It’s wonderful to see Ilkley residents commended in the Queen’s New Year Honours for a wide-range of work with various aspects of our community.

The New Year Honours are a chance to reward those who might be the unsung heroes of our communities, who work day in and day out at their role, not expecting any recognition or extra reward.

The Ilkley recipients cover a broad spread of disciplines – from sport to dance to voluntary work. The honours show just how much excellent work is being carried out by dedicated people, and they are all worthy recipients.

The honours were the best possible end to 2013 for those people in particular, and we hope that 2014 is equally as joyous for all of us.

The dawn of a new year is an opportunity to take stock, plan ahead and try – if we can – to make life better for ourselves and others.

So from all of us here, welcome to 2014 and we hope you all have a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2014 in all ways possible.

And your favourite newspaper will be here every step of the way to bring you the news about what’s important right here in your own community.

Now is time to step into local plans process

It is more than two years now since the alarm was first raised about potentially thousands of new houses being built in the Ilkley area.

Local councillors who sounded the warning were keen to stress that residents should get involved, at the earliest opportunity, in the formulation of Bradford Council’s forthcoming Local Plan for the district.

Many debates later – plus a significant reduction in the housing target numbers – and the Core Strategy, the most significant part of this local planning rule-book, has been drafted.

Now it is time for the people of Wharfedale to step into the process. Members of the public will be able to make representations to Bradford Council on an individual basis during consultation on the draft Core Strategy document.

Meanwhile, organisations representing the wider interests of the community, such as Ilkley Parish Council, also hope to gather enough comment and evidence to put together a strong case representing local views.

The council’s public meeting at the end of January will not only be the ‘last chance’ for many residents to influence this crucial part of the Local Plan – for many, it will also be their first chance to get involved directly in the process.