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.

Take a seat: courtesy of Friends of Silsden's Green Places

Above: in another valuable addition to community pleasures, the Friends of Silsden's Green Places have replaced two old and dilapidated seats in Hainsworth Road, better known as Gasworks Lane. Paul, from Cobbydale Park, particularly welcomes the new seat as it's a convenient stopping place on his daily convalescing walks from home to the Brunthwaite canal bridge and back. Also taking a breather are Sarah Morton and sons Noah and Seth, who were engaged in a Silsden Rocks hunt. Sarah and her husband James own Hills Bakery. 

Silsden's young cross-country star shines for England

Above: Silsden runner Sam Smith capped an outstanding season by earning a place in the English Schools Cross Country team and taking part in the Home Countries Championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham last month. Sam, who attends South Craven School and runs for Wharfedale Harriers, finished fifth out of the 32 elite junior runners representing England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. His performance helped England win the team event. Sam, who is only just 14, was selected for England after coming fourth in the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Temple Newsam in Leeds. 

Above: Sam is pictured with his dad, Michael, mum Louise and sister Mollie, who is also a Wharfedale Harrier. Louise, who used to run for Bingley Harriers, is Sam's coach and has overseen his meteoric rise -- from 158th in last year's English championships to fourth this time. With the cross-country season over, Sam is turning his attention to the track and chasing 1500 metres glory. Meanwhile, he will run for Yorkshire in the London Mini Marathon on April 22nd. Michael is a well-known local farmer, supported by the family at busy times like spring with 100 ewes to lamb.  

Trustees hold key to Town Hall's future as a community asset

Sign of the times: Silsden Town Hall, which opened in 1884, is officially a new-style community asset run by seven trustees on behalf of the town. They take over from Bradford council, which is offloading public facilities to cut costs as part of government-imposed austerity measures. 

The Magnificent Seven: these public-spirited volunteers came forward to manage the Town Hall. From left to right are Simon Holland (secretary), David Jessup (operations manager), Pat Colling, John Peet (treasurer), Ray Colling (chairperson), Graham Arrowsmith and Paul Kilgallon. The leasing arrangements are being finalised. As well as a major venue for a wide range of events, the Town Hall is home to nearly a dozen organisations, from winter bowls to zumba, who meet there regularly.