Homeless / Rough Sleepers Support agencies information

Homeless / Rough Sleepers Support agencies Support services for Huddersfield and Dewsbury It’s important that the public campaign highlights the services out in the community.   Your Change can help more than one person-support a local charity     SUPPORT NOBODY NEEDS TO BEG. NOBODY NEEDS TO BE HUNGRY OR HOMELESS IN HUDDERSFIELD If you need HELP please contact any of the support services below   Housing Solutions

Kirklees Council Huddersfield Customer Service Centre Civic Centre 3, Market Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2YX Mon-Thur 9am-5pm, Friday 10am-5pm                 Housing Solutions/Homelessness/Tenancy/        Council Tax/Housing Benefits Enquiries                 Homeless – 01484 221350   Fusion Housing, 2nd Floor, Pearl Assurance House, John William St, Huddersfield                Mon, Tues, Thur & Fri 10am-12 noon & 1pm-3pm            Free confidential advice on all housing and housing-related matters.                                                                               Housing support to people aged 16-30 Learning Opportunities   Basement Project, Union Bank Yard, New Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2BP  Support for substance and alcohol misuse Drop-in at breakfast club every Thursday 9:30am-12pm Signing posting local services for housing, benefit Advice and mental health

Huddersfield Methodist Mission, 3-13 Lord St , Huddersfield Support homeless people with meals, clothes, housing advice   Homeless Hostel Clare House, 19, Clare Hill, Huddersfield, 20 beds providing accommodation for homeless people and support. Referral only from Housing Solutions Rough Sleepers Referral Service Night Shelter open when the temperature is below 0°C   CHART (Choices for Health, Addiction and Recovery Team) 2 St Peter’s Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1RA Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm

Kirklees Council responds to the current refugee crisis

Cllr Erin Hill

Kirklees Council has responded to the current refugee crisis. Labour Cabinet member Cllr Erin Hill, who is responsible for family support and child protection said:

“People are escaping countries and regimes where some of the worst human rights abuses in the world take place, and where war, hunger, absolute poverty and fear are constant. We must work with national government, faith communities and aid agencies to respond to what is now a humanitarian crisis. Together we have to find a way, collectively, to respond quickly and provide proper support for refugees.

“In and amongst the international politics are real human tragedies. Many refugees have seen parents, siblings and children die in front of them, either as a result of conditions and atrocities in their homeland, or of the difficult journey to Europe.  We have heard reports of whole families trying to survive on 200ml of water a day. Others have suffocated in the backs of lorries. We cannot stand by and let this happen.

“This is not a debate about open door immigration. It is about us providing a home – as Britain has done in the past - to desperate refugees.

“Kirklees is committed wholeheartedly to supporting these efforts. We are currently looking at practical ways we can assist with this crisis. There will be a point where, perhaps through the Local Government Association, we have to ask government for help with the costs, but that time is not right now. Our efforts now must be to offer the safe haven these desperate families need.”

Labour nationally has responded to the crisis with Yorkshire MP Yvette Cooper writing an open letter to David Cameron today calling for more decisive action nationally. But the practical response has to come from every region and every local authority to be effective.

Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, said today “I am proud that our Labour council has shown such decisive and compassionate political leadership. This is a human crisis that requires a human response, and we will do our bit to house these refugees. If every council offered to help, we would only need places for 10 families in each local authority.” 

David Cameron has today bowed under public and political pressure to house more asylum seekers in Britain, following an outpouring of public donations and social media support for the refugees.

 

Permit Parking

There appears to have been some considerable focus recently stirred up by opposition groups in regard to permit parking in Kirklees. So as to minimise this confusion and keep the public clearly informed, new leader of the Labour Group, Cllr David Sheard explains below:

"Just to clarify, there was no budget amendment, the budget proposal said "Recovery of administration costs of permit parking schemes"

"That could be achieved by removing the schemes altogether, or by reducing the admin charges for instances making the permits last longer or changing the way they are issued.

"Remember they are only being asked to pay for the admin charges because they get a service that the majority of residents don't get."

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

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

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.

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.

Festival of Light’s 2013

Huddersfield’s 10th Festival of Light is shaping up to be the best yet.

Visitors can expect amazing, interactive light installations that put you right at the heart of the action; food and drink, live music and all of the wacky street theatre that we’re famous for.

The event will run from 6 – 8 December and this year.

 

The rest of this story can be found on Cllr Mehboob Khan's site.