Shay campaigners engage legal teams to fight Halifax stadium sale decision
Calderdale Council has agreed to sell to Huddersfield Giants rugby league owner Ken Davy
Hello and welcome to the Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’ve all had a good week so far and are not getting too depressed by the political wranglings nationally and locally.
In today’s edition, we’ve got the latest in the sage of the Shay Stadium sale with campaigners now engaging a legal team to fight Calderdale Council’s decision to flog it. Full details are below.
Plus, there’s a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
📃 More complaints were made about Calderdale councillors under the councillors’ code of conduct last year than in the previous two.
However, the totals for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 are all in single figures, a Freedom of Information request has shown..
In 2023, there were two complaints made under the Code of Conduct, of which one was dismissed at initial assessment, while the other complaint was subject to an informal resolution.
A single complaint made under the code in 2024 was also subject to an informal resolution, according to the data released by the council.
In 2025, there were eight complaints made under the code.
Of these, six were dismissed at initial assessment, while a further two were subject to an informal resolution, the data shows.
In all three years, none of the complaints made under the Code of Conduct were subject to a formal investigation and/or a hearing and subject to sanctions.
Calderdale Council has its own “Code of Conduct for Members”, which is based on the Local Government Association’s Model Councillor Code of Conduct 2020, which applies to all councillors and co‑opted members whenever they are acting in their official capacity.
The code’s purpose is to assist councillors in modelling expected behaviour, provide a personal check and balance, and set out conduct that could lead to action being taken – it explicitly aims to protect councillors, the public, officers and the reputation of local government, according to the council.
🦹🏻♂️ A hard-hitting series of videos highlighting the human impact of cyber crime has been launched by specialist officers in West Yorkshire to help businesses protect themselves against this continued threat.
The Cyber Talking Heads Trilogy highlights three real-life accounts from people at organisations that were the victims of cyber crime and the toll it took on them.
The series has been created by officers from West Yorkshire Police’s Cyber Crime Team as part of its ongoing work to warn of the dangers and raise awareness of what organisations can do to guard against cyber crime.
The professionally produced videos hit home the devastating effects of being targeted by cyber criminals, and encourage businesses and organisations to arm themselves with the knowledge and training needed to help prevent them from falling victim.
The videos, which were showcased and shared at the recent CYBERUK 2026 national conference, focus on the first-hand experiences of a manufacturing company affected by a cyber incident; a victim personal statement that was read out in court, after the perpetrator was found guilty; and a school navigating the impact of being targeted.
Detective Sergeant Lindsey Brants, of the Cyber Crime Team, said: “Too often, the human aspect of cyber crime is not recognised or accounted for. It can be seen as a victimless crime and something a seemingly faceless business or organisation can simply take the hit over, with systems fixed and financial losses absorbed.
“We know from our experience of investigating these offences and working with victims, that behind every business or organisation is a human being – someone who has to hold everything together, managing the impact at work while often carrying those additional pressures into their personal lives too.
Legal experts sign on for Shay Stadium fight
By John Greenwood
Campaigners fighting to stop their borough’s major sports stadium from being sold have announced they have now engaged legal teams to challenge Calderdale Council’s decision.
Two years ago the council confirmed a budget decision to dispose of The Shay Stadium – home to Halifax’s professional clubs, football’s FC Halifax Town and rugby league’s Halifax Panthers.
Talks were held with the clubs but after these proved inconclusive and in late 2024 a proposed deal to sell the Shay estate to Huddersfield Giants rugby league club owner Ken Davy became the front runner.
Campaign group Friends of the Shay was formed to challenge the decision to sell and processes, including legally, through Judicial Review.
In May’s elections the political make up of the council has changed, and Reform UK, who have been critical of the disposal and consultation process, have taken control of Calderdale from Labour.
The group may take a different position on The Shay issue, but the campaigners are still readying for a legal contest and with the help of fundraising have announced they have a team in place.
Friends of the Shay explained on their Substack page: “Thanks to your incredible generosity, Friends of the Shay – now operating through The Shay Community Stadium Ltd – has formally engaged Richard Buxton Solicitors, one of the UK’s most respected firms specializing in environmental, planning and public law.
“They will be supported by Six Pump Court, a Chambers ranked as Band 1 in the leading UK directories and recognised nationally and internationally for its expertise in planning law, environmental law and public law.”
The Friends say they have chosen the teams because they are recognised leaders in the area of Judicial Review, acting for community groups, campaigns and individuals across the country, challenging public authority decisions.
“With this legal team now on board, we can move from general objections to a focused, legally‑privileged strategy,” they say, including a review of all evidence and identifying the strongest legal grounds for Judicial Review.
The Friends are still encouraging supporters of the campaign to help financially if they can.
“Engaging a Band 1 Chambers and a leading public law firm does not come cheap.
“A substantial donation got us started, but we now need to fund the next stage of active case preparation,” they explain.
“Every pledge, large or small, brings us closer to a full Judicial Review,” they say, adding they welcome other fundraising ideas which can be suggested using that website page.
“Let’s save The Shay – legally, fairly, and together,” comments the group.
If a council sale to Mr Davy is successful, all three clubs can share the ground – Mr Davy wants to use The Shay as a home for Panthers until he can identify land and build a purpose-built stadium for his team in Kirklees.
Opponents of the sale are worried what would happen if Mr Davy decided to sell further down the line.
A link where people can support the crowdfunding is available at the Friends’ Substack page here.
That’s it for this edition, thanks for reading.
I’m away in Germany this weekend doing my best to strengthen UK-EU relations by visiting Dusseldorf and the old town dubbed ‘Europe’s longest bar’!
So, I’ll be back next Wednesday with another edition.
Until then, enjoy your week!
Andrew