Blog Update April 17th 2017
Apologies that it has been a while since my last update….a busy workload of late !
Listed are meetings and events I have attended recently.
2 Planning Control Meetings—no contentious issues in our Ward of late, however Victoria Mill at Walshaw now has Planning approval for conversion into 13 apartments. I am very supportive of creating homes from defunct employment sites.
PACT meeting (Police and Community together) Residents warned to be vigilant as a spate of burglaries in various areas north of the borough.
Council Budget Meeting.
St John’s AGM
BRIF (Bury Rural Inequalities Meeting)
The Deaf Society AGM
Events Group for the Blind Society.
Attended weekly meetings of the newly formed Friends of Tottington Library to fight the closure.
Township Forum (Proposals to close Tottington Library was the main issue, more details on this topic later in my update)
The Police were present and distributed booklets on “scams” …..coincidently that day I had been informed that my credit card had been used fraudulently! Thank goodness I did not have to pay for the criminals spending spree!
My recent efforts for local charities have included:
Attending meetings and helping to organise a Lancashire Night for Bury Hospice. It was a big success raising over £2300. Name the ferret and the Black Pudding raffle brought a few laughs!
Monday mornings spent as usual at Bury Blind Society preparing for events. I volunteered on a Mothers Day Gift Wrapping stall and helped to raise over £500.
Busy collecting and preparing for Halloween Tombola for the Deaf Society.
I have spent many hours over many weeks collecting second hand clothes and planning for the charity fashion show this coming Friday at Elton Liberal Club commencing at 7 pm.Pay on the door as a few tickets@ £5 still available. Lots of bargains for sale on the evening. All proceeds to help with the refurb of St John’s Church.
I accompanied Blind Society Members on a social evening to a local restaurant.
I attended a Celebration Party for Blind Society members and volunteers at the Fusiliers Museum.
I assisted with a Blind Society fundraising Quiz Night.
Ward Case Work
Concerns over the lack of any consultation re the withdrawal of the toning tables at Castle Leisure.
Dustbins being missed at various locations including Booth Street and Ash Grove
Application for a tipping Licence in a residential area, refused.
Complaints of lack of street cleaning and maintenance on Boothway-ongoing.
Residents repeatedly sneakily using neighbours skip.
Complaints re Island Lodge being contaminated –ongoing in the hands of United Utilities.
Complaints of parking on yellow lines on Bury Road near the corner of Sunnywood Drive.
Flooding concerns mid March on Sunnybower, thankfully no damage.
Blocked grids on Harwood Road.
Reported pot holes in various locations including High St, Holly St and Rhode St.-some repaired…more complaints regarding the poor standard of repairs.
Assured new signage for Kirklees Trail to be sorted by a volunteer.
Supported an appeal for a Blue Badge- successful outcome.
Tottington Library
This very important issue has taken much time over the past couple of months. After an online petition and hard copies in village shops we collected over a thousand signatures.
I and Ward colleagues had meetings with Council Officers who painted a very bleak picture…however your Tottington Cllrs are prepared to work hard to SAVE OUR LIBRARY!
Council Officers informed us that we shall need in excess of £22.000 per annum for overheads. The Council also informed us that the building needs £100.000 in repairs over the next 3 years. One of our committee members is a Quantity Surveyor and is eager to see the breakdown of the figures to advise us accordingly. However as a Grade 2 listed building we are confident that we could apply for funding to Trusts Funds for necessary repairs.
We appealed for volunteers, organised meetings and set up a committee of local residents with a variety of skills and Friends of Tottington Library was formed. We have met weekly.
My Ward colleague Iain has drawn up a constitution and a bank account has been established. Iain has also put together a business plan. Members of the group have organised a street collection licence and collection boxes will be in many local shops.
We and committee members delivered an IN TOUCH leaflet throughout the Ward updating residents with campaign progress re the Library.
Recruiting volunteers shall be constant; there are a variety of roles available. Just a few hours a week are required .Want to know more? Contact us or our Volunteer Coordinator Janis on 01204 882490 for more details and application forms.
We have now organised 2 fundraising events, a Wine Tasting Evening on Thursday May 18th in the Library. Tickets are limited and are £18.50 each.
On June 23rd we are holding a Quiz Night at Elton Liberal Club. £5 each includes tasty supper. Teams of 4.
For tickets again please contact Janis.
Our thanks to The Village Butcher Mark who is to sponsor a banner which shall be proudly displayed at Greenmount Village Day…with our collection buckets!
Residents have suggested a Cafe in the Library….do you know of anyone who would be interested in this business opportunity?
A self contained office could be available for rent. Do you know a company who could be interested? Please pass on and contact us with any questions.
Finally the very best of news came this week……we have received a donation of £15.000 YES FIFTEEN THOUSAND POUNDS for our first years overheads….BUT we shall have to constantly fundraise to keep the Library open.
We can only succeed with the support of the community !
Yvonne 17th April 2017
Tottington Councillors 