Wakefield Council

30/10/2026

⏰ Reminder: The Old Westgate Station car park will be temporarily closed from Monday 2 November. This is so that we can carry out essential ground surveys for future development plans for the site.

The closure is expected to last until 23 November.

Alternative parking is available across Wakefield city centre.

Thank you for your patience while this work takes place.

For more information, please visit: https://orlo.uk/wpaRf

30/10/2026

Secondary school applications close tomorrow.

If your child is in Year 6 now, they will move up to secondary school in September next year. You must apply by tomorrow.

If you haven’t applied yet, click the link in the comments.

30/10/2026

👻 No tricks, just benefits. Switch to MyAccount and go paperless.

This Halloween, scare away the paperwork and treat yourself to MyAccount and benefit from:

- Access to your account at anytime
- Electronic bills
- A one stop shop to report issues.

You can sign up here: https://orlo.uk/26osn

29/10/2026

Changes to Parking: your questions answered 🚗

We've seen lots of discussion about proposed parking changes, so we've put together answers to the questions we're being asked most often.

No parking changes have been introduced yet.

The proposals approved by Cabinet will not come into effect until 2027, and residents and businesses affected by permit parking changes will be consulted before any changes are made.
The FAQs cover:

🚗 Permit parking charges
• Introduction of a £25 annual charge resident permit
• Introduction of a £10 charge for visitor permits
• Increase in business permit charges from £50 to £80
• Increase in replacement permit charges from £5 to £10

🚗 Removal of the free two-hour parking
The Council's free two-hour parking offer will end when the new parking charges are introduced in 2027. The changes will form part of a wider package that includes:
• Free 30-minute on-street parking
• Removal of the 15p online payment convenience fee
• Investment in parking services and car park maintenance

🚗 Evening and Sunday parking
• Sunday parking will remain free of charge
• We will hold a consultation on the introduction of a £1 evening parking charge across all Council operated parking facilities (6pm - 8pm).

Read the full FAQs here https://orlo.uk/Ouiii

29/10/2026

Did you know if you quit smoking for 28 days, you're five times more likely to stop for good?

Find out how Yorkshire Smokefree can help you quit for good.

If you've not smoked this month then HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! You have done the best thing you can for your health by quitting smoking - and after 28 days of being smoke free, you're now 5 times more likely to quit for good 🎉 To keep on track as a non-smoker, have look at some tips on how to stay quit here: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/staying-smoke-free/

28/10/2026

Let’s talk about what matters most to you and our community. 💬

Cllr Karl Johnson and Cllr John Thomas, Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, will answer your questions in our second Q&A video, reflecting on the year gone by and looking ahead to the year ahead.

If you have a question, please submit it to [email protected] by 9am on Friday 6 November.

They’ll answer as many questions as possible in a video, which will be shared on our social media channels.

Please include your name and address when submitting your question to help make sure questions are from people in the district. This information will not be shared publicly.

For more information, visit https://orlo.uk/aEDxN

28/10/2026

Residents of Horbury might have noticed a new memorial bench has been placed in Horbury Park.

This commemorates the brave men and women of our armed forces past and present.

It offers a chance to sit and reflect or pay your respects to the sacrifice that have been made.

The bench was created by Shane Green also known as the Yorkshire Carver and can be found in the Memorial Park.

28/10/2026

Junior school applications open on Sunday 1 November.

If your child is in Year 2 at an infant school now, they will move up to junior school in September next year. You must apply by 15 January 2027.

To find out more and apply, click the link in the comments.

28/10/2026

And the winner of our pumpkin competition is... SpongeBob’s House Pumpkin (Number 1)! 🎃

A huge congratulations! Your pumpkin was truly spooktacular. ✨

Please DM us to claim your prize.

A big thank you to everyone who took part. We were blown away by the creativity on display. And it's clear there are some incredibly talented pumpkin carvers and artists across the district. 🧡

We hope everyone enjoys the celebrations over the coming days.

28/10/2026

Say hello to Nell's Natural Raw Food. 👋

This wonderful, family-run shop is bringing delicious, nutritional pet food and treats for our four-legged friends. Founded nearly five years ago by a mother and daughter duo, Jess and her mum, the entire operation is inspired and supervised by their chocolate Labrador, Nell. 🐶

The shop is run by just the two of them. For the first two years, Jess's mum balanced running the shop with a separate full-time job - a massive testament to the grit and passion behind this local business.

Step inside the shop and you'll see "Nell's Friends Wall", a display of photos showing the dogs who visit. Jess started the idea by taking a Polaroid picture of every canine customer. Today, the wall is filled with hundreds of furry faces, celebrating the tight-knit pet community built right here in the district.

"We’re incredibly proud to be part of Wakefield's independent business scene," say the owners. "The community spirit here is unmatched. For us, it’s about so much more than just selling pet food; it's about building lasting relationships with our neighbours and helping local dogs and cats live their healthiest, happiest lives."

They’ve also recently launched Four Paws, a new indoor dog play centre based at their new Headway Business Park premises. The name is a special tribute to the family's four other dogs: Nova, Poppy, Jack and Slinky. Along with Nell, who inspired the business, all five dogs now have their own place at the heart of the family business.

Designed for ultimate, stress-free fun, exercise, and socialisation, the new setup offers:
Indoor Soft Play: Have the ultimate playground all to yourself for £25 per 45-minute session.
Outdoor Secure Space: A fantastic fresh-air zone available to book for £20 per 45-minute slot.

Whether you want to let your pup burn off some energy in a safe, controlled environment or stock up on their favourite raw meals, the new unit is a true one-stop paradise for Wakefield's pet community!

To learn more visit https://orlo.uk/MVeV3

Would you like your business to be featured next in our Wakefield Business Spotlight? Email [email protected] to find out more.