Kirklees Liberal Democrats

Kirklees Liberal Democrat Group has selected Councillor David Ridgway of Colne Valley Ward to be their Mayoral Candidate for the 2012/13 municipal year.

Cllr Ridgway will take up the office of Mayor of Kirklees at the Annual Meeting of Kirklees Council on Wednesday 23^rd May 2012.

Cllr Ridgway who was re-elected as councillor for Colne Valley Ward in last weeks local government elections with a 50% increase in his majority was first elected to Kirklees Council in May 1996.

Lindley Lib Dem Councillor Cahal Burke is pleased that his request for parking restrictions in a busy area of Lindley where there has been safety concerns and is a trouble spot for local residents has been fulfilled.

There has been the introduction of no waiting/no loading Monday to Friday between 8am - 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4.00pm to remove obstructive parking connected with local school traffic and allow enforcement in conjunction with School Keep Clear markings on George Street.

Liberal Democrat Councillors Christine Stanfield and Cahal Burke have been informed that Holly Bank Road will now be resurfaced with funds from the Highways Maintenance Budget.

Councillors have been asking for this road to be repaired for years after requests from countless residents. This important road, which has access to both Lindley Infant and Lindley Junior Schools, links the Halifax Road to Lidget Street and the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and has had no proper surface for the last five years.

Concerned residents have contacted Councillors David Ridgway and Nicola Turner after a local land owner had cleared Green belt land in the vicinity of Holmes Villas.

"I am dismayed at this action", says Cllr David Ridgway.

"Concerned residents living in the vicinity of Holme Villas have bought the issue of the local land clearance to my attention and have also raised the matter with Cllr Nicola Turner.

Colne Valley Councillors, David Ridgway and Nicola Turner have promised to tidy up Linthwaite after receiving many complaints from local residents.

Both councillors will be conducting a survey of local residents with the aim to instruct relevant Council Services to tackle the problem grot spots and issues such as fly tipping and litter in Linthwaite.

Local Councillor, Cahal Burke (Lindley Ward) is delighted to confirm that a two-year contract for the hire of a room has now been signed.

Funding totalling £2,000 has been agreed by the Huddersfield Area Committee to pay for a Multi Agency Contact Point within Salendine Nook Shopping Centre. The project has been supported by the Neighbourhood Policing Team and Lindley Ward Councillors, Cahal Burke and Christine Stanfield.

A heavily used stretch of road is finally going to be resurfaced.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors, David Ridgway and Nicola Turner recommended over two years ago that Tiding Field Lane and Moor Side Lane should be dealt with in 2011, following long standing complaints from local residents about the rapidly deteriorating surface.

Cllr Rochelle Parchment is determined to fight to make sure that the Children's Centre in her ward remains fully open.

Under the Labour Cabinet's original proposals, the Council's 32 Children Centres would have been split in to "Lead" and "Associate" centres. There would be 15 Lead Centres and 17 Associate Centres, with Lead centres providing more services while Associate centres would provide far less. Under the proposals, Dalton Children Centre would become an "Associate" to a Huddersfield Town Centre location, which Cllr Parchment argues is not acceptable.

An application asking that for permission to turn an empty shop in the residential area of Long Lane, Dalton into a take-away has been rejected by planners on the grounds of it not being suitable for a residential area, highways safety, lack of sufficient parking and proximity to local residential properties

Road safety outside Lindley Junior and Lindley CE Infant School has been of ongoing concern for parents for many years. In December 2011 the issue came to a head when parents protested outside the Schools blocking vehicles from entering George Street. This resulted in the police having to patrol the highway at the start and end of the School day for a number of months. This has now been discontinued with officers being required elsewhere.