MOORSIDE SCHOOL WELCOMES HALIFAX PROFESSIONAL BOXERS.

Moorside school in North Halifax today welcomed unbeaten Halifax professional boxers, Liam Walsh and Scott Gladwin for a charity fundraiser for Marie Curie. Both boxers live in North Halifax and put their unbeaten records on the line when they fight at North Bridge leisure centre on Saturday April 14. The kids were really excited about todays event and after a pad demonstration involving Liam and Scott the kids were invited to do pad work and then spar with the pro's. The pep talk from Liam about discipline and dedication in the sport of boxing was very well recieved and maybe, we may have some future champions in the making.
As a school governor and local Councillor, it was great to see Liam and Scott give their time back to the community and i think they had as good a time as the children, so thanks to the two of them for taking time out of their training to give a big boost to Moorside.

COUNCIL TAX 2012/2013 AND HEATHY HOUSE

Just back from the budget council meeting at the Town hall. The list below is what you will pay in the coming year. I did ask cabinet to reconsider it's decision to shut Heathy House in Holmfield, explaining in the council chamber what a fantastic asset it is to Calderdale and what a great job the staff do. But sadly, the decision had already been made and just needed rubber stamping. I did vote for the cabinets budget and not the Conservative one which sought to half funding to North Halifax. Typical Tories were saying that we should stop throwing pots of money into North Halifax (what money) tonight they showed their true colours and that is why they keep getting rejected in Illingworth & Mixenden ward. They also had plans to merge services with Kirklees and change our boundaries, and these too were widely rejected.
BAND A; £939.88
BAND B; £1096.52
BAND C; £1253.17
BAND D; £1409.81
BAND E; £1723.10
BAND F; £2036.38
BAND G; £2349.69

BAND H; £2819.62                      HEATHY HOUSE TO CLOSE

NEWS FROM THE TOWN HALL FULL COUNCIL MEETING.

At tonights full council meeting(all 51 councillors are supposed to turn up) i voted in favour of a Cabinet amendment to end all current consultation on the central library and archives and commence a new detailed consultation, to begin in June. The cabinet agreed that they had got it wrong in the two previous exercises and the details of the new process were still to be decided. This is without doubt because of the publics condemnation of previous one sided exercises the cabinet has put out. Hopefully once this 12 week period of consultation has been finished and the results collated, we can move on and make decisions which are in everybodys interests, and not just for political gain. The cynical part of me wonders why this has been put on the back burner until after the local elections in May, but i'm sure that's just me.

REMEMBERANCE SUNDAY

On Sunday i attended the Rememberance Sunday march and the ceremony at the cenotaph in Halifax. As the March passed the Courtyard pub, the Halifax Town fans all stood outside and applauded the procession, which was warmly welcomed by the huge turnout. Once again i was humbled and honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of myself, my family and friends.

ARMISTICE DAY AT HEATHY HOUSE

On Friday 11/11/11 i attended a Armistice day celebration at Heathy House, respite home in Holmfield. There was a musician who sang wartime songs, and the residents and staff alike joined in with the singing, a pie and pea supper and raffles galore, all added up to make a great evening. Calderdale mayor Nader Fekri was among the many who turned up to support a fantastic amenity in my ward, i took along my daughter, who really enjoyed it too, thanks to all the staff, who did a fantastic job.

BEECHWOOD PARK BMX TRACK

Work has begun today on the BMX track at Beechwood park and should be completed within the next 2 weeks. The track drawing that we were shown at tonights meeting looks fantastic and i think it will prove to be a major asset to a vastly improved park. Some people will moan that there are too many kids around, but this is the reason that we, as ward cllrs backed this idea. We can get the kids off the streets and get them involved in something that interests them, rather than moan there is nothing for them to do. Carillion who are building the new Academy and North Halifax Green Action Project are the real heroes behind this, with Carillion giving over a Thousand tonnes of earth and sending men and machinery to aid the project. The ponds and footpaths in Beechwood park will also recieve a boost, with the help of a £8500 grant recently obtained.

TRINITY ACADEMY FUN DAY

Saturday 24th September sees the second annual Family Fun Day at Trinity Academy 11am until 3pm. Free Entry, with something for all the family including Climbing Wall, Archery, Water Zorbing, Arabian Derby, Dance Mats, Fairground Carousels and Stalls, Caving, Zip Wire, Street Surfing, Sport Competitions, Donkey Rides, Inflatable Fun House and much more, with many of the activities free of charge! Meet Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Peppa Pig, Iggle Piggle and Oopsy Daisy, Buzz Lightyear and Spongebob Squarepants.
Refreshments available throughout the day in our Bistro style restaurant.
Further information from Janet Dunn on 01422 232042.
Come along and have some fun.

BEECHWOOD PARK BMX TRACK

Last night i attended a meeting with the other 2 ward councillors and council officers, to discuss the results of the consultation around building a BMX track in Beechwood Park, Holmfield. The feedback was, that people saw this as a great idea and around 90% of the returns were in favour of the scheme. Myself and the other cllrs were 100% behind the scheme. It will not cost the council anything as the earth required to shape the track is being given free of charge by Carillion, who are building the new Trinity Academy. They are also sending a JCB down to make the track, which has been designed by a local BMX expert. The work should be completed by the end of October at the latest and it is another addition to a vast improved local park.

The track will look something like the photo included.

I AM NOW A INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR.

On Monday 19 September, I will be resigning the whip of the British National Party and will sit as an Independent representing the Illingworth and Mixenden ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale. Recently, a close family member has had a serious illness which has had a huge impact on me and I will no longer have the time to travel the country, speaking and promoting the party at meetings. I have always endeavoured to put the residents in the Illingworth and Mixenden ward  at the top of my priority and I feel that breaking my ties with the British National Party will give me the chance to devote even more time to my ward and continue with the community work that I am held in high regard for. I am assured that this move will have the support of the wider community and I believe that working as an Independent councillor I can re-engage the disillusioned voting public by promoting the cause of local people and local communities first! Too many councillors make decisions they know are not the right choice but do so simply because they have been ordered to by the political parties they happen to represent. I firmly believe local councillors have a duty to put the interests of local residents  before the interests of political parties. As well as being an elected councillor, I work full-time and have two young children.I am currently a school governor (Parent Governor for the last 6 years) and I am a FA qualified coach working with the Crossley Junior football teams in North Halifax. I have worked tirelessly for residents for the last ten years - sadly a lot of the good work has been ignored by a virtual media blackout. However I remain fully committed to continuing my work as a ward councillor and I fully intend to  stand for re-election in next year’s local elections in May, where I hope to increase on the 300 majority I received in May 2008 by ensuring local people and their needs are kept at the top of my priorities. Thankyou to all those people who have helped me over the years and i hope i can still rely on your continued support.  Councillor Tom Bates, Independent Councillor for the Illingworth and Mixenden ward. 34 Beechwood Drive, Holmfield, Halifax HX2 9AS  Tel: 01422 250774  Mob: 07514 347295

MIGRANTS WILL COST BRITAIN £1 BILLION A YEAR

The cost of providing social housing for migrants who come to Britain will hit £1 billion a year for the next 25 years, campaigners say.
MigrationWatch UK said 45 extra homes would need to be built every day, the equivalent of 1,400 a month, with each one funded by a public sector grant of around £60,000.
As waiting lists for social housing have increased in England over the last eight years, the campaigners also found that migrants from outside the EU were more likely to live in social housing than those born in the UK.
Just 17% of those born in the UK require social housing, compared with 80% of migrants from Somalia, 49% of those from Turkey and 41% of those from Bangladesh.
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of MigrationWatch UK, said: "The impact of immigration on the availability of social housing for British people has been airbrushed out for too long.
"Either the Government must cut immigration very substantially as they have promised or they must invest very large sums in the construction of extra social housing."
Its report found the Government projected that the number of households in England would increase by 232,000 each year to 2033, but would be just 149,000 with no net migration.
This "implies that net immigration over this period will lead to 83,000 additional households each year", the campaign group said.
In its calculation, the report authors assumed that 20% of migrant households will need social housing, "in line with the proportion of migrants who already have social housing tenures now after living for five or more years in the UK" - the equivalent of 16,600 a year or 45 every day.

It also found that social housing units are currently funded "on average with around £60,000 of public sector grant", taking the total cost to about £1 billion a year.

ILLINGWORTH SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB

 One of the hardest working clubs in Calderdale, has once again been targetted by lowlife who just do not care about the local community. Crossley football teams and Illingworth rugby teams both try their best to offer young people in North Halifax something to do and both are totally committed to helping the area. We as a community cannot afford to lose such an asset for our area. If anyone knows anything about this or previous break ins, then please get in touch with the police and help them catch these scumbags.

Sponsored by

Yobs trash club changing rooms and steal radiators

Radiators and copper pipes were stolen from this bathroom then it was flooded at Illingworth Sports and Social Club after several break-ins over the last few weeks.

Published on Wednesday 10 August 2011 11:15

VANDALS have wreaked havoc at a sports club by hitting it six times in as many weeks.

Changing rooms have been flooded and copper piping has been stolen from Illingworth Sports and Social Club on Keighley Road in Illingworth, Halifax.
In one week alone, the building was attacked four times.
Officials at the club, which is the base for several rugby and football teams, say they keep having to fork out of their funds for the repairs.
Secretary Peter Laheney said; “We’re in danger of going under,” he said.

“It’s hard enough raising money for amateur sport without someone doing this.”
In one-break in, yobs took spirits from the bar in the function room. In another, they switched on all the taps in the changing room so it flooded.
Then last week the changing rooms flooded again when thieves broke in and took copper piping.
Mr Laheney urged residents to help police catch the culprits.
Sergeant Dionne Stratford, from Halifax North and East neighbourhood policing team, said they are making extra patrols in the area and have been in touch with the club offering crime prevention advice.
“All the officers that cover Halifax North and East know about this and we are doing targeted patrols around there,” she said.
“We are appealing for anyone who knows anything about what has happened to contact us.
“If you have seen anyone acting suspiciously or have heard anybody talking about it then get in touch.”
Anyone who can help with the police’s investigation should call the Halifax North and East neighbourhood policing team on 01422 337300 or 0845 6060606.

SCUM

A couple of photos that you won't see in the national media.

BEECHWOOD PARK BMX DIRT TRACK

This is what it could look like! Struggling to get the text in order, while i'm on another computer.

BMX Zone proposals Please complete this questionnaire with your thoughts and opinions of the possibility of installing BMX park facilities into Beechwood Park.
Please complete and return the enclosed
Questionnaire in the FREEPOST self
addressed envelope. Beechwood Park REF :- BMX Zone proposals
Dear Resident / Park user,
There is the opportunity to create some BMX track facilities at Beechwood Park. The need for some BMX dirt track facilities within the Beechwood park area has been identified by the local group, Friends of Beechwood Park. The facility will be made from imported material and can be removed if necessary. It will form a dirt track for BMX and mountain bikes.
As part of the consultation process for the potential BMX zone, we are seeking your views and ideas to consider the way forward. Attached is a questionnaire for you to complete and return (and stamp addressed envelope), your response is extremely important to the outcome. If you would like to know any more information or have any questions, please get in touch.
Regards
Safer Cleaner Greener Team
North East Halifax - parks@calderdale.gov.uk Friends of Beechwood Park 1. Do you use Beechwood Park at the moment? YES / NO Please delete as appropriate Beechwood Park BMX proposals 2. If you answered YES to Question 1, in what way do you currently use the space?
Dog walking
Playing football / other sports
Meeting friends
Walking
Picnics
Exercise
Use Green Gym / Trim trail equipment
Use Skate Zone
Other (please specify) ____________________
3. Would you support BMX dirt track facilities at the proposed location?
YES / NO (Please delete as appropriate) See map below: Optional information:
NAME ?…………………………………………………………………………………………..
ADDRESS? ............................................................................................ Age? 0-12 13-17 18-24
25-34 35-44 44-54
55-64 65+
Please tick if you would like to receive the ‘Friday flyer’ local newsletter? This includes local community information and upcoming events.
Please tick if you would like to be involved with the Friends of Beechwood Park. 4. What effects do you think the BMX Zone will have on the local area ?
5. How would you currently rate Beechwood Park?
(from 1—10. 1 being poor and 10 being outstanding)
Any other comments.
Examples of how the BMX Zone could look:
This questionnaire should be going out to local residents very soon, local children and parents attended the last Friends of Beechwood Park meeting and asked if this track could become a reality. Myself and another Councillor attended the meeting and i am fully supportive of the proposals. As the text below explains, if the track causes too much Anti Social Behaviour, it can,  and will be removed within days. Apart from the printing of the questionnaire, there is no other cost to ratepayers, as the topsoil is to be donated free and local parents and children will make the track themselves.
Telephone: 01422 393215 or 01422 323824 (Answer phone outside office areas)
Email: Parks@Calderdale.gov.uk

Website: www.calderdale.gov.uk

ZUMBA IN BEECHWOOD PARK

 Due to the six week school holidays a excellent chance has arisen for six weeks of Summer Zumba in the Park, The first session is Thursday 28 July at Beechwood Park, Holmfield  at 6pm. Adults £2, children are free with a paying adult or £1 without an adult. Proceeds will be reinvested back into the park for improvement. Book on the day.

CROSSLEY'S DRIVEWAY

After year's of pot holes, Crossley's driveway has been re-surfaced, which make's it a much more welcoming entrance for home and away team's alike.

ABBEY PARK PLAYGROUND

A major refurbishment of Abbey park playground has now been completed, it has taken almost seven year's to spend the section 106 monies that were promised to the area from Magellan homes. The site is well worth a visit and looks really good. Bollard's have been erected at the bottom aswell, which make's it much safer.

NEWS FLASH, EDL TO MARCH IN HALIFAX

“The English Defence League (EDL) has announced an intention to hold a demonstration in Halifax on Saturday July 9th. They are currently in negotiation with West Yorkshire Police regarding the event which, on our early assessment it is likely to involve around 500 people. There will be counter demonstrations by other groups, numbering, again on current estimates, about 150 people. West Yorkshire Police and Calderdale Council are working with other agencies, communities and protest groups to plan for the event with the key focus being the safety of local residents and minimum disruption to visitors, businesses and other events in the town. The right to peacefully protest is a democratic right which we (Calderdale Council and West Yorkshire Police) have a legal duty to facilitate, even though the views of protest groups may be something which some people strongly disagree. The police have no powers to ban a peaceful protest but may, if absolutely necessary, impose conditions to safeguard the public. Any criminal offences will be robustly dealt with. West Yorkshire Police and Calderdale Council have a great deal of experience in managing large scale public events and we expect this to be a relatively low key event. As such, we are planning for an increased, visible police presence on the day, with the emphasis on a reassuring, neighbourhood policing presence. We ask anyone planning to take part, to behave responsibly, respect other people's views and cause as little disruption to the local community as possible. This is an important family day for Halifax, with the start of the Halifax Festival and West Yorkshire Police and Calderdale Council want to ensure that anyone attending the Festival can have an enjoyable day out.”

BEECHWOOD PARK

The new mini skate zone and trimtrail (outdoor gym) have now been completed and are already being used by many local folk. Money for this has come from, Healthy Towns and Section 106 monies. Congratulation's must also go to Calderdale's Safer Cleaner Greener dept and the Green Action Project, who have done a massive amount of work over the previous month's. As your local Councillor, i have been involved in this since the beginning, and i am so proud that our local park is now up there with the best. Come along and try these new addition's out.

RESPONSE FROM TRINITY ACADEMY

Mr Bates,


I e-mailed Trinity Academy to see if they would employ a security guard on the site of the new build, after vandalism and break ins at properties to the rear of Heathy Lane, this is their response.

 Dear Councillor,
I'm sorry to hear that there have been  several 'break in's' on Heathy Lane. At present the Academy is in discussion with Carillion to install bollard lighting to the pathway to ensure the PRoW  is adequately illuminated. There is also a programme of woodland planting due to start in season (November), which will further shield the gardens facing the PRoW.

The hiring of a security guard is something we could not consider as the security of a private residence and gardens is the property owners responsibility and not the responsibility of the Academy or agents we might employ. We of course, as I have stated above will do all we can to ensure the PRoW is safe, and I'm happy to meet with the local Police to ensure that local residents and students are safe and secure.

Regards

Steve Evans
Senior Vice Principal

Trinity Academy HalifaxHoldsworth Road, Holmfield, Halifax, HX2 9TD
Tel:  01422 244890
Fax:  01422 240033
Email: info@trinityacademyhalifax.orgWeb:  http://www.trinityacademyhalifax.org/