Fruit Trees
Hopefully everyone will now be aware the Parish Council have offered a limited supply of fruit trees to village members. If you are interested please let me know what you would prefer Apple, Cherry, Plum or Pear so they can be ordered before 31st March. Trees are only £10 each and 100% of the money will go back into the village.
Traffic and Parking
Kirklees, Highways have finally confirmed the work order to white line parking bays in the playing field car park which should hopefully improve parking although I’m not sure how wise it was letting me design them… what could possibly go wrong!?! I am embarrassed to say after all efforts I still do not have the latest date for speed reductions through the village although the work order has been signed.
Libraries Day
The SVA and other village groups were invited to exhibit for libraries day. The SVA display showed some of the fantastic restoration and regeneration work already completed in the last 12 months on the war memorial and woods, the new bridge and stream, benches and planting as well as some of the future plans in the village including the memorial wood planting schedule, benches, Skate Park, wildflower meadow verges etc. The Co-op generously supplied a fantastic spread but with very few people attending, some of us had far too many buns.
Village Communication
The opinion of the editor of the village magazine and a few attending our last meeting is that the Shepley community Facebook page with some 530 members cannot be used as one of the tools to keep the village informed of SVA activities or gauge opinion. All except two people present at the meeting are members of the page. There were also complaints from some that they were not aware of some of the items/issues discussed and debated over the last year, particularly the living Christmas tree that has been included in 6 previous monthly updates. We will continue to use every method available to keep the village informed of SVA activities and achievements. But if anyone can think of better or additional ways to keep the village up-to date with SVA activities and debates other than the already used village noticeboard, village website, community Facebook page, village magazine and of course the monthly meetings, please let me know… and no we don’t have the funds for a town crier!
Living Christmas tree
The debate for an economically and environmentally friendly living Christmas tree and possible alternative site in the village centre, in response to a minority objection, was very popular in the initial stages of consultation with the village and received a lot of very positive responses, unfortunately the group attending the last SVA meeting didn’t agree and voted against further action regardless of village opinion.
Woodland Trust wildlife trees
There has been further vandalism and thefts of Woodland Trust saplings from the memorial woods. If anyone witnesses the perpetrator of these disgusting and immature acts or has any information please contact myself or PCSO Sharon Rostron (Sharon.Rostron@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk) in confidence.
Planning and Development on Open Spaces
The SVA secretary, John Taylor will be submitting a complaint to Kirklees on behalf of the village in an attempt to call for full consultation on plans and development of green and open spaces in Shepley. Kirklees have recently raised a planning application to develop the ‘sledging field’ on Cliffe Road without consultation. Permission has already been granted for a third tennis court on our only remaining recreation ground. It is important that the village get full consultation and consideration regarding development on all our green spaces whether plans are suitable or not.
Shepley Community Plan 2015
The suggested community plan to improve and protect all areas of Shepley from further development especially the few remaining open spaces in the village received minimal support from the SVA meeting because it is complicated and people are busy. Hopefully with the help of the Locality group, who have won a £32 million contract from the Department for Communities and Local Government to help develop these community action plans throughout the country, we will be able to overcome these obstacles. This would involve a group of positive forward thinking people with a healthy interest in Shepley.
Next meeting Tuesday 17th March 7.30pm in the library
Current SVA Minutes, Agenda and Update published on the village website and village noticeboard
Any concerns regarding the SVA, village activities or if you want to get involved please do not hesitate to contact me or feel free to attend the next meeting. Andy Scott - andrewrjscott@hotmail.co.uk Chair Shepley village association