The area round Chain Bar in Cleckheaton is an air pollution hotspot. The pollution measured was that caused by particulates and gases emitted by traffic. The pollution in that area is above European Union safety guidelines. The Government has a responsibility to reduce air pollution levels and is currently failing to do so. I learned […]

The Whitcliffe Mount Foundation building was built just over 100 years ago. It is an imposing building of Yorkshire stone and the Spen Valley Civic Society applied to the Government for it to be listed. The Government Inspector however decided that it wasn’t of sufficient national value for it to be listed. Whitcliffe Mount is […]

Cleckheaton’s 3 Liberal Democrat councillors wrote to the Secretary of State responsible for planning issues, Eric Pickles MP, to ask him to “call-in” the planning appeal decision on the Lower Blacup site. This is the letter: Lower Blacup Call In let 1213 A “Call-In” allows the Secretary of State to re-consider wider issues than those […]

Cllr John Lawson and Cllr Andrew Pinnock talking to a local resident about Tesco’s derelict buildings. Tesco announced earlier this year that they intended to abandon their application to build a replacement store in Cleckheaton. This was to replace the current one which was built 40 years ago and is cramped and not a good […]

Councillors are required by Kirklees Council to write an Annual Report. It is written to a set format. This is my version: Introduction I continue to enjoy the privilege of being one of the 3 elected Liberal democrat councillors for the Cleckheaton ward. As part of the councillor team, I am committed to doing my […]

A public report to Kirklees Council has exposed local Conservative hypocrisy on the use of Green Belt land. All through the very public discussion of the future allocation of land for houses and business in the Local Development Famework (LDF), the Tories proclaimed that they were totally opposed to ANY development on Green Belt land […]

This March is the last GLASS COLLECTION from your home. Kirklees Council is ending the household glass box collection this month. The following sites in Cleckheaton ward have glass collection bins: Tesco’s car park Hunsworth Community Centre Silver Birch pub at Chain Bar Scholes Cricket Club Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre The Council have claimed that […]

Labour-run Kirklees Council has decided to end the glass collection service. The last collection will be in March. From March onwards it will be a case of taking glass to the nearest bottle bank. This can make recycling more difficult for people without a car. Do let me know if you will find it difficult […]

Redrow Homes have put in a planning application to build houses on land next to Lower Blacup Farm. These are the fields off Ashbourne Drive and are part of the lovely green hillside visible from Westgate. It is also the best sledging hill for miles around! The land is next to a 400 year old […]

Bins were not emptied on Wednesday because of the strike. Now residents are being told that there will be no catch up collections. So they will have to wait until December 14th for the grey or green bin that was due for collection on November 30th to be emptied. Let me know what you think […]