The annual Council meeting in May saw John Birdsall elected as Chair for the ensuing year and Tony Weatherby as Vice Chair.  Much of this meeting is devoted to electing Councillors to serve on the many bodies on which the Parish Council has representation.  These include Public Rights of Way Forum, Historic Buildings Trust and the Rural Transport Partnership.

June 2006

Geoff Hirst from Kirklees Leisure Services gave the Council an update on the ongoing saga of the Cumberworth Road allotments Skelmanthorpe.  He said that Bovis Homes had indicated that they were under no obligation to provide sheds and greenhouses on the new allotment site at Windmill Crescent.  The Council resolved to support Kirklees MC in pursuing this provision as promised by Yorkshire Land in their original planning application.  It is hoped that this matter can soon be resolved and that the promise to have the new site available for the 5 August become a reality.

In April the Council received a letter and petition from Ward Councillors concerning the provision of a car park on the lower section of the ‘Rec’ adjacent to the Chartist in Skelmanthorpe.  Having considered the Cabinet report on this it was resolved that Council had concerns over road safety and wished to preserve green land within the village.

A letter was received from pupils at Birdsedge First School asking if the Council could assist in having the public playground adjacent to the school improved.  At the June Finance and General Purposes meeting it was resolved to make £3500 available and to contact Kirklees Leisure Services with a view to seeking match funding

July 2006

In June the Council contacted Metro and the Yorkshire Assembly with regard to poor bus and train connections at Denby Dale Railway Station.  As a result of a positive response from the Yorkshire Assembly in July the Council have supplied Metro with further information and are hopeful that improvements can be achieved.

Prior to the meeting, a site visit was held with Chris Platts and Liz Twitchett of Kirklees Highways to consider safety issues around The Grove road junction Skelmanthorpe.  After consideration of a number of possible schemes including mini roundabouts and traffic lights (which National statistics indicate would increase the number of accidents) the Council resolved to support a low key approach.  This would include the obliteration of 2 parking bays adjacent to The Grove to improve visibility, possible removal of the bus stop opposite Cumberworth Road, parking restrictions in Huddersfield Road adjacent to the triangle and no exit from Radcliffe Street onto Huddersfield Road.  Investigations would also be made concerning the possibility of making Elm Street one-way down.

Concerns regarding public safety were expressed over the layout of pavements at the junction of Warburton/Upper Lane Emley. It was resolved to write to Highways suggesting extending the said pavement.

As part of The Local Development Framework Consultation The Council have resolved that option A is the most suitable option for this area and that option E would lead to the destruction of the character of the area and take away village identities.  The Council agreed that brown field land should be developed first and that no green belt land should be developed.

Back in June three Councillors visited Birdsedge First School to help out with a Democracy Day they were holding.

With the help of David Freeland from the Elections Office and some genuine props including ballot box, a mock election was staged.  The school selected three candidates in advance so that ballot papers could be printed.  The three candidates were able to make a short election speech before votes were cast and a new Mayor for Birdsedge, Caleb Wright, was duly elected.

DENBY DALE PARISH COUNCILLORS 2003 – 2007

For more information about the council and other local matters visit the Denby Dale Parish website at:

http://www.denbydale.com

Dates for your Diary

Sat  5 Aug                    Emley Show

Tues 29 Aug                 Planning Meeting              7.30pm

Tues 5 Sept                  Parish Council Meeting    7.00pm  

Tues 26 Sept                Planning Meeting               7.30pm

Tues 3 Oct                    Parish Council Meeting       7.00pm