Cllr Cahal Burke improving road safety near our schools

Ongoing efforts to improve road safety outside of Moorlands Primary in Mount have been boosted by the introduction of a 20mph zone outside the School.

The scheme came into force on Friday 6 September, covers the whole length of Moorlands Road, Moorlands Crescent and Shannon Drive and involves signage and one flat top speed hump to complement existing traffic calming feature.

Funding for the scheme was secured from Huddersfield Area Committee by Cllr Cahal Burke (Lib Dem, Lindley Ward) who undertook to set up the project in response to the concerns of parents, residents and school staff. The scheme has cost in the region £15k.

As part of the scheme, specially produced 20mph signs designed by pupils from the school have been situated along the length of the zone encouraging drivers to obey the new restrictions.

The introduction of the 20mph scheme is the latest element in a package of works to improve road safety outside the school.

Over two Years ago, following negotiations with the Council by Lib Dem Councillors for the area, Huddersfield YMCA generously gave permission for their car park to be used as part of a “Park n Stride” scheme. The scheme aimed to reduce the amount of traffic on Moorlands Road at peak times by getting parents to park up a little distance away and make the remainder of the journey by foot. The scheme has proved very popular and successful and has been supported and promoted to parents by the School. The School also has a daily Crossing Patrol while the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Council’s Traffic Enforcement Team have also regularly visited the School to ensure parents are obeying the traffic regulations outside the school gates.

Cllr Cahal Burke – Councillor for Lindley Ward said:

“The introduction of the 20mph zone and the children’s signs are the latest elements in a package of things we done over the last few years to improve road safety outside Moorlands Primary. In addition to the 20mph zone and signs, traffic calming is now in place along the road and a “Park n Stride” scheme set up with the help and support of the YMCA. The School has an ongoing commitment to working with and educating parents and pupils about road safety as well as having an excellent Crossing Patrol. The Council’s Enforcement Team and the Police also provide support to the School which we are very grateful for. Collectively our goal is to make the roads around the school safer and happier places to be and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

Every month more than 1,000 British children are injured on roads near schools. In these incidents speed can be the key factor that determines whether a child will survive. Bringing the speed limit down to 20mph outside schools is the right thing to do and I would like to see it happen elsewhere as well.

Thanks have to go to everyone at the school, the parents, the crossing patrol, the police, the council and residents for their support. Thanks also need to go to the YMCA for supporting the “Park n Stride” scheme which has had a big impact. We will now be monitoring closely people’s observance of the new speed limits and working with the council and the police to make sure the it is enforced.”

Janet Thornton – Deputy Head, Moorlands Primary School said:

“The 20mph enforcement and additional traffic calming is a welcome addition in support of the safety of the children at Moorlands. Involving the children in designing the signs supported their understanding of the need for parents and other drivers to slow down and take extreme care near school.”

Cllr Burke improving road safety near our schools

Cllr Burke supporting recycling in our area.

A new bottle bank site has been set up at Birchencliffe Cricket Club to better serve residents in the surrounding areas. Residents can now recycle clear, green and brown glass at the site.

Since kerbside glass collections were abandoned by the Council in March 2013, Residents living in Birchencliffe and other parts of Lindley Ward on the Birkby side of Halifax Road have had to travel into the centre of Lindley Village to deposit their glass for recycling. Local residents took up the matter with their local Councillor Cahal Burke (Lib Dem) complaining that the existing recycling points were too far from their homes and that their location created other problems in terms of being able to easily drop off recyclables.

Cllr Burke said:

“Having abandoned kerbside glass collections the Council has a responsibility to ensure people have easy access to recycling points so that we keep up local recycling rates. While Lindley Village is a convenient place for lots of people it is less so for those who live in other parts of the wards. It is also of little use to those who do not have a car or find it difficult to walk a great distance, such as older people or those with a disability. I am really pleased that we have been able to set up a new recycling point at Birchencliffe and am happy to work with residents to find other suitable locations if they get in touch.”

In addition to securing the new recycling point, Cllr Burke has also succeeded in ensuring the council will more closely monitor the bottle banks and increase the number of times the most used bottle banks are emptied. People who want to find out about recycling in Kirklees including the location of their nearest glass recycling point can visit: http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/yourproperty/wasteRecycling.aspx

Cllr Cahal Burke and Lindley Community Group

Lindley Community Group – organisers of the Lindley Carnival and Lindley 10K charity running event – have presented a cheque for £1000 to the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, the Group’s selected charity for this year’s weekend extravaganza of community events.

The Group raised the £1000 through collections at the Carnival and at 10K. The cheque was presented to Sam Wood from the Hospice outside of the Forget Me Not Charity Shop in Lindley by Community Group Chair Cllr Cahal Burke and other members of Lindley Community Group.

Lindley Carnival took place on Saturday 29 June on the Fernlea Playing Fields. It was the popular events sixth year in a row after being reinvented in 2008 after an absence of 33 years.

This year’s carnival was officially opened by Lindley resident Mark Lillis who is Academy Manager with Huddersfield Town. The day saw over 1000 local residents enjoying performances from Lindley Brass Band and Lindley Junior School & Infant School choirs, food, drink, entertainments and activities for the whole family.

While the Carnival has reached its sixth anniversary, the Lindley 10K charity running event took place for the first time on the Sunday following the Carnival. Over 300 people took part in the 10K and fun run raising money for their selected charities.

Both events this year had been made possible by the volunteer members of Lindley Community Group which draws its membership from local churches, schools and businesses along with the funding and support of local sponsors and businesses. The Group now provide support to other Community Groups looking to replicate their successes.

Cllr Cahal Burke, Lib Dem Councillor and Chair of Lindley Community Group said:

“Lindley Community Group has worked really hard this year to deliver a weekend of events that people could get involved in and enjoy. None of it would have been possible without their hard work or without the continuing support of local businesses, the council, our sponsors and everyone who volunteered over the weekend. We are already planning next year’s carnival and are looking at running the 10K event for a second time. We’re all very happy to be able to present the cheque for £1000 to the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice which does invaluable work with children and families across the whole of Kirklees.”

If people want to get involved in the work of Lindley Community Group they can find out more here: http://www.lindleygroup.org.uk

Cllr Cahal Burke tackling dog fouling issues

Area Committee for Huddersfield approves funding of £1100 to tackle the problem of dog fouling in Lindley Ward.

Cllr Cahal Burke (Lib Dem) says:

“Dog mess is an eyesore and a health hazard, particularly in parks and play areas used by children. Time and time again, I have been asked by local residents to do something about this issue. Therefore, I am pleased that the Area Committee has agreed to provide funding of £1100 to tackle the problem.

I agree that the majority of dog owners are responsible people and will clear up any mess their dogs make in public areas. However, it is the minority that spoil it and require further action to be taken by the Council. We can’t sit back and hope the problem will go away, therefore this funding will enable provision of six ‘DIY’ dispensers and also disposal bags to be located at key places throughout the ward.

The provision of dispensers and disposal bags will just be part of an overall approach to tackle the problem. I will be working closely with Dog Wardens and residents to promote responsible dog ownership. However, if it is considered necessary, I will be looking for fines to be issued to offenders.”

Dog owners have a legal duty to clean up after their dogs. This means that anyone in charge of a dog commits an offence when they do not clean up any fæces left by their pet. The person responsible can be issued with a fixed penalty notice or prosecuted in the Magistrates Court where a fine of up to £1,000 can be issued.

People can find out how to report any dog fouling in their by area by visiting the Council’s website:-http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/animals/dogsFouling.shtml

Cllr Burke against Proposal for new housing development on Lindley Moor

You may be aware that an application will soon be submitted to the Council to construct 31 houses on land on Lindley Moor Road.

I am concerned regarding the impact on local infrastructure, schools, roads etc. The local schools are already full and one needs a portable building to accommodate the children already living in Lindley. This situation can only get worse if this development is allowed.

Once the application has been listed it can be viewed on the Kirklees Council website at www2.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/application_search/default.aspx

Once listed If you wish to make a comment on this application you can email planning at planning.contactcentre@kirklees.gov.uk, comment on the Council website at

www2.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/application_search/yourviews.aspx
or write to the Planning Department at:
Civic 3, Market Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2EY quoting the above planning application number.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION NOW:

http://kirkleeslibdems.org.uk/LindleyMoor

Cllr Cahal Burke promoting Lindley

Great to see our village featured in this months Yorkshire Life magazine! I was delighted to promote our village and speak about everything that is great about where we live.

“There is so much to love about this Huddersfield suburb”