Ossett News Posted October 2, 2022 Report Share Posted October 2, 2022 Week ending Saturday 1st October 2022 The work to improve the play area in Carr Lodge Park is continuing and will do so for a couple more weeks. We visited the park on Saturday morning and looked at some of the new and additional equipment being installed. We were stopped by a dad who thanked us for our efforts, which was appreciated. As previously mentioned, we have secured funding to plant a Community Orchard within the grounds of Carr Lodge Park. The order for the trees will be placed in the next few weeks for delivery and planting in late October, early November. The idea is that the trees will grow and mature over the next few years and visitors to the park will be encouraged to pick the fruit take it home and the benefits of locally grown fresh produce. This is not a new idea as there are many such orchards across the UK and we know of a local one in Wrenthorpe on a verge at the side of a road. We hope to be able to plant different types of apple, pear, plum trees together with an apricot, a cherry, a fig, and greengages – all of which are suitable for growing in a typical British summer. A donation from our trade union UNITE will also allow the group to buy some bird and bat boxes. These will be installed in autumn, so that when spring comes along, the birds will be familiar with their locations and ready for breeding. You may have seen in the Wakefield Express and on our Facebook page, that local shops in Horbury & Ossett can apply for grants from Wakefield Council to improve their shop fronts. This scheme has been successful in other parts of the Wakefield District, and we are supporting the introduction of the scheme in our town centres. Watch this space as the scheme develops. On Monday evening Deb and Darren paid a visit to the 2nd Ossett Rainbows group in Christ Church. We had been approached by the group’s leaders to see if we could offer some financial help. We are delighted to be able to donate £100 to their funds. We are told that this will help fund activities which the children will be able to take part in. Helping local community groups across the whole Ward is an important part of what we do, and we are so pleased to be able to do so. Earlier on Monday, Deb and Darren along with several volunteers delivered a leaflet to around 1,000 homes in South Ossett. The purpose of the leaflet was to introduce Darren & Deb to residents and to give them a way of contacting us directly with any issues. Whilst we were pounding the streets, we noted that the road surface on St John’s Crescent needed attention and the gutters needed clearing. This has been reported and let’s hope the work will be carried out shortly. Following on from the leaflet drop we have made a couple of calls on residents to pick up some case work. This is one of the most interesting parts of being a local Councillors and one which we both enjoy. On Tuesday evening, Darren and Deb attended the Friends of Green Park Annual General Meeting. We are both in full support the groups plan and have been supporting their work for the last few years. Once this is established and they have secured funding this will be another jewel in Horbury’s great crown. More information can be found at their Facebook page – Friends of Green Park, Horbury. Tuesday was a day where Darren spent time on his cabinet role within the Council. You can find out more about this by visiting my other Facebook page – Cllr Darren Byford – Wakefield’s Cabinet Member – Regen & Economic Growth. On Wednesday morning we were able to call into our local Food Bank, also at Christ Church in South Ossett. Again, we were able to support their work with a small donation. The work of our local Food Bank is vital to support those less fortunate than us, across the whole Ward and surrounding areas. If you are able to support the Food Bank with donations of canned foods and toiletries, you can drop these off at the Handyman DIY shop and the Co-op in Horbury town centre and at the donation points in Ossett or directly at the Food Bank at Christ Church just off Vicar Lane. On Wednesday mornings, we always call into the Methodist Church for a great cup of coffee and a biscuit. This social get together is open to all to visit and have a chat. If you fancy a game of indoor bowls, well that is available too. Just pop in and say hello, tell them Darren and Deb sent you! You may have seen that the Friends of Horbury’s Parks has launched the Autumn Photo Competition. Calling all young and not so young photographers, get out and about in our wonderful parks and open green spaces and get snapping! The theme of your picture should be Autumn, it is as simple as that. Your images should be sent to FoHP@mail.com and should be no larger than a 10MB file per image. There are two age groups Under 16’s and then everyone else. Winners in each group will receive a £25 voucher for 1st place and a £10 for a runner up. This competition is organised by the Friends of Horbury’s Parks and sponsored by your two local Labour Councillors Darren and Deb. Closing date is noon on the 31st of October 2022 – Get Snapping! On Friday evening we were invited by a group based in Netherton and the surrounding areas of Wakefield Rural Ward, to attend a fund-raising evening at Cinnamon Lounge restaurant in Horbury Bridge. Both Darren and Deb attended along with our new MP for Wakefield, Simon Lightwood. We took the opportunity to discuss with Simon two important issues – Buses and Yorkshire Water. Watch this space. On Saturday morning we held our monthly advice session in the Baptist Church on Junction Lane in South Ossett. Following this we called into the fund-raising event being held at the Church and supported their local fund raising with and purchase or two. Every week our postbag (email inbox) contains issues about traffic, parking, and speeding. All of which are very difficult to resolve. One issue that raises its head regularly is the amount of queueing traffic on Queens Drive in Ossett. Often caused by the vehicles that want to turn right onto Towngate and then into Ossett. This is not in our Ward, but we have asked Wakefield Council to look at installing a Right Filter Arrow onto the existing traffic lights. It's been a busy few months for the both of us, and here is a few memories from August and September. As winter approaches keep your eyes open for future events and activities across the whole Ward. Please keep safe and take care. 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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