Grange Moor Matters
Grange Moor Community Association
LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND THE VILLAGE
APRIL 2024
KIRKLEES COUNCIL ELECTIONS – 2 MAY 2024
With Local Council Elections coming up in May, a reminder that voters will need ID when voting at Polling Stations in person
COFFEE MORNING FOR FORGET ME NOT CHILDRENS HOSPICE
THURSDAY 11 APRIL
Thanks to everyone came along and joined us for this, a great morning with lots of cake to eat and a great range raffle prizes
As already mentioned in a separate e-mail we had a great morning with lots of cake, lots of raffle prizes and raised a fabulous £280 for this wonderful charity. We are grateful for the fantastic support from residents with a very generous supply of cake, which much enjoyed by all present, with the staff and residents at Forget Me Not also able to enjoy after the event. Thanks also for a wonderful supply of raffle prizes, some of which produced a laugh during the draw. A really good morning, hope to see more of you when have another charity fund raising event, do you have any ideas of what else we could do to raise money for charity?
We have now updated the list of raffle prizes to include the prizes that arrived on the day and were not included on the original list, copy available on request
ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH
St Bartholomew's Church Grange Moor are looking for a cleaner for 2 hr a week (time/day to suit). Hourly rate is £11.79 per hour paid monthly by BACS. Please contact Cathy Howarth on 01484 531449 for more information.
St Bartholomew's Church on Liley Lane supports a food bank in Dalton. Members of the church bring tinned and other non-perishable food items, as well as toiletries like toothpaste, soap, shampoo, nappies and sanitary products, and we put them in an orange basket in church. When the basket is full, we take it to the food bank at the Greenfields Centre in Dalton. If you would like to contribute to the Greenfields Centre foodbank, you can take your items directly there (they are on Dalton Green Lane, just opposite the junction of Dalton Green Lane and Cross Green Road); their phone number is 01484 300970. Alternatively, you can bring your items to St Bartholomew's between 10am and 10.20am, or between 11.45am and 12 noon, every Sunday, and the Church will ensure that your gifts get to the food bank. Thank you.
NATURAL KIRKLEES
The following information has been supplied by Natural Kirklees and will be of interest to many of you with an interest in nature
The world needs you to log bees
Among many elements that make up our world, both bees and flowers have important parts to play. We can also lend a hand by helping the Royal Horticultural Society identify the flowers that most appeal to bumblebees. Details on how to take part in the recording of bumblebees on flowers across UK parks and gardens can be found here. The project runs until 31 May.
(Click on the image below)
KIRKLEES COUNCIL
Kirklees council set to make decision on kerbside glass collections
Costly kerbside collections had been set to resume in 2024
huddersfieldexaminer
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The Kirklees Council glass collection boxes that used to be commonly seen on the streets (Image: Reach plc)
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Kerbside glass collections don’t appear to be on the cards for Kirklees any time soon, as the council is set to extend its interim waste contract.
Back in 1998, the council entered into a 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement which was extended by two years in March 2023. Due to “uncertainty” around government policy, the local authority will be extending the contract for a further three years, subject to cabinet approval next week.
Kirklees Council bosses had previously said they wanted glass collections to resume by 2024 but a report to next week’s meeting suggests that they are unlikely to be brought in any time soon.
Instead of “costly” doorstep collections, the council is looking to increase the number of glass bottle banks. As well as glass, the local authority will have to provide a recycling collection service separating plastic, paper/card, metal and food waste, from every household and business it collects from.
It is anticipated that the government's requirement for separate food waste collections will come in from 2026.
Residents will have noticed that car park costs are increasing are increasing across Kirklees, the following article, extracted from the Examiner may be of interest
Consultation on controversial Kirklees parking fees to begin
It was previously expected to commence by the end of February
By
Abigail MarlowLocal Democracy Reporter 11 APR 2024
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Lidget Street Car Park.
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After weeks of uncertainty, Kirklees Council has confirmed that residents can have their say on plans to scrap free parking in towns and villages from today (April 11).
A review of parking tariffs across all Kirklees’ council-operated off-street car parks and on-street parking bays got the green light from Cabinet in November last year as part of the council’s efforts to address a £47m deficit. Increased fees have already been brought in at Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Dewsbury, with the cost of all-day parking rising from £4 to £6.50 in Huddersfield town centre.
The next part of the plan would see charges brought in at all free council-run car parks across the borough’s towns and villages like Lindley, Honley, Meltham, Slaithwaite, Batley and Cleckheaton, but before this can go ahead, a period of public consultation must be carried out.
The plans have proved highly unpopular with Kirklees’ communities, with a 5,784 signature-strong petition against the fees being rolled out in Honley and Meltham presented by Cllr Charles Greaves (Independent, Holme Valley North), at a Cabinet meeting just yesterday (April 9).
The councillor pressed Cabinet for an answer on when the consultation would begin, particularly as it was expected by the end of February. However, no answer could be given as the relevant Cabinet Member - Cllr Aafaq Butt - was absent. The council has since confirmed that the process will begin imminently.
David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth & Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “On Thursday we will be launching a statutory consultation in the form of a Traffic Regulatory Order (TRO) with a 21-day feedback period for each of the 57 car parks across Kirklees that are currently free. Changes to how long drivers can park in some of these car parks are also part of the TRO change.
"At the start of the consultation, legal notices will be placed in the local press and affected car parks, and local councillors will also be notified as part of the process. We will then listen to all feedback and make a decision that is right for each area at a local level before submitting a report to Cabinet Committee Local Issues before proceeding with any changes.
"Free, timed on-street spaces across the borough will not be affected by the proposals, so there will still be free parking available for those wishing to visit our towns and villages.”
GRANGE MOOR MINIATURE MEMORIAL PARK
NEW IDEA – we spotted a post on Face Book suggesting that we might like to take up an idea of placing painted memorial stones around the Park. We had a look at this at the April Meeting and I am really pleased to let you know that we thought this was a good idea and will be taking this up over the summer. Please look out for further information on how we are going to do this, and if you are interested in providing a memory stone, please let us know.
MEMORIAL WALL – Unfortunately we are experiencing difficulty in sourcing the right piece of stone for this, hence the delay in setting this up. We are being helped out by a local quarry, but have not yet been able to find the right size and shape of stone for this memorial wall. Sorry for the delay, and we hope to bring you some more positive news shortly
This will be placed on your left as you enter the park by the two benches there
Residents will be able to have a plaque remembering a loved one, cost will be approximately £35 for a 130 x 75 mm (5” x 3”)
Please get in touch if you would like to place a plaque on the Memorial Wall, contact details at the end of this e-mail
WILDLIFE GARDEN – We now have plans in place to create the Wild Life Garden behind the fence in the Miniature Memorial Park. Offers of help to complete this will be appreciated, thanks to those residents who have already offered their help. The continuing rain has resulted in a delay in completing the first part of our plan, and we hope to bring you more news in the near future
OPENING EVENT – We are planning a formal opening ceremony for the Miniature Memorial Park on Sunday 23 June at 2.30 pm. We look forward to sharing this with residents, so please put the date in your diary now. Look out for more information coming soon, with strawberries and prosecco featuring as a mouth-watering attraction
KIRKBURTON MOBILE POST OFFICE
The Mobile Post Office Van will continue to visit Grange Moor every Wednesday morning between 11.00 to 12.00
Please continue to support this, a wide range of post office facilities are available from the friendly and helpful staff who come with the van. We are told that Grange Moor is one of the busiest locations for their Tuesday and Wednesday visits
There will be the odd occasions when for reasons outside of our control the van will not be able to come into the village. If we become aware of any such occasions we will try and let you know
BEDFORD AVENUE SHOP
As we have already reported, the Council have now decided to change the shop premises to living accommodation as there was no interest received for re-opening a retail unit in this location
We now await submission of plans for this but understand that this may not happen until April or May and as yet nothing has appeared on the Council Web Site
OUR GREAT LOCAL PUBS AND RESTUARANTS NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
The hospitality sector has suffered a big downturn in business since Covid with fewer people eating and drinking out (the need to regularly empty the recycling bins in the village being an example of the latter!) and the local pubs and restaurants are not exempt from this trend.
Please support our local pubs and restaurants and help to keep them going, more and more pubs are closing down, so please think about visiting one or more of our locals, USE THEM OR LOOSE THEM!
MIDDLESWTOWN MEDICAL CENTRE
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP
The Patient Participation Group (PPG) at Middlestown Medical Centre is Meeting again and is active in surgery life at Middlestown Medical Centre
The PPG is the representative voice for patients at the Surgery and works closely with the Practice and other surgeries in Wakefield NHS to look after the interests of patients. I am Vice Chair of the Group and am aware that the surgery has a large number of residents in Grange Moor registered as patients at Middlestown, if anyone has any issues concerning the Practice that they would like raising with the PPG please get in touch with me using my bdc01@btinternet.com e-mail address, telephone numbers the same as shown for the Community Association. (Brian Coleman)
The Practice now has a new web site up and running, do go and visit it and find out more about the Practice
There is now an NHS app available and copies are available on request
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Thank you for your support for our events and activities, we have more planned for the rest of the year, full details will appear on our monthly Events and Activities update
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – MONDAY 13 MAY
The Annual general Meeting of the Community Association will be held on Monday 13 May in The Bowling Club Pavilion at 7.00 pm
This is open to all residents and business in the village, why not come along and join us and find out more about what we do, and how you can get involved?
Coffee @ The Pavilion – come and join us on the third Wednesday of the month for coffee, conversation and company. Each month we have an invited guest joining us to share in our conversations and provide information and insight on a variety of topics, see our Events and Activities updates for more information.
Dianne Hughes (Funeral Celebrant and former Nurse) was our guest at the April Coffee Morning on Wednesday 17 April we got a fascinating insight her training and early experience as Nurse in the NHS in the sixties, a very different world from today, and gave us some experience of her role as a funeral celebrant
The May Coffee @ The Pavilion sees a new face joining us for the first time, Ian Stephenson from the Huddersfield & District Family History Society, come along and find out more about how to find out about your family history
COMMUNITY FISH & CHIPS Our next delivery is planned for Thursday 6 June and full details will be in the Events and Activities update which follows in a few days’ time
We completed the 30th Community Fish & Chip delivery on 18 April when we delivered 56 meals in 25 home deliveries, bringing our total deliveries for 2024 to 175 meals in 80 home deliveries
If anyone would like to make a donation to help support this fabulous project, please do get in touch. Our costs increased during 2023 and are likely to increase further over the coming year, so any help we can get to maintain these deliveries will be much appreciated
Grateful thanks to everyone who has donated in the past, your help is much appreciated
We are also really proud that this service appears to be unique to our village, as we are not aware of any other Community Group providing “Community Fish & Chips”!
The RESIDENTS LUNCH CLUB – The Resident’s Lunch Club are now looking forward to our next meal in June when we will be visiting Garda Italian Restaurant for an early evening meal (5.30pm), details of this will be coming out next month
We have further Lunch Club events planned
September – Afternoon Tea in The Church Hall
December – Christmas Lunch at The Kaye Arms
Not a Member of The Resident’s Lunch Club? Why not sign up and be among the first to know about our Plans and have priority booking for each meal, just drop us an e-mail - gramoorca@btinternet.com - to find out more and register. Lunch Club Membership numbers are now growing so don’t miss out on one of our lunches by not being registered as a Member
The Grange Moor Residents Lunch Club is primarily aimed at bringing residents, who are regularly around the village during the week, together over a shared meal as part of our programme of bringing people together
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS – Meetings are usually on the first Tuesday of the month in The Bowling Club Pavilion at 7.30 pm, but in April we have changed to the First Monday in the month for the Bowling Club Season. Except for April and May when both these dates fall on a Bank Holiday and we will Meet on the Second Monday in these months. Please see more detailed information in the Events and Activities update during the spring and summer months
LITTER & FLY TIPPING
We are aware of concerns of litter left around the village raised on the Community Face Book, although we have not received any direct concerns over this.
We want to thank individual residents who are helping to keep our streets clear of litter and would ask residents not to drop any litter, please take your litter home and put it in your own bin and help to keep our streets clean and free of litter
LET’S KEEP GRANGE MOOR CLEAN AND TIDY
We finished 2023 with just 8 reported incidents of fly tipping in and around the village, a big fall on the 2022 figures, and with a sense of relief that we had been spared a little last year
2024 has, however, already brought a number of fly tipping incidents, mainly in the fly tippers favourite spot, the lay bys on Wakefield Road
We have now had 5 reports this year, in less than three months
It appears that we will not be getting much help from the Council in prevention of these incidents in Grange Moor. We apparently “have relatively little problem” when compared to other areas of Kirklees and with reductions in staff and resources across Kirklees Council there are fewer staff to deal with this ever-increasing problem! Please, however, keep reporting these incidents so that we can at least try and get them cleared up as quickly as we can
PLEASE KEEP REPORTING ANY INCIDENTS OF FLY TIPPING THAT YOU SEE AROUND THE VILLAGE
BUS SERVICES TO MIDDLESTOWN
The service operated by South Pennine Community Transport has now been running for getting on for 2 years and as far as we are aware is providing the useful link to Middletown for the Doctors there, Horticentre and The Mining Museum
We have not had copies of the printed timetable from the bus company but have some printed copies extracted from their web site, if anyone would like a copy please get in touch
We will be really pleased to hear from any of you using this service of your experience, please get in touch
DENBY DALE CENTRE / TIMETOGETHER
A reminder to visit their web site (www.ddc.org.uk) and see what services are available, and what help and support may be there for you, or someone you may know
Please also remember that, the Transport Service offered by TIMEtogether is available to those of you who may need help with transport to reach appointments or go shopping, visit their web site for more information about this or ring them on 01484 860077
If anyone out there is able to offer their service as a Volunteer Driver for their Transport Service, please get in touch with them, they are looking for volunteers in our area to provide this service for our residents and those who live nearby. We understand from them that they have received some offers of help from local residents, so a big thank you to them
TIMEtogether is the operating name of The Denby Dale Centre to reflect the expansion of its activities to much of Kirklees and well beyond the original base area of Denby Dale.
BOOK BOXES on Ben Booth Lane
Thank you to everyone who has used and supported this, we will continue whilst there is demand and support from you, the Residents of Grange Moor. Please leave any books you wish to add to our collection in a plastic carrier bag by the boxes or against the gate at 2B Ben Booth Lane. In 2023 we received 109 bags of books, contents vary from just a couple of books to as many as 10 or 15 books, thanks to all concerned for their support. So far this year we have received 36 bags of books
In May 2024 we will complete 4 years of the Book Box, a really great achievement when you consider that this has been only been made possible by you the residents of Grange Moor (and we know there are some from further afield who also come and join in with this!) who keep on bringing new books and returning books that have been read. Many thanks for this
We have found that the books you mainly want to read are crime and historical novels, romance novels, children’s books and hard back novels, so please keep bringing them coming in. We are getting low on children’s books, if you could bear this in mind when clearing out your children’s book this will be much appreciated
In the last 4 years we have had one box taken by a Charity Collection, YES the box and all the books in the box were taken! Another was smashed into tiny pieces by a delivery van and the lids of several have now suffered from the weather and shattered and have had to be replaced
Consequently, we do not put the boxes out when a charity collection or bad weather is expected, and sadly we have had plenty of bad weather so far this winter, so sorry if anyone was disappointed by their absence on some days. We continue to experience to pretty poor days and have had to keep the boxes indoors, hope the weather improves as move into spring, so sorry to disappoint any you if were looking for a good book and found the boxes not there!
The boxes will stay out for the hours of day light and will now be staying out a bit later each week as the hours of daylight extends as we head back toward Spring and summer
FACE BOOK AND WEB SITE
Our own Face Book, and web site now carries information about all our events and activities, and other issues affecting the village together with Public Service Information, so please pay a visit and let us know what you think
You can also message us with information with your concerns about issues affecting our village through our Face Book page and also the web site
NEW RESIDENTS
We continue to welcome new residents into the village,
With house sales now slowing down and fewer houses up for sale there are fewer new residents moving in , please let us know when someone new moves in next door
We have prepared a welcome pack to help new residents settle into the village, and can deliver this to them. One of the things we do is offer an invite to take part in the next Community Fish & Chip delivery as a welcome to our village)
ANTI -SOCIAL BEHEAVOUR
We have not received any further reports this month
KIRKLEES COUNCIL
KIRKLEES COUNCIL CUT BACKS AND REDUCTION OF SERVICES
We are now starting to see changes in the levels of service that the Council is able to provide, and expect this to be norm for this year and the coming years.
FLOODING – we have received no further reports or updates on the flooding situation around the village. A blocked drain on Briestfield Road causing water to flow down Bedford Avenue has been reported
POT HOLES - Councillor Bill Armer has provided an update on reporting pot holes and reminds residents they should initially follow the approved route, that is to go the website (https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/transport-roads-and-parking/report-a-pothole.aspx) and fill in and if nothing has been done within 28 days people should contact me with any reference number they have been given, the best location they can give (in this example, perhaps "outside house No ** Bedford Avenue" or "adjacent lamppost No ** Bedford Avenue") and the date reported.
the form there. Best I can do is repeat that advice, but add that if nothing has been done within 28 days people should contact me with any reference number they have been given, the best location they can give (in this example, perhaps "outside house No ** Bedford Avenue" or "adjacent lamppost No ** Bedford Avenue") and the date reported.
GRASS CUTTING – We now understand that grass cutting will now be done less frequently, and from the comments that have appeared on the Community Face Book the standard of the work actually being done leaves much to be desired.
PLAY AREA CONSULTATION – we understand that the plans for this are proceeding but have not yet reached the consultation stage, we are still awaiting further news on this issue. Residents may have noticed a recent post on Face Book about damage to the Play Area on Liley Lane, which has been reported to the Council
TREE CUTTING – nothing further to report this month
DOG POO – We want to thank the vast majority of dog owners who clean up after their beloved pets, sadly there remain a few who have no regard for the community in which they live and fail to do the same thing. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CLEAR UP AFTER YOUR DOG HAS DONE HIS BUSINESS
SPEEDING ON LILEY LANE & BRIESTFIELD ROAD - We have heard no further reports of any incidents on Liley Lane or Briestfield Road
Please let us know of any experience you have of using this road
SID – Following the removal of the now working machine last month, we are waiting for our slot in the rotation for Kirkburton Ward for SID to re-appear in the village.
VEHICLE MEETS ON JUBILEE WAY - This continues to be a source of nuisance to residents, sadly a Face Book post reported that this returned to the village on 17 March
GRAMEEN SPICE CAR PARK & RE-CYCLING BINS
The bins remain on the forecourt of the Grameen Spice building, on the of the pavement and road side, it is even more important now that glass is not left if the bins are full, as glass left on the ground will now be regarded as fly tipping. It is a busy corner and used by lots of people, including dog walkers so please help to keep this clear of glass
PLEASE BE PATIENT IF THE BINS ARE FULL AND DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BAGS WITH BOTTLES, come back later, contractors usually come along quickly and empty the bins.
The contractors have put a note on each bin that if one bin is full you can use one of the other bins that are not full
Please ring the contractors, 01226 727298, if the bins are full and need emptying. DO NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT! They usually do respond quite quickly and empty the bins
NEWSLETTER
Our next Newsletter is due out at the end of May and will provide information on events and activities coming up in June, July and August. If you would like to include information about an event or activity, please let us details by the end of April
We want to say a BIG THANK YOU to our team of volunteers, for helping us to get the Newsletter to you, and will be really pleased to hear from anyone else out there who would like to help. The more helpers we have the easier it will be to make deliveries with shorter rounds. Thanks to those of you who have already offered help.
We currently deliver to 438 homes in the village, as well through other village organisations, shops
and pubs, and some by e-mail
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Council are making changes to their planning application process, the following appeared in the Council weekly News recently, we are repeating this from last month to remind residents of the changes that are coming
GRAMEEN SPICE – no further news has come to hand about this long outstanding case
DENBY LANE PLANNING APPLICATION – YORKSHIRE COUNTRY PROPERTIES
Information was circulated about the latest development with this planning application earlier this week, and hope that some of you will have provided a support letter for the 10-bungalow plan. More information about this will be passed on when we hear from the developers.
In addition to the Community Association supporting post, there have been 6 further supporting comments added so far this week, thanks to those concerned, Councillor John Taylor has also posted on Face Book that he is meeting with Senior Management on 25 April to discuss this with them.
NEW PLANNING APPLICATIONS
There have been no further new planning application posted on the Council Web Site this month
You can visit the Kirklees Council Web Site, Planning Applications for more information on planning applications
WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
The West Yorkshire Police team covering Grange Moor are part of the Dearne Valley Rural Policy Team
There have been changes in the Police Officers covering us in Grange Moor
PC Newsome is now the local wildlife police officer full time
PC Emilie Curry is now our Ward PC Manager, I am currently awaiting contact details and will include these when available
Please continue to use the 101-telephone number, this can be a little difficult, so you are advised to use the on-line reporting form at westyorkshirepolice.uk which (we are told) will be dealt with quicker than the telephone service. There is also “live chat” available from the web site, this is manned is 24 hours a day. (PC Caroline Newsome 20 July 2022)
I have been in conversation with PC Caroline Newsome recently and mention was made of the recent spate of anti-social behaviour reports to which she responded
“sorry to hear there have been a number of ASB incidents in Grange Moor. I would advise that all the incidents are reported, as this generates a log number for each incident, and the more log numbers there are, that area is given priority as regards resources to patrol the area”
How to Contact us
E-mail us gramoorca@btinternet.com
Via the web site
Community Association Face Book
If you want to leave a written note, please use the post box on the gate at 2B Ben Booth Lane
Or
Ring Brian on 0793 539 0673 or 01924 840731
Community Association Meeting are usually held on the first Tuesday of each month in the Bowling Club Pavilion at 7.30 pm, except during the summer months when Meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month, more information on 2024 dates will be found in Events and Activities updates each month and on our web site. Please check these dates as they may be changed when circumstances beyond our control arise
The next Community Association Meeting will be on MONDAY 13 May 2024 in the Bowling Club Pavilion at 7.30 pm, preceded by our Annual General Meeting at 7.00 pm
All residents and business in Grange Moor are welcome, do come along and join us
Take care and stay safe