Martin Webster is the chair and driving force behind the huge improvements made by the Friends of West End Park. The Friends were devastated when the Council’s new grass cutting regime wrecked much of the improvements they had made over the last 4 years. Martin spoke to councillors and about 50 members of the public […]

The Council’s Labour Cabinet will be deciding tomorrow – July 28 2015 – which parks, recs, playing fields, verges and small grassed areas will have grass cut and at what intervals. Click here to see the full report which gives details for every park and recreation area in Kirklees. https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s4474/2015-07-28%20C%20Parks%20Open%20Spaces%20Service%20Standards.pdf I understand that the Council […]

The Planning Committee decided to approve the Application from Netto for a new store on the corner of Horncastle Street and Northgate. This site has been derelict for around 10 years so seeing it developed is a positive step forward for our town. It will also offer some competition for Tesco and may encourage them […]

A new Netto store could be built on the corner of Horncastle Street and Northgate. Today there is a meeting of the Heavy Woollen Planning Committee. The Committee will decide if the planning application on behalf of Netto should be given the go ahead. The application is for a 1,000 sqm store with access on […]

The Government is proposing a further 15 hours free childcare. This will make a great difference to many families and is very welcome. However, the proposed legislation is very, very short on details especially on whether the Government will provide enough funding for it. I spoke in the House of Lords on Tuesday to highlight […]

I spoke yesterday in the House of Lords Chamber on the Government’s proposals to devolve responsibilities and some funding to combinations of local Councils. In West Yorkshire this means to the Combined Authority of Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield with the City of York as well. The proposals are for these Councils to work […]

A very controversial planning application for land off New Lane, Cleckheaton is being considered at the next meeting of the Council’s Strategic Planning Committee on Thursday June 4. The application by Strata Homes is for 39 houses on the fields adjacent to New Lane and Pearson Street off Moorside. Details can be seen at https://kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning […]

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 […]

Andrew Pinnock was re-elected councillor for the Cleckheaton ward on May 7. The Full Result: Andrew Pinnock Lib Dem 3,010 A.Gray Con 2,002 K.Lowe Lab 1,647 C.Walshaw UKIP 1,593 Stoyles Green 250 Buck TUSC 55 Majority 1,008 Thank you everyone for your support for the work Andrew and the team have done over the years.