Ossett News Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 Week ending Saturday 17th February 2024 This has been the week of many meetings, very mild weather and seeing how this great community came together at Christmas to support a much needed support group for men! Monday started with an online meeting with West Yorkshire Police and our local Inspector. This gives the three of us the opportunity to raise issues with the Police and our colleagues from Ossett. Often, when something happens in Horbury and South Ossett it will also be an issue in Ossett and other areas across the Wakefield District. Inconsiderate parking, ‘boy-racers’ and general speeding, off-road motor bikes, drug selling and taking and general anti-social behaviour, were the issues we discussed. The next Police and Community Together meeting (PACT) is on Tuesday 27th in Ossett and Thursday 29th February in Horbury. More information about venues and start times will be given in next week’s blog. The PACT meeting is your opportunity to raise issues with the Police and seek their advice. Everyone is welcome. On Monday evening, Darren attended the first half of the Friends of Illingworth Park group’s meeting and agreed to sponsor their Easter event – more information can be found on their Facebook page. The second meeting of the evening was our local Royal British Legion, Darren attended and was part of the planning for this year’s appeal. On Tuesday, Pancake Day, Tuesday Darren and Gwen attended two site visits for planning applications being considered, in their roles on Wakefield Council’s Planning Committee. For more on this, please read onto Thursday. On Tuesday evening Deb and Darren attended a meeting of Horbury Civic Society. A presentation was given by Wakefield Council’s recently appointed Conservation Officer on her role and how we can work together. This has resulted in a follow up meeting between Conservation Team and we three, to discuss some ongoing issues across the Ward. Wednesday was valentine’s Day, and we hope you all got your fair share of cards? We three spent the morning in Horbury Town Centre, taking advantage of the great range of local cafes. It is amazing how many issues we deal with, a good cup of coffee and a slice of toast! Just after lunch, Darren attended a site meeting on Stan Barstow gardens to discuss the art installation, also known as the Hollywood sign. This will be the word HORBURY in 1.0 metre high letters, in the style of the world famous hillside sign in California. The sign is currently being manufactured by a local carpenter and should be installed in time for early Summer. This, we hope, will become a great focal point for the town centre and a place for many selfies to be taken. Over the Christmas holidays there was a lot of social media chatter about the old BMX track down at Horbury lagoons. Darren made contact with the person asking the questions and has since had two follow up meetings. All being well, we will be forming a Friends of Horbury Lagoons BMX Track later this year. This will the allow the group to apply for funding to allow the old BMX track to be brought back into use. The old track is still there, just overgrown and in need of cutting back and repair of the tracks. It can be seen from Google Earth – see picture. The Council have agreed that it can be done and they are willing to work with us and the new friends group to sort it out. We hope to be able to give more information on this exciting new project over the next 4-6 months, so watch this space. Finally on Wednesday, Darren and Deb met with Hickory’s Restaurant Management Team, about how they can volunteer across Horbury & South Ossett and become closer to the wider community. Hickory’s helped with the Horbury Light Switch on and will be involved with this year’s Horbury Craft & Street Fayre. If you would like to know more about how they may be able to help you, drop us a line and we will let you have the contact details. Thursday morning was Wakefield Council’s Planning & Highways Committee meeting. Both Gwen and Darren sit on this committee and we approve or reject major planning applications that have been submitted across the district. Being part of the planning process means that Darren and Gwen are unable to comment on any planning matters affecting Horbury & South Ossett. These matters are dealt with by Deb, who, if needed, takes advice from Council Officers. Friday was a day of fun and great entertainment. All three of us attended an event organised by the Senior Citizens’ Support Group at Horbury Working Member’s Club. The event started at lunchtime. Lunch was pizza, which was collected by Darren and Deb, from our local branch of Dominos. Thirty large pizzas were collected and Darren’s car still smells of pizza three days later! After lunch, an afternoon of pig racing was held. Yes, you read correctly, pig racing. An amazing time was had by everyone who attended, young and old, and the event was funded by Haribo at Castleford as part of their community support programme. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped to keep the pigs under control. On Friday afternoon, we three attended Southfield Close’s presentation to Andy’s Man Club. This was the second presentation of the money raised from Southfield Close’s Neighbours Christmas Lights appeal. The cheque was for £750 and brings to an end this year’s amazing successful appeal. You may recall the first cheque for the same amount was presented to Wakefield’s Memory Action Group to help fund their work with people with dementia. A massive thank you to everyone involved in this great community activity and role on Christmas 2024! Saturday morning was a busy few hours for the three of us. We held our second monthly advice session. We were visited by a couple of residents who needed our help and advice. After this we visited Horbury Methodist Church for a cup of coffee and a piece of homemade cake, before starting our Ward walk around Horbury Bridge. We walked around the bottom of Storrs Hill and onto Bridge Close and surrounding streets. This gave us the opportunity to delivery our latest newsletter and to identify any issues. We found that several roads needed a good sweep and the large communal bins around the WDH apartments were in need of emptying and a good general clean. All issues seen have been reported for action. Over the last few weeks, we have walked around the Teall Street area and surrounding streets, South Parade area, the whole of Horbury Junction and most of Horbury Bridge. Over the next few weeks we will be doing the same around Manorfields and the middle of Horbury. If you see us out’n’about, please stop and say hello. Finally this week, you may have seen on Facebook that we are looking to create a People’s Museum in Horbury Library. This will be in the form of two-glass fronted display cabinets that could feature artifacts that have made Horbury and surrounding areas very special. The original idea came from Darren and has been approved by the library team. A grant application will be submitted over the next few days for funding to buy the cabinets and create something a bit special. Darren, Deb & Gwen 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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