Northowram & Shelf Ward Forum For more information, go to www.halifaxnorthandeast.com; email team@halifaxnorthandeast.com; or ring 01422 255402 M e e t i n g N o t e Date: Wednesday 10 December 2014 Venue: Wade House Youth and Community Centre, Shelf Present: Cliff Organ (Chair), Councillor Stephen Baines; Councillor Peter Caffrey; PC Andrew Bingham and PCSO Sarah Conderson (West Yorkshire Police); Mark Brazil (CMBC); Heather Stout (North and East Halifax Neighbourhood Team). 8 Residents Apologies: Councillor Roger Taylor 1 Welcome and introductions 1.1 Cliff Organ welcomed everyone to the meeting. 2 Amendments to the previous minutes 2.1 Item 3.2 - Shelf & District Community Group is not supporting a new skate park 2.2 Item 3.7 Calderdale Council Dog Wardens also supported the Dog Trust micro chipping event on 7 November 2014 2.3 Item 3.7 - Improvements are to Shelf Park not Shibden Park. Draft plans include info boards, all weather table tennis, multi-use games area, outdoor gym and sculptures 3 5k Ward Forum Budgets 3.1 Calderdale Council has made 5,000 available for each ward to be spent by March 2015. The fund must be spent on grants for activities and projects that benefit the ward. The maximum grant per application is 500 and any group can apply. 3.2 The Neighbourhood Team will run the grants fund but decisions on grants will be made by a panel of neutral community representatives, including Ward Councillors. 3.3 Contact Tony King on 01422 255402 or team@halifaxnorthandeast.com to apply. 3.4 Cllr Caffrey said that depending on the project the money could be used for existing projects. He added that groups can apply more than once but ideally a variety of groups will apply. Grants will be distributed on a first come first served basis so groups are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 3.5 Residents asked that the flyer be simplified as first impressions are that only constituted groups can apply and this is not the case. 4 Shelf Allotments - amended 4.1 Cllr Caffrey informed the meeting about plans for an allotment near Belle Vue Rise. He is trying to encourage membership of a group to manage the site and has received interest from around 20 people. A meeting in January will be arranged to
form a group. The group would need to apply to Calderdale Council for an asset transfer of the land. To date no objections have been received from residents 4.2 A resident replied that he is not aware of any plans for allotments on the land bordering Belle Vue Rise/Airedale Drive as stated in 4.1; there is only a proposal which has been announced to a limited number of people via a flier posted through letter boxes. He also pointed out that there is currently no mechanism to object if a person has an objection. Cllr Caffrey agreed with this point and said that a full consultation would take place with local residents before proceeding any further. 4.3 Councillor Baines said that the land is currently allocated for housing but if the use was changed to allotments, this couldn t happen. He added that Shelf is at bursting point and services, such as schools, would not cope with more people living here. 5 Police updates 5.1 Sarah Conderson is the new PCSO for the area. PC Bingham is a trainer for Special Constables and as well as Sarah; the team also has 3 new Specials; SC Argie Dratzidis, SC Amjid Butt and SC Danielle Stephenson. 5.2 Recent statistics show a decrease in crime the area: Arson 3 House burglary 4 Other burglary 3 Damage 2 Disorder 2 Domestics 8 Vehicle crime 10 Theft 6 5.3 PC Bingham said he is happy to put more resources into Roads Policing if residents think this is needed. The 2 main areas for speeding offences are outside Shelf Park and on the main road in Northowram and he is planning 2 days of action in January. Police guidelines say high visibility must be used to justify the action but he added that the impact works as he can stop drivers there and then. 5.4 Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera will flash if a car is not taxed. However PC Bingham said he didn t know if this information goes to the DVLA 5.5 3 youths aged 12 and 13 from Northowram have been spoken to by police following antisocial behaviour in the village. The youths will be required to complete two hours restorative work in the village and attend the army cadet centre. 6 Local Updates and forthcoming events 6.1 Northowram Historical Society and Northowram Village Society - The last Village Society meeting was held on 6 November and a new committee was validated. Mike Beecham will continue as chair for the time being. Future meetings will be held at least once a year and updates will be provided for the Ward Forum. Newsletters and the website are still being updated. The next Northowram and Shelf Ward Forum on Tuesday 10th March will be a joint meeting with Northowram Village Society. 6.2 Discussions at the 6 November meeting were mainly around the planning application for the proposed convenience store in place of the Queen Victoria Inn. Objections to Page 2
the planning application for 3 wind turbines proposed by the Leo Group to be placed on the skyline of Shibden Valley should be made online at Calderdale Planning. 6.3 Councillor Caffrey said that the Scarecrow Festival fund had received an application for notice boards to be placed around the village. He also said that Calderdale College is making a wreath of poppies made of metal for the new war memorial. 6.4 Northowram Historical Society Over 600 copies of the Historical Society s book, A History of Northowram Township from 1800 have been sold. Details of how to purchase a copy are on the Northowram.org website. Central library and Northowram library already have a copy and local schools will also receive one. Mike confirmed that the Historical Society is now solvent due to the book sales. 6.5 New History Research Sessions open to all start for a 10 week period on January 14 th 7.30pm in Heywood Church. Everyone welcome to research any period they have an interest in, or be part of special research including census research. 6.6 The History of Northowram Township Group will be holding individual sessions from 14th January. These sessions are for those wanting to research any subject, or those who can help cataloguing the archive of material built up over the last 5 years. For more details email history@northowram.org or call Mike Beecham on 07930 388713. 6.7 Shibden Valley Society Update an update from David Witcher was read out: 6.8 The society has been successful in objecting to planning for 3 turbines, however a further application has gone in for 2 turbines so they will have to go through the objection process again but are optimistic having received 70+ signatures last time. 6.9 David also said that Brown Lane has now reopened and the bus service has resumed. 6.10 Shelf and District Community Group At a recent bulb planting event in Shelf Hall Park approx. 5000 bulbs donated by local nurseries and garden centres were planted. 4 committee members, 12 volunteers, 2 council gardeners, child-minders and toddlers attended on the day. Eileen Hoare passed her thanks on to Mark Brazil. 6.11 The group now have a key for a new notice board in Shelf Hall Park. The social fitness zone in the park is progressing and will hopefully open in January. The roundabout requires repair and cannot be fixed so springy animals will be put in in the interim. 6.12 The group received a Festival Fund grant and a Family Fun Day will be held on 21 March at St. Michael & All Angels School. A consultation on the park will be carried out on the day, plus lots of attractions for all ages. The group would like to invite Frank Watene from Halifax Rugby League. Action Heather Stout to contact 6.13 Entry will be free but volunteers to work on the day are needed. A meeting will be held for volunteers and committee members on the 5 January at the Duke of York. 6.14 At the Dogs Trust and Calderdale Council Dog Wardens partnership event on 7 November approx. 30 dogs were chipped. 6.15 The group will be holding its first AGM on February 26th at Stone Chair Club from 7.30pm. Eileen asked for nominations for officers by 15 February. 7 Council Updates 7.1 20mph consultation - 20mph speed limits will be introduced over 3 years from 2015 to 2017 starting in June with the central areas of Siddal, Savile Park, Manor Heath, Coronation, Skircoat Green, Southowram and extended Halifax Town Centre. Page 3
Detailed plans are now available on the Calderdale Council website at http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/transport/transport-improvements/speed-limit/ 7.2 PC Bingham confirmed that the new speed limits will be enforced where possible. 7.3 Convenience Store on Halifax Road A planning application has been put in for a convenience store at the Queen Victoria Inn. Of the 208 comments received, 200 were against. An objection by Yorkshire Water said that a 1 metre sewer pipe would need to be moved if the application were passed. Cllr Caffrey confirmed that Blackshaw Holdings are the main applicant. It was advised that a letter outlining all objections should be handed in at the council meeting to decide the application. 7.4 Land behind Stone Chair Variety Club / Shelf Football Club planning application this has now passed through the planning stage. The main applicant is Blackshaw Holdings. A report is available on the Calderdale Council website. Some restrictions were put in; noise, parking, lighting etc. but these have been met. Approval is subject to lighting controls and conditions and access at the side of Bradford road. The club must also be available for community use. The club will be self-financing. 7.5 Quarry at Howes Lane, Northowram - the application to extend the life of the quarry for a further 15 years has been approved, subject to conditions relating to noise, dust, mud on the road etc. These would be enforceable through usual planning enforcement or by pursuing the breach of the legal agreement through the courts. 7.6 Shibden Valley Roadwork s Councillor Taylor sent an update which was read out: 8 Anything Else? There was to be a one-way with traffic lights opening by mid-november with a full opening targeted for 24 November. Heavy rain delayed that by a week and hopefully 28 November will be the opening. The 534 bus service is to resume its original route on 7 December. 8.1 Parking charges Charges will be suspended in the Town Centre until mid-february and will resume on the outskirts of Calderdale and Skircoat in May. Restrictions on the use of disabled parking, car parks and loading bays is still enforceable. 8.2 Fix My Street - A resident complained that this feature on Calderdale Council s website appears to not be working. Action Councillors to look into this. 8.3 Hipperholme traffic lights - Cllr Baines said funding for just under 3m was allocated for improvements. However, too many objections were received so the work will not now go ahead. The money cannot be used anywhere else in Calderdale and so was never received. The council is now looking at other ways to improve the junction 9 Date of next meetings 9.1 Northowram & Shelf Ward Forum Tuesday 10 March, 5.30pm for 6pm at Northowram Community, Sport and Activity club, Westercroft Lane, HX3 7EN Actions for next meeting Responsible 6.12 Contact Frank Watene (HXRLFC) Heather Stout 8.2 Report Fix My Street feature on Council s website not Neighbourhood Team Page 4
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