Following the very sad announcement of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the date of her state funeral, which will take place on Monday 19th September, has been declared a Bank Holiday by King Charles III during his proclamation on Saturday. Craven District Council offices will be closed on Monday allowing staff to pay their respects. In line with traditional bank holidays, Craven Leisure and Skipton Town Hall will also closed for the day and all waste management services will be suspended for the day. Therefore, there will be no commercial waste bin collections taking place on Monday (September 19th). Normal service will resume the next day. Household waste collections will be operating as normal next week so please continue to put your bins out as usual on your collection day.

Local tributes

Books of Condolence have been opened at Skipton Town Hall and at the Council offices in Belle Vue Square, Skipton. People can pay tribute by signing the book between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. An online book of condolence is available via Buckingham Palace's website at The Royal Family - royal.gov.uk

Floral tributes can be laid in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church or Christ Church in Skipton. We would kindly ask if you remove any plastic from bouquets. In the interests of sustainability, we ask people to only lay organic or compostable material. 

Pictured is Chairman of Craven District Council, Councillor Simon Myers and Vice-Chair Chris Rose paying tribute by laying flowers in memory of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II in the grounds of Holy Trinity in Skipton.

Council meetings

During the period of national mourning, all Craven District Council public meetings have been cancelled or postponed. Alternative dates will be set for those meetings that are cancelled.”

Vigil Service 

At 7pm on Sunday, 18th September, a vigil service will be held at Holy Trinity Church, followed by a national minute of reflection outside in the Church Garden at 8pm. Christ Church in Skipton, will also hold a vigil service at 7pm with tolling of the Bell 96 times followed by a National Moment of Reflection at 8pm to remember and celebrate the Queen’s life and commemorate her passing. This will be held on 18th September and everyone is welcome to attend to pay their respects. 

State Funeral

Following the very sad announcement of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the date of her state funeral, which will take place on Monday 19th September, has been declared a Bank Holiday by King Charles III during his proclamation on Saturday. Craven District Council offices will be closed on Monday allowing staff to pay their respects. In line with traditional bank holidays, Craven Leisure and Skipton Town Hall will also closed for the day and all waste management services will be suspended for the day. Therefore, there will be no commercial waste bin collections taking place on Monday (September 19th). Normal service will resume the next day. Household waste collections will be operating as normal next week so please continue to put your bins out as usual on your collection day. 

TV licence for the screening of the funeral

We know that many communities may wish to come together and observe the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen and so the BBC is providing local communities a TV Licence dispensation.

The dispensation will allow any communal setting where TV is not usually watched, such as town halls, community centres and libraries across the UK, to screen the live programmes without needing to purchase a licence.