New towpath means a new direction for wheelchair users

The newly surfaced canal towpath between Riddlesden and Silsden is giving motorised-wheelchair users a new dimension to going out independently. My following report and pictures show the official opening of the improved towpath.

Walkers, riders and runners benefit from towpath upgrade

Councillor Kim Groves, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's transport committee, cuts the tape to open the upgraded stretch of canal towpath between Lodge Hill Bridge at Riddlesden and the Keighley Road bridge at Silsden. The 2.7km  route has been newly surfaced as part of a £2.9 million scheme by the authority to  improve cycling and walking access to four canals. Also present at the ceremony at Silsden on August 18th were Bradford Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Ali, who is pictured on the left holding the tape, Keighley MP John Grogan, fourth from left, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, and Silsden Town Mayor Councillor Peter Robinson (fifth from left).

Bradford Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Ali is pictured with Bradford councillor Rebecca Whitaker, of Silsden, who represents the Craven ward, Bradford council cycling champion Councillor Taj Salam (left), who is a member of the Combined Authority's transport committee, and Satwant Singh, who cycled from Bradford for the official opening. A super-fit cyclist, he has biked the 127 miles of the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath among the hundreds of miles he covers each year.

The event, which included information stalls and refreshments, was well supported by community groups and residents.

An absorbed angler: not everyone was caught up in the canal-side buzz at the official opening, which included music by the Hall Royd Brass Band from Shipley, which stepped in because the Silsden Town Band was engaged elsewhere.

Many Hands celebrate first anniversary of community crafting

The Many Hands crafting co-operative at No. 25 Kirkgate celebrated its first anniversary on August 1st. Pictured above are five of the Community Interest Company's seven directors. Standing are Janet Phillis (left) and Pauline Marshall. Seated left to right are Rachel Mellor, Janet Thomas and Kath Cole.

Many Hands, which has an open-door policy based on community involvement, rents shelf space to a wide variety of crafts people from within a 15-miles radius of Silsden to sell their work. Volunteers staff the shop.The not-for-profit company has been awarded lottery funding to expand its workshops, classes and mentoring service.

The popularity of Many Hands reflects a growing "experience" culture and a trend towards unique, hand-crafted, hand-made gifts and wares.

These distinctive mugs and coasters are produced by local artist Martin Williamson.

Craftwork on sale and or taught in classes includes crocheting and knitting, jewellery, floristry, silver and metal work, embroidery, pottery and wood turning. There are also informal social drop-in groups. "Our aim is to work with the local community and to offer something for everyone," says chairperson Kath Cole. "We are going from strength to strength." 

Silsden's Equilibrium nails a place in Beauty Salon of the Year regional finals

Equilibrium times four: Silsden salon owner Sarah Wilkinson (third from left) is pictured with her team of beauty-treatment specialists (left to right) Viki Heaps, Samantha North and Mandy Foxworthy. Equilibrium Aesthetics, Beauty & Nails, of Kirkgate, which Sarah started in 2016, is a finalist in the North West 'Boutique Salon of the Year' contest run by the trade magazine Professional Beauty.

The salon offers an extensive suite of high-end treatments covering nails, eyes, facials, tanning, holistics, waxing/threading, electrolysis and laser tattoo removal. Clinics for anti-wrinkle injectables and dermal fillers are also available. The fashion for beauty treatments has been driven by celebrities and the pulling power of Instagram and other social media. According to the trade magazine, the industry nationally employs 300,000 people and generates £7 billion in revenue.

The modern face of Kirkgate: Equilibrium at No 86 (pictured last year) is proving popular with women of all ages. Pedicures are particularly in demand in summer  while nails and facials generally top the list of treatments. About 5% of the clients are men. The winners of the regional awards will be announced in October. The awards champion the industry's best practitioners.  

Changing the pastoral landscape for ever: road plan opens the way for 1,000 homes to be built on farmland near Swartha 

Plans have been drawn up for a new road to be built from Bolton Road, on the stretch towards the reservoir, across Brown Bank Lane and through fields like these to Hawber Cote Lane where Silsden's new primary school is to be sited. The road will serve 500 new homes. A second phase would link Bolton Road to Hawber Lane with 400 more houses being built.

The plan (above), if approved by Bradford council, will enable some 500 houses (served by the road) to be built on the adjoining farmland. Bolton Road is in red with the proposed new road outlined in pink. The council has designated the fields for housing with a potential final total of 1,000 homes. The updated plan above was published on July 18th. It shows the new road meeting Hawber Cote Lane. The original route had stopped short of the lane at the spot marked Hawber Cote but has now been extended to serve the new school. 

The road will cross fields from Bolton Road just beyond the 30mph 'island' uphill and cross Brown Bank Lane below Raikes House Farm (pictured above and below). It is not known at this stage how the road will cross the lane.

Above: three public footpaths cross the outlined site of the new road. They give popular countryside walks to and from Brown Bank Lane, Swartha, Drabble House Farm and Hawber Cote Drive. The owners of the land earmarked for housing are named in the application to build the road. They are Mr G Mountain, of North Rigton, and three Silsden residents: Mrs D. Jackson, Mr D. Winstanley and Mr K. Foster.

The applicant is the Silsden Development Company Ltd., whose sole director and shareholder is Geoffrey Mountain. The agent is David Hill, chartered surveyors, of Skipton.

The view towards Swartha from near Hawber Cote Drive. Handsome trees, sturdy hedges and dry stone walls could be bulldozed.

The view from Hawber Lane. Out of frame to the left of the barn hidden by the trees is the Hawber Cote Lane entrance to the fields where the new school will be sited. Ultimately all the fields between Hawber Lane and the Banklands area towards Brown Bank Lane stand to be built on.

Silsden hosts major championship egg showCraven Poultry Keepers Club staged its 'Guineas' Championship Egg Show at Silsden Town Hall on Sunday, June 10th. The new venue was judged to be a big success, attracting some 400 entries. The 'best in show' winner received 100 guineas and the reserved 'best in show' 50 guineas.

Judge Roz Boothman, of Silsden, cracks a goose egg in the 'waterfowl contents' class. The show, held under Poultry Club of Great Britain rules, is usually held at Skipton Town Hall but was unavailable due to refurbishments.

Edward Dickinson shows three eggs produced by his Black Oakworth hens. Edward has developed the breed over the last 10 years in a quest to produce a hen that lays dark brown eggs more prolifically than the traditional types.

Geoff Lockwood, from Huddersfield, was last year's Guineas winner for the third time. Goose eggs have brought him all three triumphs.

Judge Colin Clark studies entries in the class for three large light brown eggs.

Judge Leon Smith weighs a contender in the class for three bantam distinct colours.  

Karen Millard (left), Roz Boothman and Craven Poultry Keepers Club secretary Jayne Gillam ponder entries in the classes for painted and decorated eggs. Karen also judged the photographic classes. Her partner's firm, Chris Wright Haulage, sponsored the 'best in show' award. 

Craven Poultry Keepers Club chairman Edward Boothman, of Howden Park, Silsden, is a former chairman of the Poultry Club of Great Britain. One of the UK's leading suppliers of pullets, he has been renowned in the poultry world for many years.

The Marans breed, famous for laying richly dark brown eggs, is particularly associated with Silsden, which for generations was noted nationally for its poultry breeding and expertise. Silsden farmer Maurice Jackson, who died in 2016, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Marans Club of Great Britain for 77 years devotion to the breed, which his uncles were credited with introducing to this area. Mrs Ruth Jackson, Maurice's widow, is president of the Craven Poultry Keepers Club.

Craven Poultry Keepers Club president Ruth Jackson (left) presents the cheque for 100 guineas to Adele Beard, from Ossett, who won the Best in Show and Poultry Club of Great Britain gold award with three distinct colour bantam eggs. Adele also won the Reserve Best in Show (50 guineas) and PCGB silver award for three goose eggs. Nobody has done the double before. Photograph by Jayne Gillam.  

Library celebrates first year as a community-run asset

MP John Grogan cuts the cake marking the first year of Silsden Community Library. With him are library chairman Peter Cannon and secretary Caroline Whitaker. Volunteers stepped in to save the library when it became a victim of Bradford council spending cuts resulting from the government's austerity measures.  

Another guest at the anniversary event, at Silsden Town Hall, which is the library's home, was Bookstart Bear (Katie Whittingham), who delighted young readers. Mr Grogan said the volunteers had made a great job of running the library, which has hundreds of users each month.
Among the families enjoying the occasion were Ania and Noah and mum and dad Steve and Deborah Bacon.

The activities included an opportunity to learn about chess. Mia Winowiecki, five, and mum Rebecca played against dad Daryl.

Emily Whitley showed mum Melissa her colouring skills.

 Bookstart Bear was given a big welcome by young members of the Elizabeth Phillips School of Dance. Their class at the Town Hall coincided with the library celebration, which was held on Saturday, June 9th.