West Ardsley Action Group minutes from meeting 9th October 2018

West Ardsley Action Group

Meeting minutes of Residents meeting held 9^th October 2018, 7pm at Hill Top Community Centre

Apologies: Cllr Renshaw and Cllr Mulherin.

Police update – PCSO Dale attended the meeting and provided the latest crime report. We were advised that in the last month that there had been 2 residential burglaries and one attempted burglary. There were 4 other reports of theft from sheds, shops and other miscellaneous thefts, with 4 reports of stealing by finding – thefts from skips.

With regards to car thefts in West Ardsley/Tingley, despite the recent spate in July/August, there hadn’t been any reported in September. The majority of car thefts have resulted from thefts of car keys from residential properties by gangs from out of the area.

Residents who have been targeted and had property stolen and are worried or concerned of this being repeated, are advised to contact 101 and ask to speak to Witness Care.

The police have visited Haigh Moor Road with a speed gun and there were 5 stops which resulted in cautions. Reports of a Black Audi speeding and driving recklessly around schools are being investigated.

The police will be attending all the schools in the area after complaints re parking.

Drug dealing in front of Hill Top School and the Reservoir was raised with PCSO Dale who advised that all reports will be logged as intelligence.

Groundwork – Environmental Charity representative Nickie Ramsden is working with Yorkshire Water to consult with the community regarding improvements to the reservoir. Nickie spoke at the meeting to explain what the consultation is for.

Groundwork are speaking with residents and have been door knocking on Haigh Moor Road, they have a quick questionnaire which they are asking local residents and visitors  to the reservoir to complete. Once the consultation is completed at the end of week commencing 15^th October, Groundwork will feedback to YW and report on the issues that have been raised in the consultation. Groundwork will then write a report with recommendations for Yorkshire Water. Nickie has asked that we are specific about what we want there and just as importantly, what we don’t want there, e.g. building around the reservoir.

Groundwork are going into local schools (Westerton Academy being the first) to engage with schoolchildren. Urban Rangers will work with Year 5 and 6 children to start a campaign of what they would like and not like at the site. This will be on display in school and in the wider community and will link in with reservoir rocks. The next stage will be further consultation once YW knows what the thoughts are of the local community.  Groundwork are committed to liaising with the public, the police and local councillors. It was asked why the houses opposite the car park hadn’t been visited, Nickie took this as an action and has promised that all those addresses will be visited and asked for their opinions. Jack Dunn has been involved thus far and has suggested that a Friends of Group could be formed to enhance the reservoir area.

Ardsley and Tingley Neighbourhood Watch presented on their CAR ( Crime Analysis Reporting)  campaign which is being backed by our local MP Andrea Jenkyns.

The group met with our MP after concerns of a perceived spike in criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, also the length of time it takes to get through to 101.

Residents are being asked to report all crimes including speeding cars through the regular channels, 101, 999, online plus through CAR . The link to CAR is on Andrea Jenkyns website and also on the Neighbourhood Watch page. There are plans to advertise a mobile telephone number on posters around the area which will divert to Andrea Jenkyns office to help people who are not on line to log their crimes, and/or suspicions of a crime being committed.

The Crime Analysis Report is a reporting tool for local residents and all data is protected. Once a month a report will be run to identify any problem areas and also to ensure that what is being reported to the police is comparable with the local data. The aim is to establish if there is a need for increased policing in our area…. If it’s not reported, there will be no statistics recorded to show that there is an issue in this area.

There was a concern raised that crime is seasonal and as this is only a 6 month trial, it may not reflect the overall affect of crime in our area. It was however, acknowledged that we can still gain valuable data and should not delay it’s launch.

There was a concern raised that despite crimes being reported, there doesn’t appear to be any convictions. Although this is frustrating it is not always the fault of the police, it could be a CPS issue.

Speed guns-  Andrea Jenkyns has written to the Police Commissioner to ascertain if the equipment and training would be available to the Neighbourhood Watch group – they are awaiting a response to this request.

The CAR is on trial for 6 months – the data will then be analysed and depending on the results may be extended and rolled out to the wider area.

In Bloom – In August a meeting was held to form a committee for the In Bloom group.  The first project will be on the 28th October to do a big bulb plant around the village. Initial key locations include the grass verges on Batley Road and Baghill Road and the grass verges on Westerton Road/Constable Road. Please volunteer if you can, everyone is welcome J  If you want to be included in the updates – please email westardlseyactiongroup@gmail.com

Second phase will be in front of Hill Top School (hopefully involving the pupils of  Hill Top School) with a view to running the same planting theme as the Hare and Hounds.

Stage 3 would be the top of Bag Hill with a similar scheme of planting and the addition of a bench subject to consultation with the residents.

The reservoir will hopefully with support from Yorkshire Water be a future project.

The In Bloom group are constituted with a verge licence and are working closely with LCC Parks and Countryside to determine how best to enhance our area and have fun.

Haigh Wood Planning Application – the site allocation plan is yet to be decided and we are awaiting the decision from the Planning Inspector – the Broad Location sites are to be kept as Green Belt which may increase pressure on housing allocation sites.

LCC planner is to meet with the developers to discuss the Highways concerns that have already been raised to establish if these can be mitigated. Leeds City council expect that the application will be referred to Plans Panel for a decision around November/December. If the panel decide on the side of the objectors and refuse permission, the application could still go to a Public Inquiry. 2930 objections to date.  Jack Dunn has raised his concern that South Leeds has taken a bigger housing allocation than Wetherby for example and has asked that with the Broad Locations being taken out of the SAP that they use this opportunity to level the allocation fairly across the city.

The proposed application at the Old White Bear site was discussed – concerns raised include the safety of Woodkirk school children crossing the site on a public right of way, an increase in the region of 2500 additional vehicles, increased pollution and access concerns. The application if successful will attempt to bring traffic off the motorway to use the petrol station despite Highways England needing to widen the slip road at the M62 /Tingley Roundabout junction due to traffic volumes. Objection letters are available and can be handed in at Syke Fish and Chip Shop. Cllr Aveyard is managing this campaign – objection letters have been uploaded to the West Ardsley Action and Community Group social media pages. (update- this has now been denied)

The 20 mph Zone for West Ardsley has been assessed again and any correspondence received from residents after the initial consultation has been considered – any changes to the zone on the back of this will need to be consulted on again and notices will go up around the village in the coming weeks. Please look out for these.

Cllr Garner confirmed the funding has gone in and the funds have been committed for the Speed Indicator Device on Batley Road prior to the junction of Baghill Road.

The Chairman of WAAG has been in communication and has met with Kirklees Councillors with regards to speeding traffic on Heybeck Lane – we will communicate the correct email address to report all issues on that stretch of road to local residents over the coming weeks.

Kirkhamgate Village met recently to discuss speeding traffic on the section of  Batley Road through their village and we have taken an action to approach the group to establish what issues have been raised and to ascertain if we can work together to improve road safety along Batley Road.

Cllr Garner is in communication with Highways with regards to the Old Heybeck Lane and the likelihood of LCC adopting the lane. The sub standard road surface is causing issues with dust, noise and potential damage to vehicles, residents had been advised over 10 years ago that the road would be adopted by the council. Cllr Garner will update on this matter.

AOB …..If anyone would like to contribute to the In Bloom funding – donations can be made on line to West Ardsley Action Group, Yorkshire Bank, Morley. Sort Code 05-01-31 account 31354821. Please reference – In Bloom