Be vigilant this Christmas!

Cllr Robert Light Attacks the Co-op

Cllr Robert Light made an amazing attack on the Co-Op movement in council, despite the fact that he knew that contingency plans were in place to move council working accounts if council funds were put at risk. Remember this is a working account won under tendering process, not speculating to make a quick buck.

Robert is not a stranger to risk, being in charge of the Cabinet in Jan 2008 when the council decided to speculate in Icelandic Banks just 10 months before the Landsbanki collapsed. Did his financial wizard, Cllr David Hall not warn him then?


Related Posts:
‘High risk’ to bank with the Co-op as Tories urge Kirklees to ‘get out now and avoid the rush’

Budget Deficit!

EU agreement on Tobacco paves way for plain packaging in the UK

 

The agreement this week between the European Parliament and Government Ministers on Tobacco regulation comes after months of careful compromise and negotiation between MEPS, the European Commission and the 28 member countries. The new law will be a significant step forward in making smoking less attractive to the nearly 14,000 children who are regular smokers here in Yorkshire alone. Flavourings such as strawberry and chocolate as well as lipstick and perfume type boxes will be removed from the market. Packs of less than 20 cigarettes, often described as 'pocket money' packs by health campaigners, will also go. An average pack of cigarettes will now be virtually covered by graphic health warnings, with the door left open for individual governments to go further still. This is good news for all those who want to see the UK follow in Australia's shoes and adopt standardised or 'plain' packaging. Anyone is any doubt about how cigarette packaging influences children on smoking should watch Cancer Research UK's hard hitting advert. The new law will also regulate Electronic-cigarettes which is a growing market. 'E-cigs' give smokers the nicotine they need without the harmful health impact of smoking, however nicotine is highly addictive and toxic in concentrated form, so legislators want better regulation and rules to stop e-cigs becoming a leisure product for young people. There are no proposals to ban e-cigs as some commentators have suggested. MEPs and Ministers are therefore proposing that in future, e-cigs will be regulated like other tobacco  products (below a maximum strength and capsule size with tamper and childproof  E-liquid bottles) or as medicines if, like nicotine patches, they make claims to help people quit smoking. The agreement will need final approval from the European Parliament which I hope will be forthcoming (although the lead Tory MEP is already suggesting he will oppose it.)      Next year is going to be a busy one with elections round the corner. In the meantime, a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2014. Linda  Here is a round up of Linda McAvan MEP's latest work here in Yorkshire, and in Brussels

What is Provisional Open Land?

Just because we expect Tory MPs to speak with forked tongues, we should not rule out the fact that this time they are talking a load of rubbish because they don’t understand. One should expect more from a Barrister and Journalist (does anyone else find it ironic that our two Tory MPs come from professions that are only a smitten behind politicians in the public distrust stakes). But to be generous, few people do understand what POL is.

POL stands for Provisional Open Land. It may be a green field that has never been developed but it is not green belt. The last time that the allocation of land was decided, the UDP, Unitary Development Plan the council had to decide what land it wanted to see housing on, what land was reserved for Industry and what it wanted to see left undeveloped, to stop towns joining up, “Green Belt”. There are a few other designations, but understanding these will do for now. POL is the land that was decided would be developed when the allocations were used up and the decision as to when the land is deemed to be used up, is set down in planning law. The presumption was always that POL land would be developed, the only point in question was when?

 

Our Tory MPs seem to be saying that the Fat Controller is telling us to ignore the law, or to interpret it in a way that is not set out in statute. He is not telling us he will pick up the bill when his inspector awards costs against the council for not obeying his law. He is not saying he is willing to change the law, what he is saying is, I will cover up the mess he has created by making announcements then not doing what I said I will do.

 

The Planning Inspectors work for Eric, they impose his will, he can over rule any decision they make as a result of a public enquiry on a whim. He can make his decision behind closed doors and does not have to give a reason, raising the question, should one person have so much power? It is said that Power Corrupts and that Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely.  

Summary comments to the media are;

1. The Pickles letter does not contain anything new, the council cannot arbitrarily use the latest ONS data set to pluck out of the air a lower housing number to get under the five year supply rule.

2. The five year supply is based on the latest tested housing numbers i.e. the UDP and Planning Inspectors will not accept any other data set.

3. Future numbers in the LDF will be based on delivery, ONS population growth, migration and economic growth, these will tie in with neighbouring authorities.

4. The lack of a LDF is due to government prevarication on the abolition of RSS and that the Inspector insisted that Kirklees council apply the previous RSS figures in the LDF Core Strategy.

5. Reevel campaigned for abolition of the LDF, so in effect the POL sites would be at risk, if Reevel had delivered on his election pledge.

6. Reevel is misleading local people and should lobby government to reduce the five year rule to three years.

Milnsbridge...A Bridge Too Far

Faces of false promises (image via Huddersfield Examiner)

If you are waiting for your road or footpath to be done up then you need to be aware of the Lib/Dem plan to spend half of the entire budget on building a Bridge in Milnsbridge, Golcar Ward, that the Highway Officers say will not solve any problems anyway. The Highways Capital Budget is set at £11.5m per year for the next three years, a bridge at Golcar would cost at least £6m.

But the Lib/Dems know that the Bridge is unlikely to be built in the near future, and in fact admitted that during the council debate. But there was a by-election in Golcar and promising something that they know they have no intention of delivering is par for the course for the Lib/Dems.

Related Posts:
Golcar by-election 2013

Living with the squeeze - the rising cost of living

 

 

Sports in Our Valley: Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre

Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre is likely to close in 2016 as a result of a new school building. Labour Councillors in the Spen Valley see this as an opportunity to set out what we see as needed in the Spen Valley. Without looking at any details we would like to see a new sports complex in the middle of the Valley incorporating the swimming pool, running track and all the sports currently at Whitcliffe.

Cllr Simon Alvy, has already highlighted the need to replace the pool and Cllr Steve Hall is heading a working party of all Spen Councillors looking to formulate plans for the future of sport in the valley.

Cllr Steve Hall, commented, "When you look at the sports we have had in Britain over the last 18 months like the Olympic Games, the Rugby League World Cup the paraplegic games and next year the Commonwealth Games, I do think the government should do what it said it would after the Olympics and put more money into sport. Or was this just them getting carried away with the success?"


Related websites and articles:
Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre
Kirklees Cabinet backs sports centre closure – but Lib Dem leader calls for quick action to find replacement

Cllr Hilary Richards' passion for Colne Valley Museum

Image from Wikipedia

Over 40 years ago Golcar Branch of the Colne Valley Constituency Labour Party moved out of its old club on Cliff Ash at Golcar and gave their old building to the newly formed Colne Valley Museum (CVM).  This was the start of a slow expansion from one weaver’s cottage to three and finally, into the old fish ‘ole.  All this has been done with volunteer labour only supplemented by paid tradesmen when members did not have the specialist skills needed.

Today, Colne Valley Museum has around 300 members which include individuals, couples and families.  Over 100 members are  active volunteers.  

The museum opens each Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday to give a glimpse of life in the 1850s.  On the top floor members demonstrate how wool processes from the preparation the fleece for spinning to weaving the resultant yarn into cloth on period looms  There is a kitchen that demonstrates how people lived in this era as well as a working kitchen where bread, Christmas puddings and other delicious traditional items are prepared and baked for sale some weekends. 

Exhibitions that usually change every 4-6 weeks have included the work of members of art societies, photographic collections and have been on bee keeping.  There is a wide variety of new things to see each time you visit the museum. 

During a visit you will see many volunteers, dressed in period costume, demonstrating and helping visitors as well as providing coffee and cakes in the new café which opens in January in what was the old fish and chip shop.

There are speciality weekends, most recently a Victorian Christmas Fair with traditional games and the chance to meet Father Christmas. 

Many of you reading this may have visited CVM while at school as a Victoria experience is provided for several schools most weeks of the school term and can be tailored for older audiences when requested.  Children from other authorities as well as Kirklees come for the day.  They arrive in costume ready to step back into 1850 to meeting the lady of the house when they enter her kitchen before helping to prepare their own lunch, polish the brasses, do hand washing and crafts.  After eating their lunch the children are allowed into the small shop where they can buy traditional sweets before returning to the 21^st centuary.  We have many adult visitors who tell us how they remember their day with us many years before.

CVM is in the process of bidding for a substantial award from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  They have already awarded the museum money to enable a full feasibility study to be undertaken prior to the submission of the final lottery bid in February 2014.  Once the bid is in, we will all be holding our breath …….. 

The museum has come a long way in the last 40 or so years and may be making a vast leap forward in the future if their bid is successful …. and all this has been done without a single paid employee in sight. 

I believe the reason why CVM has survived and thrived with only volunteer support has been the long term commitment people, often from the local community, make to the museum; and the marvellous friendships and support members give to each other as they work together.

Dates and times of all elements of the museum can be found at www.colnevalleymuseum.org.uk

 

Related Articles:

Cllr Alvy contemplates future of Red House Museum

Kirklees Labour, Cllr Graham Turner: Denby Dale Coffee Morning update

Local Kirklees and Parish Councillor Graham Turner held a drop in coffee morning in Skelmanthorpe Council offices on Saturday the 14th of December.

John Clarkson, the newly selected Labour Party candidate for the Kirklees election in May 2014 attended, along with Paula Sherriff, the Dewsbury constituency candidate for the 2015 General Election.

It was Paula's first time in the village and she clearly enjoyed meeting the many local people who attended.

We discussed a range of issues with those present including the creeping privatisation of the health service, the abject failure of the Conservative and Lib-Dem coalition governments planning policy to protect our green spaces and the high energy bills and the cost of living affecting everyone.

When every one had left Paula and myself and local party activists went door knocking so Paula could get to meet local residents in their homes, which was most appreciated by all those we talked to.

Paula, John and myself will be out and about in the ward on a regular basis once the holiday festivities are over.

John was very pleased to meet so many people and to listen to their concerns, as he prepares to fight the elections next May.

Related Articles:
Cllr Graham Turner, Denby Dale, invites you for coffee!
Denby Dale Labour Party Select Candidate: John Clarkson

Heckmondwike: Planning Update

Very little this week, everyone must be slowing down for Christmas, but there are two applications.

Morrisflex on Artillery Street have applied to build some extensions and for a new roof. There is also an application for approvals for some details to the plan for 11 houses at Forrest Hall (to the side of Heckmondwike Cemetery). If you remember this was an application we turned down, but was granted on appeal by the planning inspector.

Our main concern was that the access was unsuitable, but the Inspector did not agree with us.  

You can search planning applications for all Kirklees here.

Lib-Dems display their democratic credentials

In a by-election in Horsforth (Leeds) the Labour candidate defeated the Lib Dem candidate, but was out of the country when he should have signed the bit of paper to accept office. So even though he had won the election he was chucked off the council.

The controlling Lib-Dems decided there was no need to re run the election and that the council should co-opt a member to the vacant seat. The Labour and Tory councillors moved that the person who actually won the election should co-opted. The Lib-Dem majority outvoted them and co-opted the Lib-Dem candidate who had lost the election. Lib-Dems loosing/winning here.

Cllr Naheed Mather, Dalton: Annual Report 2012/13

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to represent the residents of the Dalton Ward, since being elected 2 years ago. It has been a steep learning curve where I have attended all of the induction provided to new colleagues along with regular policy seminars. I believe I have been able to make a real difference to the lives of local people in the Dalton Ward, as well as for the people in the wider Kirklees District.

Undertaking my duties by attending Council meetings and sitting on various panels and committees, allows me to keep abreast of wider issues that may affect the Dalton Ward. This is important for when I speak to residents or visit community groups that might need advice or clarification on matters that affect them.

I have worked with my fellow Councillor colleagues to carry out mobile surgeries every Saturday morning and knock over100/120 residents' doors on an ongoing basis to check problems they may be experiencing with the Council. It allows us to cover the whole ward and see for ourselves the overall condition of the ward.

To view my full annual report for 2012/13, follow this link.

Cllr Cliff Preest, Dalton: Annual Report 2012/13

I was elected to serve and represent the Dalton Ward on 5 May 2011 and therefore after two full years this is an overview of my annual report for the last municipal year.
It has been a personal privilege to represent the residents of the Dalton Ward and as part of the obligation my commitment has been to attend a wide range of meetings during 2012/13.

These have ranged from Full council Meetings, Huddersfield Area Planning Sub-Committee (Chair), Planning and Highways Committee, Scrutiny Panel, and the Town Centre (Huddersfield) Neighbourhood Management Team.

At the heart of what I do is my ward work in Dalton, participating in several Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing projects, working with the local policing teams, front line worker forums and attending many of our tenants and residents meetings.

Making myself available to individual residents is important and along with my ward colleagues, we carry out mobile Member Surgeries on Saturday mornings.

You can view my full annual report activity for 2012/13, by following this link.

National Planning Framework: We have no choice...

"Since the new national planning framework came into force last year, the 10 largest “unplanned” housing developments that councils across the country have refused have all been overturned on appeal, leaving councils to pick up the very substantial costs and potentially losing Government bonus grant.

“The Secretary of State and planning inspectors have allowed development on green field sites even when this is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, so even these cannot prevent the approval of new housing developments.

“At a time when we must find £22 million of cuts by 2016 due the deepest cuts in local government grant in 70 years, we cannot risk public funds in such a way. It would be akin to a gambler putting all their life savings on a three legged donkey in a very long field of thoroughbreds  – the chance of success is virtually zero, the costs very high.

“We have no choice but carry out the instruction of government or face a very big legal bill. If people don’t like this they should take this up with their MP and the Government, not the Council.”

No, not Kirklees, Telford Council. It appears that the Fat Controller is sticking his snout in everywhere!

Related Articles:
Anger as Skelmanthorpe residents left alone by Kirklees Council to fight planning inquiry (Huddersfield Examiner)
Local Development Framework: The strange case of Pickles' “letter” to Reevell
Denby Dale Planning Issues: an update from Cllr Graham Turner
Planning Issues in Denby Dale: Piggeries and Pilling Lane

Spen Valley Area Committee: Tick–Tock

The Spen Valley area committee meets on Thursday in Cleckheaton Town Hall, to end the situation in the Spen Valley where time has been standing still. The committee will decide if they wish to spend the £5,874 needed to mend the Town Hall and Heckmondwike clocks.

Details of the area committee meeting can be found by following this link.

Cllr Graham Turner, Denby Dale, invites you for coffee!

John Clarkson

Cllr Graham Turner, invites you to a coffee morning on Saturday the 14th of December in the Council Chamber at Skelmanthorpe Council offices.


For company he will have the newly selected Labour candidate, John Clarkson, who will be seeking election for the Denby Dale ward in the Kirklees elections in May 2014. Also with Cllr Turner will be the Labour Party's candidate for the general election in May 2015, Paula Sherriff. 

 

Paula and John are very keen to meet as many local residents as possible, to discuss their problems and get to know what issues they have and how they will be able to help if successful in their respective elections.

Paula Sherriff

Related articles:

Denby Dale Labour Party Select Candidate: John Clarkson



Cllr Alvy contemplates future of Red House Museum

I was lucky enough today to take my family to the upper barn of Red House Museum, to take part in a Christmas Craft event. It had been organised by the Friends of Red House society and was very well attended. But, as I sat there helping my daughter to stick jigsaw pieces to card, I gave some thought to the future of the museum.

Red House Museum is in my ward and there is little secret to it being "under threat" due to the Conservative and Lib-Dem Government imposed spending cuts. It's a great shame that we may potentially lose use of this building.

There has been a lot of coverage in the local press about falling visitor numbers at Kirklees Museums and there is always going to be the "use it or loose it" element surrounding all our services. However, with museums I always believe it is important that even though we are not visiting them each weekend that they are there for future use.

That said, I have not had many Liversedge and Gomersal residents beating a path to my door to ask for the museum to be saved.  I am very curious to know how many in the ward would miss Red House if it were to be bought by a private owner. The only people who have contacted me expressing their concern have been from outside of the ward and branch members of the local Labour Party.

The suggestions that have come from them do not see the museum being run in its present form. Many seem to like the wedding venue plan and some even think it should be run as a cafe. All seem to think that preservation of the museums future is, at least in part, as a commercial concern. There does seem to be an understanding that in these hard times, there needs to be new thinking around how our museums are run. Or is the future based in the volunteer sector?

Maybe the real test of the publics love for these buildings is if they are willing to run them themselves.

Denby Dale Labour Party Select Candidate: John Clarkson

Emley man John Clarkson has been selected by members of Denby Dale Labour Party as their candidate for the 2014 Kirklees elections.

In Emley John is well-known for his voluntary & charitable work. He is a trustee of CISWO, the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, responsible for the management of the Emley Welfare Ground with its cricket & football facilities; and also of Emley Millennium Green.

Along with others John endeavours to look after the graveyard at Emley Church.
Recently he has played an active part in the campaign to bring better broadband to Emley & Emley Moor, along with other villages in Denby Dale/Kirkburton.

Until his retirement John was a principal officer of Kirklees Council, where he was responsible for 2 teams charged with the management of two land & property portfolios. This expertise will be invaluable in the battle to retain services and facilities in the face of draconian Government cuts.

Local Development Framework: The strange case of Pickles' “letter” to Reevell

It might have escaped the notice of the “packed” meeting listening to Simon Reevell MP, but the “Planning Inspector” is “Pickle’s Planning Inspector”, if he wishes to communicate with him he can pick up the phone. Surely  giving him instructions by writing a letter to local MP’s is not the most efficient method of communication. Remember we are where we are because the Inspector (Pickles Planning Inspector) acted on behalf of The Fat Controller in rejecting (or threatening to reject) the Kirklees LDF, on the grounds that Kirklees should not have believed The Fat Controller.

Related posts:

Planning Issues in Denby Dale: Piggeries and Pilling Lane
Denby Dale Planning Issues: an update from Cllr Graham Turner
Local Development Framework - Eric Pickles's Mess!

Denby Dale Planning Issues: an update from Cllr Graham Turner

Further to my previous post on Planning issues in Denby Dale, I wanted to keep residents up to date with the situation as it moves along

I spent Friday evening along with approximately 200 members of the public at a public meeting discussing the current planning applications and appeals made by Red Row, on the Strike Lane site  in Skelmanthorpe and Pilling Lane in Scissett.

Following this meeting I have had dozens of e mails from concerned residents and I am currently responding to them as quickly as possible.

I am planning to attend the public enquiry in Dewsbury Minster on the 10th of December, where the hearing into the Strike Lane site will be held.

Planning Update: Heckmondwike

There are two approvals this week, both for two story rear extensions at Park Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. Both were decided by Planning Officers as 90% of decisions are. There are two new applications, one for a flat over the Mini Market in Leeds Road and the other for an extension and a garage in Pitt Street.

You can search for the latest planning applications here.

Tribute to former Labour Councillor, George Speight

The opening sequence of the Kirklees Full Council meeting webcast, pays tribute to the fond memory of former Labour Councillor and Mayor of Kirklees, George Speight, who passed away recently. Click on the image below to view the tributes.

George Speight, Labour

Planning Issues in Denby Dale: Piggeries and Pilling Lane

Cllr Graham Turner, Labour

Planning issues are currently a major issue in the Denby Dale ward. We have had a new application submitted for 31 houses on a provisional open land site in the village of Denby Dale, on land just behind the new retirement home that is being built.

Details of this new assault on our green spaces is available as usual on the Kirklees Planning web site.

Our local MP is to hold a public meeting on the evening of the 6th of December at St. Agustines  Church  at 7pm to discuss the planning application for the land off Station Road, known locally as the Piggeries and the proposed development off Pilling Lane in Scissett.

A public appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the Piggeries site is to be held at Dewsbury Minster on the 10th of December and is scheduled for two days.

Redrow, who are looking to develop the Pilling Lane site have resubmitted their planning application for this site, and it is hoped that this new application will be heard at the Heavy Woollen Planning Committee on the 19th of December 2013.

Redrow have also appealed against the original decision not to grant them planning permission for the Pilling Lane site.

Clearly it will depend on the decision of the planning committee on the 19th as to whether the appeal against the original decision to refuse planning permission will be needed. If the appeal does go ahead then it is planned for January 2014.

Local Development Framework - Eric Pickles's Mess!

(Picture via the Morley Observer)

There is only one person responsible for the mess we are now in – Eric (I hate the North) Pickles.

Not Grant Shapps, who said before the election “If elected we will scrap LDF”. Not even the Under Minister who had secret meetings with KKAN (the not in anyone’s back yard pressure group), who told them you build as few houses as you want. And defiantly not Simon Reevell, who said “there will be no Local Development Framework” after all he is a lawyer so his concept of reality is different to ordinary people.

No, the fault is well and truly nestled in the ample body of Eric Pickles.

Eric said, soon after the election that he would scrap the targets for house building set in the RSS. Kirklees Council (all groups in agreement) took the decision to delay the submission of their plan until after the abolition of the targets, to allow for a smaller number of houses. Unfortunately Eric took over 2 years to fulfil his pledge to abolish the targets. In the meantime, with later consequences, he introduced a “Duty to Consult”. This was very late in the process.

So when Eric eventually got round to abolishing the targets, Kirklees submitted their plan. This was against the officers’ advice that there was a high risk that the Inspector would say there were not enough houses, and even with that warning the Conservative Group wanted an even lower target.

Also in the meantime, Eric changed the rules of how councils were funded; the only way that Councils could raise income to pay for its services, was to build more houses. True to form houses built in the South paid them twice as much money than houses built in the North.

Now we come to “Eric’s Inspector”. He, as our Officers predicted, decided we did not have enough houses in our plan. Rather than saying this clearly, obviously not wishing to expose his master’s duplicity, he tried to hide his views with nonsensical arguments around the “Duty to Consult”. What he is saying is that the fact that we moved away from the Targets, unlike other West Yorkshire Authorities, is evidence that we did not consult. Remember we did exactly the same consultation as Leeds, who has been deemed to have consulted properly. This is ignoring the fact that when we allegedly, did not consult, there was no duty to consult.

So now that we have no plan (the one that the Conservatives were going to abolish),local Conservative MPs  have a private meeting with Eric, to cobble together a statement that makes it look like they want to build less houses, to try to pin the blame on Kirklees for the mess engineered by Eric and Eric alone.

We should be asking him to come clean and tell us how many houses he wants us to build, rather than pose with objectors for Conservative leaflets and, rather than have secret meetings, he should spell out publicly what target he is setting us.

Golcar by-election 2013

Investment Opportunity: Former public toilets in Marsh!

The former public toilets in Marsh are to be auctioned off.

The property has a guide price of £20,000-plus and is being sold with the benefit of planning permission for change of use to A1 retail.

Other toilets are being considered for disposal but this is the only one which is currently at auction.

Tony Webber of Eddisons said: “We have received a very good response to the advertising and marketing of the public toilets off Westbourne Road in Marsh. The interest is from people who can recognise the commercial opportunity that the building offers."

Council leader Mehboob Khan, ward councillor for Marsh, said: “Marsh is a very vibrant centre with 60,000 cars a day passing through it. I am sure the property will get a high price and if any new investors come forward local councillors will look forward to working with them in the best interests of the local community.”

The full article can be found on the Huddersfield Examiner website.

Planning Round-up: Heckmondwike

A busy week this week, a Garage was approved in Headlands Close and 8 two bed apartments on the site of the Moorend Working Mans Club. House extensions have been approved in Fairfield Road and Clarkson Avenue and, in what I think is a first for Heckmondwike (the first I have noticed anyway), permission for an extension under the new rules, that say if no one objects in two weeks you can build an extension without planning permission.

 

Lets hope that the tag that has been suggested for this policy “Pickles Pig Sty” does not apply in this case on Church Lane!

An application regarding windows has been made in Victoria Street, there has also been application to alter permission given for an extension. We as local councillors have been involved with this case as the builder and architect seem to have applied for one thing and built another.

 

The planning process is proving very slow to react to this sort of thing and we are watching the outcome of this application very closely.

Click the link to search for Planning Applications.

Travel Agency in Heckmondwike to remain open

Great news that the Travel Agency is to stay open in Heckmondwike Town Centre. It was threatened with closure, but Cllr Steve Hall started a petition to try to save it from closure.

Steve said at the time “We are regular users off the agency. We prefer the service they give us to the internet or phone and hope that we can keep it open.”

Now that is has been announced that the manager is keeping the business going Steve said “Great news that it is to stay open. I hope local people will support the business, I am sure that once they have tried it they will realise how good the personal touch is. Like all local businesses they depend on local customers, if we want to keep our town centre, we have to use it”.
Links: Spenbourough Guardian article

Disgusting Rubbish!

Councillor Steve Hall has been working with SUSTRANS and council enforcement officers to try to find a solution to the disgusting amount of rubbish being thrown onto the ringway as it passes through the middle of Heckmondwike.

Steve says "The rubbish is obviously being dumped by local people, some thrown even from their own gardens. We have been trying to stop this for years, what we need is some successful prosecutions then we might get some reaction."