From the general election to the re-opening of Dewsbury’s birthing centre, the blaze that ripped through a former college to the Educating Yorkshire cameras returning to Thornhill Community Academy - it’s been a year full of big news.
So, as 2024 draws to a close, we have taken a look back at some of the biggest stories to make the headlines in Dewsbury, Batley and Spen over the last 12 months.

5. March: Road closures
It was revealed in March that a series of works were due to start in preparation for the Dewsbury leg of the Transpeninne Route Upgrade (TRU) project. A 10-week road closure came into place at Ravensthorpe Road, between Station Approach and Calder Road, and the Veolia Waste Management site, from Monday, April 8. https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/transport/ten-weeks-of-road-closures-as-preparation-work-due-to-start-on-dewsbury-leg-of-the-multi-billion-pound-transpennine-route-upgrade-4554760 Photo: Network Rail

6. April: Community reacts to former school and college blaze
There was an outpouring of overwhelming “sadness” among the Dewsbury community in April after a fire ripped through the former Wheelwright Grammar School and Batley School of Art. https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/people/we-arrived-as-slightly-wild-teenagers-and-left-as-creative-adults-sadness-and-disappointment-as-dewsbury-and-batley-community-reacts-to-former-school-and-college-blaze-4580121 Photo: Scott Merrylees

7. April: Birthing centre re-opens
Dewsbury’s Bronte Birth Centre re-opened on April 1 for the first time since May 2022. https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/health/babies-to-be-born-in-kirklees-hospitals-for-first-time-in-two-years-as-dewsburys-bronte-birth-centre-re-opens-4577208 Photo: Jonathan Gawthorpe

8. May: Kirklees Council elections LIVE
In May, we brought you live coverage of the local elections results as they were announced - bringing you up-to-date news of which councillors secured their seats in the 10 wards in North Kirklees. https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/politics/kirklees-council-elections-2024-live-all-the-local-council-election-updates-as-they-arrive-4615213 Photo: Tony Johnson