CASTLEFORD DAILY BRIEFING 5/11/2025 - ANOTHER MURAL ANNOUNCED / LIGHTS SWITCH ON / ARE WE NAMING OUR HERITAGE BUILDINGS RIGHT?



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5 November 2025 Compiled by Tony Wallis of 'Talk Castleford with Tony’ 

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For those enjoying fireworks and bonfires tonight, remember others including pets, stay safe and have fun. Let me know your bonfire night tales.

Today, two good news items about improving our town centre. The third of three murals has been given the go ahead. This is for the Bancroft Road subway. The subway has had a reputation for being unfriendly but this news marks a positive change. I'm looking forward to the 'Destination Castleford' boards. What do you think of the idea?

And the second is the Old Mechanics Institute on Sagar Street, recently bought back by the council, getting the go ahead to become a community building. A fit use for what was a long time a well used public asset. Did you know, it even served as the town's library before the Carnegie one was built?

But what about names? You'll see the building referred to as the Kingdom Hall, its last use when the Jehovah's Witnesses leased the building from the council. On council documents it was referred to as the Old Mechanics Institute. I prefer that, as it shows Castleford has an important history. 

I've also seen a post about wonderful people from Reflections cleaning up the north bank of the river that refers to the footbridge as Millennium Bridge. Although commonly called that it was originally called The Castleford Footbridge to be a tourist attraction for the town. I don't know who changed its name, but the Millennium Bridge is in London not Castleford and that bridge was opened to mark the start of the new millennium. The Castleford Footbridge came a few years later. 

Millennium Bridge or The Castleford Footbridge? Kingdom Hall or the Old Mechanics Institute? Let's start the debate.

 You can now leave comments about  this post on Facebook. Just visit

https://www.facebook.com/talk.castleford/

Tony



Public artwork to ‘dramatically transform’ Castleford rail subway

The council announce the third mural in the town centre. In the Beancroft Road subway. This follows the ones at the end of Welbeck Street and at Tickle Cock Bridge.

Tony Gardner reports in the ‘Wakefield Express.’

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/people/public-artwork-to-dramatically-transform-castleford-rail-subway-5387904



One of Castleford's oldest buildings to be turned into community centre under regeneration plan

Old Mechanics Institute (“Kingdom Hall”) on Sagar Street. Tony Gardner reports for the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/west-yorkshire/news/kingdom-hall-revamp





Events subject to change. Please check with the organiser before visiting.


Police PACT meeting.

Friday, November 7, 2025 - 10am to 11am PACT (Police and Communities Together) meeting for the Castleford & Glasshoughton ward. 

Castleford Library, Carlton Street, Castleford WF10 1BB. Meeting of local police with the public.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/my-neighbourhood/wakefield/wakefield-east

Free advice sessions for cost of living support. 

7 November 2025 10am to 12 noon at Castleford Market Hall

More information

https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/your-district/free-advice-sessions-for-cost-of-living-support-this-autumn

Wakefield Council’s cost of living support portal can be found at

https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support


Castleford Historical Society talk

Tuesday 18 November

The Donald Prince Memorial Lecture

Made in Yorkshire

Speaker - Stuart Hartley

Trinity Church starting 7pm.  £2 charge for non-members.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090751030505


Castleford Christmas Lights switch on 25th November 2025.



Activities in the town centre start at 12 noon. Activities in the library 3pm to 4pm. Tickets for Santa's Grotto available from the library.




Wakefield Council is consulting on conservation areas in the district. At the moment Castleford has none. However,  there is a proposal to put one in part of the town centre. Further information can be found at

https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultation-and-engagement/wakefield-council-consultations/planning-policy-consultations/2025-conservation-area-review-public-consultation

The consultation survey is at

https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/WakefieldConservationAreaAppraisals2025

Public meeting at Trinity Methodist Church, Powell Street WF10 1EL 13 November 2025. 6.15pm to 7.30pm 




This blog is part of ‘Talk Castleford with Tony’ - the big discussion on social media about the future, present and past of Castleford, West Yorkshire. Find out more by visiting


 https://www.talkcastlefordwithtony.co.uk


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Location: Castleford, UK

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