Welcome to the virtual gateway of the civic society movement in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Here you will find the latest news, issues and debates of civic societies around our area. The Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies (YHACS) is the regional association of civic societies, and is supported by English Heritage. Our membership consists of local civic societies and civic trusts around the region. We are members of the new national organisation, Civic Voice. The work of our societies includes a variety of projects, including anything from the regular review of planning applications, to gathering support for the protection and renovation of historic buildings, to the creation of new and vibrant public spaces to enhance our local communities. At YHACS, we offer assistance to these local societies in the way of information, support and networking capabilities. We also participate in the regional agenda on behalf of the civic society movement, speaking for the views of these groups in their mission to represent their communities.
THE LATEST IN NEWS
SECRETARY OF STATE SPEAKS TO YHACS 'These are exciting times if you belong to a Civic Society' was the message from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon. Eric Pickles MP, when he addressed a meeting of the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies (YHACS) in Beverley on Saturday 5 November. The Secretary of State spoke to almost 200 Civic Society members, who met in Beverley's Toll Gavel Church, about the opportunities offered in the Localism Bill, which is about to pass its final parliamentary hurdle and become law. He said that the new law will offer much greater opportunities for local people to become involved in running their own communities, and that Civic Societies, with their long history of caring about their own areas, are ideally placed act in concert with local authorities in achieving long-term prosperity for local people. 'Passion, pride and commitment are all needed - and these are things that Civic Societies have always promoted,' he said. Mr Pickles spent almost 40 minutes answering questions from Civic Society members. He said that proposed planning changes would maintain the Green Belt and other environmental protections, and that the changes would lead to less conflict in the planning process. He challenged the suggestion that heritage groups had not been sufficiently involved in drawing up the proposals. He encouraged the drawing up of Local or Neighbourhood Plans, which, when approved by a local referendum, would be binding on the local authority, and recognised that there needs to be a clearer system in ensuring that funding to local authorities reaches down to all levels throughout their areas. Summing up his message to Civic Societies around the country, the Secretary of State said, 'Be ready! Get cracking, be ready to hit the ground running when the Localism Act comes in to force. Decide what you're going to do and let your local council catch up with you!' Kevin Trickett, Chairman of YHACS, said, 'The Secretary of State's visit to our Beverley meeting underlines the importance of Civic Societies both in our area and throughout the country. Our members had a rare opportunity to quiz a government minister direct about policies that will affect how Civic Societies will operate in the future, and they grasped the chance with a range of questions and opinions. We now look forward to the challenges ahead as Localism Act is implemented. Our member Societies are certainly up to the challenge.' HUDDERSFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY OUTRIGHT WINNERS OF Y & H CIVIC SOCIETIES WEEK Huddersfield Civic Society were declared winners of the region's Civic Societies Week competition at the latest YHACS meeting held at Beverley on 5th November 2011. For more information please go to our News section. A FRENCH CONNECTION FOR YHACS YHACS is very pleased to have a management graduate from eastern France, Maxime Giboulot, a business studies graduate of the University of Besançon, to help us with two research projects - one on the state of our high streets and the other on the state of the civic society movement in our region. For more information please go to our News section. SKIPTON MEETING We had a lively and successful meeting at Skipton in July 2011 when fifty members from twenty-two societies met at the Soroptomists' Rooms. The chairman, Kevin Trickett, said that the YHACS committee had decided to campaign on three issues which had been prompted by member concerns, government proposals and articles in recent Civic Voice newsletters. These were High Streets, Stations to be proud of, and Green Belt development versus Brown Field Sites. To find out how you can help please go to the news page. The guest speaker was Sue Wrathmell, chair of Skipton in Craven Civic Society, who presented an illustrated talk on recent developments in architecture conservation in Skipton. Our next meeting will be at Beverley on the 5th November when the Rt Hon Eric Pickles has agreed to address the meeting.
David Winpenny (Ripon CS) and Henry Pankhurst (Harrogate CS) getting to grips with civic issues in the garden at the Soroptimists' Rooms at Skipton
NEW CHAIRMAN FOR YHACS Kevin Trickett was elected as the new chairman of YHACS at the association's AGM held in Harrogate on 29th January 2011. Kevin is the President of Wakefield Civic Society. David Moss, of Selby Civic Society, was elected as vice-chairman. Full information on our News page. YHACS BUILDINGS AT RISK PROJECT LAUNCHED YHACS has now launched a 'Buildings at Risk' project and we are delighted to be working with SAVE Britain's Heritage. For full information please go to our Buildings at Risk page. SELBY CIVIC SOCIETY WINNERS IN 2010 CIVIC SOCIETIES WEEK AWARDS YHACS OBJECTS TO DEVELOPMENT AT GRADE 1 CHURCH YHACS has registered its objection to development which will affect the significance and setting of Harrogate's only
The Parish Church of St Wilfrid, Duchy Road, Harrogate
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Members were asked for their views on what should go into the briefing that YHACS would prepare for the Secretary of State ahead of the meeting. 
grade 1 listed building, the Parish Church of St Wilfrid. We do not normally comment on local planning issues but believe this is an exceptional case where we should take a view. For more information please go to our