It’s that time of the year, as the nights draw in and we all look forward to Christmas that the Council starts to focus more on keeping us safe during whatever the weather may throw at us. Clearing snow is one of those and we get our major roads gritted but not all of the district is covered and of course we have a range of grit bins dotted across the village.
Snow Wardens
Kirklees are now looking to roll out another initiative for people who would like to get involved – Snow Wardens.
Snow Wardens are volunteers who are willing to help the community by undertaking some gritting when the need arises. Volunteers, both single residents or community groups can join the scheme and will receive a “grit kit” including a shovel, shoe grips, a hi-vis vest, grit shakers and a supply of grit to enable them to clear snow and ice from their local area which is not included in the gritting routes.
The volunteers can choose when and where to grit, looking at local conditions, they may volunteer to grit their road or a busy junction or pavement. Anyone who would like to know more or join the scheme can do so by contacting [email protected].
WOVEN Festival
Getting involved in the community is not for everyone, but there are many different ways to join in. At the moment I am working with a project team who are putting together the plans for next year’s WOVEN festival and one of the new initiatives behind this is to encourage communities like our to “grow colour together”. This initiative encourages groups and individuals to grow plants which can be used as natural dyes, to promote the use of these over chemical dyes and I hope the plants can be harvested and used to make something.
I have a meeting in November at Kirkburton Library to which I have invited a range of groups from across the Kirkburton ward and I hope that this will be the start of a wonderful initiative. As I have been an advocate of Woven since its inception 4 years ago, the Council has agreed that the Kirkburton ward that I represent will be one of 3 areas in Kirklees to receive extra support which has been funded by the Arts Council and will hopefully enable local artists to get involved, so watch this space.
Highway Progress
I’ve also made some progress with Highways on the issues that were raised back in the summer at the public meeting on traffic. I have secured the funding for double yellow lines to be installed at the turning circle on Firth Street, to reduce the risks to children of poor parking by the school. This is going through a legal process, a traffic regulation order, but hopefully will be delivered in the new year. The additional Speed Indicator Device should be in place on Marsh Lane by the time you read this, the one on Lane Head Road will also have been moved elsewhere in the ward but we will always have one and often two in the village and also in November the resurfacing work should finally begin on Knowle Park Ave.
Also by the time you read this the work should have started on the first of three phases of the improvements to children’s play areas in the village which have been a long time coming and a welcome Christmas present for our children.
Finally, I would like to wish all residents a Wonderful Christmas and New Year and hope I’ll get to see a number of you at the various events in the village during December.
John
