Selby Totally Explained

Everything about Selby totally explained

Although much of the infrastructure of each remain both in and around Selby, both industries have long since been defunct. Present day, the main income for the area is derived from arable farming and as a commuter area for Leeds, Wakefield, and York.
For a time, Selby was the leading coal mining area in the UK and featured some of the most advanced mining technology in Europe. It was the first new mine in the UK for decades and seen as a rejoinder to widespread concern that the British mining industry was effectively shutting down, particularly following the defeat of the UK miners' strike (1984-1985).
Wistow Colliery, which was part of the Selby Complex, holds the UK record for coal mined in one week — 200,743 tonnes in 1995. The 110 square mile (285 km²) Selby Complex, employing 3,000 miners plus contractors and ancillary staff, closed on Friday 14 May 2004 despite rising demand for coal in the UK. UK Coal, the pits' owner, said closure was due to rising costs caused by deteriorating geological conditions and the falling price of coal. In its final years, the company listed a £30 million loss on the plant.

Trade and commerce

In recent years, Selby has seen the development of new shopping areas both in the town centre and on the outskirts. The Abbey Walk Shopping Centre was developed on recreational land that runs parallel to the town centre. The expansion not only increased the volume of town centre shops but also provided large scale, convenient parking for the town centre. In more recent years, the Three Lakes Retail Park has opened on the outskirts of town and continues to expand with more developments under construction. Two of the town's supermarkets, Tesco and Morrison's are both looking to expand their stores, the latter meaning the re-siting of the Abbey Primary School.

Landmarks

Selby Town Hall is regarded as being one of the best live venues in the area (as officially recognised by winning the Yorkshire Evening Post's Nightlife Award). Selby Town Council has been running this venue since 2003, with regular performances of music, dance, drama and comedy. Especially popular are the local band nights, that regularly draw big crowds, as does the annual Battle Of The Bands.

Transport

Selby is the transport hub for the Selby District and features a bus and railway station running routes to many place around the area. Train services run from Selby railway station run direct to London King's Cross, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, York and other destinations.

Buses

Arriva operate an extensive network of local and regional buses, linking Selby with York

, Leeds

, Goole

, Doncaster

and Pontefract/Wakefield

running at least every hour

Selby bypass

In July 2001 construction began on the Selby bypass having been authorised in 1993 for development. The bypass runs from the A19 at Barlby along the southern edge of Selby, connecting onto the A63 at Thorpe Willoughby. The project was delayed due to technical difficulties with the swing bridge over the River Ouse but was eventually completed in July 2004.

Technology

On 14 September, 2005, Selby District Council was conditionally granted outline planning permission for a state of the art science facility (External Link

) to be built on the site of Burn Gliding Club.

Floods

In recent years there have been serious flood problems in Selby and the adjoining village of Barlby. The threat in the Barlby area has been alleviated to some extent by work on improved flood barriers following the major flood of November 2000

Selby rail crash

The towns of Selby and Goole are negatively associated with the so-called Selby rail crash, which happened a few miles south of Selby at a village called Great Heck near the M62 motorway. On February 28, 2001, a vehicle crashed off the M62 down an embankment on to a railway track, where it was struck by an oncoming passenger train heading to London. The accident was then compounded by a second collision involving a goods train. Neither train was travelling to, from, or through Selby and the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident had no connection with Selby, but Selby is the closest major town to the accident site.

Hobson murders

Selby and its surrounding area came to national prominence once again through another tragedy on 18 July, 2004, this time through four exceptionally violent murders carried out by former binman Mark Hobson. Hobson, 34 at the time, killed his girlfriend Claire Sanderson, 27, and her twin sister Diane at a flat in the nearby village of Camblesforth. He subsequently murdered an elderly couple, James and Joan Britton, at their home in the village of Strensall, near York. Hobson was later sentenced to life imprisonment and the trial judge recommended that he should never be released. The High Court later agreed with this recommendation despite Hobson's appeal for them to take a different view. Hobson is one of only a tiny number of "whole life" prisoners who admitted to their crimes at the earliest opportunity.

Sports

Selby's major sporting team is Selby Town Football Club, playing in the Northern Counties East Premier Division and based at Flaxley Road Stadium. Selby Town will soon move to a new larger stadium which will be built on East Common Lane which will be situated next to Selby College, Tate & Lyle and Selby Bypass for improved access.
They recently lost the Otisdale Cup to higher league rivals Goole AFC. Rugby union club Selby RUFC and rugby league club Selby Warriors are based at Sandhill Lane Stadium.
Selby Cricket Club who share Sandhill Lane Stadium have four senior league teams, with the 1st and 2nd X1 playing in the York and District Senior League, the 1st X1 in Division 4 and the 2nd X1 in Division 5. Also the 3rd X1 play in Division 4 and 4th X1 play in Division 5 of the York Vale League. Also the team run two junior teams the under 11s and 15s which both play in the York and District Junior League and also an evening league team in the Howdenshire Evening League (West Division).

Twin towns

Selby is twinned with:

Noted people from Selby

Robert Aske, rebel leader, lawyer

Robert of Selby, courtier, chancellor of Sicily

Jack Byers, footballer

Henry I of England, king of England

Arthur Hinsley, Catholic cardinal, archbishop

Jonathan Hutchinson, surgeon, dermatologist

Woods Hutchinson, physician, writer

Thomas Johnson, botanist

John Sherwood, Olympic athlete

Steve Sherwood, footballer

James Stephenson, actor

Eden Taylor-Draper, actress

Smithson Tennant, chemist, discoverer Further Information

Get more info on 'Selby'.

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