The Week in the Life column with Keith Tordoff

Come Friday I was conducting another tour of Pateley Bridge this time with our constituency MP Julian Smith. Mr Smith had very kindly come along to Pateley Bridge to meet Kirsty Shepherd, Tim Ledbetter and I to offer his support on a number of projects which the Nidderdale Chamber of Trade (NCOT) are undertaking.

The first stop off was the Pateley Bridge bus terminus where we had a photo taken with Mr Smith. We updated Mr Smith on the progress of a new bus service coming from West Yorkshire on Sundays for the summer and on bank holidays.

Next stop on the tour was Pateley Bridge High Street to show Mr Smith the preparations for projects that are planned by the Pateley Bridge in Bloom group for this year’s entry in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition. Mr Smith kindly supported the group last year when it was awarded the silver gilt in the competition and is once again getting behind the towns efforts.

We also showed Mr Smith the preparations the NCOT had put in place ready for the Tour de Yorkshire race.

Talking of the Tour de Yorkshire, last Sunday Pateley Bridge was the place to be. The massive crowds lined the bunting and bike clad High Street. The Dacre and Summerbridge Silver band played and a singer belted out songs by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole plus many others.

A minion, which is a cartoon character, entertained the children and there was even someone wearing a top hat seated on top of a ten foot high Penny farthing made specially for the event. The High Street was a sight to behold with swathes of spectators enjoying the carnival atmosphere.

The place was buzzing with anticipation, waiting for the riders to appear.

Since the end of the race the official Tour De Yorkshire website has on it a photo of Pateley Bridge High Street. The captain on the photograph says ‘Perfect Pateley’.

Bank holiday Monday was not a day of rest, as in my role of a chairman of the NCOT I was putting on a reception for visitors arriving in Pateley Bridge helping launch a new bus service. The bus service only came about following an appeal in this paper for funding resulting in local businessman Ben Holmes, the NCOT, the Dales and Bowland Bus company, NYCC, Pateley Bridge Town Council plus other businesses donating money. I welcomed a full bus load of passengers including Alex Sobel MP (North West Leeds) who had travelled with his family on the new number 821 bus service which comes from Keighley through Otley to Pateley Bridge.

The new bus service will be in operation on Sundays throughout the summer and bank holidays which also goes to Scar House Reservoir from Pateley. I also welcomed passengers who had travelled on the new 822 service from Selby, and the number 24 from Harrogate.

Three bus companies are collaborating to provide public transport for local people and to open up the countryside to others from outside of Nidderdale.

Travelling to London next week will be Kirsty Shepherd who has been nominated to attend the Queens garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. She was nominated for the voluntary work she does for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale. Thoroughly well deserved! Congratulations.