Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

An exciting change is coming…

Introducing the Weaver Network - a transport network made to measure for West Yorkshire!

Our new name is a promise to everyone that wherever you’re going, we’ll get you there 🚲🚌

westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-b…

The privatisation of water has failed our communities.

Household bills are set to rise by more than 40%, after years of underinvestment while shareholders and executives have continued to benefit.

I've long called for elected Mayors to have greater powers to hold water companies to account, influence their operations and ensure money raised through fines goes back into the communities affected by sewage pollution.

Through our new regional water council, we'll keep pushing for Yorkshire Water to put people first, protect our rivers and deliver a greener, more affordable future for West Yorkshire. 💧

gov.uk/government/new…

Combined with keeping a share of income tax and business rates, an Overnight Visitor Levy could be a game changer for West Yorkshire.

Money raised and spent here, without interference from Whitehall, means we can deliver further and faster on safer streets, better transport, more vibrant communities and more to do across our region.

A small contribution from visitors can help build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.

Sad to hear of the passing of Geoffrey Richmond, former Bradford City chairman.

He brought ambition to Valley Parade and gave Bantams fans memories that will last a lifetime, including that unforgettable rise to the Premier League.

My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone at the club.

As Yorkshire Water enters a period of new leadership, I'll be holding the board to account on how it plans to improve and rebuild the evaporated confidence of the public.

That has to include a radical new approach to transparency and investment. The company simply cannot continue to siphon off millions of pounds in hidden bonuses and shareholder payments, all while dumping sewage at record levels and asking the public to pick up the cost of repairing infrastructure.

I will also be asking the Prime Minister and the Environment Secretary for the public control we need to truly hold Yorkshire Water to account, including having a real say over its operations and the ability to impose and direct fines, so we can support those communities hit hardest by pollution.

More broadly, the privatisation of water has been a disaster. Regardless of your politics, it simply does not make sense to privatise an industry where there is no competition and where the public are a captive market - forced to rely on one failing provider with no alternative.

All options must be on the table - costed and considered so we can finally clean up this mess and move forward as a country.

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…