Pontefract
A historic market town
Pontefract is a historic market town in West Yorkshire, England, near the A1 (or Great North Road) and the M62 motorway.
Media, arts and entertainment
The local newspaper is the Pontefract and Castleford Express. Pontefract is known for its “down-to-earth” nightlife.
Venues include Big Fellas, the Elephant, the Green Dragon, the Tap and Barrel, Wetherspoons, the Malt Shovel, and the Blackmoor Head.
In September 2012 one of Pontefract’s old Nightclubs, Kiko’s, re-opened its doors to the public after being closed for many years then closed once again in 2015.
Novelist Jack Vance, in the ‘Demon Princes’ cycle has named the capital of Aloysius, the main planet in the Vega system after Pontefract. The hero of the series, Kirth Gersen, has his residence there.
Ridings FM is the town’s local commercial radio station, Launched in October 1999, Ridings FM can be heard across Pontefract on 106.8 FM. The station serves the wider Wakefield District. The station has a close relationship with the community and is actively involved in local charities fundraising efforts.
Governance
For local government purposes the town lies in the City of Wakefield, coming under the governance of Wakefield Council. For this purpose it is divided into two electoral wards, Pontefract North and Pontefract South.
Pontefract South is currently represented by three Labour councillors with North ward represented by three Labour councillors [as of September 2015].
South ward is a marginal ward, containing relatively affluent suburbs of Pontefract and outlying villages such as Darrington, combined with less wealthy areas such as Chequerfield, whilst North Ward includes parts of Monkhill, Ladybalk and Myson Chair.