86-933: The A636 is a main road in West Yorkshire , England , starting at Wakefield ( 53°40′44″N 1°30′01″W / 53.6788°N 1.5002°W / 53.6788; -1.5002 ( A636 road (northern end) ) ) and connecting with the M1 motorway at junction 39 and with the A637 at Flockton roundabout. It ends at the A635 at Denby Dale ( 53°34′14″N 1°40′13″W / 53.5705°N 1.6704°W / 53.5705; -1.6704 ( A636 road (southern end) ) ). Download coordinates as: 53°37′38″N 1°34′24″W / 53.6273°N 1.5732°W / 53.6273; -1.5732 ( A636 road ) This England road or road transport-related article
172-541: A government white paper was published which included nine areas invited to take part in devolution deals. In September 2024, the UK Government agreed to the formation of mayoral combined authorities for Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire, and non-mayoral combined authorities for Lancashire, and Devon and Torbay. In early 2022, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay were selected as one of nine pilot areas in England by
258-508: A CA or CCA is voluntary and all local authorities within the area must give their consent before it can be created. The local authority of any district of England outside Greater London can join a CA, and a county council can become part of a CA even if only some of the non-metropolitan districts that make up the county are within the combined area. A local authority may only belong to one CA. CCAs can only be formed by upper-tier authorities: county councils and unitary authorities. The members of
344-416: A CCA are appointed by its constituent councils. In addition, a CCA may appoint additional members and allow another body to nominate members; these members are non-voting unless decided otherwise. There are three stages to the creation or amendment of a CA. Firstly a review must be undertaken to establish the likelihood that a CA would improve: "...the exercise of statutory functions relating to transport in
430-664: A Heart of Wessex combined authority. Previous plans in Hampshire have included a Solent Combined Authority in South Hampshire (potentially alongside the Isle of Wight) and a 'Heart of Hampshire' Deal including the remainder of the county. However, these plans were rejected in the South due to objections from Isle of Wight Council, and in the North of the county due to disagreements and the likelihood of
516-536: A West Yorkshire derby even if the rivalry is not as great as other rivalries between teams in the area. The main rugby union club in the county is Yorkshire Carnegie . Elland Road is the largest stadium in the area, hosting Leeds United . The Headingley Stadium , a stadium complex also in Leeds , consists of a cricket and a rugby ground. The cricket ground is home of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club and
602-504: A combined authority was formed for the metropolitan county of the West Midlands ; as a consequence, all former metropolitan counties are now covered by combined authorities. In 2016, the first combined authority to not cover a metropolitan county was formed. This was Tees Valley , which covers the area of the former county of Cleveland (now four unitary authorities in the ceremonial counties of Durham and North Yorkshire ), together with
688-476: A deal, with leaders of both unitary authorities indicating a preference for a rotating chair instead of a mayor. A proposal for Lancashire failed in 2017. Council leaders agreed to the concept in June 2020, with suggestions of reducing the number of districts into three unitary authorities, or implementing a single unitary authority instead of a combined authority. The three proposed successor authorities would cover
774-639: A deal. Rutland was previously a district of Leicestershire between 1974 and 1997 before becoming a unitary authority, but is open to joining a Leicestershire deal. A Norfolk and Suffolk mayoral combined authority was proposed in November 2024 alongside a reorganisation of the existing two-tier local government structures in to a smaller number of unitary authorities . A proposal for a single Yorkshire Combined Authority, dubbed One Yorkshire, has been proposed for some time, but failed to gain government support, being rejected in 2019. The proposal had support from 18 of
860-447: A group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain devolved functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area. In areas where local government is two-tier, both must participate in the combined authority. A combined county authority ( CCA ) is a similar type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by
946-423: A mayor. Leicestershire County Council proposed a combined authority in 2015, with discussions after including an East Midlands deal. A Leicestershire deal has also been proposed by government but without Leicester; as the whitepaper stipulates a minimum population of 500,000, Leicester or Rutland would not be able to form individual devolution deals; both Leicester and Rutland have been proposed as joining part of
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#17328440810121032-401: A new form of authority called a combined county authority. The act allowed for more broader functions to be devolved to new and existing CAs and CCAs, and created the power for CAs and CCAs to be allowed to change the title of mayor. CAs and CCAs are bodies corporate and are able to assume the role of an integrated transport authority and economic prosperity board . This gives the authority
1118-412: A population of 2.3 million, making it the fourth-largest ceremonial county by population. Large parts of West Yorkshire are urban; many settlements are part of the West Yorkshire built-up area , which has a population of 1.78 million. The largest settlements are Leeds (516,298), Bradford (366,187), Huddersfield (162,949), and Wakefield (109,766). The west of the county is more rural. The county
1204-643: A recognised financial centre, with many banks , building societies and insurance companies having offices in the city. Wakefield has also attracted many service-based industries, in particular call centres . Two of the big four supermarkets are from West Yorkshire. Morrisons is based in Bradford, while Asda is based in Leeds. West Yorkshire grew up around several industries. Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract and South and East Leeds were traditional coal mining areas. Bradford , Halifax and Huddersfield grew through
1290-603: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire to the south, Greater Manchester to the south-west, and Lancashire to the west. The city of Leeds is the largest settlement. The county, established in 1974, has an area of 2,029 km (783 sq mi) and
1376-558: Is also a popular nightlife destination domestically, which is not surprising given its accessibility and central location. All cities are well connected via rail and road, Leeds railway station is an important hub seeing 29.7 million passengers 2015–16, making it the fourth busiest station in the UK after London stations, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central . It is the busiest in Northern England. Signposted walks follow rivers and
1462-547: Is also big in West Yorkshire. The teams who are, or have been, in the Super League are Bradford Bulls , Castleford Tigers , Halifax Panthers , Huddersfield Giants , Leeds Rhinos , and Wakefield Trinity . Other rugby league clubs in West Yorkshire include Batley Bulldogs , Dewsbury Rams , Featherstone Rovers , Hunslet Hawks and Keighley Cougars . Any combination of these teams playing against each other would be called
1548-809: Is also popular, as is the Bradford Alhambra , St Georges Hall and the Media and Science Museum in Bradford. Leeds is the most popular shopping destination in West Yorkshire, probably Yorkshire and rivals Manchester having claim to Briggate, the Headrow, Trinity Leeds , Victoria Gate, the Victoria and Northern Quarters, the biggest indoor market in Europe and the White Rose Centre , as well as many 'first outside of London' labels such as Harvey Nichols and Victoria's Secret . Leeds
1634-449: Is an elevated ridge with smoothly rolling scenery, dissected by dry valleys. Here, there is a large number of country houses and estates with parkland, estate woodlands, plantations and game coverts. The rivers Aire and Calder drain the area, flowing from west to east. Wakefield's Parish Church was raised to cathedral status in 1888 and after the elevation of Wakefield to diocese, Wakefield Council immediately sought city status and this
1720-466: Is encouraged by Government and there has been a substantial increase in creation in recent years. There are currently eleven such authorities, created between 2011 and 2024. A CA or CCA may not cross over to another combined area. Following the abolition of metropolitan county councils and the Greater London Council in 1986, England had no local government bodies with strategic authority over
1806-624: Is governed by five metropolitan boroughs : City of Bradford , Calderdale , Kirklees , City of Leeds and City of Wakefield , which collaborate through West Yorkshire Combined Authority . The western part of West Yorkshire is in the South Pennines , and contains a small part of the Peak District National Park . It is characterised by steep valleys and is the source of the River Calder , which flows past Wakefield before meeting
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#17328440810121892-421: Is part of a long-term ambition to create a combined authority Hertfordshire districts have given support for a deal, but was not included in the 2022 white paper. The original proposal was for a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, before it was replaced with an East Anglia proposal including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . The East Anglia plan failed, reverting to the original two plans. Whilst
1978-551: The 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new Labour government decided against pursuing single authority devolution deals, instead preferring the formation of multi-authority combined authorities. Thus plans for Elected Leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk were dropped. Whilst not included in current plans, discussions are ongoing between local authorities and the government on an eventual deal. Whilst not included in current plans, discussions are occurring between local authorities and
2064-516: The Aire , which flows through Leeds, near Castleford . The landscape becomes flatter in the east, and the county boundary is on the edge of the Vale of York . Remnants of strong coal, wool and iron ore industries remain in the county, having attracted people over the centuries, and this can be seen in the buildings and architecture. Several railways and the M1 , M621 , M606 , A1(M) and M62 motorways traverse
2150-498: The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough plan succeeded, the Norfolk and Suffolk plan failed, with King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voting to reject the deal, and Norfolk County Council cancelling a subsequent planned meeting on the topic. The District and County Council previously disagreed over the election of a mayor. The government and the county council signed a devolution agreement on 8 December 2022, which included
2236-726: The European Investment Bank in excess of £1 billion, with similar liabilities to the Treasury and private business. Combined authority mayors are members of the England-only Mayoral Council , and of the UK-wide Council of the Nations and Regions , both of which were established by the incoming Labour government in 2024. CAs and CCAs consist of two or more contiguous English local government areas. The creation of
2322-592: The Halifax Dukes and the Bradford Dukes teams. Odsal Stadium used to host BriSCA stock cars. Leeds has a hill climb event at Harewood speed Hillclimb . Combined authority A combined authority ( CA ) is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 . CAs are created voluntarily and allow
2408-703: The Leeds Supertram was proposed but was later cancelled after the withdrawal of government funding. Public transport is run under the authority of West Yorkshire Metro . In October 2021, £830 million of funding was announced for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to develop mass transit for the region. Additionally, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority won its bids for the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) scheme,
2494-623: The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 , but may only be formed by upper-tier authorities: county councils and unitary authorities . The members of the CCA are appointed by its constituent councils. In addition, the CCA may appoint additional members and allow another body to nominate members; these members are non-voting unless decided otherwise. CAs and CCAs are predominantly created in areas where they are considered likely to improve transport, economic development, and regeneration, but their creation
2580-619: The North East Combined Authority , East Midlands Combined County Authority , and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority . Nine CA and CCA mayors were elected during the 2024 United Kingdom local elections , including the newly created Mayor of the North East , Mayor of the East Midlands , and Mayor of York and North Yorkshire . Several new combined authorities and combined county authorities have been proposed. In 2022
2666-764: The North East Mayoral Combined Authority would have the same trailblazer deal. In return, the CAs would face greater oversight, including quarterly scrutiny sessions by new committees of local MPs. Since the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 was passed, there was an influx of new CAs and CCAs either being created or planned to be created, and further powers to be devolved to existing authorities. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 allowed for certain functions over transport to be delegated from central government. The Localism Act 2011 allowed additional transfers of powers from
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2752-631: The Pendle district of Lancashire. The civil parish of Saddleworth in Oldham was the only part of West Riding of Yorkshire to be moved into the county of Greater Manchester. The villages in the parish border the towns of Huddersfield and Holmfirth . There is a strong identity debate with Saddleworth residents who still maintain close connections with Yorkshire including the Saddleworth White Rose Society. The West Yorkshire Act 1980 (c. xiv)
2838-480: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and gave combined authorities a general power of competence . The powers and functions to be shared are agreed by the metropolitan district , non-metropolitan district , non-metropolitan county or unitary authority councils. In 2014, the government consulted on changes to the legislation governing combined authorities. Proposed changes included extending
2924-587: The West Yorkshire Combined Authority . The first Mayor of West Yorkshire , Tracy Brabin , was elected on 6 May 2021, following a devolution deal announced by the government in the March 2020 budget . The conurbation of Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield makes up the West Yorkshire Built-up Area , which is the fourth-largest in the United Kingdom and the largest within
3010-563: The West Yorkshire Police (governed by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner ) continue to operate on this basis. Although the county council was abolished, West Yorkshire continues to form a metropolitan and ceremonial county with a Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and a High Sheriff . West Yorkshire contains green belt interspersed throughout the county, surrounding the West Yorkshire Urban Area. It
3096-576: The historic county boundaries of Yorkshire . In Parliament, 13 out of 22 of West Yorkshire's MPs are Labour and 9 are Conservative. At local level, the councils are generally divided, apart from the Wakefield district, which has long been one of the safest Labour councils in the country. Some services are provided across the county by West Yorkshire Joint Services and the West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are also county-wide. The county borders, going anticlockwise from
3182-476: The 20 Yorkshire councils, with Sheffield and Rotherham both preferring the South Yorkshire alternative . The Mayor of South Yorkshire , Dan Jarvis , also supported a One Yorkshire proposal. A combined authority was agreed for York and North Yorkshire in 2022 (see below), and in the same year negotiations began regarding an authority for East Yorkshire and Hull (also below). Berkshire County Council
3268-527: The BBC television series Happy Valley were filmed in Huddersfield; in addition to exteriors, some of the studio filming was done at North Light Film Studios at Brookes Mill, Huddersfield. As well, interiors for the BBC's Jamaica Inn , for the BBC's Remember Me and for ITV series Black Work , were also filmed at the studios. More recently, many of the exteriors of the BBC series Jericho were filmed at
3354-455: The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities” with hopes for a ministerial meeting. The Original proposal for Cumbria failed in 2017. A subsequent attempt for a single unitary authority failed in 2019, leading to a new proposal for a combined authority in late 2019, alongside replacing the two-tier system with two unitary authorities. As the initial plan for the unitarization
3440-605: The Government accepted a proposal from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to establish a Greater Manchester Combined Authority as an indirectly elected top-tier strategic authority for Greater Manchester . Following the unsuccessful English mayoral referendums in 2012, combined authorities have been used as an alternative means to grant additional powers and funding as part of 'city deals'. In 2014, two indirectly elected combined authorities were established covering
3526-564: The Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority which included reforms to their funding models. As part of these deals, the combined authorities will be treated in a similar manner to government departments at the next spending review and each will be allocated a multi-year single settlement, replacing a large number of individual grant funding streams for which they must submit individual competitive bids. In his 2024 budget , Hunt said that
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3612-570: The Secretary of State for approval in early May 2024. The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority is scheduled to be created in the Autumn of 2024 following parliamentary approval. After the government rejected the One Yorkshire proposal (see above) and a cross-Humber deal with North Lincolnshire failed, a Hull and East Riding alternative has been proposed. Negotiations have begun with government on
3698-503: The South Essex plan favoured retaining the current status. The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government stated in a letter that he did not favour the plan for a South Essex Combined Authority, but would be willing to discuss it. Seven councils in Sussex including Brighton and Hove have an economic board which coordinated development, skills and collaboration between councils. It
3784-477: The UK government in the Levelling Up White Paper for "County Deal" negotiations. However, Plymouth City Council decided to withdraw from the deal in November 2023. Devon and Torbay proceeded without Plymouth with a joint proposal for a Level 2 Devolution Deal, a Combined Authority without a directly elected mayor. The deal was approved by both Devon County Council and Torbay Council and submitted to
3870-448: The UK government. The two councils have already formed a Joint Executive Committee and Economic Growth Body. A proposed devolution deal was narrowly voted against in 2016, but has re-emerged in 2020. A separate deal was also proposed for a "South Essex" Combined Authority, covering Southend , Thurrock , Basildon , Castlepoint , Brentwood , and Rochford . The whole Essex plan also suggested forming four new unitary authorities, whilst
3956-462: The area although some remnants of the pre industrial landscape and semi-natural vegetation still survive. However, many areas are affected by urban fringe pressures creating fragmented and downgraded landscapes and ever present are urban influences from major cities, smaller industrial towns and former mining villages. In the Magnesian Limestone belt to the east of the Leeds and Wakefield areas
4042-399: The area, the effectiveness and efficiency of transport in the area, the exercise of statutory functions relating to economic development and regeneration in the area, and economic conditions in the area." On completion of the review, the local authorities produce and publish a proposed scheme of the combined authority to be created, including the area that will be covered, the constitution, and
4128-552: The ceremonial county areas of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire , and a further two which each covered a metropolitan county and adjacent non-metropolitan districts: the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for Merseyside and the Borough of Halton unitary authority; and the North East Combined Authority for Tyne and Wear and the unitary authorities of County Durham and Northumberland . In 2016,
4214-513: The city of Bradford is well known for its large concentration of British Pakistanis , the highest by percentage in the country. Leeds and Kirklees also have large British Pakistani populations. Kirklees also hosts a large population of British Indians . West Yorkshire is home to a large Eastern European population, particularly British Poles . Ethnic minorities totalled to over 21% of West Yorkshire's population in 2011. Leeds has since attracted investment from financial institutions, to become
4300-472: The constituent authorities being reorganised. A Dorset combined authority was proposed by the county's former nine constituent councils, and is being considered by the two unitary councils ( Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ) which replaced them in April 2019. In 2021 a new plan including Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole was being pursued, though lacking appetite for
4386-457: The county council. The proposal failed in 2016 after constituent councils voted against it, with subsequent discussions of an East Midlands devolution deal. Currently the councils of Lincolnshire are working on a 10-point plan to submit to government for a Lincolnshire deal. Dorset Council , Somerset Council and Wiltshire Council submitted an expression of interest in September 2024 to form
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#17328440810124472-453: The county. West Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986 and its five districts effectively became unitary authorities . The metropolitan county, covering an area of 2,029 square kilometres (783 sq mi), continues to exist in law and as a geographic frame of reference. Since 1 April 2014, West Yorkshire has been a combined authority area, with the local authorities pooling some functions over transport and regeneration as
4558-448: The creation of an elected mayor with the title Elected Leader. Subject to consultation, and council and parliamentary approval, it was hoped that the first Elected Leader would have been elected in 2024 to coincide with the police and crime commissioner elections. In September 2024, following the 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new Labour government decided against pursuing single authority devolution deals, instead preferring
4644-497: The development of woollen mills. Leeds' traditional industry was the manufacturing of cloth while heavier engineering industries facilitated growth in South Leeds. The Heavy Woollen District covered towns such as Dewsbury , Batley , Morley , Ossett , Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike . The woollen and cloth industries declined throughout the twentieth century. The Rhubarb Triangle is wholly in West Yorkshire and still produces
4730-677: The escarpment of the Pennines, which is scaled in meandering stages and tunnels by the recreational Leeds-Liverpool Canal and Rochdale Canal , navigable by barge, canoe or kayak. Other tourism features include abbeys, castles, countryside walks, landscapes, picturesque villages, architecture, stately homes, tea rooms , real ale breweries, farmer's markets, restaurants and hiking in villages including Hebden Bridge , Ilkley with its scenic riversides, cherry blossoms and suspension bridge and equally in Wharfedale, Otley . West Yorkshire lies in arguably
4816-448: The formation of multi-authority combined authorities. Thus plans for Elected Leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk were dropped. A leadership board has been formed by Staffordshire County Council and its constituent districts, with an invitation to unitary Stoke-on-Trent. There is some interest in devolution talks, but requiring Stoke-on-Trent's participation. The original proposal was for a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, before it
4902-452: The functions. This will include details of membership of the CA or CCA, remuneration, and how meetings will be chaired and recorded. Following a period of consultation and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government , the CA or CCA is formally created, dissolved, or altered by a statutory instrument . A number of CAs and CCAs were created in 2024, including
4988-460: The headquarters of Wakefield City Council. The county initially had a two-tier structure of local government with a strategic-level county council and five districts providing most services. In 1986, throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The functions of the county council were devolved to the boroughs; joint-boards covering fire, police and public transport; and to other special joint arrangements. Organisations such as
5074-568: The land crops up in the such rhymes and folklore as On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at , date unknown, the early 19th century novels and poems of the Brontë family often in and around Haworth and long-running light comedy-drama Last of the Summer Wine in the 20th century. The carboniferous rocks of the Yorkshire coalfield further east have produced a rolling landscape with hills, escarpments and broad valleys in
5160-431: The legislation to Greater London, Wales, and Scotland. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 received royal assent on 28 January 2016. The act allowed for the introduction of directly elected mayors to combined authorities in England and Wales with powers over housing, transport, planning, and policing. In 2020, the government planned to produce a white paper on 'Devolution and Local Recovery', which
5246-527: The major urban areas of the country. In 1999, following a successful referendum , the Labour government created a strategic authority for London (the Greater London Authority ), but no bodies were established to replace the metropolitan county councils outside London. The Blair government instead pursued the idea of elected regional assemblies , although following an unsuccessful referendum in 2004 in
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#17328440810125332-464: The most positive region – the North East – this idea had few proponents. In October 2010 the Coalition Government introduced measures to replace regional development agencies , which were described as inefficient and costly. They were superseded by local enterprise partnerships , voluntary groups whose membership was drawn from the private sector with local authority input. Earlier in 2010,
5418-876: The most strategic part of Yorkshire: the M62 , M1 and the A1(M) pass through the county, as well as the internal urban motorways in Leeds and Bradford . West Yorkshire has two mainline railway stations, Leeds and Wakefield Westgate . Leeds railway station is the only Network Rail principal station in Yorkshire and North East England , and one of only three in the North of England along with Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street . Other important railway stations in West Yorkshire include Bradford Interchange , Bradford Forster Square , Huddersfield , Halifax , Dewsbury , Keighley and Shipley . West Yorkshire also has Yorkshire's largest airport, Leeds Bradford Airport . Unlike South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire has no light transit system;
5504-535: The nearby Rockingstone Quarry and some interior work was done at North Light Film Studios. Urban tourism varies. National interest features include sporting stadia, museums, theatre and galleries. Royal Armouries is in Leeds, as is the Leeds Playhouse (formerly the West Yorkshire Playhouse), Opera North and The Grand Theatre. The First Direct Arena in Leeds seats around 15,000 people. Sheffield Arena
5590-460: The next wave of county deals, but without a mayor. Proposals by Cheshire East , Cheshire West and Chester , and Warrington underwent a public consultation in Summer 2017 but government permission was still being sought in spring 2020. All three councils are in favour of a non-mayoral deal, although local Conservative MPs were not supportive. Warrington's Chief Executive has “received a letter from
5676-463: The northern Peak District extends into the south west of Kirklees. Large-scale industry, housing, public and commercial buildings of differing heights, transport routes and open countryside conjoin. The dense network of roads, canals and railways and urban development, confined by valleys creates dramatic interplay of views between settlements and the surrounding hillsides, as shaped the first urban-rural juxtapositions of David Hockney . Where most rural
5762-408: The northern and coastal, central and southern, and eastern and Pennine areas. All potential constituent authorities have reviewed plans created by the county council, and are now "studying the detail of the white paper and its implications for driving forward our devolution aspirations”. A plan for a Lincolnshire devolution was proposed, which would have included all constituent boroughs as well as
5848-438: The outer fringes of the Pennines. In this landscape there is widespread evidence of both current and former industrial activity. There are numerous derelict or converted mine buildings and recently landscaped former spoil heaps. The scenery is a mixture of built up areas, industrial land with some dereliction, and farmed open country. Ribbon developments along transport routes including canal, road and rail are prominent features of
5934-683: The power to exercise any function of its constituent councils that relates to economic development and regeneration, and any of the functions that are available to integrated transport authorities. For transport purposes, CAs and CCAs are able to borrow money and can levy their constituent authorities. CAs and CCAs were (until the United Kingdom left the European Union ) encouraged to borrow from European institutions for social and environmental schemes which met EU objectives. Loans were made with conditions attached which furthered EU policies. By 2015, Greater Manchester Combined Authority had agreed loans from
6020-431: The product and legal backing against other products made outside the area using the name. Other protected names include Stilton cheese , Champagne and Parma Ham. The last pit in West Yorkshire to close was Hay Royds Colliery at Denby Dale in 2012 after a flood. Several films and television series have been filmed in West Yorkshire's historic areas, particularly around the town of Halifax . For example, portions of
6106-671: The rugby ground is home to Leeds Rhinos. In Huddersfield , the John Smith's Stadium is home to Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants. In Bradford , Valley Parade is the home of Bradford City, whereas the Odsal Stadium is the home of the Bradford Bulls. Other stadiums include Wheldon Road (Castleford), The Shay (Halifax), Belle Vue (Wakefield), Mount Pleasant (Batley), Crown Flatt (Dewsbury), Post Office Road (Featherstone), John Charles Centre for Sport (Hunslet) and Cougar Park (Keighley). There are two racecourses in West Yorkshire: Pontefract and Wetherby . West Yorkshire also used to host regular speedway meetings, having
6192-503: The successful ZEBRA funding will see the introduction of between 179 and 245 zero-emission electric buses with the necessary infrastructure whilst the BSIP plan will give the West Yorkshire Combined Authority £70 million out of a desired £168 million to implement the improvements outlined in the authority's BSIP. Major football clubs in West Yorkshire include Leeds United , Huddersfield Town , and Bradford City . Rugby league
6278-537: The topic. Suffolk County Council's plans for a county-wide deal have been supported by the constituent district councils with backing from its local MPs, although opposing a mayoral deal. Suffolk County Council signed a devolution agreement with the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities in December 2022, which included an Elected Leader who will lead the County Council. However, in September 2024, following
6364-459: The unitary authority of Darlington . Two further combined authorities which do not cover ceremonial counties or former metropolitan counties were formed in 2017: West of England , comprising Bristol and two of the three adjacent unitary authorities in Gloucestershire and Somerset , all of which had been within the former county of Avon ; and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . In 2020, it
6450-660: The vegetable in considerable quantities. Twelve farmers who farm within the Rhubarb Triangle applied to have the name "Yorkshire forced rhubarb" added to the list of foods and drinks that have their names legally protected by the European Commission's Protected Food Name scheme. The application was successful and the farmers in the Rhubarb Triangle were awarded Protected Designation of Origin status (PDO) in February 2010. Food protected status accesses European funding to promote
6536-399: The west and the Yorkshire coalfield further eastwards. In the extreme east of the metropolitan county there are younger deposits of Magnesian Limestone . Areas in the west such as Bradford and Calderdale are dominated by the scenery of the eastern slopes of the South Pennines , dropping from upland in the west down to the east, and dissected by many steep-sided valleys while a small part of
6622-466: The west: Lancashire , Greater Manchester , Derbyshire , South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire . The terrain of the county mostly consists of the Pennines and its foothills which dominate the west of the county and gradually descend into the Vale of York and Humberhead Levels in the east. Geologically, it lies almost entirely on rocks of carboniferous age which form the inner Southern Pennine fringes in
6708-452: Was abolished in 1998 , leaving the districts as unitary authorities . In 2021 the constituent districts agreed to submit an expression of interest in a county deal. The six unitary councils formed a joint Berkshire Prosperity Board in February 2024 and submitted an expression of interest in forming a non-mayoral combined authority in September 2024. Although not included in the 2022 white paper, Buckinghamshire Council hopes to be part of
6794-413: Was based on the assumption of a county-level combined authority to manage adult and children's services, the deal has been prioritized. There are disagreements between Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness on whether the deal should include a mayor. On 30 September 2024, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council jointly submitted an expression of interest in forming a combined authority to
6880-506: Was expected to create new combined authorities with mayors – or "county mayors" – for non-metropolitan areas of the country. These have been tentatively suggested to be a 'Great South West' grouping of Cornwall , Devon , and Dorset (possibly with Somerset ), and another in Lancashire. The white paper was delayed and was eventually published on 2 February 2022. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 enhanced devolution and created
6966-563: Was first drawn up in the 1950s. All the county's districts contain large portions of green belt. West Yorkshire has close ties with Lancashire in terms of history, local identity and infrastructure including with the War of the Roses and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway . Up until the 19th century, the town of Todmorden was in Lancashire but was moved into Yorkshire. In the 1974 boundary review. The towns of Earby and Barnoldswick were moved into
7052-576: Was formed as a metropolitan county in 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972 , and corresponds roughly to the core of the historic West Riding of Yorkshire and the county boroughs of Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, and Wakefield. West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council inherited the use of West Riding County Hall at Wakefield , opened in 1898, from the West Riding County Council in 1974. Since 1987 it has been
7138-642: Was granted in July 1888. However the Industrial Revolution , which changed West and South Yorkshire significantly, led to the growth of Leeds and Bradford, which became the area's two largest cities (Leeds being the largest in Yorkshire). Leeds was granted city status in 1893 and Bradford in 1897. The name of Leeds Town Hall reflects the fact that at its opening in 1858 Leeds was not yet a city, while Bradford renamed its Town Hall as City Hall in 1965. West Yorkshire
7224-483: Was passed to amend existing local acts of Parliament in the West Yorkshire area, and to confer specific powers on West Yorkshire County Council , as well as the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council , Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council , Kirklees Council , Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council . West Yorkshire is ethnically diverse, hosting large populations of multiple ethnic minority groups. Most notably,
7310-407: Was replaced with an East Anglia proposal including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . The East Anglia plan failed, reverting to the original two plans. Whilst the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough plan succeeded, the Norfolk and Suffolk plan failed, with King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voting to reject the deal, and Norfolk County Council cancelling a subsequent planned meeting on
7396-475: Was reported that other combined authorities for non-metropolitan parts of the country – such as Cumbria , Lancashire , North Yorkshire, and Somerset – were under consideration, but the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on governance meant decisions were delayed until late 2021. The Chancellor of the Exchequer , Jeremy Hunt , announced in his 2023 budget speech that "trailblazer deals" had been struck with
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