Cllr Cahal Burke with Police at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary Police room.

HOSPITAL staff and patients can report crimes in a new police room.

The contact point was opened in the accident and emergency department of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Sgt Simon Short, of Huddersfield North Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Officers are regular visitors to the hospital so the idea of having a police room made perfect sense.

“The room will enable us to have more immediate contact with people visiting the hospital who may want to report crimes to the police.”

Lindley Lib Dem Clr Cahal Burke welcomed the contact point.

He said: “I have been supporting this project for a long time and I am pleased we have eventually secured the funding.

“This base will benefit all the users of the hospital and will be a key contact point for the residents of the Lindley area.”

West Yorkshire Police

Cllr Cahal Burke concerned about vulnerability of Europrofile Locks.

We have now reached the point that over 25% of House burglaries within the Kirklees Division have been committed by the offenders snapping the Europrofile Locking Barrels on UPVC Doors.

In view of this Dave Whitteron (Burglary Reduction Officer) will be attending an event at the Lindley Library at 6pm on Thursday 6th October, to explain the problem to you and provide you with solutions.

PCSO Tariq will also be attending and we will have Sash (Security) Jammers on sale at the event at a cost of £3 each.

Everybody welcome.

Lindley Ward Neighbourhood Policing:
http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt/area.asp?id=122

Cllr Cahal Burke welcomes the Acre Street/Lidget Street road improvements.

I am delighted to inform you that much needed highway improvements will be taking place on Acre Street/Lidget Street in Lindley on September 26 and road users and visitors to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary are being advised of changes to bus services and access.

The hospital has been consulted about the temporary evening closures of the road from 6.30pm to 11pm between its junctions with Temple Street and New Hey Road until October 14.

Access for accident and emergency and other visitors will be signed via Occupation Road but pedestrian access will be maintained along Acre Street.

The hospital has also agreed to allow temporary parking at the Acre Mills temporary hospital car park for residents of Acre Street who will temporarily lose their on-street parking during the work.

Local businesses have been written to about the work but will be open as usual during the closure period and local people have been informed. The road will be closed Monday to Friday from 6.30pm to 11pm between September 26 and Oct 14.

Bus route changes

There will be no bus services along Lidget Street/Acre Street between September 28 and 30 and October 6, October 7 and October 13. Buses for the hospital will be stopping on Thornhill Road and New Hey Road on these dates.

Bus diversion routes are as follows during weekday evenings from 6.30pm to 11pm between September 26 and October 14.

Service 370 from Huddersfield will operate normally as far as Lidget Street, then via Occupation Road and Thornhill Road and resume its normal route at Westbourne Road. Service 371 will follow this diversion in the opposite direction.

Services 372 and 501 will operate normally as far as Westbourne Road, then via Thornhill Road and Occupation Road, resuming its normal route at Lidget Street.

When Lidget Street and Acre Street are closed together:
Service 370 will operate as normal to West Street/Lidget Street junction then via East Street, New Hey Road and Thornhill Road and resume its normal route at Westbourne Road. Service 371 will follow this diversion in reverse.

Service 372 will terminate at Marsh Bay Horse.
Service 501 will operate via Edgerton Road and East Street and will then resume its normal route at West Street.

K Line services 319 343 360 366 and 368 and Stotts service 388 will be unaffected by these works as they do not operate in the evenings.

Cllr Cahal Burke & Cllr Christine Stanfield walking the kirklees way for charity.

The 14 members of Kirklees Liberal Democrat Council Group are going to walk the length of the Kirklees Way to raise money for the Mayor’s Charity – the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust – over the weekend of 24 and 25th September.

Members of the Group and supporters will each walk a section of the 72 mile/116 kilometre long circular walking route that goes around the Kirklees borders taking them through historic towns, picturesque villages, moor land, woodland and past many significant sites.

The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice exists to provide care and support for children in the Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield areas with life-limiting conditions. Moneys raised on the walk will go to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal, which this year is supporting the important work of the Trust.

Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Eric Firth said:

“When I became Mayor back in May I asked my Councillor colleagues to support my Charity Appeal, and I have been overwhelmed by the support they have shown. The walk the Liberal Democrat Group are undertaking is the latest fundraiser, and I wish them well. I am very grateful for their support, and for the support of other Council colleagues for this very worthy charity. The hospice is due to be completed by the end of 2011, and with the cost of building and equipping in the region of £2.5m, there is clearly much to be done. Anyone wishing to help my appeal should contact the Mayor’s Office on 01484 221904/5.”

Cllr Cahal Burke - opposed to development on Lindley Moor

I have fought this application for the Data Centre and the Housing, a month ago the application for the Data Centre was presented to the planning committee for decision this was approved, despite the fact that it will not bring as many jobs as suggested and have a big negative impact on our area. The decision for the housing (294 of them) was deferred with a vote taken which rejected the officers recommendations to allow the application to proceed.

On the 22nd of September the planning committee met again to make a decision on the housing application, members of the public were unsure on the procedure and what would happen, as they and most thought it would simply go to the committee to decide the reason for refusal which was outlined in the report. However this was not the case and the application was again presented in full to the committee with everyone again given the opportunity to speak. It is a shame the procedure for the meeting wasn’t made public so that everyone had a fair and equal opportunity to prepare, I myself was only informed on the 21st of September of this despite asking for clarification for weeks, so disappointing. I have issues with the procedure of the meeting and the conduct of individuals. Also the fact that, a potential appeal was being used to persuade members to agree to the application! The committee voted again on valid reasons for refusal but this was voted against and they then voted to accept the officer’s recommendations, on this occasion it was passed.

Labour are intent on building on every green field we have in Kirklees, but will they object in places like the Greenhead ward? Will we end up with more deserted sites? Once they start on these green fields they are lost and gone forever despite having many Brownfield sites available in Kirklees.

We need to create jobs and build homes but lets be sensible and use Brownfield sites first, lets listen to the community and give them a voice not just the option to agree but the voice to disagree.

I am really disappointed by the Lindley Moor decision, for Lindley Moor Action Group and all the residents who were opposed to this development. I will always give a voice to the people and make your concerns heard, because I am on your side, unfortunately on this occasion it fell on deaf ears.

We now take the next step in our objection to this development.

Cllr Cahal Burke - opposed to development on Lindley Moor

Further consideration of proposed reasons for refusal for application 2011/91519/W2 – Full application for residential development 294 Units and associated works, Cowrakes Road/ Weatherhill Road, Lindley, Huddersfield reported to Planning Sub-Committee (Huddersfield Area) on 11th August 2011.

The Planning Sub-Committee (Huddersfield Area) will meet in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Huddersfield, HD1 2TA at 10:00am on Thursday 22 September 2011.

Item 8 on the Agenda (Application 2011/91519 – Lindley Moor, Huddersfield) will be considered at the commencement of the meeting at 10.00am. No other planning applications will be considered until 1.00pm at the earliest. It is proposed that there will be a break for lunch and that the latest time for lunch will be from 12.15pm to 1.00pm.

MATTERS FOR DECISION

8: Application 2011/91519 – Full Application for Residential Development (294 Units) and Associated Works, Including Demolition of Existing Buildings, Construction of New Access from Cowrakes Road and Weatherhill Road, Footpaths, Drainage, Earth Works, Provision of Public Open Space and Landscaping at Cowrakes Road/Weatherhill Road, Lindley, Huddersfield.

The Sub-Committee will give further consideration to proposed reasons for the refusal of Application 2011/91519.

Councillor for Lindley, Cahal Burke and Huddersfield North NPT , Sgt Simon Short.

Twenty bins bags containing the remnants of cannabis plants together with bags of compost, bottles of fertiliser and packaging for fans were discovered behind a wall on Crosland Road, Lindley Moor, on Monday evening.

The stash was fly-tipped a short distance from another collection of cannabis growing paraphernalia which was found on Weatherhill Road last week. It is not known if the two incidents are related but police believe both are from cannabis farms.

Both hoards were discovered by Lindley councillor Cahal Burke after reports from residents.

Clr Burke said: “I am extremely concerned as this is the second dumping of a similar nature related to cannabis found in the Lindley area within the space of a week. I am grateful to local residents who are reporting suspicious findings and also for the police who have responded immediately and are now investigating the matter.”

Police have now launched an appeal for information about both incidents. Sgt Simon Short, of Lindley Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “I would like to reassure people in the local community that we are taking these incidents very seriously.”

Lindley Neighbourhood Policing Team

Cllr Cahal Burke on Acre Street Lindley which will be the subject of major improvements.

I am delighted to inform you that much needed highway improvements will be taking place on Acre Street Lindley.

To carry out the resurfacing safely, Highways will be working under road closures during the working week between 7pm and 11pm. This work is expected to start from 26 September 2011 for the approximate period of 3 weeks (18.30-23.00 only).

Road closures – Acre Street/Lidget Street, Lindley
j/o A640 New Hey Road to j/o East Street

The diversionary routes will be:- 1. A640 New Hey Road, Thornhill Road, A629 Halifax Road, East Street and vice versa. 2. A640 New Hey Road, Moor Hill Road, Cowrakes Road, West Street and vice versa.
The extent of this improvement work means that disruption is unavoidable but we may be able to help with problems such as access, mobility or any deliveries you may be expecting. Please also tell us about any known problems with recurring drainage blockages or standing water on the road.

The Council has served a Section 58 notice to restrict future work from being carried out in Acre Street. In this case, the restriction is for five years after the resurfacing work has been completed. This means that the resurfaced area cannot be dug-up again within this period, apart from new connections for utilities supplies; emergency or urgent works; works for health or safety reasons; or where the council gives its consent.

Please ring: 01484 416449 with any questions or comments, or you can email:
Katherine.hunt@kirklees.gov.uk.
If you need to contact Highways outside office hours, you can ring Streetscene Customer Care on: 0800 731 8765.
If you have any questions about the construction work, please ring Simon Atkinson on: 01924 326142 or you can email: simon.atkinson@kirklees.gov.uk.

Cllr Cahal Burke: “I encourage local people to use this method to report incidents and also to provide intelligence to the police.

The residents of Lindley Ward (Birchencliffe, Birkby, Lindley, Marsh, Mount, Oakes, Salendine Nook and Quarmby) will now be able to contact the police using newly acquired community suggestion boxes.

A joint initiative by the Lindley Community Group and West Yorkshire Police will allow residents to raise their concerns at various busy and well-used locations throughout the Lindley ward.

Cllr Cahal Burke has been involved in securing agreement from various well used buildings in order to secure the location of these boxes.

There are now 6 secure boxes displayed in some of the busiest areas of the following buildings:-

* Huddersfield Royal Infirmary A&E Department
* Lindley Library and Information Centre
* Salendine Nook Shopping Centre
* New College Reception
* Birchencliffe Community Centre
* Mount Methodist Church

Cllr Cahal Burke says: “I encourage local people to use this method to report incidents and also to provide intelligence to the police.

As chair of the Lindley Community Group, I am pleased to say that we have been successful in funding this useful project. It will be a really useful way for residents from across the ward to keep in touch with their local police. Information obtained from these suggestion boxes will be collected and actioned on a weekly basis.

I am very grateful to the 3 Lindley ward, Police Community Support Officer’s who will be tasked with emptying the boxes on a weekly basis and dealing with any information obtained as per West Yorkshire Police guidelines. The community suggestion boxes will compliment all the good work already being done by the police across the ward.”

Police Sergeant Simon Short also commented: “This facility provides an additional way for members of the community to contact their local Neighbourhood Policing Team. My aim is to make local officers as accessible as possible and to ensure that any information received, is acted upon promptly and effectively.”

The Community Suggestion Boxes allow persons to contact the police anonymously if preferred by the reporting person. Alternatively, they will have the opportunity of providing their contact details and requesting feedback.

Cllr Cahal Burke at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

NEW figures show the NHS is making nearly a £¼m a year from parking charges at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Councillors last night called on health bosses to donate a per centage of the windfall to help Lindley residents hit by new charges from Kirklees Council.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Hospitals Trust made £239,257 in parking charges at the infirmary in 2010/11 – up 27% on the £187,596 generated the year before. The figures were revealed following a Freedom of Information Act request.

The first 20 minutes parking at the hospital is free. A stay of up to two hours costs drivers £1.50.
A visit of between two and four hours costs £2.50 while motorists must pay £5 to stay longer than four hours.

Lindley Lib Dem councillors yesterday called on the trust to donate around 10% of the parking windfall to help residents who live round the hospital.

Kirklees Council intend to charge people £30 a year for residents-only parking permits, which had previously been free.

The move affects 8,675 car-owners in 160 parts of Kirklees – including people who live near HRI.
Lindley Lib Dem Clr Cahal Burke wants the trust to pay for permit passes on 10 streets around the hospital at a cost of £21,240 a year.

He said: “After the decision to introduce charges was taken, a number of residents asked whether the council would speak to the hospital about it contributing some of the money it gets from the pay and display car parks.

“The total cost to the hospital would be 8.9% of the money they take in from parking.”

Clr Burke is collecting petition signatures from residents of Acre House Avenue, Victoria Street, Cressfield Road, Burwood Road, King Street, Wellington Street, Acre Street, Thornhill Avenue, Gibson Street and Union Street.

“We are helping the residents to put this to the Cabinet collectively via the petition which we will present at a future council meeting,” said Clr Burke.

“It is then up to the Cabinet to decide whether to speak to the hospital. Part of our role as councillors is to help people engage with the decisions affecting their lives and this is what we are doing.”

“The hospital clearly has money it draws from its car parks, which is entirely separate from the money it uses for patient care.”