into my head what I was doing was as serious as it was," he told the court."I probably pushed my luck burning some things I shouldn't."Wilkin, who was also ordered to pay £160 towards the Environment Agency's costs, said he understood Mr Holmes was stuck in Spain.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man admits he 'burned some things he shouldn't' on farmland
A MAN who burned hazardous waste on a farm in the Bradford district asked who had 'grassed me up' when he was visited by Environment Agency officers. A court heard how Scott Wilkin, aged 33, had been involved of the illegal burning of waste, including household appliances and fridges, late last year. The Environment Agency carried out an investigation into the site after several complaints about burning on Henholme Lane, Silsden. On Wednesday Wilkin, of Riverside Road, appeared in court charged over the burning of waste on the site without a permit. He admitted the charge. Another man, David Holmes, 69, of Henholme Lane, was charged with the same offence. He failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest The court was told that the crime related to a period between October 17 and January 10. Mr Newman, prosecuting on behalf of the Environment Agency, said: 'Bradford Council had been informed of an illegal waste operation taking place on land off Henholme Lane. They attended and saw various pieces of waste on the site. 'Firefighters attended on three occasions to reports of burning on the site and told those present they shouldn't be burning. 'Officers visited the site on November 5 to reports of illegal burning of fridges, freezers, mattresses and other household goods. 'A male was seen sorting through the waste. He was identified as David Holmes, who told officers they 'had him red handed.'' He said they were burning 'everything, fridges, freezers, everything' and that Scott would 'bury' the waste afterwards. Mr Newman said: 'There were plastics, aerosols and other waste items.' Holmes and Wilkin were sent letters on November 19 ordering them to stop burning on the site. A future visit found that the burning had apparently continued. On that visit Wilkin confirmed he had received the previous letter, but told officers 'how did you get my address? Who grassed me up?' Referring to this exchange, Mr Newman told Magistrates: 'The defendant clearly knew he was doing something wrong.' Magistrates heard that Wilkin was 'no stranger to the courts' and was currently serving suspended sentences for handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified. Representing himself in court, Wilkin said he had recently taken on the tenancy of the farm. A barn that he planned to store livestock in during the winter months had been full of waste, and he carried out burning to try to clear it. He said: 'In my eyes I didn't think I was doing a lot wrong." He said the fridges were going to be taken away, and weren't being burned. He added: 'It never came into my head what I was doing was as serious as it was. 'I probably pushed my luck burning some things I shouldn't.' He told Magistrates he understood Holmes was stuck in Spain. Wilkin was handed a 12-month community order that will require him to carry out 160 hours unpaid work. He will also have to pay £114 towards the Environment Agency costs.
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Images show how planned £13m footbridge across busy road will look
NEW images show how a £13m footbridge over a busy road will look as the long-planned scheme finally takes a step forward. Proposals for a new crossing at the A629 between Steeton and Silsden date back years, but progress on the major project is finally being made. Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) recently held a public consultation on the project, which will see a combined pedestrian and cycle bridge built over the busy road. The feedback from the consultation has helped shape plans for the bridge, and new images showing what the crossing will look like have now been released. However, the costly project is only one part of wider plans, with a second phase to create new paths from the centres of Steeton and Silsden to the bridge currently unfunded. Reports written after the consultation say that more than 600 residents responded, with 85 per cent expressing support for the proposed bridge. There was also strong public backing for the proposed new crossing points and ramp linking the railway station to Station Road. One person responding to the consultation argued that an underpass or traffic light crossing would be better options. WYCA responded, saying: 'A bridge was considered the best option that aligned with the project's objectives as it achieved the separation required between traffic and those walking, wheeling or cycling to improve safety for all users. "Furthermore, there is less impact on traffic flow compared to a signalised crossing and there are greater safety and security benefits compared to an underpass. 'Flood risk would also be minimised when compared to an underpass.' One respondent said: 'I am concerned about unauthorised access by vehicles onto the bridge.' The Authority said it will now install additional bollards at either side of the bridge in response to these concerns. AN artist's impression of where the pedestrian/cycle route re-joins the highway (Image: WYCA) Another said the design should allow for horse riders to use the bridge. In response the authority says: 'The feasibility of accommodating equestrian users the bridge is being reviewed.' One respondent raised concerns over the huge cost of the bridge. In response, the Authority said: 'The bridge will be funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, subject to the development of a successful business case. 'The funding is separate from Council revenue funding for Council services and is ringfenced by central government for use only to deliver sustainable transport improvements and cannot be spent on council services.' The next stage of the project involves the submission of a planning application. Once planning is approved, the project team will move forward with the procurement of a construction partner. A full business case will be submitted to WYCA in early 2026. If the planning application and full business case are approved, the new bridge is expected to open in spring 2027.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Silsden man who impersonated police officer sentenced
A man who fitted flashing blue lights to his car and impersonated a police officer while he was over the drink drive limit has been given a suspended prison sentence. Harrogate Magistrates' Court heard Jonathan Cook, 47, drove up to a woman on 13 February as she pulled her car onto her driveway in Silsden and, slurring his words, told her she had "bombed past" him at 72mph (115 km/h). The woman was left shaken by the incident and called police, who later found Cook parked up and drunk, the court of Aireville Terrace, Silsden, pleaded guilty to falsely identifying himself as a police officer and drink driving and was given a 12-week suspended jail term and a 30-month driving ban. Appearing in court on Thursday, he was also ordered to pay £239 costs and to complete a six-month alcohol rehabilitation programme. The court heard that on the day of the incident, the woman targeted by Cook had driven from Keighley to Silsden and had just arrived home when Cook parked his car next to prosecution said she could see there was a reflection of blue and red flashing lights as Cook waved at her to lower her window, before asking her: "What's the rush?"The court heard that the woman told Cook she was unsure as to what he was referring, but he said: "You just bombed past me on the bypass and you were doing 72." She laughed and, as Cook was slurring his words, she asked him: "Have you been drinking?"The court was told that Cook replied: "I am a policeman." When he was found in his car he was breathalysed and had a reading of 125 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35. Magistrates heard that Cook had a long history of alcohol abuse and had previously spent several weeks in a rehabilitation centre in Bradford. 'Caused fear' Sentencing him, the magistrate told Cook that only a custodial sentence was justified in this case."This is a very serious matter. The reading was incredibly high and was aggravated by you impersonating a police officer. "You caused fear to a member of the public as well. We do feel this matter is so serious that it does pass the custody threshold." However, Cook was instead given a 12-week suspended sentence, with the magistrate saying he was mindful of the impact it would have on also told Cook he was confident that he could work on his further the court issued an order for the lights and associated wires which had been in Cook's car to be destroyed. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Road crossing scheme gets cash after years of 'frustrating' delays
NEWS that a new pedestrian bridge has finally been given funding has been welcomed after many 'frustrating' years of little progress. Plans for a crossing at the busy A629 – a 70mph road that divides Steeton and Silsden – have been in the planning stages for years. But work on the crossing has yet to start. The scheme – which will be a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the road – was recently awarded £12.9m from the West Yorkshire City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, a huge pot of cash given to West Yorkshire Combined Authority by Government. This money will help fund the first stage of the scheme – the bridge. But no funding has yet been allocated for the second phase, which is expected to cost an additional £11m. That phase will include an additional one-and-a-half miles of pedestrian and cycle paths linking Steeton and Silsden, and more road crossings. The transport settlement was discussed at a meeting of Bradford Council's Executive last week. Referring to the second stage of the scheme, the report said: 'The potential for a second phase to this project has been identified, however no funding has so far been allocated for this purpose.' Councillor Rebecca Poulsen (Cons, Worth Valley) spoke of the long delays to the project at the meeting. In 2016, £700,000 was secured from the Conservative Government for a feasibility study into a crossing on the road. Despite this, the project is still yet to begin. On the new cash for the scheme, Councillor Poulsen said: 'I welcome this funding and am pleased to see Steeton and Silsden bridge included. 'This has been going on for years and years and residents have become increasingly frustrated that it is taking so long. 'It took four years to get a feasibility report done. 'I hope we get phase two up and going as soon as possible.' Councillor Alex Ross Shaw, Executive for Planning, Regeneration and Transport on Bradford Council, said: 'This scheme is a good example of the benefits of devolution. 'We've got a grant this big because of devolution. 'The Steeton and Silsden bridge is something we've wanted to see for some time. 'We had funding for a feasibility study from the previous Government, but it came with no funding attached. 'It was not the case that we had funding to deliver the scheme, not until recently.'
