News

Have your say on proposed changes to North Yorkshire Council's Home to School Travel Policy.

Following a Post Implementation Review of the updated Home to School Tavel policy introduced in 2024, North Yorkshire Council is inviting views on a number of recommended changes. The consultation is open now and runs until 4 November 2026.

The review found that the policy is largely working as intended, helping to create a fairer and more consistent approach to transport eligibility while remaining in line with national guidance and on track to deliver planned savings. It also identified areas where improvements could be made.

Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “We know that school travel arrangements are incredibly important to families and that the changes introduced in 2024 have affected some households more than others.

“When the policy changed, we promised to review how it was working in practice and to listen to the experiences of families.

“We have carefully considered feedback from parents and carers, schools and other stakeholders, alongside appeals, complaints and operational data.

“We would encourage people to take part as this is your opportunity to have your say and help us to shape the future of our home to school travel policy in North Yorkshire.”

If any recommendations are approved, they would not take effect before September 2027 and will apply to children starting in Reception and Year 7 in September 2028. Families should continue to make school preference decisions based on the existing arrangements while this process is completed.

Eligibility for free travel would continue to be based on a child's nearest suitable school with available places. The review does not propose a return to catchment-based transport eligibility.

Find out more about the review and take part in the consultation at www.northyorks.gov.uk/PIRsurvey

Dear Resident,

MARKET PLACE, RICHMOND – RELAYING OF COBBLES

North Yorkshire Council would like to inform you that essential cobble relaying works will be carried out in the Market Place, Richmond.

The works are currently scheduled to begin on Monday 7 September 2026 and are expected to last for approximately 12 weeks. Working hours will be 7:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.

An enclosed plan shows the work areas:

• Red areas indicate parking bays that will be temporarily suspended.
• Thick red lines indicate the boundary of the contractor's working compound.

To minimise disruption and retain as much parking as possible, the works will be carried out in two phases:

Phase 1: Works will begin on the lower side of the Market Place and are expected to take approximately 6 weeks to complete.

Phase 2: The second phase will cover the upper end of the Market Place. This phase will begin once Phase 1 is complete and is expected to take approximately 6 weeks.

Please note, this work is part of an extensive programme and therefore, some adjustment to this start date or the duration of the works may be necessary should unforeseen circumstances such as significant weather events or emergencies on the highway network arise.

Advance warning signage advising of the works will be installed on site shortly. During each phase:

• Vehicle access through the active work area will not be possible.
• Some parking and loading bays will be suspended for the duration of the works. Temporary loading areas will be provided where practicable.
• On site personnel will be available to assist with access arrangements for businesses and properties within the works area.
• Pedestrian access to all properties and businesses will be maintained at all times.

To ensure the delivery of these works we request your assistance in the following ways:

• Please contact the Customer Service Centre on 0300 131 2 131, to identify any special access needs you may have prior to work commencing.
• Please co-operate and comply with any instructions issued by the traffic management operatives and take extra care whilst within the works area.

May I draw your attention to the Council’s Corporate Privacy Policy by using the following link https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/privacy-notices. When submitting a response, we will record personal information including your name and address.

For further information, including diversion information and to sign up for alerts please go to; https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roadworks

I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any disruption that these works may cause and would again request your cooperation to help ensure an efficiently and safely executed project.

Yours faithfully

Customer Service Centre
North Yorkshire Council

This week, we will be writing to most residents in the former Richmondshire area explaining that in the coming weeks they’ll receive their two new wheelie bins for their recycling; one with a blue lid for paper and card, and another with a red lid for glass, cans and plastics.

By introducing these changes it will improve the quality, reduce processing costs, generate a higher value when it is processed and help towards our carbon reduction objectives.

The new collections will start in October, and we’ll write to residents again in late September with further information and when they can start using their new bins.

For further information on the new recycling scheme, please visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/right-thing-right-bin.

Vacancy for Parish Councillors

1. be at least 18 years old on the day of application
2. be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union

1.  They are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish from the day of their application onwards.
2. They have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish during the whole of the 12 months before the day of their application.
3. Their main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of their application has been in the parish.
4. They have lived in the parish or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of their application.

Pension Credit

Updated figures from DWP reflect that £22million Pension Credit is still eligible and not claimed across North

Yorkshire. Yes - £22,000,000! 

North Yorkshire Council are now live with the pension credit campaign, if customers ring the Customer Service

number and say "Pension Credit" they will get through to an advisor who will transfer the call to the appropriate

Income Maximisation team, and they will check for eligibility and assist with the claim. The customer service

number is 0300 131 2131.

 The team will also be able to look into other benefits residents are entitled to and might not be receiving.

 Let’s get some of that £22million into our North Yorkshire residents’ pockets.

Sandbags

North Yorkshire Council is simplifying its approach to supporting communities who need access to sandbags during a flood incident.   

From the beginning of October 2024 if a member of public requires access to sandbags they should Google Sandbags North Yorkshire.  If there is an immediate need for sandbags then they can call 0300 131 2 131 and either say Sandbag when prompted or follow the instructions.

or 0174881136

New play equipment in Kings Close Play Park

Catterick Parish Council has been awarded a grant of £20,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to install new equipment and replace the safety matting under the zip wire.

Our project was made possible thanks to  #NationalLottery Players

This work has now been completed.