Tockwith, Boston Spa and Wetherby - Your Neighbourhood

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback in the neighbourhood plan relating to roads, traffic, public transport and local services in and around Tockwith.

Residents highlighted concerns about the narrow roads around Southfield Lane and Regency Place, as well as the area around the school. These included the difficulties caused by buses and congestion, particularly at school drop-off and pick-up times, and concerns about pedestrian safety.

Residents also raised the need for better public transport and more local services, including the possibility of a café, takeaway options and visiting food vendors.

We have now received responses from both Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP and Councillor Andrew Paraskos.

Southfield Lane and school congestion

Councillor Andrew Paraskos has confirmed that the concerns about Southfield Lane outside the school have been reported to North Yorkshire Council’s Highways team.

The condition of the road has been highlighted, with one side of the carriageway breaking away and having deteriorated significantly in places.

The Council is also aware of the congestion that occurs around school drop-off and collection times. Cllr Paraskos has said that much of this is caused by motorists not making full use of the sports field car park when dropping off or collecting children.

He has asked Highways Officers to visit the site and assess whether measures could be introduced to improve road safety, traffic flow and parking arrangements.

One possibility that has been raised is the introduction of double yellow lines. However, the Council has pointed out that restrictions of this kind can sometimes simply move parking problems onto neighbouring roads.

As a result, any measures will need to be considered carefully to ensure that they genuinely improve the situation rather than create more difficulties elsewhere.

The Council says it will continue to check the situation and work with the relevant parties to find practical solutions to congestion and safety concerns around the school.

Public transport

The limited availability of public transport was another concern raised by residents.

North Yorkshire Council has acknowledged that this can have a significant impact on residents' ability to access work, education, healthcare and other essential services.

While most bus services are run commercially, the Council says it continues to work with transport providers and advocate for improvements where demand and need are identified.

The Council also recognises the importance of improving connectivity, particularly for residents who do not have access to a private vehicle.

Responsibility for bus services is due to move towards the North Yorkshire and York Mayor as part of the changes to local transport arrangements.

Local services and future development

Residents also expressed an interest in seeing more local services in Tockwith, including a café, takeaway facilities and visiting food vendors.

Cllr Paraskos has explained that North Yorkshire has a significant proportion of protected landscape, which can make development and the provision of new facilities more challenging in some areas.

At the same time, the Government has increased North Yorkshire's annual housing requirement from around 1,600 homes to more than 4,000 homes per year.

The Council consider the impact development could have on highways, education, healthcare, drainage, the environment and community facilities, when reviewing any planning application.

Cllr Paraskos has said he will continue to support communities in making sure the necessary infrastructure is provided.

What happens next?

The immediate focus will be on the Highways assessment of Southfield Lane and the area around the school, including possible measures to improve safety, traffic flow and parking.

The concerns about public transport and the availability of local services have also been formally highlighted, alongside the wider need to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with development.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to raise these issues. The concerns raised by residents have now been put directly to the relevant representatives, and we will continue to follow up on the issues and keep residents informed of any further developments.

Welcome to your area update

We continue to visit your area regularly. You can find more details in the Area Visits section of your neighbourhood page.

Home Condition Surveys are set to begin:

Making sure your home is safe and in a good condition is a top priority for us. To help us keep your home up to standard, we carry out a Home Condition Survey every 5 years – this is sometimes known as a Stock Condition Survey. The survey highlights any urgent repairs that you might not be aware of and helps us plan for future improvements in your home, such as a new kitchen or bathroom. You can find out more information here.

Cyber SwitchUp 2026 – Register Now

Have you heard of the Crisis and Resilience Fund?

It’s a £1 billion annual UK Government scheme running from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, providing local councils with multi-year funding to help low-income households handle sudden financial emergencies and build long-term financial stability.

You may be eligible for emergency help for essentials like food, fuel, clothing, and household appliances, as well as short-term assistance with housing costs and rent shortfalls.

You can find out more by speaking with our Money Matters team on 0113 386 1000.

Finally…

We'd like to understand how comfortable you feel when accessing and using online services, such as websites, apps, online forms, shopping, or healthcare services. Your response will help us identify where we can provide additional support, guidance, or improvements. Share your thoughts by answering our quick flash feedback question - How confident are you in using online services?

Thank you for reading - we will be back again with another update soon.

Thank you for your feedback. Your new Neighbourhood Plan for 2026 - 2027 is ready, take a look by clicking or tapping the image below

Free and low cost summer activities

Visit the web address below for summer family fun activities

Our gardening competition is back by popular demand!

We loved seeing customers' photos of their gardens last year, so we're bringing the competition back.

Whether it's blooming flowers, homegrown veggies, or a perfectly pruned hedge, we'd love to see it! All you have to do is upload your gardening photos to the photos section of this page by the end of September for a chance to win a £30 prize!

Don’t forget…

You can stay up to date with local events, share feedback on our services and help shape how we work. Register for Your Voice here – you’ll also be entered into our bi-monthly prize draw for a £30 voucher. Good luck!

Before you go…

We would still like to hear from you about what makes a good neighbour. If you haven’t already, share your thoughts by answering our quick flash feedback question below!

What is something your neighbour does that you really appreciate?

Thanks for reading – we will be back again soon with another update.

The draft of your new Neighbourhood Plan for Tockwith, Boston Spa and Wetherby is now ready for you to view.

You can read the draft plan by clicking or tapping the image below

Please take a look and let us know your thoughts by Friday 7th August 2026, by completing the quick poll here.

Welcome to your monthly update for Tockwith, Boston Spa and Wetherby

We visit your area regularly to check for repairs, health & safety issues and neighbourhood management issues. If you would like to join us on an area visit, please contact us on 0113 386 1000 or email hello@leedsfed.com(External link).

While you're here...

Find out what activities for young people in your area are coming up, with FEAST Activities.

And, we're working in partnership with Harrogate and District Community Action (HADCA) to help customers get more support at home. You can learn more here.

Have you heard about the Housing Hub?

We host monthly drop-in sessions on the last Friday of every month. Whether you want to book an appointment or just pop in while you're in town, our friendly staff team will be there to welcome you, with a hot drink, and some activities to enjoy. You can find out more information here.

Small grants to spark BIG ideas…

Got an idea for a one-off event or hoping to start something that grows into a long-term project? The Community Engagement Fund can help contribute to the costs of getting started. Learn more about it here.

Don’t forget…

You can stay up to date with local events, share feedback on our services and help shape how we work. Register for Your Voice here – you’ll also be entered into our bi-monthly prize draw for a £30 voucher. Good luck!

Before you go…

As part of Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, we want to hear from you about what makes a good neighbour. Share your thoughts by answering our quick flash feedback question below!

What is something your neighbour does that you really appreciate? | Your Voice

Thanks for reading – we will be back again next month with another update.

We have been working to deliver your first Neighbourhood Plan and it is now drawing to a close. We wanted to let you know what actions we have taken in response to your feedback and how we have shaped our services locally.

Please take a look at the feedback document by tapping or clicking here to see what we have done, and what we are planning to continue to work on.

We would also like your comments on what we can do next. A new survey is available for you to let us know your current priorities.

You can access this survey by clicking or tapping here. Please complete the survey before 10th July 2026.

We will use the information you provide us to develop your new Neighbourhood Plan - so please share your views!

Don't forget to register with Your Voice for a chance to be entered into our prize draw to win a £30 voucher!

Free holiday activities for children and young people on benefits-related free school meals. Tap or click the image below for more information

Who is automatically eligible for a free FEAST place?

• Children and young people receiving benefits-related free school meals are automatically eligible for free places at FEAST activities.
• All children and young people from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals are eligible for FEAST.
• Schools can also make a small number of additional children eligible by exception if they face significant financial and/or other disadvantage (see below).

Can anyone else be made eligible for free FEAST places?

• As defined by the Department for Education, FEAST is primarily for children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals.
• However, schools can also make a small number of additional children and young people eligible by exception if they face significant financial and/or other disadvantage.
• There are limits on how many children/young people can be made eligible by exception, to ensure that the focus of the programme remains on the Department for Education’s key audience: those on benefits-related free school meals.
• If you believe your child should be made eligible for FEAST, please contact their school to request this. Individual schools have been given the responsibility to make additional children eligible by exception.
• Schools are not required to automatically issue vouchers to ‘eligible by exception’ children/young people who have received vouchers historically.

Transport

Transport requests for the summer holidays will open on Thursday 25^th June.

You can find our transport request form and more information about the transport we can offer here: Transport to a FEAST Activity - North Yorkshire Together