Latest news with #KirkleesCouncil
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Plans approved for updates to Dewsbury Market and new park
Plans to update a West Yorkshire town's market and create a new park have been Market would have a "more varied, day-to-night offering" with more areas for eating, drinking, socialising and events once the work was completed, Kirklees Council said. The new park would be next to the market, and would be the largest green space in the town with its own play area and seating, according to the Graham Turner said: "Once we unveiled our updated plans for Dewsbury Market, the adjoining park was very much the missing piece." "These are both aspects of the town we know local people greatly care about, and they have a huge part to play in Dewsbury's future," he council said the park plans could potentially include water features, to add interest and entertainment for children using the play would also be an opportunity to include more art, with involvement from the local community, it town park would transition smoothly into the market's outdoor offering, where people would be able to eat and drink outside in an area which could also be used for events, the plans would in itself transition into the indoor market, which would retain its historical structure and character, the council said. The new outdoor space was designed to allow full visibility from end to end, to create a safer thoroughfare, the authority council worked with the Dewsbury Town Board and architects from the Building Design Partnership Ltd to develop the designs for the market and town park, and said it made sure the designs took into consideration feedback given by traders and local Ramsay, chair of the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board, said it was a "huge milestone" for Dewsbury Market and the new town park. He said: "These are plans that will truly see Dewsbury town centre brought back to life, supporting the soon-to-reopen arcade and other town centre businesses, and cementing all we're doing to future-proof Dewsbury's heritage as a traditional market town - while creating a town centre that can thrive for future generations." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Huddersfield canal towpath upgrade to improve accessibility
Work to improve accessibility along a six-mile (9.5km) stretch of canal has begun, with more than £3m being spent on repair work along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Huddersfield Broad Canal is being undertaken by the Canal and River Trust (CRT) in partnership with Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Combined enterprise manager Mark Robinson said the work would focus on opening up the towpaths to more said: "In a number of places we've got some quite tight barriers. We're going to be taking those out and where we've got steps we're going to be trying to remove those to make it flat." "It will be an all-weather surface, so it's going to be constructed of tarmac laid on a stone surface, much like you would get on the road," he said."To all intents and purposes, it looks like a natural surface but it's very robust. We're not going to have to do anything to it for next 25 years hopefully. And it's suitable for walkers, wheelchair, push chair users and cycles." The work also includes widening the towpaths, where possible, while retaining heritage features, grass verges, and native plants and trees to support wildlife habitats; repairs to the canal walls; and new mooring bollards for resurfacing is the final stage of a five-year, three-phase project, which has seen the walkway made passable from Huddersfield to Standedge Tunnel - the UK's longest, deepest and highest canal work, which also includes construction of a ramp at Scarwood Bridge, is expected to continue until October along the Huddersfield Broad Canal the path is being improved from Aspley Basin to Cooper Bridge, where the canal joins the Calder and Hebble project starts in mid-June and is expected to finish in January the works, both the towpaths will remain open, but with restrictions - meaning people will be escorted through the sites for the scheme has come from West Yorkshire's Active Travel Fund, which is grant funding provided by Active Travel England. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Kirklees Council approves £5m for urgent school repairs
Millions of pounds have been approved to carry out "urgent" safety works at Council approved a £5.4m school funding package, with most of the cash set to be used for will include a £264,000 rewiring scheme at Birkby Infant and Nursery School in Huddersfield, and roof works at Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School in Liversedge totalling £190, not used for repairs will be used to fund new school places, with 18 at New Mill infant and junior schools in Holmfirth, catering for pupils with complex communication and interaction needs. Also among the repair projects planned are a £200,000 kitchen refurbishment at Wellhouse Junior and Infant School at Golcar, and £287,000 to cover improvements at Westborough High School in to benefit from the funding have been selected depending on urgency, based on a council scoring system, according to the Local Democracy Reporting school scored between 28 and 30 - with 30 meaning that "a failure of the element concerned would have a major impact on the individual school from a health and safety and/or building closure and/or building damage perspective". Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said previously: "Through our strong relationships with schools, we will ensure the improvements are delivered to an excellent standard for current and future pupils."Our aim is to replace inefficient materials with modern systems and enhance the physical environment for all concerned."By investing in our children, we are investing in their futures."Referencing the additional school places for students with complex needs, Councillor Jane Rylah, cabinet member for education, said it was a "major priority to support our more vulnerable learners and transform services for special educational needs and disabilities".She said: "Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARP) have opened at other local schools, tackling inequality and creating the right conditions for children to fulfil their potential."ARPs are nurturing spaces specifically tailored to their pupils. We have already seen the difference they make to children, young people and families." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners warned about chopping down trees or neighbours could ‘call police'
While many homeowners know they can legally cut or prune a tree that is overhanging their garden, they may not be aware of a law which states they must offer the tree cuttings back Gardeners have been issued a warning that cutting trees in their own gardens could lead to an unexpected visit from the police - all due to a little known regulation tied to backyard upkeep. Trees are the crowning glory of many a garden. They not only add visual charm, but they also offer seclusion, serve as sanctuaries for birds and critters like squirrels, and are crucial players in our ecosystem by turning carbon dioxide into life-sustaining oxygen. But because they can grow fordecades or even centuries on end, trees can cause problems over time if not carefully managed, with roots creeping into house foundations or branches snapping and falling into roads. READ MORE: 'Perfect' Father's Day present dubbed 'must have for dads' is £11 Issues can arise particularly when trees sit on the dividing lines between adjoining properties. While most green-fingered enthusiasts are aware that it's perfectly within the law to trim or prune branches overhanging into your patch from next door's tree - as long as you remain grounded in your own plot while you do so - what often escapes attention is the obscure legal requirement to proffer any lopped off branches back to the owner of the tree; simply discarding or shredding them won't do. Although it's best practice to give your neighbour a heads-up before embarking on such arboreal alterations, legally, you're bound to present them with the resulting tree offcuts regardless. Kirklees Council states: "If a tree or hedge is unprotected, you can prune branches that overhang your land and the roots growing beneath your land. "You do not need the owner's permission, but you must not trespass onto their land. You must offer to return the cut branch wood and any fruit which is attached or has fallen onto your land." The Royal Horticultural Society said: "Your actions are classed as 'abating a nuisance' which does not require permission. Only in situations where you need access to their land to undertake the work would permission be required. "Once branches are cut off they should be offered back to the tree owner. If the owner doesn't want them then you will be responsible for disposing of the prunings; you can't simply throw them over the boundary into your neighbour's garden." Should you help yourself to tree branches, you may find yourself accused of theft, reports the Express. The Theft Act clearly outlines that it's an offence to pick fruit, flowers, or even branches if the tree isn't on your property. Though homeowners might think enforcement is unlikely, if you were to lop off a neighbour's branches or pinch fruit/flowers from their trees, they have every legal right to demand their return or could justifiably involve the authorities.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- The Independent
Father and daughter killed in house blaze named as sister remains in hospital
A nine-year-old girl and her father have been identified by police as the victims of a fatal house fire in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. Sohaib Ahmed, 38, and his daughter Manahal tragically died in the blaze that erupted in Russell Close on Sunday. An 11-year-old daughter of Mr Ahmed sustained serious injuries and is currently in hospital, where she is in critical condition. West Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Councillor Darren O'Donovan, representing Dewsbury West and serving as chairman of the fire authority, stated that initial findings suggest "the fire started in the kitchen area and its ignition source was a tumble dryer". He added: 'There are a number of tumble dryers that have been recalled by a number of manufacturers. 'That's the tragedy: this was just a local family on a very regular street in Heckmondwike and a tragic accident has taken place. 'I think the community is rallying and pulling together to support other members of the family and friends that are affected by this.' Councillor Ali Arshad, who represents Heckmondwike on Kirklees Council as a member of the Kirklees Community Independents Group, said the family of the victims were 'absolutely amazing people'. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it sent four crews to tackle the blaze, which was reported at around 6am. Detective Inspector Paul Greatorex of Kirklees CID previously said: 'We are continuing to work with colleagues at the fire service to investigate this dreadfully sad incident which has resulted in a father and daughter losing their lives. 'Extensive enquiries have been ongoing since yesterday and we have been working to locate and support relatives of the victims both here and outside of the UK at what is clearly an awful time for the family. 'While our enquiries remain ongoing we do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances regarding the cause of the fire and will be preparing a file for the coroner in due course. 'Our support for the family involved clearly also still continues.'
