LOCAL NEWS & ARCHIVE

Green Party challenges use of green belt and green field land for new housing

Kirklees Local Development Framework Consultation

Kirklees Green Party has issued a 5-point plan to reduce the pressure on the green belt and green field land in response to Kirklees Council's Local Development Framework (LDF) consultations which closed on April 17.

"This plan is central to debating the way we live, the way we work and the way we travel," said Cllr Andrew Cooper, Green Party leader on Kirklees Council. "In planning for the future we need to question the 'business as usual' approach or we will fail to ensure Kirklees is a good place to live and work. We need to continue the consultations. We need a real debate about now we prepare for the transition to a low carbon future".

In its objections to the LDF, Kirklees Green Party questioned why large amounts of green belt and green field land are required. Its key proposals are:
o       Adoption of a more radical employment and training policy aimed at creating a vibrant low carbon economy with more emphasis on local jobs to reduce the level of outward commuting.
o       Adoption of three standards for housing densities with higher levels in central areas of towns and inner urban areas
o       More innovative transport and traffic solutions including changes in parking standards to support higher density housing, support for car sharing clubs and the adoption of a low emission area in the Leeds Road Economic Zone
o       Stronger support for use of rail over the lifetime of the plan including improvements to passenger access to stations, bike and car parking at selected stations, and more acknowledgement of development opportunities in rail corridors, particularly following the tram-train trials on the Penistone Line
o       Retention of green belt and green field land for growing food by developing community supported agriculture, smallholding and more land for allotments close to residential areas.

In its submission, the Green Party also challenged the government's insistence that Kirklees should identify land to build more than 37,000 new homes and criticised the inadequacy of the consultation process for a plan that will last for at least a decade.

"We need a new look at the assumptions made in drawing up the land use plans for the next decade" said Chas Ball, Kirklees Green Party transport spokesperson. "To prepare for a low carbon economy we need to innovate and adapt to new requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008 and the expectations of higher energy costs.

“"The Consultants’ reports that form the basis of the draft plans for open spaces, employment and the retail survey appear to be asking the wrong questions or are already out of date.

“This plan is short of ideas on new approaches to employment. We need to build our future on the reality of high energy prices and recognise that local jobs and local food will help us become more resilient. We already have local companies and organisations that show what can be done in the knowledge economy, in sustainable building and renewable energy and we need to build on this.”

For a copy of the full submission e-mail chas.ball@metronet.co.uk

17 April 2009

Greens support the campaign for Denby Dale Nursery School

“Parents and governors of Denby Dale Nursery School put a good case to Kirklees Cabinet last week.  With the children's interests at heart they are fighting to stop their school being privatised and the educational element of nursery education lost to future generations”, said Adrian Cruden, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Dewsbury and a member of Kirkburton Parish Council.
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“It is a pity that it will take five months to undertake a review. Local parents need confidence that this excellent nursery school, which sits at the heart of the community, has a long-term future”.

“What sort of pre-school service do we want for our children?” asked Adrian Cruden. “With teachers' unions reporting that too many children are arriving in schools without adequate preparation, surely this is not the right time to reduce quality pre-school services,”

The move to reduce nursery schools from integrated childcare and education to a voluntary or private setting - which will only provide daycare – has worrying implications for other local nurseries. “If this loss of education provision happens in Denby Dale will it affect the other nursery schools, Flatts in Dewsbury and Thornton Lodge in Huddersfield next?” he asked.

Kirklees Council’s recent decision to admit children in a single intake in the September prior to their fifth birthdays will lead to children starting school even earlier. This will also create additional problems for both nursery and reception classes.
 
“Children will be taken out of nurseries earlier than at present, and some of the younger children could now be entering school just days after their 4th birthday”, said Adrian Cruden. “Many young children will be deprived of opportunities to fully develop those firm foundations for learning which are frequently established in a pre-school setting. Surely this can only add to the workload of reception class teachers?”

 “The people of Denby Dale and surrounding villages, fighting this move to restrict educational choice, might need reminding where this initiative started”, concluded Adrian Cruden. Although the final decision on the changes will be made by the new Labour – Lib Dem cabinet, they were originally an initiative of the previous Conservative administration.

“Now what counts is making sure the defence of quality nursery education in Denby Dale is successful.”

17 April 2009

Greens call for Town Centre Play area

Kirklees Green Party Councillors have called for a children's play area in Huddersfield Town Centre.

The Macaulay Street area outside the bus station was upgraded with new paving and seating just a few years ago.

"This area was improved at great expense but is still underused and remains just a little used thoroughfare which people simply pass through on their way to and from the Bus Station" said Councillor Andrew Cooper

"We want the Town Centre to become a more family friendly environment, where people can enjoy quality time with their children while doing essential other business in town.  There are so many demands on people's time, and we could do more to ease their pressures" said Councillor Julie Stewart-Turner

"Our proposal would see a fenced off area with slides, swings and a variety of play equipment helping to bring this useful space in Huddersfield to life. Town Centres are about a lot more than simply shopping we want them to be a place which provides facilities for all ages" said Councillor Andrew Cooper.

February 2009

Huddersfield  - the town with no name

Huddersfield Green Party Councillor Andrew Cooper has called for 'Welcome to Huddersfield' at the boundaries of the town.

"If you are entering  Batley or Dewsbury there are signs letting you know but for Huddersfield we have to make do with a 'Kirklees' sign. We are effectively the Town with no name. People who are not from the area could have little idea that they are in our area. I don't believe that 'Kirklees' and 'Huddersfield' are at all interchangeable. Huddersfield has a heritage going back hundreds of years while Kirklees is an artifcial contruct created in 1974. If we have pride in our town it seems a basic thing to let people know when they are entering it."

Councillor Cooper wiil be seeking all party support for this proposal, " We have a change in administration now with more of the Councillors on the Cabinet from the Huddersfield area. So there is an opportunity to look at this matter afresh."

02 Feb 2009

Greens calls for a free nationwide insulation scheme

Following Gordon Brown's announcement of limited funding for additional insulation measures, the Green Party has called for a nationwide free insulation scheme for all householders.

Councillor Andrew Cooper, Leader of the Greens on Kirklees Council, said: "Such a scheme would save the nation millions of pounds off fuel bills, save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide and create thousands of new jobs.

"It is significant that only Kirklees has such a scheme that delivers free insulation without means testing - the result of Green Party budget proposals that were passed by the Council in February 2007. No other Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem Council has yet backed such a scheme. It is significant that Conservative Leader David Cameron, who talks a lot about environmental issues, does not back a free insulation scheme for the whole of the UK.

"We know in Huddersfield that it is not so much "vote Blue and get Green" as the Conservatives claim, but "vote blue and get pink Chinese granite" said Councillor Cooper

The independent Green Alliance - a pressure group supported by a range of environmental organisations (including CPRE, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the National Trust, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust and WWF) said of the Conservative environmental polices in a report published last week that "despite the rhetoric, the Conservatives have failed to identify the environment as a future Conservative priority". The Alliance showed that a third of Tory MPs still questioned whether climate change was actually happening despite overwhelming scientific evidence.

Councillor Cooper called on local Conservatives to "stop taking credit for Green Party proposals and get to work within their own party, now the biggest party in local government, to tackle the climate sceptics in their own party. They are in a position to ensure free insulation is made available to everyone - not just in places where the Green Party has a strong presence."

September 2008

Renewable Energy for your Home

In 2007 Green Party councillors on Kirklees Council proposed a revolutionary new scheme to provide financial support to allow people in the borough to install renewable energy schemes in their homes with the loan being guaranteed by the value of the property. This scheme is soon to be launched - so how will it work?

There will be no up front costs so the benefits of solar panels and other clean energy technology can be realised without having to pay monthly repayments or interest charges. The loan is guranteed by raising a charge on the property so householders will be able to pay off the loan when the property is sold.

So, as energy prices continue to rise, so will the value of the renewable energy generated. It is also anticipated that by making the property more energy efficient, its value will also improve  

Called " RE-Charge" the scheme was launched by Kirklees Council in late summer 2008. For more details contact Kirklees Environment Unit on 01484 223618.

Plan for council support for axed Post Offices needed - Green Party leader

Green Party councillors are pushing for the council to provide support and assistance to keep some of the recently axed Post Office branches operating within the community, says Green Party Council leader, Cllr Andrew Cooper.

"We knew the Post Office Ltd consultation was a sham but, like many others, I was very angry when the closures were confirmed", said Cllr. Cooper. "I am angry on behalf of everyone who campaigned so hard, the customers who will lose their local post offices and the postmasters/mistresses and staff who will lose their livelihoods and jobs."

He suggested that there is another very immediate threat looming. A government decision is due before Christmas which could privatise the successor to the Post Office Card Account (POCA). It is used by four million people nationally as a way of receiving benefits and pensions and earns the Post Office £200 million each year. House of Commons Early Day Motion 1506 was tabled on May 7 and has been signed by 258 MPs.

The motion "recognises that the Post Office is best placed to provide this service because of its unrivalled geographical reach, its status as a trusted brand" and it "believes that retaining the successor of the POCA as a Post Office product is essential to the viability of the Post Office network". To date no MP representing the Huddersfield area has signed the Early Day Motion.

Cllr Cooper added: " It is important that Barry Sheerman, Shahid Malik and Kali Mountford sign this motion now and send a clear message to the government. They all know how important Card Accounts are to the future of the branch network. Without them there won't be a network".

November 2008

Labour slated over planned Post Office closures

Responding to the plan to close nine local Post Offices in Huddersfield and the Colne Valley, Green Party Councillor Andrew Cooper questioned Labour's commitment to seriously oppose closures in Huddersfield.

"In the Newsome Ward over the last few years under Labour's privatisation of the Post Office we have seen closures of Berry Brow, Lowerhouses, Taylor Hill and Primrose Hill Post Offices. One of the rather meagre justifications they made for closing Taylor Hill and Berry Brow at the time was due to the proximity of Lockwood Post Office to many people in the area. Now that is to close.

"Labour politicians talk of the financial support local Post Offices have received as 'a subsidy' when in fact it as about the provision of a service and is an investment in local facilities and services. It is ironic indeed that the party which used to claim to represent those on lower incomes now supports a policy which will see people on low incomes travelling further to get benefits and local services. This policy will also affect the viability of a number of businesses which partially depend on their role as post offices.

"Of course people will have to travel further to use post office services and pick up official forms etc at a time when travel and fuel prices are rising. Ultimately with less facilities available in the community this is going to be yet another contributor, of many, to climate change.

"Barry Sheerman MP says Labour may campaign locally to save individual post offices. This is rather reminiscent of his campaign to help those people who were being overcharged by a private company when their ground rents were sold off by Kirklees. In that case the Labour Council caused the problem by selling off the ground rents in the first place and in this case the Labour Government has caused the problem through its support for Post Office privatisation. A Labour campaign to save any Post Office in Kirklees will seem at best a cynical move and will most likely be viewed with the contempt it deserves."

He suggested that Barry Sheerman and the Labour Party do not need to campaign or collect petition signatures in Huddersfield to save Post Offices. Rather they need to do it in Westminister where, as the governing party, they will supposedly have more influence than the rest of us. A campaign by Labour to save Post Offices in Huddersfield should be viewed as at least as much of a sham as the consultation exercise being conducted over their closure.

August 2008

Green Party cash for road safety offers hope to Farnley Tyas

A successful bid by Green Party Councillors on Kirklees Council could see much safer roads in a village prone to speeding traffic.

The small village of Farnley Tyas is also used as a short cut through to Huddersfield by people taking country roads and dropping down to town via Newsome and Lowerhouses. Concern in Farnley Tyas regarding traffic speeds has heightened following a number of collisions with a wall at a dangerous bend at Butts Road. There is a local Junior School also sitedin the centre of the village causing concern for the road safety of local children.

Councillor Derek Hardcastle said, "We have long been concerned that under Kirklees Council Policy the only way to get funding prioritised for road safety was to wait for someone to killed or injured. This never made any sense at all".

The funding passed at a recent Kirklees Cabinet meeting highlighted a number of schemes including a road safety scheme for Farnley Tyas in the 2009/10 financial year.

Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson said, "What we really want to see is a 20mph zone through the village centre. These have proved to be successful in other areas and the low speed limit makes it clear that people are entering a village centre where extra care is required".

Parish Councillor Robert Barraclough added, "Only a mile from Farnley Tyas we have the student village at Storthes Hall with hundreds of young drivers making their way to town through Farnley Tyas. We need to impress upon them that speeds need to be reduced in small country villages like ours, "Only a mile from Farnley Tyas we have the student village at Storthes Hall with young drivers making their way to town through the Village.. We need to make them aware that speeds need to be reduced in small country villages like ours."

Town First calls for an open debate on the future of the town centre

Town First, the campaign group opposed to the proposed new Tesco developments, has called for an ‘open, democratic debate’ on the future of the town centre.
Chair of Town First, Tony Coletta said:  “We want to ensure that a town hall public meeting is arranged to encourage open democratic debate on Tesco’s development plans, when they are published, on how they will affect the future plans for our town. We have heard from Cllr. Robert Light that Kirklees Council does not wish to arrange such a debate. We will therefore set about arranging this ourselves, with other organisations.”
Town First said that, contrary to press reports, they have received no invitation to meet Tesco (Huddersfield Examiner, Thursday 2nd October 'Tesco is happy to talk').

Tesco Challenged on 620 Jobs Claim....

Responding to recent claims by Tesco that 620 jobs will be created as a result of their proposed Town Centre developments (lead story, Huddersfield Examiner, May 29), Cllr Graham Simpson said, "Before we cheer too loudly we need to take a balanced view with job losses considered too. To offset the promise of new jobs we should try to predict areas where job losses seem inevitable."

He suggested that some losses will take place in other food retailers, with a knock on effect in specialist shops such as fruit and vegetables, butchers, fishmongers and bakers. With the new Tesco planning an expanded range of merchandise, he suggested newsagents, florists, electrical and clothing stores should be added to this list - as well as people that smaller shops employ like shop fitters, trades people and business services.

"To complete the picture", said Cllr Simpson, "We should add that supermarkets employ fewer staff as a proportion of sales than independent grocers and specialist retailers. One key reason why Tesco is spectacularly successful for its investors is its ability to make profits by doing more business with relatively fewer people per £ of turnover. Overall there is a danger of a net loss of jobs and choice, as well as the profits going out of town."

For the Latest News on Town First - campaigning for a diverse, vibrant town centre click here

 Planned Tesco Development will add to Pollution and Congestion on Leeds Road

 “Planned retail developments will add to traffic growth and increase air pollution in Leeds Road, which is already at high levels.” said Terry Wilson, Chair of the Leeds Road Action Group, speaking at the launch of Huddersfield Climate Action Network on Saturday 10 May 2008. He suggested that Kirklees Council was “not really concerned about the health impacts on people living with increasing traffic levels”. He said that Leeds Road was one of the most polluted roads in the region.

Reviewing Tesco's transport and parking plans, Chas Ball (Kirklees Green Party) suggested that “current proposals conflict with moving towards a low carbon transport system”.

He added: “The transport sector is a major source of climate change emissions. With Yorkshire & Humber region recording higher levels of traffic growth in recent years than other English regions, we first need to hear what plans Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Metro have to counter this traffic growth before giving planning approval to major new traffic generators.”

"Increased traffic congestion will also have a knock-on effect on the efficient working of the town's economy - which may affect jobs in the longer term.

"Tesco's promotions says it wants to "bring more people into town" but how will the additional traffic be accommodated? What sort of delays will be experienced at peak times? For example on Fridays and Saturdays, when shopping coincides with peak commuting, school-related traffic and sports events there will be a lot of competition for road space.

"Let us have the "demand management" initiatives Kirklees Council are committed to in principle, like park and ride, spelt out before the planning application is submitted. Until supermarkets - or their customers - pay something for parking there will be an inevitable disadvantage for town centre businesses. If 900 customers park free in Leeds Road for 2 hours, how many will struggle across 6 lanes of traffic with bags full of shopping from specialist shops in town?

"The feedback we are getting when people sign the petition against Tesco's proposals in their present form is that many do not share the assumption that a large new Tesco's will be so good for the town. An independent environmental and economic impact study is needed prior to considering a planning application". 

Green Party condemns Conservatives Kirkburton housebuilding plans

Plans by Kirklees Councils Conservative Administration to build houses, rather than allotments, on land that it owns has been condemned by the Green Party

Green Party Councillor Derek Hardcastle said, " We had been searching for some land for local people in Kirkburton that could be used as allotments to help people grow their own food. There was we felt an ideal piece of land between Hallas Road and Turnshaw Road below the playing fields."

Finance to establish new allotment sites around Kirklees with fencing and water supplies had been secured by the Green Party in the recent budget round but establishing a site in the Kirkburton Village, which has no allotments at all, has been difficult.

Derek Hardcastle said, "When we have repeatedly asked Kirklees Officers about this Kirklees owned they tell us it is earmarked 'for development'. We have also met a brick wall with the Local Conservative Councillors who say "there is nothing we can do". This is simply not acceptable. Either they are running the Council or they are not. I have heard local Conservatives speak often about the need to preserve land from housing development but when it comes to greenfield land, that the Council actually owns they would rather sell it to a private housing developer than allow people to produce their own food locally. This smacks of hypocrisy in the extreme and brings into question their green credentials."

Green Party Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson said, "Local people have in the past produced petitions and made representations to Kirklees Council requesting allotments on this site but have been ignored. There are real benefits to peoples health and well being from working on local allotments as a way of keeping active and giving them the satisfaction of being able to eat something they have grown themselves from seed. Kirklees should be seeking to enable people to have allotments not putting barriers in their way particularly at a time of ever rising food prices."

November 2008

Left to rack and ruin - Conservative neglect of former special school slammed

The former Turnshaws Special School in Kirkburton has fallen into disrepair and neglect following its closure. Dozens of windows have been smashed and entry has been gained by youths on a number of occasions. “There needs to be a plan for the future of the Turnshaws site”, said the Green Party’s Derek Hardcastle following an inspection of the former school that he made recently with Green Party Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson, “ the place has being used a drinking den and there is graffiti scrawled all over the old classrooms. It is a sad sight to see a place that once provided education and support to some of those in the greatest need fall into such a poor state.”

The Green Party is concerned that the buildings are being left to deteriorate to make it easier for the Conservative led Kirklees Council to sell the site off for housing development purposes.

" When we have asked about the site Kirklees have told us it is being held as possible site for development. When we have taken the matter up with local Conservatives they say there is nothing they can do about it as it is "out of their hands". They seem to forget that it is their Party that are in charge of the Council."

Kirkburton Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson said: “We need to bring this site back into use to provide a useful service for the community. What do we not want is simply demolishing to build a huge housing estate bringing more traffic onto a road with an already difficult access. In light of the new 14-19 diplomas, where students can study from a range of exciting subjects in new innovative and creative ways. An interesting use for the school would be to turn it into a Business and Innovation centre, with small business units and a conference and training facillity which could be used to provide training and work placements for students studying the diploma. The centre could be an outreach of Kirklees College, provide evening training courses - much needed in the South Kirklees area. This would bring jobs and investment to the area, instead of more commuter corridor housing.

Councillor Derek Hardcastle said, “We really want the Conservative Councillors for Kirkburton to come clean about what their plans are for the former Turnshaws School site. Their party is in control of the Council and they can’t keep ducking the issue.”

Greens call for improvements to Shepley school road

“Urgent” – this is what the users of a small patch of unmade road in Shepley said in a petition to get it tarmacced. The petition signed by 60 members of the bowling and croquet club, supported by the Head of Shepley First School was presented to Kirkburton Area Committee, in September By Green Party Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson. The Conservative Councillors on the Area Committee had previously turned it down on the basis “If we tarmac one unadopted road, we will have to tarmac them all!”.

Michelle Atkinson has pointed out that this is not just any unadopted road, " It is a road that is in daily use not just a route for cars but for cyclists and parents with young children and pushchairs".

The road on Lea Head, Shepley was partially tarmacced a number of years ago by the builder of 2 new houses, who failed to tarmac up to the large car park serving the tennis, bowling, croquet and football clubs, Shepley First School and Preschool. Some 120 people use the road everyday, and complain about the state of the huge potholes which are damaging vehicles, and causing problems for the 2 residents whose houses border the road.

"We of course have to recognise that people through voluntary effort attempt to fill in potholes with temporary measures such as putting road planings in the potholes. Residents have however complained about the planings from the road, washing into their drains and blocking them, in times of heavy rain. This has on occasion caused sewage to come up and represents a public health hazard".

Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson was asked by the bowling club to take up this issue and supports the campaign, and says “This road is clearly used by many members of the community both in Shepley and beyond. The Council should have insisted the whole road being tarmacced by the builders of the new homes when they were constructed. However they failed to do so and it is now causing problems to many people. It is even in Shepley First School’s Travel Plan to improve the road access and should be made a priority”

Parents also have issues with the lack of a path from the Car Park to the school, as mothers etc have to push prams and walk through muddy field to get to school. The Car Park on Lead Head is essential in reducing congestion on Firth Street. An application for further development was reported in the Examiner on Saturday, and if it goes ahead will increase the congestion problems, making the improvements on Lead Head even more of a priority.

The campaign continues and Michelle will be pressing for action. For more information: contacts Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson (07917 571862) or Kirklees Councillor Derek Hardcastle (07779 628147)

New Green scheme to provide free water butts for householders

Kirklees Green Party councillors launched a pilot scheme to provide over 900 households with free water butts. The scheme builds on the success of a scheme introduced by Kirkburton Parish Council earlier this year.

"We want to follow on from the Green Party's free insulation scheme with more ways to help people live a greener lifestyle" said Councillor Andrew Cooper.

"One thing people have not been short of this summer is rain and with it this puts additional strain on our drainage systems. One Water Butt could stop 200 litres of water going into the drainage system our scheme could reduce the amount going down the drain by 180,000 litres. With all the increasing number of new houses and buildings we have locally less and less land is available for rainwater to soak into hence some of the flash flooding we have experienced both here and across the country. This coupled with increasing rainfall due to climate change means investing in schemes such as this can contribute to reducing the risk of flood damage. "

The Green Party has ambitions to significantly scale up this scheme to all Kirklees households and will be proposing an additional million litres of rainwater capture installed within the next 18 months through water butts and rainwater harvesting from Council buildings.

Kirkburton Parish Councillor Michelle Atkinson who initiated the scheme said: " We were overwhelmed by the positive response from people in the Kirkburton Parish to our scheme and recognised it had huge potential.

"We have found that there are some real social benefits to the scheme with many elderly and disabled householders having a ready source of water in their gardens without having to go in and out of the house to fill watering cans. For householders with water meters this will enable them to save money off their water bills"

September 2008

Saving Newsome Mills

In 2006 Newsome Mill was sold to a developer called Royalle Estates.  Planning permission was granted to convert the mill and a section of weaving sheds into apartments, and to build new houses and flats behind the mill.  However, in Autumn 2007 the developers changed their minds due to the falling demand for luxury apartments and said they wished to demolish the mill.  In November 2007, Newsome Ward Community Forum members began a campaign to protect this local landmark, and were supported in the campaign by the 3 local Green Party Councillors.  The mill is an important part of Newsome’s heritage. Read the story of its listing and the battle to save it from fly-tipping and theft.

02 July 08 Read More in Newsome Pages

Kirkburton Parish Council leads on renewable energy

In addition to winning a Brtish Renewable Energy Award (see photo story, right column this page), Kirkburton Parish Council has made the short-list of the Big Green Challenge - a prize fund run by NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).

A resolution successfully moved by Green councillors at the Council in October 2007 started the process by making use of new powers for Parish Councils to promote renewable energy.

If successful in securing a share of the £1million prize money from the Big Green Challenge, the parish council would expand a scheme to make community building more energy efficient and be able to extend support to energy efficiency schemes from local residents.

Read More May 2008