Ossett News Posted April 17, 2022 Report Share Posted April 17, 2022 Week ending Saturday 16th April 2022 Welcome to the first Blog for more than 3 weeks and the first joint blog from Deb and Darren. As I hope you recall, I was on Jury Service for 2 weeks from March 21 and when that finished, I then caught COVID. I am now back with Deb in and around Horbury & South Ossett, however, I am taking it steady as COVID has left me very tired. However, Deb has risen to the challenge and has been supporting me and our residents during that time. Thank you - Deb. Imagine how much more Deb and I would be able to achieve if Deb was elected in the forthcoming Local Elections on Thursday 5th May. A vote for Deb will make a real and positive change to Horbury & South Ossett. Deb and I have been active around the Ward since I was first elected back in May 2016. We have been visible, approachable and very accessible and we will continue to do this well past election day. On Sunday 3rd April, Deb and I attended a Memorial Service at St Peter’s Church to remember the Falkland’s Conflict. The event was organised by the Horbury, Sitlington and Ossett Royal British Legion. This simple service was well attended and was led by Father Christopher and supported by the Legion’s Chair, Malcolm. I was honoured to give a reading at the service. The service was also attended by two sub-Mariner’s from HMS Agamemnon. This vessel is twinned with Wakefield District. HMS Agamemnon is a new submarine currently being built and is the sixth of the Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarines. Together with her sister vessels, she will be one of the most advanced submarines ever constructed. Deb has been engaging with residents across the whole ward over the last few weeks, leaving a leaflet with details of how to contact either of us and asking them to raise their concerns. There are two common themes, especially in the Fairfield area of South Ossett. Speeding vehicles, especially cars and pavement parking. Both issues are matters for the Police to deal with, but rather than passing the buck, here is what Deb and Darren have done so far. We have requested speed checks be carried out throughout South Ossett. If COVID had not got in the way, we would have completed several sessions by now. However, this will be done, and we will report back our findings. Pavement parking is not illegal, but blocking a pavement is and the Police will issue tickets if they are made aware of the issues. We have requested that the local Policing Team visit the Fairfield and Teall Street areas and deal with cars that are blocking pavements. We have also been made aware of a problem across the whole Ward, where vehicles, most often cars and white vans are parking too close to junctions. The Highway Code gives full details of where you can park any vehicle – Rule 243 here is an extract DO NOT stop or park: • opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space • near a school entrance • in front of an entrance to a property • at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank • opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle • where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles These issues need reporting to the Police, you can do this via 101 or on their website. These first three flowering cherry trees that Deb and I planted across the Ward have taken well and are now all in very modest flower. The trees are part of our plans to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. The first trees have been planted in South Ossett on a grassed area at the junction of Junction Lane and South Parade, Memorial Park in Horbury and in Carr Lodge Park. The next two trees will be panted in Illingworth Park and in the grounds of the Methodist Church on High Street in Horbury. New signs for the trees will be installed in time for Jubilee weekend in June. About the Jubilee weekend, I am aware of three ‘Picnics in the Park’ events. It is with great pleasure that I have been able to support all of them with donations from my trade union, UNITE. The Friends of Illingworth Park, Pride in Horbury Bridge, Reid Park and Horbury Jubilee Consortium, Carr Lodge Park, all have plans in place for the 3 separate events. Deb and I are part of the organising committee for the Carr Lodge Park event. Watch out for more details of all three events over the next few weeks but put Sunday 5th June in your diary and support one of our local events for this historic weekend. Again, working with our trade union UNITE colleagues we have been able to support the following local groups over the past 4 weeks. • Ossett & Horbury Stroke Club and the Senior Citizens’ Support Group, with small donations to help them with their Jubilee Celebrations. • Pride in Horbury Bridge, Friends of Illingworth Park and the Horbury Jubilee Consortium again for their Jubilee picnic events. • A local South Ossett Brownie Troop to support them as they re-start their work as we all recover from the pandemic. Finally, Deb and I presented a cheque to the recently formed Horbury Lagoons Anglers Club, to support their great work. Hopefully over the next few months they will become the official angler’s group for this amazing area within our Ward. This Saturday morning was busy for both Deb and Darren. Deb was in Horbury Bridge meeting residents and listening to their issues and trying to make a difference. Darren was in Horbury Library at our monthly advice session. We both joined together and attended the wonderful Easter event arranged by the Friends of Illingworth Park. The event was attended by many families, and they were greeted by the Easter Bunny. The bunny took time out of his busy schedule to have his picture taken with the pair of us! It was a great pleasure to attend and meet our residents and to be one of the sponsors for the whole event. Finally, this week, Wakefield has been in the news and this time it was not welcome attention. We have been asked by numerous residents what happens next, in relation to a by-election. It is our understanding that the Government, in this instance, will call a by-election once an official resignation has been received. However, the timescale for the election may not be known for some time yet. Therefore, the actual election day may be many months away. Please keep safe and take care. If you need assistance or would like us to be involved in a new local project, please feel free to drop us a line. We will see what we can do to help. Darren & Deb Working for our Communities, throughout the whole year! View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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