Ossett News Posted January 22, 2022 Report Share Posted January 22, 2022 Week ending Saturday 22nd January 2022 Is it the middle of Winter? The reason I ask is that it appears to be too warm, and it could well be the start of spring. Whist out ‘n about in Horbury this morning, I spotted these beautiful and delicate purple flowers, could it be spring? This plant certainly thinks so! The week started with my first visit of the year to the seniors’ lunch club in Christ Church at South Ossett. This much used and valuable meeting place is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to meet, chat, have a hot drink or two & have a two-course hot meal, all for around £5. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this group, please drop me a message and I will see if we can get them involved. Whilst on the subject of meeting places, the Senior Citizens’ Support Group held the second of their twice monthly coffee mornings on Wednesday. This event was very busy with over 100 members enjoying a hot drink, a snack and a good old chinwag. If you want to know more about this valuable Horbury & Ossett club, please visit or pass on their website – www.scsg.co.uk West Yorkshire Police are running an awareness campaign on Burglary. The message is simple – ‘Take it from them – Before they take it from you!’ This is part of a wider public information package called ‘Easy Street’. You can find out more about this simple but very effective campaign by visiting the Police website at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/burglary or on Twitter at #wyburglary or by picking up a leaflet from various public places. You may have seen in the local paper and online that the Council to hold a public consultation on next years’ Council Tax. Wakefield Council is proposing an increase of 1.99% on West Yorkshire’s lowest Council Tax, plus an additional 2.0% to support adult social care, which the Government is failing to properly fund, leaving our residents to plug the gap left by Westminster. For comparison, here is how Wakefield Council’s Council Tax compares with the rest of West Yorkshire for the current financial year at Band D. All information taken from the relevant Council’s website, for the year 2020-2021. E&OE Kirklees Council - Council Tax £1,926.59 Garden bin collection an additional £38.50 per year Calderdale Council - Council Tax £1,904.08 Garden bin collection an additional £43.00 per year Leeds Council - Council Tax £1,799.75 Glass must be taken to bottle banks and not in your bins Bradford Council - Council Tax £1,777.57 Garden bin collection an additional £42.00 per year Wakefield Council - Council Tax £1,775.57 ++Provided Free for Wakefield residents++ If you would like more information about Wakefield Council’s Council Tax and their plans to invest more across the whole district, please visit – https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/budget-and-spending/council-budget or watch this video from Cllr Denise Jeffery the Leader of Wakefield Council at - https://player.vimeo.com/video/667836344?h=0fb180a9ff&dnt=1&app_id=122963 Do you know anyone who needs help with their heating system and insulation? If yes, then please visit Wakefield Council’s website for information about how the Council can help. The Council have several schemes that can help with heating systems, installation of solar panels and people coping with debt. This free and 100% confidential service is available at - https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/housing/energy or call our Energy Team on 01924 305887, or email - energyteam@wakefield.gov.uk I have been in the Wakefield Express’ website again, this time giving an update on the Council’s work in the Westgate Heritage Action Zone. With funding Council funding and £1.9 million from Heritage England we have started to make a tremendous different to the passageways, heritage buildings and shop fronts on Westgate. Following a recent visit from Heritage England they were very impressed with the Council’s commitment to our Heritage in the city centre and across the whole district. Next Saturday 29th January we will be holding our second annual, subject to COVID, tree planting session at Horbury Lagoons. We have 400 or so baby trees, called whips to plant and to enlarge our newly created woodland area known as Unite Wood. This joint venture between Friends of Horbury’s Parks and Wakefield Council’s Countryside Service will have planted more than 900 trees across the whole of Horbury and South Ossett. With more to come over the next few years! If you’re free next Saturday morning, why not join us at 10.30am for about an hour, just bring your own spade. I walked around Carr Lodge Park on Friday afternoon. Our COVID Memorial oak tree is thriving, and it appears to be liking its new home. This tree was planted by Wakefield Council to remember those who have lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. I also noted that both children’s’ play areas needed attention. The bike area needs a good clear-out and sweep and the safety flooring in the play area needs some maintenance. The large tyre swing needs some hardcore placing where the rainwater is collecting. All areas have been reported and I’ll keep you posted about any plans, in my forthcoming weekly blogs. You will no doubt have seen that a local bus company, ARRIVA are planning some significant cuts and changes to our services. Especially the withdrawal of the 117 bus that connects Ossett with Leeds via Wakefield. I find this completely unacceptable and through colleague Councillors we have made representations to ARRIVA and the West Yorkshire Mayor about this unacceptable situation. Full details of the cuts and changes can be found on my Facebook page, with most of the changes coming into force on Monday 28th February. Can I thank everyone involved in the West Wakefield Wombles for their continued work across the whole of Horbury & South Ossett. Their regular litter picks are making a real difference in keeping our district clean and litter free. Please keep safe and take care. If you need assistance or would like to me, be involved in a new local project, please feel free to drop me a line. I wills see what I can do to help. Darren View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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