YOUR LOCAL AREA NEWS FOR:
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Barwick In Elmet
By Ronald Miller
Phone: 07717 150625
Email: ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk |
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Barwick in Elmet Area News
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Barwick and Scholes
Parish Council: The next meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council will take place on Monday, March 1, at Scholes Village Hall, beginning with the open forum at 7.15pm. This offers residents of both villages a chance to bring their concerns about issues of local importance to the notice of councillors. The parish council meeting will begin at 7.30pm and members of the public are invited to observe the business of the meeting, though not to take part in discussions or votes. Moving Scholes meetings of the parish council from the village hall to the Methodist schoolroom will take effect from the May meeting.
Concert sold out: all tickets for the concert to be given by the Tadcaster Grammar School Big Band at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, next Friday have been sold, the Wetherby News learned this week from its organisers, Barwick in Bloom. Barwick in Bloom’s next coffee morning will be on Saturday, March 13, in the village hall.
Barwick lighting costs: The £9,830 cost to the parish of heritage-style street lighting standards in Barwick, reported last week, was only for the final phase of the scheme, Coun Geoff Yapp has advised the Wetherby News. There were 36 standards in the latest phase. Most of them were installed in Elmwood Lane, Aberford Road and Leeds Road, linking up with those installed and paid for by the parish council some years ago. This has ensured that the centre of the village and its main thoroughfare have heritage style street lamps. The earlier installation, costing £18,242, was funded by the parish council using money contributed for community improvements by the developers of The Sycamores housing scheme in Leeds Road.
Should inquiry be delayed?: Land situated between Scholes and Grimes Dyke, Whinmoor should never have been included in Leeds City Council’s development plan, Barwick and Scholes parish council has told the Government’s Planning Inspectorate. More than 50 years ago the land was designated as green belt and an Act of Parliament decreed that it should remain protected against development ‘for all time.’ This fact, which could prove critical in deciding the future of the land, was discovered by Coun George Hall, of Scholes, by studying Parliamentary archives. He told the February meeting of the parish council that Leeds city planners were ‘taken aback’ by the revelation. A consortium of builders wants to build around 500 new homes on the land but the city council refused to grant planning permission. The developers’ appeal against that decision is due to be heard by a Government planning inspector on April 27, at a public inquiry to be held at Leeds Civic Hall. The parish council and many Scholes residents are concerned that approving the development would erode the status and perception of Scholes as a rural village. The parish council, in a letter to the Planning Inspectorate sent by the parish clerk, Chris Hassell, says the issue of whether the land should be developed was not only one of planning law; it also called into question the ‘honour and integrity of both Leeds City Council and that of Parliament.’ The letter added: ‘Our legal advice is that Parliament is supreme and only Parliament has the authority or powers to revoke the undertaking given to the Parish Council at that time.’ These exceptional circumstances, said Mr Hassell, could justify a delay in the public inquiry to allow the Secretary of State to consider the importance of the evidence uncovered by Coun Hall. The parish council, which has praised Coun Hall’s investigative research, has asked for permission to speak at the inquiry. It is also considering seeking the views of Parliament ‘to ensure the will of Parliament is not being overruled.’ The question of whether the land could be developed at all was not addressed when the original planning application was considered by the city council.
Scholes play area: the refurbishment of the children’s playground in Scholes, situated close to the library and the primary school, is almost complete. Work has included installing new play equipment which should delight the village’s youngsters. The parish council is planning an official re-opening of the playground next month. Refurbishment of the children’s play area in Barwick is now being planned by the parish council.
Barwick village hall: Recent heavy snowfalls have caused considerable damage to the roof of the village hall, causing it to leak, Coun Claire Hassell told the February meeting of the parish council. She said the village hall committee was concerned that the damage would not be covered by insurance. The extent of the damage and its implications for the village hall is likely to be discussed at next Monday’s parish council meeting.
‘Minipod’ decision: a request from the Friends of Barwick School for parish council support in buying a ‘Minipod’ cycle rack for the school was being considered by the council’s finance committee this week. A recommendation will go to the full council next Monday. The school’s supporters believe installing a ‘Minipod’ would encourage more children to cycle to and from school, giving them good exercise and reducing the number of cars used for the school run.
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Operatic concert: Members of the West Riding Opera Company will give a Grand Concert at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Sunday, at 7.30pm. The programme will include popular classics and songs from the shows. Seats costing £6, to include a glass of wine, can be booked by calling (0113) 281-2255.
Support for Haiti: the Valentine’s coffee morning hosted by members of Barwick Methodist Church last Saturday raised a remarkable £500. This will be sent to the Methodist Church in Haiti to support people in the greatest need following the dreadful earthquake. “We would like to thank everyone for their generous support and hard work in making this event a success,” says Kath Cooper, who chairs the Barwick church’s social committee.
Scholes success: a record number of people supported the most recent charity coffee morning held at Scholes Methodist Church. This raised £193 for the Alzheimers Research Trust, bringing to £560 the total raised for this excellent cause by three of the church’s popular coffee mornings. “It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying good fellowship and supporting the charity,” says Keith Wood, one of the organisers. Scholes Methodists’ next fundraising coffee morning will be on Saturday, March 6, when the charity being supported will be the Lazarus Home for Girls in Bethany.
Art Club: At a meeting of Barwick Art Club next Wednesday, artist Kath Inglis will demonstrate the technique required to create a horse study using pastel. All are welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 7pm at the Miner’s Institute in Chapel Lane. Admission costs £2 and includes refreshments.
Big band concert: Lovers of big bands are in for a treat, as it is unusual to see one playing in a church. It will be interesting to hear how the acoustics in the parish church of All Saints, Barwick, will cope with the robust sound of the Tadcaster Grammar School Big Band when it plays a concert there on Friday, March 5, starting at 7.30pm. The event has been organised by Barwick in Bloom and tickets, costing £4, need to be booked in advance. They are available from John Botterill, 0113 281-2952 or from John Tinker, 0113 281-2254.
Lighting cost: The cost to the parish of having heritage-style street lights installed in Barwick, instead of the standard design, was £9,830. This was £1,500 more than the original budget but parish councillors were told at their February meeting that this was due to ordering additional lights. Payment of the revised invoice was approved.
Rail bridge painting: Several volunteers have stepped forward in Scholes to help with repainting the railway bridge on Station Road, which Coun Ben Hogan, Chairman of the Parish Council, recently descrbed as ‘“a bit grotty”. Readers may recall that bridge owners the British Railways Board (yes, there’s still one of those) refused to repaint the bridge, claiming it would cost up to £50,000. Councillors were not willing to take no for an answer. After Coun George Hall told the board it was being “churlish” they reluctantly agreed to meet the cost of the paint, provided village volunteers did the painting. The best quote obtained by the council for primer, undercoat and two top coats was a little more modest than £50,000; it was £277 plus VAT. So thanks to the willing volunteers, some of whom are members of Scholes in Bloom, the British Railways Board is saving around £49,700. Councillors await their sincere thanks but , like some trains, they may be delayed!
Barwick trees: Three self-seeded sycamore trees close to Schoolgate, Barwick, are to be felled at the cost of £200, which will be paid from parish funds. However, parish councillors agreed at their February meeting that the cost of removing two other trees, in the garden of a property in Schoolgate, should be met by the householder.
Scholes meetings: Bi- monthly meetings of the Parish Council held in Scholes will be at the Methodist schoolroom, instead of the village hall, in future. The move, agreed by councillors at their February meeting, follows comments about the difficulty which some people have in hearing everything councillors say in the large hall. Also, members of the public have complained about the low temperature in the village hall during council meetings held in the winter months.
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Parish Council: February’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council will take place on Monday at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom, starting at 7.30pm. Any parishioner wishing to raise a matter of local interest can do so within the parish forum, which begins at 7.15pm. Among topics to be discussed by the Council are proposed improvements to the children’s playground in Barwick and the latest planning applications in both villages. All meetings of the Parish Council are open to the public to observe.
Historical Society: English pottery and Creamware exhibited at Temple Newsam House will be the topic of speaker James Lomax at the next meeting of Barwick Historical Society. This will be held on Wednesday, February 3 at the John Rylie Centre, Barwick, starting at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Scholes coffee morning: the Alzheimer’s Research Fund will benefit from all proceeds raised by a coffee morning hosted by Scholes Methodists at the schoolroom on Saturday, February 6, between 10am and noon. This will be the first of this year’s series of popular charity events organised by members of the Methodist Chapel.
Monday Art Club: Painting landscapes with watercolours will be demonstrated by artist Les Packham at the next Monday Morning Art Club. This will be held on February 8 at the Miners’ Institute, Barwick, from 10am to noon. Admission costing £2 will include tea or coffee.
The Winter Garden: This will be the topic of a presentation by Bob and Kath Sanderson at a meeting of Barwick in Elmet Horticultural Society, to be held on Monday, February 8 at the Village Hall, 7.45pm.
Poppy Appeal: Barwick and Scholes residents contributed £16,309 to the Royal British Legion’s most recent Poppy Appeal. Their generous support was no doubt influenced by the courage of Britain’s Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan and the tragic loss of more than 250 of our soldiers’ lives there. Thanking everyone for their generosity and help, Sylvia Booth, Honorary Poppy Organiser for the two villages, described the collection as “a fantastic effort and a huge success.”
Well done! Pupils and staff at Barwick’s Church of England Primary School raised an impressive £1,009 for Children in Need with their coffee morning on the day of the appeal. If Pudsey Bear lived a bit closer to Barwick he would no doubt give them all a big hug!
Snow’s not unusual!: Readers of the Barwick Old School Log for 1910, prepared for the parish magazine by Elizabeth Gregory, were told this month that on 28 January 1910 ‘there was snow on the ground to the depth of six inches and there were much deeper drifts on the roads.’ As a result ‘only three children came by the waggonette from Scholes.’ The log also recorded that ‘Miss Turton was absent all day.’ She probably took a note to school the next morning! This regular feature in the popular parish magazine gives a fascinating insight into school life in the village a hundred years ago.
Barwick conservation area: a public meeting was being held in Barwick last night, Thursday, to inform residents how Leeds City Council plans to amend and improve the village’s conservation area. First designated in 1981, this protects the architectural and historical character of the ancient village. Members of the Parish Council have already welcomed as ‘excellent’ a review of the conservation area carried out by an officer of the city council, who was giving a presentation and answering questions at last night’s meeting. Consultation with local residents will continue until Friday, February 17. Proposed changes are due to be approved by the city council before the end of next month. A copy of the draft appraisal can be obtained from the conservation team at: Sustainable Development Unit, Leeds City Council, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD.
Expertise recognised: the wealth of bus service knowledge accumulated by Scholes resident Coun George Hall, an Elected Member of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council, has now been recognised at county level. Coun Hall recently gave evidence to a Scrutiny Board at the invitation of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority. The Board is looking into the implications of the 2008 Transport Act. Coun Hall strongly supports Metro’s strategy for community involvement, which aims to give public transport users more say in the decision making progress. Along with Coun Alec Shelbrooke, a Leeds City Councillor, he has spent more than three years working to achieve improved bus services for Scholes residents.
Diary date: Tadcaster Grammar School Big Band is to give a rousing, foot-tapping concert at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Friday, March 5, at the invitation of Barwick in Bloom. Tickets costing £4 are now available from John Botterill, tel.281-2952 or John Tinker, tel. 281-2254.
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Friday, January 15, 2010
Barwick in Elmet & Scholes
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Barwick in Elmet & Scholes: Ron Miller 07717 150625 ronald.miller@hotmail.co.uk
Hot drinks anyone? Barwick in Bloom volunteers will host their first coffee morning of the year tomorrow, Saturday, at the village hall from 10am to 12 noon. Admission will cost £1 and includes a hot drink on arrival – something everyone needs as the Arctic weather continues. Despite the problems many people are having in getting about – especially older people who are understandably afraid of falling on icy pavements – the In Bloom team are hoping for a good turn out. All the popular stalls will be there selling cakes, books and, as it’s January, any unwanted Christmas gifts generously donated. Home baked scones, cakes and other tempting refreshments for which Barwick in Bloom coffee mornings are renowned will also be available. All proceeds will be used to support this year’s In Bloom programme.
Keeping warm and safe: It’s good to know that, no matter how bad the winter weather, there are people in both Scholes and Barwick who do all they can to help older residents. Scholes Community Care has been running for over 30 years and its weekly coffee mornings at the Manor House each Wednesday are a popular meeting place for many elderly residents. Unusually, two coffee mornings have already had to be cancelled in view of the atrocious weather. “These are the worst conditions I can remember,” says Maurice Walker, the voluntary organisation’s Chairman.When the Wetherby News called he had just got home from collecting someone’s pension from Barwick post office and, later, was taking one elderly lady to Cross Gates and another to the dentist. Most of the 40 to 50 members of Scholes Community Care are in their eighties or nineties and the majority live alone. “During the past two weeks we have rung round to everyone to make sure they are keeping warm and are all right. I think we would get to know if someone needed help,” said Maurice, who can be contacted on (0113) 2734685. Although Barwick does not have an equivalent organisation to Scholes Community Care, volunteer members of Barwick Helping Hands are always willing to provide support to local people, especially when emergencies arise. A list of their volunteers’ phone numbers can be found in the parish magazine or the post office window. In addition, of course, many Barwick and Scholes residents keep an eye on elderly neighbours and help them by doing a bit of shopping, collecting their pension or giving them a lift to the doctor’s surgery or to a hospital appointment.
Conservation area: Most Barwick residents know that much of the village lies in a Conservation Area, where any proposed development is tightly regulated in a bid to ensure that the character of Barwick is cherished and preserved. A specialist officer from Leeds City Council has just completed an appraisal of the Barwick Conservation Area and will present his findings at a public meeting to be held on Thursday, January 28 at the John Rylie Centre, Carrfield Road, starting at 6.30pm. All residents are welcome to attend.
Barwick smells: Not literally, well, at least not the whole village. But concerns about nasty smells apparently coming from sewers near the junction of Leeds Road and Elmwood Lane were brought to the notice of the parish council at its monthly meeting. Councillors agreed it was a problem not to be sniffed at. They asked the parish clerk, Chris Hassell, to contact environmental health officers at Leeds City Council.
New trees ordered: Eight new trees, together costing £1,008, are to be planted in the near future in Jack Heap’s Field, Barwick. In addition, a replacement tree is to be planted at The Sycamores, the recent housing development off Leeds Road, at a cost of £116. Parish councillors agreed at their January meeting that the trees should be ordered.
Winter fun: While the disruption caused by heavy snow creates many problems for us ‘grown ups,’ thousands of children and young people have been enjoying a winter wonderland of sledging, snowman building, even ski-ing. Hall Tower Hill, one of Barwick most ancient sites built almost 1,000 years ago, has temporarily become a popular spot for sledging. And judging from some of the high speed descents seen there just lately it’s a good job there’s thick snow at the bottom to help them stop!
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
Scholes bus services: Responsibility for bus service problems in Scholes was placed firmly at the door of bus operator First this week by angry residents of Milton Drive. “First have split this village in half,” a spokesperson for Milton Drive residents told the Wetherby News. “Some people think we are being selfish but this is not the case. Everybody agrees a bus is needed.It would be ridiculous to leave the village without a bus service but it must be via roads that were intended to take buses and not down residential streets.” The resident, who did not wish to be identified, said the bus operator’s determination to route buses, including double deckers, along Milton Drive was causing residents serious concern, especially about safety. She had personally seen a boy literally blown off his bike by the slipstream of a passing double decker, whose driver was unaware of the incident. Residents were being forced to reverse their cars or vans into busy Station Road to give way to buses, as the bus drivers refused to reverse. This had resulted in angry exchanges and a reversing resident had collided with another car. Vehicles had been damaged by buses trying to get past them and some residents, she said, had been subjected to verbal abuse by bus drivers angry that they couldn’t get through. “Residents are arguing; some people have stopped speaking to each other – all because First refuse to do anything about it,” she declared. A petition signed by around 100 people living in Milton Drive, Rakehill Road and Belle Vue Avenue has been submitted to First and Metro calling for a solution to be found which avoids buses going down narrow residential streets. The spokesperson added: “Milton Drive is now one of the worst roads in the village for pavement parking, thanks to these buses.The elderly, disabled people and mums with pushchairs all have difficulty using the pavements. Councillor Alec Shelbrooke is working very hard towards a solution in the form of a link bus which would enable people to connect at Seacroft or Cross Gates for onward journeys to Leeds but his efforts are being hampered by some people and now further meetings are having to take place. Some of the buses travel at great speed, weaving in and out of parked cars. We have also been subjected to abuse from the bus drivers.”
Parking tickets? The issue of buses using Milton Drive, Scholes, was raised at the latest parish council meeting. A resident complained that parked vehicles were disrupting bus services and urged that the police take action. PC Andy Katowski said the police could do so but would prefer to resolve the issue through agreement rather than by issuing parking tickets. Divisional Commander Gerry Broadbent, a guest at the meeting from West Yorkshire Police, said he would look into the problem.
Police presence: Divisional Commander Broadbent told the meeting he had received a number of letters from Barwick and Scholes residents expressing concern about police community support officers spending less of their time in the parish.He said he had referred the matter to Inspector Marcus Griffiths, who heads the Wetherby police division.
Remarkable result: The recent Autumn fair held in Barwick to support the work of the NSPCC raised a remarkable £1,696, which has been donated to the charity’s local branch. “We are absolutely delighted,” said the event’s organiser, who preferred not to be named as the success of the event was down to the entire team. “Stallholders offered a wide range of goods and every stall was successful.There was a wonderful community atmosphere and people were very generous,” she added.
New trees approved: The parish council has approved a proposal from Barwick councillors that eight new trees should be planted in Jack Heap’s Field. They will replace trees bordering Welfare Avenue which councillors said had not flourished. The cost will be covered by Barwick’s half of the £2,000 raised by the parish council through the sale of Leeds Festival tickets donated to the community by the event organisers. Scholes councillors will recommend where the remaining £1,000 should be spent in their village.
Christmas card sale: The popular annual sale of Christmas cards and calendars which normally takes place at All Saints’ Church will this year be held at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom on Saturday, November 7, from 10am to 12 noon. The parish church is currently closed for internal improvements.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Barwick in Elmet Area News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625:
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
NSPCC fundraiser: Barwick village hall will be the venue for tomorrow’s popular Autumn fair at which local volunteers will raise funds to combat cruelty to children. The event begins at 12 nooon and will continue until 2pm.
Scholes bus petition: Around 70 local people attended a public meeting at the Manor House last Saturday to discuss Scholes bus services. It was arranged and chaired by Coun Alec Shelbrooke, a Harewood ward member of Leeds city council, who was handed a petition at the meeting signed by 524 Scholes villagers. The petitioners made it clear at the outset that they did not wish to be associated with action which has, and continues to be taken, resulting in the disruption of the public transport provision in our village. This was a reference to the disruption to bus services being caused by some residents of Milton Drive, Scholes, who are obstructing the movement of buses to demonstrate their objection to the narrow street being used as a bus route. The petitioners also emphasised their commitment to supporting a public transport service for the village of Scholes. They called upon Coun Shelbrooke and Coun Ryk Downes, Chairman of Metro, the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, to ensure that buses continue to provide a quick and direct link with the city of Leeds as well as serving the district shopping centres of Cross Gates and Seacroft. Services should be operated seven days a week, including bank holidays, they said. They urged that Metro should consider extending current service 5A, which now operates off peak, to provide services to people needing reliable public transport to and from work. This service is already subsidised by Metro and links Scholes to Seacroft Green bus station, superstore, shops and health centre which many people find convenient. Metro have invited bus operators to tender for a restricted service linking Scholes to Cross Gates and Colton shopping centres and Coun Shelbrooke told the meeting that this service could be supported by ward councillors’ funding, but initially only for one year. It was agreed that the views expressed by residents at Saturday’s meeting should inform further discussions involving the city council, Metro and bus operator First. Local bus service campaigner Coun George Hall told the Wetherby News this week that Scholes Community Forum, of which he is the lead member, still favoured service 64A, which currently serves the village hourly, to be re-routed by First to run between Scholes and the city centre via Seacroft Green. First are adamant this would not be affordable as it would require an additional bus to operate on the route.
Barwick celebration: There will be good reason to celebrate when volunteer members of Barwick in Bloom host their next fundraising coffee morning at the Village Hall on Saturday, October 17. It will be the first opportunity for villagers publicly to congratulate the group on their triumph in winning a Gold Medal for Barwick and for Yorkshire in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom competition. Also, it is hoped that village resident Frank Noble will attend so he can be congratulated on winning one of only seven Community Champion awards to be given across the whole country by the Royal Horticultural Society this year. Barwick in Bloom now looks towards next year so continued fundraising is vital to enable the group to buy everything needed to retain their top award winning standards. The group’s annual general meeting will be on Tuesday, October 20, at the Methodist schoolroom, 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Playground investment: The full scale of the investment required to re-develop the children’s playground in Scholes became apparent at Monday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council. After completing a competitive tendering process, councillors agreed to accept a quotation from Husson UK to upgrade the playground at a cost of £39,990. They also accepted the terms under which a contribution of £10,000 towards the cost of the work will be made from the city council’s Area Committee Wellbeing Fund.
Christmas lights: Following the success of Christmas lights in Barwick last year a similar scheme is to be a feature of the festive season in Scholes, too. Parish councillors agreed to accept the terms of a £4,234 grant from Leeds city council’s Outer North East Area Committee Wellbeing Environment Fund (where do they get these titles from?) to meet the cost of lighting in three locations in the village.
Funding research: Raising £200 from one coffee morning is good going, especially in the midst of a severe economic recession. Members of Scholes Methodist Church achieved this last Saturday with their monthly fundraising event, donating all proceeds to the Alzheimers Research Trust. Next month’s coffee morning, on Saturday, November 7, will support the same excellent cause. Says Keith Wood, one of the team who organise the popular events: “It was strangely quiet for the first hour and we wondered where everyone had gone. We soon discovered that many residents had attended the public meeting to discuss bus services in the village.” However, the popularity of the bacon and tomato butties prepared by Wendy Wood, Lesley Brett and their fellow volunteers at the Methodist Schoolroom soon brought more than 60 people to the event. Many had left the bus meeting before it finished rather than miss their bacon and tomato sandwich!
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625: Methodists’ kindness welcomed: Barwick Methodist Church will become the centre of Christian worship in the village for the next nine weeks, during which the Anglican church of All Saints will be closed for internal improvements. Members of the Methodist congregation have invited both Anglicans and Roman Catholics to use the Methodist chapel for their services. This will mean that, most unusually, Mass will be celebrated in a Methodist church by Catholics who normally attend their own service each Sunday at All Saints. “The kind hospitality offered by our Methodist friends during the closure of All Saints has been warmly welcomed,” the Ven.John Oliver, Honorary Assistant Priest within the parish of Barwick and Scholes, told the Wetherby News. The Norman church of All Saints, which dates back more than 900 years, is to be redecorated and have new lighting installed. Locally based contractors are being employed as much as possible. At the same time two meeting rooms will be constructed within the bell tower, primarily for the use of children and young people among the congregation. A Barwick family has offered to meet the cost of a toughened glass screen which will enable the 15th century window in the bell tower to be viewed from inside the church for the first time. Earlier plans for pews at both sides of the church to be removed and for a helical staircase to give access to the new meeting rooms had to be dropped, primarily to reduce the cost of the church re-ordering. Many church members did not wish to see some of the pews removed from the ancient church so welcomed this decision.
Thefts lead to arrest: West Yorkshire Police made an arrest following five thefts of garden tubs and plants in Scholes during August, members of the parish council were told at their September meeting. Four other crimes were reported to the police by Scholes residents during the month. In Barwick there were four incidents during August, including three burglaries and a vehicle theft.
Leeds Festival: Parish councillors agreed to send a letter congratulating organisers of this year’s Leeds Festival on the new traffic management plan, which worked very well. Councillors representing both Barwick and Scholes are to decide where the £2,000 raised from the sale of discounted tickets, provided by the festival organisers for the first time this year, should be spent to benefit local residents.
Heritage weekend: Many visitors were welcomed in Barwick during Heritage Weekend. Members of Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society provided escorted tours of the village’s ancient earthworks, including the Norman Mott at Hall Tower Field and ancient ditches, one dating back to around 600BC. Members of Barwick Art Club exhibited their work inside All Saints’ Church, where a gift stall and refreshments were also available. All proceeds will go towards meeting the costs of improving the church interior and repairing the boundary wall. The church was among many visitor attractions in the Leeds district included in the official programme for the national weekend celebrating Britain’s heritage.
Is this a baa...gain? Barwick and Scholes parish council recently agreed to pay a local farmer £100 for the grass-nibbling services of his flock of sheep in Hall Tower Field. However, Coun Geoff Yapp told the council’s September meeting that the cash would be paid ‘only after the sheep have completed their work.’ If the sheep are members of a union then it would probably be ‘Ewe-nison...’
Barwick tennis champions: Although the late summer weather was ideal for spectators attending Barwick Tennis Club’s championship finals on Saturday it proved hot work for the players. Guest of honour was well-known village resident Sid Banks, of Carrfield Road, whose name is inscribed on the trophy awarded to the winner of the men’s singles final. Sid was a successful competition player in his younger days and last won the trophy, at Aberford Tennis Club, almost 70 years ago, in 1940. In 2001 he donated the Sid Banks trophy to Barwick Tennis Club. On Saturday he presented it to Jonathan Miller, who won the men’s singles for the fifth year running in a closely fought, three set match with John Hayton, the club’s chairman. Andrea Gilliland became a triple champion during the day. She began by winning the women’s singles against Ann Moore in straight sets to take the title for the second successive year. She also won the ladies’ doubles title with Jill Druce, beating Becky Foster and Ann Moore. In the mixed doubles, Andrea teamed with Richard Mullin to gain a straight sets win over Matt Prior and Ann Hartley. The men’s doubles title is to be decided this weekend .
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
Public meeting: Latest planning applications are to be discussed at a public meeting at the Manor House, Belle Vue Road, Scholes next Wednesday, September 2, at 7pm. The meeting has been called by Barwick and Scholes parish council, primarily to invite residents’ views on plans to build three detached houses to the rear of 10 Elmete Avenue, Scholes. However, it is expected villagers will also wish to discuss the outline planning proposal to build around 500 new homes on land between Whinmoor and Scholes. As the Wetherby News disclosed last week, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey would like to build at Grimes Dyke, to the north west of the A64. The new homes would accommodate an estimated 1,170 people; shops and community facilities would also be built. Parish councillors in both Scholes and Thorner have expressed the hope that Leeds city council will stand by its policy of building on brownfield sites before releasing undeveloped land. But Government calls for thousands of new homes to be constructed are putting local councils under pressure to identify land which can be developed. The plans are available to view by visiting www.leeds.gov.uk and clicking on Planning, where comments can also be made. The application reference number is 09/03238/OT.
Leeds Festival: A reminder that the complaints hotline for this weekend’s Leeds Festival is: (01937) 844666. The line will be staffed 24 hours a day over the whole weekend and until 8pm on Monday, August 31. Festival Republic, the event organisers, say if the line is engaged people should leave a message and someone will call them back. Also, the junction of Kiddal Lane with the A64, near the Fox and Grapes inn, remains closed until 3.30pm on Monday, August 31.
Annual Show: The big social event in the parish next week will be Barwick Horticultural Society’s 44th Annual Show, to be held at the village hall on Saturday, September 5. Doors open at 2pm and trophies will be presented at 3pm. This is always a popular event, with competitive classes for both members and non-members including fruit, flowers, vegetables, cakes, handicrafts and photographs. Entries will be accepted up to 11.30am on the day; entry forms are available from Barwick Stores or by calling the show secretary, Geoff Thornton, tel. (0113) 2812171.
Scholes bus talks: The Wetherby News has learned that top-level talks are now taking place in a bid to find a solution to bus service problems which have arisen in Scholes during the past few weeks. A private meeting at Scholes village hall last week was attended by senior representatives from bus operator First, from transport authority Metro, Leeds city council, Barwick and Scholes parish council, Scholes Community Forum and West Yorkshire Police. The key issue discussed was how to retain an hourly bus service to and from Scholes without the need for buses to ‘turn round’ by going down Rakehill Road and Milton Drive. Residents of Milton Drive have shown their displeasure at buses using the road by parking their cars and vans to make it difficult for buses to get through. Their action has resulted in widespread disruption to the timetable and led to some bus drivers not going into Scholes at all, leaving passengers to walk into the village from the Coronation Tree junction. The Community Forum wants buses re-routed so they travel to and from Leeds via Seacroft Green bus station but First say that would add considerably to their operating costs. The worst outcome would be for First to withdraw the new service, 64A, completely, though the company has always insisted that it intends to retain services to and from the village. It is understood that the chairman of the parish council, Coun Ben Hogan and his colleague Coun George Hall, who is also Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, attended last week’s meeting, along with Coun Alec Shelbrooke, one of three Leeds city councillors who represent Barwick and Scholes. First were represented by Richard Harris, the private sector company’s Commercial Director. Coun Hall comments: “One thing is clear – we need and must have a public transport service in our village. Not all residents have transport and the elderly are particularly vulnerable as they need access to shops and health services. Considerable efforts are being made to ensure a service is retained. We are seeking to have the present service re-routed out of the streets currently being used as a turnaround.”
Parish Council: The next meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council will be held on Monday, September 7 at Scholes Methodist Church hall. The change of venue is necessary as Scholes village hall will be used for a Leeds city council community engagement meeting between 5pm and 7pm. Several local groups will be showcasing their work at this event, which is open to all. The parish council meeting will begin at 7.30pm but will be preceded at 7.15pm by a parish forum, at which any local resident can raise issues of concern.
Forum meeting: A meeting of Scholes Community Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 9, at the Manor House, 7.15pm. An evening meeting is being held to encourage more people to attend. All residents are welcome to join discussions about issues affecting the village community.
Shall we take tea? Anyone who enjoys the treat of afternoon tea at Betty’s, perhaps in Harrogate or Ilkley, will be pleased to learn that Betty’s are coming to Barwick! Not to open a tea room – just think what that would do to the village economy, not to mention traffic levels – but to offer ‘a tea tasting experience’ at an event hosted by Barwick Thursday Club. It’s on September 10 which, of course, is a Thursday. ‘Time for Tea’ will be presented by representatives of Betty’s and Taylors, of Harrogate, at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom, starting at 7.45pm. All are welcome to attend. To obtain tickets please call Sheila Pollard, tel. (0113) 2813620. Earl Grey anyone...?
Charity quiz: Members of Scholes Churches Together will meet at the village hall at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 12 to enjoy a Charity Quiz and raise funds to support the excellent work of St.George’s Crypt, Leeds. Tickets costing £5, which includes a pie and pea supper or vegetarian option, are available from Scholes Methodist Church, St.Philip’s Church or from Satnam’s convenience store.
Heritage weekend: Barwick’s ancient parish church of All Saints, surely one of the finest Norman churches in the country, will once again be a top Leeds area attraction during Heritage Weekend, which this year is September 12 and 13. Members of the church are hoping visitors will be generous in supporting their appeal to raise £8,000 to rebuild part of the ancient wall which surrounds the churchyard. They have already paid £10,000 for earlier wall repairs but have been warned by a structural engineer that another section of wall needs rebuilding, ideally before the winter. Members of Barwick Art Club will display some of their excellent work within the church, while a gift stall and refreshments will also be available during the weekend.
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick & Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
York Road closures: The A64 Leeds-York road between the Fox and Grapes inn, near Barwick, and Bramham crossroads will be closed to all eastbound traffic from 12.01am on Thursday, August 27, until 5am on Friday, August 28 as part of the Leeds Festival traffic management plan. Drivers heading westbound, towards Leeds, will still be able to use the A64, though lane restrictions could cause delays. The eastbound closure of the road is a key element in this year’s plan to get festival traffic off the A1 and into Bramham Park as quickly and smoothly as possible. The aim of the festival organisers, working with the police, is to avoid the miles of queuing traffic and gridlocked junctions which caused widespread disruption for local people last year. This was primarily caused by festival traffic being taken off the M1/A1 link at its junction with the A63 at Colton. Festival traffic will now be routed one way from the motorway into Bramham Park via the A64, turning right to cross fields opposite the Dogs Trust. Drivers who would normally use the A64 eastbound to travel to the A1(M) or to York are being advised to divert on Thursday via Aberford to Junction 27 of the M1. This seems likely to increase traffic levels passing through Barwick on that day. The junction of Aberford Road and the A64 will also be closed all day on Thursday as part of the temporary one-way system.
Further road closures: Kiddal Lane, which joins the A64 at the Fox and Grapes, along with the junction of Potterton Lane and Kiddal Lane, will be closed throughout the period of the Leeds Festival, from 8am on Wednesday, August 26 to 3.30pm on Monday, August 31. This closure is primarily designed to prevent festival traffic from diverting through Barwick and Scholes to reach Bramham Park.
Bus diversions: Yorkshire Coastliner buses which normally use the A64 from Seacroft to Bramham crossroads will be diverted through Barwick all day next Thursday, August 27. For detailed information on revised routes and schedules please contact Metro: tel.(0113) 245 7676 or visit: www.wymetro.com
Noise hotline: Festival Republic, organisers of the Leeds Festival, will operate a 24-hour hotline during the event to respond to complaints from local residents about noise or other issues connected to the Festival. The number is: (01937) 844666. Staff will operate the hotline from 2pm on Wednesday, August 26 until 8pm on Monday, August 31. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the main entertainment will finish at 11pm, though Leeds city council has allowed less noisy cabaret and comedy acts to continue through the night until 6am. The council will also operate a complaints hotline during the festival, tel. (0113) 242 5841. This will be operational from 8pm to 2am on Thursday and Sunday and from 8pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday.
Community event: Several Scholes organisations, including the Community Forum and the Parish Council, are planning to take part in a community engagement event at Scholes village hall on Monday, September 7, from 5pm to 7pm. Organised by Leeds city council, the event will give local community groups a good opportunity to showcase their work and to meet village residents.
Probus Club: Barwick residents should not be alarmed if they hear loud whistling coming from the John Rylie Centre on Tuesday, August 25. This is not the usual behaviour expected from members of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club, who are professional or businessmen who have fully or partly retired. However, as guest speaker Jeffrey Turner will be recalling the life of ‘Colonel Bogey – the British Marching King,’ members may be forgiven for whistling a certain tune, whose best-known lyrics are certainly not suitable for this family newspaper! The meeting begins at 10am and further information is available from the secretary, Harvey Metcalfe, tel.281-2441.
Barwick Horticultural Society: Are you entering? It’s not essential to be a member of Barwick Horticultural Society to submit entries for their annual show, which takes place for the 44th time on Saturday, September 5, at the village hall. Geoff Thornton, the show secretary, told the Wetherby News this week that although some classes are restricted to members, entry to others is open to everyone. In addition to classes for fruit, flowers and vegetables there will be competitions for the best cakes, handicrafts or photographs. Entry fees are very modest and you can enter on the day, up to 11.30am. Entry forms are also available in advance from Barwick Stores or by calling Geoff, tel. 281-2171. Doors open at 2pm and trophies will be presented at 3pm. A silver collection will be taken on entry.
Scholes Forum: when Coun George Hall announced his intention to step down as Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum at the end of March next year he didn’t expect to be inundated with volunteers keen to take over the unpaid post. Surprisingly, however, not one Scholes resident has put their name forward so far. Anyone interested can contact Coun Hall on 0113 2188817. The next meeting of the Community Forum will be held at the Manor House on Tuesday, September 8, starting at 9.45am; all residents of Scholes are welcome to attend.
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Friday, July 24, 2009
Barwick -in-Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Bus Driver’s Ultimatum: ‘You will have to get off the bus and walk.’ That was the essence of a most unwelcome message given to an 80-year-old woman and five other passengers by the driver of a First bus on Monday, the day new bus routes and timings were introduced across the Leeds area. The bus was operating service 64a, one of two new services now schedule to be serving Scholes. The elderly woman boarded the bus in Cross Gates, having already travelled from Leeds, believing it would turn left at the Coronation Tree and go up the village and along Rakehill Road before rejoining Leeds Road and continuing to Barwick and Aberford. But when the driver reached the Coronation Tree he told passengers heading for Scholes that he was not going into their village at all, giving them little option but to get off the bus. For the elderly passenger this meant a walk of more than half a mile, at the age of 80, carrying bags of shopping. The biggest problem is vehicles parked in Milton Drive, one of the residential streets which buses now have to use having gone along Rakehill Road and needing to return to Station Road and Main Street. Parked cars left too little room for the bus to get through at times this week, causing drivers to have to reverse their bus and find another route. It has been suggested that more cars than usual were parked in Milton Drive on Monday, raising the question of whether residents were making their own protest about buses going along their street. Scholes residents are now concerned that this problem, coupled with at least one driver refusing even to enter Scholes late on Monday, could result in the new service – which provides a vital transport link to Leeds city centre – being withdrawn. When asked by the Wetherby News to comment on the problem a spokesman for First, the bus operator, declined to do so. He stated: “We would urge customers to show patience. We have gone through a very difficult service change and there are bound to be teething problems. We are working hard to address these issues.” Coun George Hall, a Scholes resident who has been campaigning for over three years to achieve improved bus services for the village, told the Wetherby News that the complaint he received from the elderly passenger was one of many adverse comments made this week. “People are upset and concerned. It is a very sad position we find ourselves in,” he said. He added that during a visit to Scholes last Friday, Colin Burgon, MP for Elmet, re-affirmed his support for Scholes Community Forum and for Barwick and Scholes parish council in their campaign to achieve bus services which meet people’s needs, whether travelling to and from work, hospital appointments, shopping centres or for leisure purposes. The revised bus routing preferred by Scholes villagers would see new service 64a, operating hourly, go along Main Street and up Station Road before continuing to Leeds city centre via York Road and the Seacroft bus station and shopping centre. But the bus operator has insisted that such a route is unaffordable as it would require an additional bus and drivers being assigned to the route. First have made it clear that all services they operate must be commercially viable. Only a subsidy from Metro has persuaded First to continue operating service 5 and to introduce new service 5a to retain the important link, for just part of each day, between Scholes and Seacroft.
Barwick bus concerns: Although Barwick residents have gained a link to and from Scholes as a result of bus route changes, they have this week begun to experience the longer journey time to and from Leeds city centre they now face on new service 64a. For many years buses from Aberford and Barwick have operated to the city centre half hourly, via the Coronation Tree, Pendas Fields and Cross Gates. This service 64 has been retained but new routings mean that alternate hourly services, operating as 64a, are now supposed to go into Scholes, adding at least ten minutes to their journey time to and from Leeds. This clearly impacts on people using the bus to get to work and back home and is likely to lead to overcrowding on the now hourly service which doesn’t divert via Scholes. Bus users in the parish need to be aware that service 64 still offers a faster journey to and from Leeds or, in the return direction, to Barwick and Aberford; service 64a goes via Scholes and takes at least ten minutes more.
Some good news!: We certainly need some as bus service disruption is now added to people’s problems with the recession, job losses and the swine flu virus. However, generous folk are still dipping into their wallets and purses to help charities, especially those in their local area. An evening of entertainment in Scholes on July 10 raised £500 for Martin House, the children’s hospice at Thorp Arch. Organised by Scholes residents Fiona and Malcolm Toovey, the event, attended by around 70 people, starred their singing daughter Charlotte, who is better known to her audiences as Lottie D’ Vay. Strong support was also given by Nat Hudson and by Tom Walton and Jonathan Miller, both of whom ran a fully licensed bar for the successful fundraising event.
More good news?: Yorkshire in Bloom judges visited Scholes on Tuesday afternoon to carry out their summer appraisal of the sterling work put in by Scholes in Bloom volunteers. Last year Scholes achieved its best result in the tough, county-wide competition, gaining a Silver Gilt award in the Large Village category. But in their pursuit of excellence the volunteers, led by their Chairman, Ben Hogan, were disappointed with that result and this year are going for Gold. The pounding received by flower beds and hanging baskets during recent heavy rain will not have helped – though similar conditions will have affected other villages entered in Yorkshire in Bloom, too. They now have to wait until September to learn whether their objective has been achieved.
Barwick Prepares: Monday, August 10 is a date probably highlighted in the diaries of Barwick in Bloom volunteers. That’s the day when some of the country’s top ‘In Bloom’ judges visit the village as part of their nationwide search for this year’s winner in the Large Village category of Britain in Bloom. They will be greeted by John Tinker MBE, Chairman of Barwick in Bloom, who with other members will escort the judges on their tour of the village’s floral displays. Because Barwick, having won Gold last year, is Yorkshire’s large village entry in Britain in Bloom it cannot compete in Yorkshire in Bloom this year.
Probus Club: The vital work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team will be described by guest speaker Shelagh Robinson at Tuesday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club. This is a regular meeting point for professional and businessmen who have fully or partly retired. The meeting, to be held at John Rylie House, Barwick, begins at 10am. For details please call Harvey Metcalfe, tel: 0113 2812441.
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
‘Cultivation Street’: One of the most unusual garden displays ever seen in the parish was admired by hundreds of visitors at the popular, bi-annual Scholes Open Gardens event last Sunday, July 12. The owners of no fewer than nine homes in Elmete Croft opened their front gardens as one exhibit. Elsewhere in the village twelve other gardens were open to view, with all proceeds donated to Scholes in Bloom. There was a late entry for this annual Open Gardens event, a vegetable garden - which proved to be very popular among the visitors. After last year’s disastrous weather the sun shone and a glorious day among all these high quality gardens was enjoyed by everyone. Admission costing just £2 represented excellent value for residents and visitors alike. A wide selection of refreshments was available at Scholes Sports Club. Residents who generously opened their gardens to the public were, in addition to residents of Elmete Croft, Alan Hobbah, Nicola, Paul and Katie Clifford, Ian Mann and Jane Sefton (who also managed a bric-a-brac stall), Billy Roberts, Lilla and Arthur Womack, Anne and Malcolm Smedley, John Moreland, Meg and Malcolm Mosley, Roger Mawson and Jane Macaulay, Nadine and Bill Plews, Ron and Margaret Brereton, William David Byrne. Councillor Ben Hogan said that the day had been “extremely successful” and that he was “very grateful” for all the effort and support that had gone into this event, which was attended by over 300 people. Now Scholes in Bloom are busy working towards the Yorkshire in Bloom judging day on July 21 between 10am and 12noon.
Damage Postponed: Attractive flower beds close to the busy junction of Leeds Road, Barwick and Long Lane face major upheaval later in the year to allow essential gas supply work to be carried out. Coun Geoff Yapp told the July meeting of the parish council that he had advised the contractors that nothing must be done to damage the flowerbeds until after the visit of Britain in Bloom judges on Monday, August 10.
Scholes Playground: The installation of new play equipment in Scholes children’s playground has moved a step closer with the appointment of a parish council sub-committee to decide what equipment will be the most suitable. To ensure that the views of parents with young children are taking into account, a Scholes mother who has previously raised the issue of the playground with the parish council is to be invited to join the sub-committee. Councillors are hoping their bid to Leeds city council for a major contribution to the cost of re-equipping the playground will be successful.
Judges’ Visit: Yorkshire in Bloom judges are to visit Scholes on Tuesday, July 21, to carry out their summer appraisal. They will be shown round the village by representatives of Scholes in Bloom, led by their Chairman, Ben Hogan. Having won Silver Gilt last year they are hoping that, this year, the village’s floral displays will earn the prestigious Gold award.
Barwick Street Light: The cost of replacing an additional street lighting column close to The Cross, Barwick, with one in heritage style caused parish councillors a sharp intake of breath at their latest meeting. However, hoping that the city council’s street lighting contractor, Southern Electric, will make an allowance for the old lighting column, which could be used elsewhere, the council agreed to their quote of £2,600 for the new one.
Scholes Parking Problems: Congestion and road safety concerns caused by drivers parking on Station Road, Scholes, while visiting the convenience store at the end of Rakehill Road were again expressed to parish councillors. They were told that cones placed by the police to discourage parking had simply been thrown into the hedge. “This is a significant problem,” said one member, expressing concern that parked vehicles could present an obstacle to the drivers of buses which, from Monday, will need to turn at that corner.
Guide to New Bus Services: It’s ‘all change on the buses’ in Barwick and Scholes next week. Here’s a brief guide to the revised routes, bus numbers and timings. New timetables come into effect on Monday (July 20). From that date services 68 and 68a will no longer run through Scholes. Two new services will be introduced: the 64a will operate hourly, linking the village with Leeds city centre via the Coronation Tree and Cross Gates in one direction, going to Barwick and Aberford in the other. Service 64 will continue to operate hourly from Aberford and Barwick to Leeds, via the Coronation Tree. The second new service, number 5a, will provide a link between Scholes and Seacroft Green bus station but will operate only between 9.30am and 1.30pm on weekdays and up to 5pm on Saturdays. Service 5 is to be retained and will continue to operate during the evening and on Sundays. Detailed timings should be displayed at bus stops or can be obtained on the First Leeds or Metro websites.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Barwick in Elmet Area News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Supporting Martin House: An evening of live entertainment will be held at Scholes Village Hall next Friday, July 10, at 7.30pm, to raise funds for Martin House, the Thorp Arch hospice for young people. Professional pop singer Charlotte Toovey, whose family lives in Scholes, will perform under her stage name Lottie T’Vay and a band from Martin House will play. A disco will complete what promises to be a lively evening, from which all proceeds will be donated to the hospice. A fully licensed bar will be available; tickets, costing £5, will be sold at the door.
Barwick Concert: Songs in the style of Gracie Fields, Julie Andrews and Joyce Grenfell will be performed by professional vocalist Judith Hibbert at a concert at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, next Friday, July 10, at 7.30pm. Members of Tadchorale will also sing a selection of popular songs. Tickets will cost £5 and all proceeds will support the work of Barwick in Bloom.
Scholes Open Gardens: This popular event is held every two years so let’s hope Sunday, July 12 is blessed with good weather. Twelve Scholes residents will open their gardens to visitors during the afternoon, between 1pm and 5pm. Unusually, all the front gardens and one rear garden of nine adjacent properties in Elmete Croft will be opened as one garden.’ Admission to the whole event will cost just £2 and programmes are available in advance from members of Scholes in Bloom. A wide selection of home made refreshments will be available in the tennis club pavilion and, weather permitting, a Songs of Praise service will be held at 5.30pm in the club car park.
Barwick Open Gardens: Based upon the sale of programmes both before the event and on the day, Sunday’s Open Gardens in Barwick attracted around 1,000 people. A warm, sunny afternoon encouraged residents and visitors to tour the 12 gardens open to view. A wide selection of home made refreshments, served with a smile by a team of ladies, added to people’s enjoyment. John Tinker MBE, Chairman of Barwick in Bloom, told the Wetherby News he was delighted that the Open Gardens, first held in 2001, had once again drawn in the crowds. He thanked those residents who had prepared and opened their gardens and all the volunteers who helped make the event so successful. One garden opened for the second year running was that of Lesley and David Tompkins in Schoolgate. Featuring mature beech and sycamore trees, their garden is maintained with the interests of wildlife in mind and attracts many birds. “We try to avoid using chemicals altogether,” Lesley told the Wetherby News. In Potterton Lane, Carolyn and Robert Cockerham opened their garden for the first time, while the small courtyard garden of Vivienne and Sam Razavilar, in Main Street, was ablaze with colour. Other gardens were opened by Jenni and Philip Elliott, Lynne and Clive Whitaker, Pat and Eddie Pattison, Norma and Keith Leckenby, Barbara and Ian Richardson, Margaret Ellison, Florence and Kenneth Walker, Ruth and Stephen Wiles and Jennifer and Norman Crabtree.
Bus services: While the concerns of Scholes residents at the threatened loss of bus connections to Seacroft Green have attracted a lot of attention, Barwick residents are also unhappy at proposals from bus operator First Leeds. Their plans to divert alternate 64 buses via Scholes could add at least ten minutes to the length of the journey from Aberford and Barwick to Leeds city centre and back. Once new schedules come into operation on Sunday, July 19, only one 64 bus an hour will go to and from Leeds using the current route. Buses on the alternate route will turn off at the Coronation Tree and go up to the top of Station Road, Scholes, along Rakehill Road and other residential streets before returning via Main Street to the Coronation Tree. “Most Barwick folk don’t realise the impact these bus changes will have on the length of their journey,” one resident told the Wetherby News this week. “Once people get to know the new schedule the buses going direct to Leeds, via Cross Gates, will be packed.” More than 200 Scholes residents packed the village hall for a public meeting last week to voice their concern and anger at First’s plan to axe services 68 and 68a, along with service 5 – all of which currently serve Scholes – and replace them with just one hourly service operating a revised route 64. Scholes Community Forum have strong support from Leeds city councillors and parish councillors. First Leeds have conducted their own consultation in the village to find out directly the views of local people. Your correspondent called the bus operator several times this week to ask about the outcome of their survey but nobody answered the phone number listed as their main point of contact.
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Barwick Open Gardens: The popular Open Gardens event in Barwick takes place on Sunday, from 1pm to 5pm. Volunteer members of Barwick in Bloom will welcome visitors, as will 12 village residents who have kindly agreed to display their manicured lawns, colourful flower beds and fruit-laden orchards. No Open Gardens tour is complete, however, without a visit to the village hall to enjoy some of the homemade scones, cakes and other tempting treats which test the resolve of anyone counting the calories. Admission programmes costing £2 for the entire village tour will be available from volunteers at the free car park on Jack Heap’s Field, Main Street, from the village hall and from the display gardens themselves. Plants will also be on sale at the village hall. All proceeds will support the award-winning work of Barwick in Bloom, whose green-fingered volunteers are this year preparing Barwick’s entry in the Large Village category of the Britain in Bloom competition. The judges’ appraisal will take place on Monday, August 10. Among the finalists this year is a parish in the Channel Island of Guernsey, where your correspondent’s sister has lived for many years. It’s a small world...but the Wetherby News is most definitely backing Barwick to win Britain in Bloom’s Large Village category!
Ladies Who Meet: Barwick Village Ladies is a new, informal and friendly women’s group now meeting at the John Rylie Centre on the first Monday of the month, at 7.30pm. So that should mean there’s a meeting next Monday! There’s no membership fee but, instead, ladies pay £2.50 at each meeting they attend. Activities are likely to include meals out, theatre visits and walks, not to mention a good opportunity to meet other ladies who live in the parish.
Bus Services: A public meeting at Scholes Village Hall on Wednesday was expected by its organisers, Scholes Community Forum, to attract around 200 people. Councillors from Leeds city council and from the parish council were expected to attend, as were two senior officers from Metro. Conspicuous by their absence, however, would be bus operator First, whose proposed bus service changes sparked the concerns the meeting was called to discuss. In an e-mail to Coun George Hall, an elected member of the parish council and lead member of the Forum, the Commercial Director of First in Leeds, Richard Harris, said he preferred to await the results of the village survey his company is currently conducting. Every household in Scholes should have received a First questionnaire inviting their views on the proposal to change the route of alternate buses operating on route 64. These buses would replace the current service 68 and 68a by diverting from the Coronation Tree, going up to Rakehill Road then returning via residential streets to Station Road, Main Street and Leeds Road. This proposal would give Scholes residents an hourly service to Leeds or, in the opposite direction, to Barwick and Aberford. However, it would remove their link to Seacroft Green and its supermarket, shops, health centre and connections to other bus services. In his email Mr Harris told Coun Hall: “We will not be attending your meeting as we believe you need to try to come to a consensus on whether our routing proposal for service 64 is to be taken up or whether you wish to continue to pursue other routing possibilities. Our village survey should help to provide an answer to the former and, if you decide on the latter, it needs to be clearly understood that First is unlikely to be able to provide them on a commercial basis.” He added: “It will be difficult for a public meeting to come to such conclusions, hence our survey, and rather than debate the past – which our presence at the meeting is likely to cause – it is important that a decision is made on the future. I hope you will be able to come back and talk to us after the meeting with a positive response regarding the routing, as we are keen to serve Scholes village in our commercial bus network.” Mr Harris pointed out that since services 68 and 68a were introduced five years ago Scholes villagers had campaigned for their replacement with a more direct service to Leeds and a connection to Barwick and Aberford; the current proposal would achieve that objective. Other route options had been considered but, due to their cost, would not have been sustainable. However, First believe the proposed diversion of service 64 via Scholes would be commercially viable. “We hope to have a reasonable number (of survey forms) returned by Friday, 26 June so that a decision can be made on the revised routing. It is important that a decision is made on this,” said Mr Harris. Commenting on the village survey, Coun Hall said this week: “It’s good that First are giving people a chance to have their say but are they going to listen to what people tell them? We must try to find a way forward.” He added that Colin Burgon, Member of Parliament for Elmet, had sent his apologies for the meeting but assured the Community Forum of his support. He also said he had signed an Early Day Motion calling on First to reconsider its proposed bus service cutbacks in many parts of the country. In reporting the meeting next week the Wetherby News will invite the bus operator to reveal the results of its village survey and to advise what conclusion they have reached, following local consultation, on the future of bus services provided to residents in Barwick and Scholes.
Scholes Donation: A coffee morning held by members of Scholes Methodist Church raised £135 for Meeting Point, a centre which provides a range of services to families living in the Harehills area of Leeds. The next coffee morning will be hosted by church members on Saturday, July 4, in aid of the Leeds Methodists’ Children’s Holiday Scheme.
Coffee Morning: The Yorkshire Air Ambulance will receive the proceeds of a coffee morning to be held by Barwick Methodist Social Committee on Saturday, July 4 at the home of Philip and Greta Pierce.
Festival Tickets: There is still time for Barwick and Scholes residents to apply for discounted tickets to the Leeds Festival at Bramham Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Festival organisers have offered 50 tickets to the parish council, which will use the proceeds of their sale, at £40 per ticket, to improve parish facilities. Application forms are available at both village post offices or by visiting the parish council website: www.barwickandscholespc.co.uk. As the number of applications already received exceeds the number of tickets available a ballot will be conducted to allocate them as fairly as possible. Closing date for applications is next Friday, July 3.
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Friday, June 19, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Bus Services: Scholes residents’ robust resistance to plans by bus operator First to leave them without a link between their village and the Seacroft Green shops, health centre and bus station continues. With less than four weeks to go before two existing bus services are withdrawn, to be replaced by just one bus an hour which will not go to Seacroft Green, angry villagers are backing a determined bid by Scholes Community Forum to persuade First to reconsider their decision. Reluctantly, Scholes residents have accepted the reality of an hourly bus frequency. What they find hard to accept, however, is the assertion by the bus operator that alternate buses on service 64 cannot travel to Leeds city centre via Scholes, Seacroft Green and Cross Gates, instead of via Penda’s Fields and Cross Gates. Coun Alec Shelbrooke, one of the three members of Leeds city council who represent Barwick and Scholes residents, is backing their bid. So too is Barwick and Scholes parish council. But according to Metro, First are unwilling to reconsider, blaming falling revenues and the costs of running services to rural areas. After more than three years battling for better bus services to and from Scholes, Coun George Hall and his colleagues in the Community Forum now find themselves fighting to retain a bus link which many villagers depend upon. Some travel to Seacroft Green to visit the Tesco store and other shops. Others have appointments at the Seacroft health centre while some value a connection at Seacroft Green to buses serving St.James’s Hospital or going to other parts of the district. Metro officers have told Scholes campaigners they will press their case for their Seacroft Green link to be retained – but say they don’t hold out much hope of success. In an outspoken attack on First, Coun Andrew Carter, joint Leader of Leeds city council, said the company is at risk of becoming the problem rather than the solution to the District’s need for improved bus services. ‘Enough is enough,’ he has told the operator, warning that there will come a time when they will regret the sweeping service cuts and schedule changes they are planning to make in mid July. Speaking of ‘the financial greed of First,’ Coun Hall told supporters: ‘It has been emphasised to us (by Metro) that the operator is being intransigent. We have been told that as no other operator was prepared to offer a service in Leeds the hands of our elected representatives are tied. Effectively this means a monopoly situation in the city.’ With many other communities across West Yorkshire up in arms at proposed bus service cutbacks, it is being said that the only people put First by the bus operator are the company’s shareholders. The message to residents in rural areas seems to be that they should be grateful to First that they have a service at all, even if it’s infrequent, unreliable and doesn’t necessarily take them where they want to go.
Barwick Open Gardens: The annual Open Gardens event in Barwick will take place on Sunday, June 28, from 1pm to 5pm. Volunteer members of Barwick in Bloom will welcome visitors, as will those residents who will their gardens to public view. A wide selection of home made refreshments will be available in the village hall. Admission programmes, costing just £2, and will be available from volunteers at the free car park on Jack Heap’s Field, Main Street. Plants will also be on sale in the village hall. All proceeds will support the work of Barwick in Bloom, whose members are this year preparing Barwick’s entry in the Large Village category of Britain in Bloom.
Scholes Open Gardens: This popular bi-annual event will take place on Sunday, July 12 from 1pm to 5pm. Twelve residents have agreed to open their gardens to visitors during the afternoon. Unusually, all the front gardens and one rear garden of nine adjacent properties in Elmete Croft will be opened as ‘one garden.’ Admission to the whole event will cost just £2 and programmes are available in advance from members of Scholes in Bloom. A wide selection of home made refreshments will be available in the tennis club pavilion and, weather permitting, a Songs of Praise service will be held at 5.30pm in the club car park. Let’s hope the organisers will be as lucky with the weather as the village hall gala committee.
Barwick Plan Sparks Protests: An outline planning application to demolish an old barn at Lime Tree Farm, adjacent to Elmwood Avenue, Barwick to enable two, three storey, seven bedroom detached homes to be built was considered by the parish council’s planning committee on Monday evening. Many local residents have already voiced their opposition to the proposed development, put forward by developer and builder Simon Walker, who lives in the village. Parish councillors, who have always opposed three storey housing developments in the village, are likely to urge Leeds city planners to reject the application. Only two years ago a Government Planning Inspector ruled that three storey properties were not suitable developments in the village’s conservation area, in which the proposed site is situated.
Scholes Gala: How do they do it! Once again, Scholes Village Hall committee members chose the best possible day to stage the annual Scholes Gala, with perfect weather drawing a huge crowd on Saturday. As always the gala was strongly supported by local residents; it’s a great family occasion. But according to committee secretary Ian Jones many visitors were also welcomed from the Cross Gates, Seacroft and Whinmoor areas of Leeds. “We like to make it a traditional village gala and people like that,” says Ian. The committee expect to have raised more than £4,000 from the gala, all of which goes towards the £12,000 a year it costs to run the village hall for the benefit of the whole community. This year’s event was opened by Maurice Walker, Chairman of Scholes Community Care, whose volunteers do so much to improve the lives of elderly residents. This year’s Gala Queen, 11-year-old Lucy Toolan, whose family lives in Scholes, was crowned by the retiring Queen, Courtney Fisher. Lucy impressed everyone with her confidence and excellent speech to the large crowd. She was attended by Ellie Gibb and Jade Walsh, with Beefeaters George Pennock and Sam Thompson. All are pupils at Scholes Primary School. A marching display was given by ‘La Classique Majorettes’ and a demonstration of Taekwon-Do by tutors who teach this defensive martial art in local schools. Gawthorpe Brass Band once again travelled to Scholes for the gala and the traditional children’s races and games were held. Two decorated floats took part in the traditional parade through the village, representing the Anglican and Methodist churches and the Tiddlers and Toddlers group. Both looked so good that the judges decided they should share the first prize! Hundreds of sandwiches, scones and cakes prepared by Ian’s wife Shelley and other committee members completely sold out. “It was a brilliant day,” said Ian. “But what we need most of all for next year is more helpers.”
Probus Club: Next Tuesday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club, at John Rylie House, Barwick, 10am, will feature a presentation by Yorkshire Water’s Craig Bardy entitled ‘It’s only water.’ Members of the club are professional and businessmen who have fully or partly retired.
Congratulations John: As reported elsewhere in this issue, Barwick stalwart coun John Tinker was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, announced last weekend. The honour primarily recognises John’s achievements as chairman of Barwick in Bloom, though he is also well known as a member of the parish council and a strong supporter of local organisations and charities. Among those to congratulate him was coun Ben Hogan, chairman of Barwick and Scholes parish council and of Scholes in Bloom. He told the Wetherby News: “This honour is fully deserved and I am really pleased John has achieved it. He is always ready to help anyone.
Well Run Jonathan: While others found shade from the sun, Jonathan Miller, 22, completed Sunday’s Humber Bridge half marathon, all 13.1 miles of it, in just 1hr.52mins – a good six minutes inside his time for the same event last year. Due to working long hours as Assistant Manager of the Fox & Grapes, Barwick, Jonathan couldn’t train as much as he would have liked. But he was determined to complete the half marathon to raise funds for Martin House, the children’s hospice at Thorp Arch, where a good friend is a nurse. He told the Wetherby News: “I felt fine throughout the run, even overtaking around 50 runners going up the steep climb dubbed ‘Cardiac Hill.’ Running across the Humber Bridge twice during the event is an experience in itself.” Jonathan now plans to enter the Great North Run, a half marathon in the Newcastle area on September 20, again to raise money for Martin House. Anyone wishing to support his fundraising is asked to do so via the following website: www.justgiving.com/jonathanmiller3
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Friday, June 12, 2009
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Scholes Gala: ‘Film and Television’ will be the theme for tomorrow’s Scholes Gala, which as usual will begin with the popular procession of decorated floats through the village, setting off at 12 noon. The gates of the school field will open at 1pm and, half an hour later, the event will be officially declared open by Maurice Walker, Chairman of Scholes Community Care. This year’s Gala Queen, 11-year-old Lucy Toolan, will be crowned by the retiring Queen, Courtney Fisher. Lucy will be attended by Ellie Gibb and Jade Walsh, with Beefeaters George Pennock and Sam Thompson. All are pupils at Scholes Primary School. A marching display will be given by ‘La Classique Majorettes’ and a demonstration of Taekwon-Do will be given by tutors who teach this defensive martial art in local schools. Gawthorpe Brass Band will once again travel to Scholes for the gala and the traditional children’s races and games will be held. With a funfair, barbeque, home made refreshments and a beer tent, this year’s Scholes Gala promises to be another great family day out. All the proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Village Hall.
Strawberry Fayre: Members of Barwick Flower Club will present displays during this weekend at a Strawberry Fayre being held at Brecks Farm, Swillington. Their work will be on show both in the farmhouse and the garden, which features a wild flower meadow walk. Strawberries and cream teas will be available and plants will be on sale at this event, which will raise funds for a worthy cause. Admission will cost £3 at the gate.
Barwick ‘Open Gardens:’ The annual Open Gardens event in Barwick will take place on Sunday, June 28, from 1pm to 5pm. Volunteer members of Barwick in Bloom will welcome visitors, as will those village residents who this year have agreed to open their manicured lawns, colourful flower beds and fruit-laden orchards to public view. No Open Gardens tour is complete, however, without a visit to the village hall to enjoy some of the home made scones, cakes and other tempting treats which test the resolve of anyone counting the calories. Admission programmes will cost just £2 and will be available from volunteers at the free car park on Jack Heap’s Field, Main Street. Plants will also be on sale in the village hall. All proceeds will support the work of Barwick in Bloom, whose members are this year preparing Barwick’s entry in the Large Village category of Britain in Bloom. More news of this shortly.
Parish now has a Vicar: ‘Call me Vicar, call me Andy, even call me Rector – but please don’t call me the Priest in Charge.’ That’s the message to parishioners in Barwick and Scholes from Rev Andy Nicholson, who now has responsibility for our parish as well as for Thorner and Scarcroft. In an interview with the Wetherby News he said that although his new post was defined as Priest in Charge he didn’t like the title ‘as it suggests a temporary appointment.’ Reassuringly he added: ‘I see myself being here for the medium to long term.’ Following the decision of the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds to appoint a priest to look after two large parishes, he said the title of Rector of Barwick and Scholes had been temporarily suspended. ‘If people call me Rector I would not tell them not to; I am happy to be called either Rector or Vicar, though parishioners in Barwick and Scholes have decided to call me Vicar.’ Rev Nicholson said he was well aware of the concerns expressed by some parishioners at the Diocesan decision not to appoint a new Rector but said local people had given him, his wife Debbie and their two sons a very warm welcome. Relocating from a small village near Richmond, North Yorkshire, they had been pleasantly surprised by Barwick, Scholes, Thorner and Scarcroft. ‘We thought villages on the edge of Leeds would be more built up but they are rural communities offering the best of both worlds.’ He is undaunted by the challenge of taking responsibility for two parishes, brought together after centuries of independence. In North Yorkshire he was one of three clergy who provided ministry in a rural area spanning more than 100 square miles, with 13 small village churches. ‘The mission of the Church cannot rest on one person,’ he said, adding: ‘I look forward to developing a team of people who see themselves as ministers; my job is to enable and help people to find their own ministry.’
Support for Martin House: In a determined bid to raise £1,000 for Martin House, the hospice for children and young people at Thorp Arch, Jonathan Miller, aged 22, Assistant Manager at the Fox and Grapes, Barwick, is to run two half marathons. The first, the Humber Bridge half marathon, takes places this Sunday, the second will be the Great North Run in the North East in September. This is the second successive year that Jonathan, until recently the Barwick and Scholes correspondent for the Wetherby News, has raised funds by distance running; last year he supported the excellent work of Macmillan Nurses. Anyone wishing to support Martin House by sponsoring Jonathan for one or both half marathons is invited to do so by visiting the following website: www.justgiving.com/jonathanmiller3 Every penny raised will go directly to Martin House.
Jonathan commented this week: “When I last ran the Humber Bridge half marathon I finished in 1hr 58 minutes; I am aiming to beat my personal record this year. More importantly, though, I am determined to complete both events so I can raise as much as possible for Martin House, where a good friend of mine is a member of their excellent team.”
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Friday, June 05, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet & Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537:
Bus service protest: Residents of bungalows at a sheltered housing complex in Scholes are gathering signatures on a petition of protest against proposals by bus operator First to discontinue the 68 and 68A bus service, as well as service 5, from the middle of July. If First carry out their threatened cut back in services then only a re-routed service 64 will provide an hourly link between Scholes and Leeds. The issue of great importance to many elderly residents is that they will lose their bus service between Scholes and Seacroft Green bus station. This currently allows village residents to visit the superstore and shops at Seacroft, attend appointments at the Seacroft health centre or to connect with buses going to St.James’s Hospital, to other parts of Leeds, to Wetherby and to the East coast. One Scholes residents told the Wetherby News this week: “First are more interested in making profits than they are in providing transport services to the public. The petition being gathered in the village demonstrates the determination of local people to fight this proposal and not stand by while vital bus links are removed.” The parish council and Scholes Community Forum are to press for a revised schedule which would allow service 64 to link Barwick and Scholes with Seacroft Green, Cross Gates and Leeds city centre on an hourly frequency, while retaining a service to Leeds via Penda’s Fields and Cross Gates on the half hour, via the Coronation Tree.
Coffee morning: Members of Scholes Methodist Church, fresh from celebrating the 130th anniversary of their chapel, will host a coffee morning tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to 12 noon. Proceeds will be donated to Meeting Point Cafe, which has been run by the Richmond Hill Methodist Circuit for the past 15 years, in partnership with other local churches. The cafe is a much valued facility based in Harehills Lane, Leeds, offering good food at reasonable prices, with special rates for pensioners.
Scholes Race Night: A fundraising Race Night is to be held by Scholes Primary School’s Parent Teachers’ Association tomorrow, Saturday, at the Village Hall, 7.30pm. Proceeds from the event, organised with assistance from Garforth Lions, will support the work and facilities of the school. Admission will cost £5, including supper. Tickets can be obtained from the school or the village Post Office.
Horticultural Society: Guest speaker Jim Wardill, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, will speak about ‘Birds in the Garden’ at a meeting of Barwick Horticultural Society on Monday, June 8. This month’s competition will be ‘Best lettuce, any variety.’ New members are welcome to attend the meeting, which will begin at 7.45pm in Barwick village hall.
Flower club: ‘In the summer time’ will be the topical theme of a flower arranging demonstration to be given by Jan Faulkner at a meeting of Barwick Flower Club next Wednesday, June 10, at Scholes Village Hall, 7.30pm. Admission will cost £4 per person.
Scholes Gala: A reminder that Scholes Gala, which raises vital funds for the upkeep of the village hall, takes place on Saturday, June 13, from 1pm. This year’s parade theme will be ‘Films and TV.’ Let’s hope the sun shines once again for this popular annual event, which as usual will be held on the primary school playing field.
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Friday, May 29, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Priest’s Induction: The newly-appointed Priest in Charge for the parishes of Barwick-in-Elmet with Scholes and Thorner with Scarcroft, Rev Andrew Nicholson, will officially take up his new post at an induction service on Tuesday, June 2. This will take place at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, at 7.30pm and all are welcome to attend. Representatives from the Anglican congregations in Barwick, Scholes, Thorner and Scarcroft will attend the service, at which the new priest will be licensed by the Bishop of Knaresborough. Andy Nicholson succeeds Rev Brunel James, former Rector of Barwick and Scholes, who left the parish last year following his appointment as Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. Amid controversy, the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds decided not to appoint a new Rector for Barwick and Scholes, breaking a tradition dating back to the 12th century. Instead, a new post of Priest in Charge for the parishes of Barwick with Scholes and of Thorner with Scarcroft was created. Although some were very upset by the decision, members of All Saints’ Church, Barwick and of St Philip’s Church, Scholes have assured Rev Nicholson of a warm welcome to the parish. He is relocating from Richmond, North Yorkshire, with his wife Debbie and their sons Ben, aged seven, and Jacob, five. As the Diocese considered that the Vicarage in Thorner was in better condition than the Rectory in Barwick, the new Priest and his family will live in Thorner.
Scholes Race Night: A fundraising Race Night is to be held by Scholes Primary School’s Parent Teachers’ Association on Saturday, June 6 at the village hall, starting at 7.30pm. Proceeds from the event, organised with assistance from Garforth Lions, will support the work and facilities of the school. Admission will cost £5, including supper. Tickets can be obtained from the school or the village Post Office.
Bus Services: Following last week’s announcement by bus operator First of proposed cutbacks in service frequencies, especially in rural areas, moves to soften the impact on Barwick and Scholes residents are now being made. A meeting with Metro is now being sought to discuss possible alternative bus route and schedule changes which might be put to First, whose plan to axe two existing bus services to and from Scholes have caused widespread criticism and concern in the village. As reported in last week’s Wetherby News, First want to discontinue services 5, 68 and 68a in mid-July, leaving Scholes with just an hourly service to and from Leeds via a re-routed service 64. Villagers would lose their link to Seacroft Green, where they can now connect with other bus services or visit the superstore and other shops. Alternate buses operating the half hourly service 64 would travel from Aberford and Barwick into Scholes, going along Rakehill Road, Belle Vue Avenue and Milton Drive before returning to the Coronation Tree and resuming their journey into Leeds. But Coun George Hall, a member of the parish council and Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, who has been leading a campaign to improve bus services to and from Scholes, believes another possible route should be put forward to the bus operator. This would see alternate, hourly buses on route 64 going through Scholes then continuing to Leeds via York Road and Seacroft Green. “This would avoid the need for buses to go through narrow residential streets and would retain the link to Seacroft for Scholes villagers,” he says. He added: “There is a lot of unhappiness among local residents about the First proposals. I firmly believe that some of the issues people have would be addressed by retaining the link to Seacroft Green, albeit with an hourly frequency.” Coun Alec Shelbrooke, one of three Leeds city council members who represent Barwick and Scholes, is seeking an early meeting with Metro. This would enable discussion about what might be done to persuade First to moderate their proposals, while still achieving their aim of reducing operating costs in response to declining passenger figures.
Parish Council: The June meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council will be held on Monday, June 1, at Scholes Village Hall. The parish forum will be at 7.15pm, offering local residents a chance to raise issues of concern. This will be followed by the parish council meeting at 7.30pm, which members of the public are entitled to observe.
New Councillor: A Barwick resident, Mrs Helen Elsworth, has been co-opted as a member of the parish council, following the recent resignation of former councillor Ken Shutt. At the annual parish meeting Coun Ben Hogan, chairman of the parish council, thanked Ken for his years of service to the community as a Barwick representative on the council. Mrs Elsworth, a partner in a Leeds firm of solicitors, lives in The Boyle, Barwick, where her husband runs the Fine Fettle cycle shop.
Leeds Festival Tickets: Through an arrangement with the organisers of the Leeds Festival and with the owners of Bramham Park, the parish council has been allocated 50 free tickets for this very popular event. The non-transferable tickets will cover the whole three day period of this year’s event, which runs from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30. Applications for the tickets will be accepted only from residents of Barwick and Scholes. If more than 50 applications for tickets are made then the tickets will be fairly allocated by ballot. Full details of how residents can apply for tickets will be available on application forms from Monday, June 8, obtainable from Barwick or Scholes post offices or on-line via the parish council website: barwickandscholespc.com
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Scholes Anniversary: It’s not often that an organisation can celebrate 130 years of unbroken service to its local community, so members of Scholes Methodist Church marked the achievement in style last weekend. More than 200 people attended a series of events, including a Flower Festival and a Thanksgiving Service featuring the popular Wesley Singers. Among the floral displays was one created by ladies from nearby St.Philip’s Church and another by members of Scholes in Bloom. Hospitality was provided during the whole weekend, with many visitors enjoying lunches, cream teas and other refreshments. An interesting display traced the history of the chapel, which was built in 1878-79 through the generosity of Edward Gray, the owner of Morwick Hall and Thomas Crosland, of Scholes Lodge, who donated the land adjacent to Main Street. Among exhibits was a letter dated 1879 from the President of the Wesleyan Conference, thanking Mr Gray ‘for the gift of a chapel to the value of £1,060 at Scholes, in the Leeds (Brunswick) Circuit.’ A book containing the minutes of meetings held at the chapel in the 1920s was also displayed. One entry recorded ‘the first sewing meeting and tea,’ in February, 1925, at which ‘it was passed that we should pay Mrs Precious 1/6 (one shilling and sixpence) for each tea.’ Three members of the Scholes chapel, Ann Anderson, Lesley Brett and Wendy Wood, are members of the Wesley Singers and took part in Sunday’s special service commemorating the chapel’s 130th anniversary. The celebrations were very much a team effort, with Lilla Womack co-ordinating the flower festival and Lesley Brett, Keith Wood and his wife Wendy closely involved in other aspects of the weekend. A recent coffee morning at the chapel raised £144 towards the upkeep of a Methodist School in The Gambia, West Africa.
War Memorials Recognition: Following last year’s success in gaining approval for a Tree Preservation Order to be imposed by Leeds city council on the Memorial Trees which line both sides of Station Road, Scholes, campaigners now have another cause for celebration. Top officials at the internationally renowned Imperial War Museum have now placed the Memorial Trees, the Scholes War Memorial and a commemorative plaque displayed in the Manor House on the United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials. This accreditation is a major achievement for Scholes Community Forum and, particularly, for its Lead Member, Coun George Hall, who led the campaign to ensure the Memorial Trees are protected in perpetuity and submitted an application for inclusion on the National Inventory. Initially, city council planners refused even to consider protecting the trees, insisting that since they are owned by the city council they would be looked after. However, a planning application which, if approved, could have led to one of the Memorial Trees being felled spotlighted the threat to the trees if they were not officially preserved. Letters of congratulation have been received by the Community Forum from the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, who is the Queen’s representative in West Yorkshire and from Colin Burgon, Member of Parliament for the Elmet constituency. Says Coun Hall: “This brings to an end a long fought battle to honour those men from our village who died in the service of our country. We are proud to say that the people of Scholes have kept their promise to remember them.” The National Inventory entries can be found on the UKNIWM website under references 58308-10.
Scholes Race Night: A fundraising Race Night is to be held by Scholes Primary School’s Parent Teachers’ Association on Saturday, June 6 at the village hall at 7.30pm. Proceeds from the event, organised with assistance from Garforth Lions, will support the work and facilities of the school. Admission will cost £5, including supper. Tickets can be obtained from the school or the village Post Office.
Strawberry Fayre: Members of Barwick Flower Club have been invited to create floral displays for a Strawberry Fayre to be held at Brecks Farm, Swillington, during the weekend of June 13 and 14. Their work will be displayed both in the farmhouse and the garden, which features a wild flower walk. Admission will cost £3.
Police Campaign: Speaking at the annual parish meeting, PC Andy Katkowski made it clear that West Yorkshire Police are not only continuing their campaign to combat speeding in both Barwick and Scholes but are introducing a new ‘weapon.’He said officers were now being trained in using Automated Number Plate Recognition equipment which, after recording a vehicle number plate, gives the police vital information about the vehicle and its registered keeper in seconds. Data the system provides includes whether the vehicle is insured, has been stolen, or has been involved in a reported crime. Fixed penalty tickets have been issued to a number of speeding drivers in the parish; most of the offenders were local residents.
Ancient Trust Reports: Grants totalling £2,716 were made during the 12 months ending in February by the Ancient Parish of Barwick-in-Elmet Trust. Established in 1996, the Trust brought together the interests of several smaller charities, some of which dated back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Its purpose is defined as ‘the relief, either generally or individually, of persons in the area of benefit who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.’ Assistance can be in the form of a cash grant or by providing items or facilities people need. The Trust’s area of benefit includes not only Barwick and Scholes but also parts of Cross Gates, Swarcliffe, Whinmoor, Fearnville, Oakwood and Ladywood – the ancient parish as it was in 1856. Dr Alan Stanley is the Trust’s Chairman and other Trustees are Jack Anderson, David Leeming, Sylvia Snowden and John Tinker.
Leeds Festival: Following extensive talks with the Police, parish councils and resident groups, Festival Republic, organisers of the Leeds Festival to be held at Bramham Park over the August Bank Holiday, are finalising a plan which may avoid the traffic problems which have caused widespread disruption for local residents in the past. A key proposal would mean that the A64 York Road would be closed to normal traffic between the Seacroft roundabout and the A1 but would be used as a one-way route into Bramham Park for festival traffic. Vehicles heading for the event would no longer be taken off the motorway at Colton, with the resulting chaos on the ring road through Cross Gates and on the York Road. Representatives from Barwick and Scholes parish council are among those invited to meetings with the event organisers and the police to plan this year’s traffic management.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
Barwick In Elmet & Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Scholes celebration: Members of Scholes Methodist Church will celebrate their chapel’s 130 years of worship and community service this weekend. A flower festival will be open to all tomorrow, Saturday, between 10am and 5pm, with coffee, lunch or cream teas available at appropriate times. A family service at 10.30am on Sunday will be conducted by Rev Keith Hunt, after which the flowers can be viewed until 5pm. To complete this notable anniversary, a Thanksgiving Songs of Praise, featuring the Wesley Singers, will begin at 6pm on Sunday. A warm welcome is assured for anyone wishing to join the celebrations. Keith has kindly provided to the Wetherby News a brief history of the Methodist chapel in Scholes, written by the well-known East Leeds historian John Gilleghan. He noted that there was a Methodist Society in Scholes as early as 1797, with worshippers meeting at William Wetherall’s granary at Main Street, or in Barwick. Years later the owner of Morwick Hall, Edward Gray, suggested that a chapel be built in Scholes and land off Main Street was donated by Thomas Crosland, of Scholes Lodge, in 1878. Mr Gray met the cost of building the chapel, £1,080, and his initials and badger crest are displayed to acknowledge his generosity. In 1879 the chapel was officially opened and, today, it remains a cherished and vibrant place of worship within the village community.
Barwick Plant Sale: Anyone looking for a used bulldozer or JCB, one careful owner? If so, there’s a plant sale at Barwick village hall tomorrow, Saturday. Only joking! The event is, of course, the popular annual plant sale organised by green fingered members of Barwick-in-Elmet Horticultural Society. There’s usually a queue before the doors open at 2pm so bargain hunters should not leave their visit too late in the day.
Probus Club: Villagers who might hear the ‘ping’ of underwater sonar echoes coming from Barwick’s John Rylie House on Tuesday morning should not be alarmed. Members of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club, all of whom are professional and businessmen who have fully or partly retired, will be informed by speaker Harry Jackson about ‘U Boats and the Battle of the Atlantic Part 1.’ The meeting will begin with coffee at 10.15am. New members are welcome to attend or, for information, should call Harvey Metcalfe: 0113 2812441.
Parish Precept: The cost of parish services, to which council tax payers in Barwick and Scholes residents are required to contribute during the current financial year, remains at £38,000, the same amount as last year. “A good thing in these troubled times,” observed councillor Ben Hogan, who was re-elected chairman of the parish council at the annual parish meeting on Monday. “We have a good mix of skills and experience among our councillors and I am honoured to lead them,” he said. Coun David Leeming was re-elected as vice chairman.
Pothole Problems: The quality of work being carried out by the city council’s Highways Department in repairing potholes in Barwick and Scholes was called into question at the annual parish meeting. “I would be dismayed to do a job like that; they are leaving the road worse than it was before,” an indignant resident commented. Chris Hassell, Clerk to the parish council, said the pothole problem was widespread across the Leeds metropolitan district. Coun Claire Hassell said this was hardly surprising in view of the severe winter weather and extensive use of road salt. Coun Geoff Yapp said Long Lane and Potterton Lane, in Barwick, were by far the worst affected. It was agreed to contact Highways, though councillors were not optimistic of receiving an early reply.
Outrage At Speed Results: At least three drivers or motor bike riders were travelling at more than 80mph as they entered Barwick along Long Lane recently, according to results from a speed measurement survey by the city council. The revelation that a third to a half of all drivers using Long Lane were going at well over the speed limit prompted outrage at Monday’s parish council meeting. “This is just not acceptable,” said Coun Geoff Yapp, urging the council to protest in the strongest terms. “It is an accident or, at worse, a fatality waiting to happen,” parish clerk Chris Hassell observed. PC Andy Katkowski, of West Yorkshire Police, said the three 80mph speeders were likely to have been motor cyclists. However, as the survey equipment did not differentiate between types of vehicle, this could not be confirmed.
Roof Repair Grant: If long-established theatre group Scholes Village Players were planning to present ‘Singing in the Rain’ they would have a natural set in their costume and properties store adjacent to Scholes village hall. The corrugated roof of the outbuilding, originally built as an ammunition store, leaks like a sieve! This presents a major problem to the group, whose income relies upon small profits made from its productions, which aim to provide entertainment at affordable prices, not to make lots of money. At their meeting this week the parish council were told by Coun Norma Fletcher that a contractor had quoted £12,500 to repair the roof, though members thought they could do the job themselves for about half that cost. Coun George Hall urged councillors to support the Players who, he said, “provide an excellent service to the village.” Coun Geoff Yapp agreed that the group deserved support. Councillors approved a grant of £1,000 from ‘the Scholes conservation fund,’ to be made when the roof is repaired.
Church Wall: The parish council also agreed to make a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of rebuilding part of the wall which surrounds All Saints’ Church, Barwick. Urgent repairs, costing £9,600, were required a few weeks ago when sections of wall collapsed into Aberford Road. It was agreed that the council’s ‘one off’ contribution should be made from the ‘Barwick conservation fund.’
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Parish Meeting: The annual parish meeting, to be held next Monday, May 11, at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom, 7.30pm, offers Barwick and Scholes residents a great opportunity to raise any concerns they may have about local issues. Everyone living in the parish is welcome to attend and, if they wish, have their say. The open forum will be followed at 8pm by the May meeting of the parish council, which will be open to the public to observe. Parish councils are a cornerstone of democracy in our country and the first line of defence against unwelcome planning applications or other proposals which could impact on village communities.
Scholes Methodists celebrate: The 130th anniversary of the Methodist Chapel being built in Scholes is to be celebrated with a Flower Festival and special services during the weekend of May 16 and 17. A preview of the festival will be offered to church members on Friday, May 15, at 7pm. Tickets for this can be obtained by calling 0113 2602886. On the Saturday the chapel will be open for people to admire the flowers from 10am to 5pm. Coffee, lunch and cream teas will be available at appropriate times. The following day there will be a family service at 10.30, conducted by Rev Keith Hunt, after which the flower festival will remain open until 5pm. At 6pm a Festival Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving service will feature the Wesley Singers. Chapel member Keith Wood told the Wetherby News that everyone will be most welcome to join members in celebrating this remarkable anniversary. Keith pointed out that services at the small chapel are very well attended, often by a congregation of 60 or 70 people, which is gratifying after 130 years of service to the village community. He added: ‘Our popular coffee mornings on the first Saturday of the month have raised more than £2,500 for different charities in just over two years.’ Charities receiving donations have included Scholes Community Care, Leeds Children’s Holiday Scheme, the Emmaus community in Leeds and a project which supports a school in The Gambia, West Africa.
Event’s great success: Speaking of popular coffee mornings, it is pleasing to report the remarkable achievement of Scholes residents David and Margaret Clough in raising £1,300 with their coffee morning and ‘cake break’ event at Barwick village hall on April 25. All proceeds will be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Says David: ‘It was a wonderful occasion, attended by many kind and generous people. A very worthwhile and successful morning.’ The event’s success is testimony to the planning and huge amount of work put into it by David, Margaret and the charity’s many other supporters in Barwick and Scholes.
‘Garden grabbing’ concerns: Many Scholes residents attending the annual general meeting of the village’s Community Forum voiced concerns - and sought support from the forum in opposing - a new planning application to build houses in the garden of a property in Elmete Avenue. The new application to build three houses follows an earlier application on the same site for three blocks of flats. This was turned down by Leeds City Council planners and a subsequent appeal was dismissed. The planning department have received many letters of objection to the new proposal. ‘The forum shares the concerns of these residents and they have our support,’ says Coun George Hall, Lead Member of the community forum. He added: ‘We do not like Garden Grabbing and should the planning authority decide to approve the application we have requested that several conditions are attached to the decision notice to ensure that the effects of the development are minimised.’
Scholes Patients’ Forum: The Wetherby News has learned that a Scholes Patients’ Forum is to be set up. This will enable health-related issues to be discussed with the village’s doctors’ practice and with other health service providers. Scholes Community Forum has nominated two representatives, Angela Stocks and Desma Thomson, to be members of the new organisation.
Leeds Festival: The organisers of the Leeds Festival, which will once again be held at Bramham Park during the August Bank Holiday weekend, are looking to recruit stewards from the local area. For further information, contact Chris Hassell, Clerk to the parish council, tel: 0113 2811231 or e-mail: chrisdhassell@hotmail.com
Speed checks: West Yorkshire Police are continuing their campaign to combat speeding through Barwick and Scholes. Unmarked police cars and roadside speed detection devices are being used in a determined bid to slow down drivers, many of them local residents, who exceed the 30mph speed limit which applies in both villages. Several drivers have been issued with expensive fixed penalty fines.
Vigilance required: Following a number of thefts in Barwick and Scholes the police have again appealed to local residents to lock their doors, even when they are in their home or garden. With modern cars being much harder to break into, thieves are increasing stealing ignition keys by entering people’s homes. Also, garden equipment is at risk of being stolen from garages and sheds so the police again advise keeping them securely locked, especially overnight.
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick & Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537:
Coffee morning: Following the success of their coffee morning and sale last year in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Barwick residents David and Margaret Clough will host this year’s event tomorrow, Saturday. Entitled ‘Coffee and Cakes,’ the event will take place at Barwick Village Hall from 10am to noon. There will be stalls selling books, cakes, greeting cards, bric-a-brac and plants, plus a raffle and tombola. Admission will cost £1, which will include coffee and biscuits. All proceeds will be donated to the charity.
Have a laugh: In these depressing economic times, with so many individuals, families and businesses affected by the recession, any event which can cheer people up must surely be welcomed. Thanks to Scholes Village Players, local residents don’t have far to travel to enjoy a good laugh this week. Don’t worry if you have not had chance to buy tickets in advance for the Players’ production of the lighthearted comedy ‘Kindly Keep It Covered.’ For the remaining performances tonight, Friday, and tomorrow evening it should be possible to buy tickets at the door of Scholes Village Hall. New members are always welcomed by the Players, either to ‘tread the boards’ or, just as importantly, to volunteer backstage. Scholes Village Players, formed in 1932, is probably the longest-running amateur theatre group in the Leeds area and, apart from the war years, has presented entertaining productions every year.
Long Lane potholes: The parish council has drawn to the attention of Leeds Highways department the damage caused by the severe winter and frequent gritting to the Garforth road, especially driving towards Barwick. In several places the edge of the road has almost been worn away, leaving deep scars and potholes which could cause a threat to road safety. Drivers are urged to take particular care.
Fight to go on: A pledge to continue the long-running campaign to obtain better bus services for the people of Scholes, including a link to and from Barwick, was being made at Scholes Community Forum’s annual general meeting on Wednesday evening. In his report to the parish Coun George Hall, the forum’s lead member and an elected member of the parish council, was expected to say that he regretted that ‘we were not as successful as we had hoped for on the bus issue and clearly the undertaking, considered by us to be a promise, was not honoured.’ This was a reference to bus operator First saying they would re-route and re-schedule local bus services for a six month trial period, only to renege on that pledge after villagers expressed their preference at public meetings in both villages. ‘Resistance to changes remain but, as is our practice, we shall continue to argue for a better and more reliable service, one which hopefully will link Scholes to Barwick,’ Coun Hall was telling parishioners at Wednesday’s meeting. A report of the meeting will be published in next week’s Wetherby News.
Councillor’s surgeries: Any Barwick or Scholes resident wishing to discuss services provided to the villages by Leeds City Council can raise their concerns with Coun Ann Castle at her monthly ‘surgeries’ in each village. These are held at the Manor House, Scholes, on the first Saturday of the month, from 10am to 11am and at the John Rylie centre, Barwick, on the second Saturday of the month, between the same times. Coun Castle is one of three elected City Councillors in the Harewood ward, which includes both Barwick and Scholes.
Anyone for tennis? Barwick Tennis Club always welcomes new members of all ages and abilities. Just turn up at the club any Sunday morning from 11am to join Annual subscriptions cost £80 per year for adults and £25 per year for juniors. Family discounts are also available. This entitles members to unlimited use of the club’s three hard courts, which were resurfaced last year. Weekly coaching for junior members is provided by some of the club’s experienced players and will begin on Monday, May 11, at 6.30pm.
Or for bowling? New members are also required by Barwick Bowling Club, ‘between the age of eight and 98,’ though presumably anyone aged more than 98 would also be welcome to join! To enquire about membership just call at the club, which is near the village hall, on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 6.30pm, or on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons from 2pm. Or contact the club secretary, tel: (01937) 833634.
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Ladies’ Fellowship: New members can be assured of a warm welcome at the monthly meeting of the Monday Ladies’ Fellowship, to be held in the narthex at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Monday, at 2.15pm. Guest speaker Doug Simpson’s topic will be ‘Yorkshire Red Kites.’
Elmet Men’s Group: A speaker from the Dogs’ Trust, based within the parish, will address the Elmet Men’s Group at their meeting at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Monday, at 7.30pm. The group’s meetings are open to all men in the parish, whether or not they are churchgoers. ‘No business, no minutes, just good fellowship,’ says the group’s leader, Alan Stephenson.
Probus Club: ‘Slow Boat to China’ will be the intriguing title of a presentation to be given by guest speaker Nicola Down at Monday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club. This will take place at John Rylie House, Barwick, starting with coffee at 10.15am. The club’s members are professional and businessmen who have fully or partly retired.
Scholes Community Meeting: The annual general meeting of Scholes Community Forum takes place next Wednesday, April 22, at the Manor House, starting at 7.30pm. The meeting is being held in the evening for the convenience of people who cannot attend the Forum’s daytime meetings. All residents of the village are welcome to attend to discuss issues of interest or concern to the community.
Village Players: A fast moving and lighthearted comedy called ‘Kindly Keep It Covered’ will be presented next week by Scholes Village Players. Formed in 1932, this is probably the longest-running amateur theatre group in Leeds. Opening night at Scholes Village Hall will be next Wednesday, April 22 and the production will run until the following Saturday. Barwick resident Anne Kay, who is producing the comedy, has been responsible for many of the Village Players’ most successful shows, so audiences can be confident of a good night out at modest prices.
Members of the cast will be Alan Moule, Kath Clements, Cath Land, Nick Moule, Merf Adamson, Beth Fallon and Sue Hughes. The action takes place at a health farm and, judging from a brief description of the chaotic scenes which unfold there, it sounds hilarious. Tickets are available at Scholes Post Office or can be reserved by e-mail at: svp.box@virgin.net
Easter Services: Hundreds of Barwick and Scholes residents attended services and meetings during Holy Week and Easter at the villages’ Anglican and Methodist churches. All Saints’ Church, Barwick, was filled almost to capacity on Easter Sunday for a service of Holy Communion conducted by the Ven John Oliver, a former Archdeacon of Leeds who now lives in semi-retirement in Barwick. Younger members of the church gained warm applause for Easter pictures they drew during the service. Earlier, at 7.30am, some church members gathered on the ancient Hall Tower Hill in Barwick for the traditional Service of the Dawn. On Good Friday, members of All Saints and St.Phillip’s churches joined the congregation at St Peter’s, Thorner, for a special service, recognising the new association between the two parishes. Members of the Methodist church also joined Anglican congregations for shared worship, while Roman Catholics celebrated Mass on Easter Day at All Saints.
Scholes in Bloom: Judges of this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition are visiting Scholes this afternoon, Friday, to carry out their Spring appraisal. They will return in a few weeks’ time to view the Summer displays. Ben Hogan, Chairman of Scholes in Bloom, told the Wetherby News he was hoping the thousands of daffodils which welcome residents and visitors approaching Scholes would still be looking their best for the judges’ visit. He also praised the efforts of the group’s volunteers in creating attractive and colourful displays, especially those near the War Memorial and around the Coronation Tree. Good luck to Scholes in Bloom as they ‘Go for Gold’ this year.
Green Belt Commitment: Following our story last week, further evidence that the Green Belt between Scholes and Stanks is protected from building development ‘for all time’ has been provided to the Wetherby News by Coun George Hall, a member of Barwick and Scholes parish council and lead member of Scholes Community Forum. He said: ‘I have researched the issue and have obtained information from the archives at the Palace of Westminster. The undertaking was given by Counsel speaking on behalf of Leeds City Council at a Select Committee hearing on 18 April 1956.’ Coun Hall said Mr Royston Agnew QC, representing the City Council, stated at that hearing: ‘The committee will remember that the City Council of Leeds have given a public undertaking before Parliament that they will, for all time, retain this land as Green Belt. The Minister gave his decision in words on that basis and we are bound not only in law by the Minister but by honour before Parliament.’ This undertaking, made over 50 years ago, could have a major bearing on the plans of a consortium of major housing developers to build new housing on land in East Leeds. Leeds City Council is currently preparing a Local Development Framework for the metropolitan district against the background of Government calls for more housing to be built in many parts of the country. Whilst appreciating the need for new housing, especially affordable homes, Coun Hall told the Wetherby News that this requirement had to be balanced against environmental and transport considerations. ‘I personally consider that the economic benefits which the metropolitan area enjoys should be shared with other communities in the wider region, especially the former coalfield towns,’ he said.
Leeds Festival Traffic: Organisers of the Leeds Festival at Bramham Park during the August Bank Holiday have produced a 52-page report in a bid to improve traffic management, especially just before the event begins. This was reported to Barwick and Scholes parish council by its Clerk, Chris Hassell, following a planning meeting with the organisers and West Yorkshire Police. Everyone is keen to avoid a repeat of last summer’s chaotic traffic jams on the Ring Road and the A64 which caused delays and disruption for many local residents. One possible solution being considered is taking festival-bound traffic off the motorway at Bramham and routing it to the festival car parks via the A64, which would be closed to other traffic.
Farmers’ Market Concerns: Plans to hold a Farmers’ Market at the Gascoigne Arms, Barwick, have prompted concern among parish councillors, especially about car parking. Coun John Tinker told the parish council that he believed the event should take place at the village hall, whose car park is owned by the parish council.
Scholes Playground: The Governors of Scholes Primary School have turned down a request from the parish council to release land which would have made possible the enlargement of the children’s playground in the village, parish councillors were told at their monthly meeting. However, the council is pressing ahead with improvements to the existing playground. Grants are being sought to help meet the cost of three new items of playground equipment, also for refurbishing the existing play equipment and installing special ‘play safe’ flooring. New fencing has already been installed and a gate is to be fitted. Many parents with young children have complained about the condition of the playground and its equipment and the parish council is committed to improving it.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Passiontide service: The congregations and choirs of two parishes, Barwick with Scholes and Thorner with Scarcroft, will gather at St Peter’s Church, Thorner, this Good Friday evening for a service of Passiontide Readings and Music, beginning at 7.30pm.
Easter Day: Members of All Saints’ Church, Barwick, will meet on the village’s historic Hall Tower Hill at 7.30am on Easter Sunday for the traditional Service of the Dawn. This will be followed by a celebration of Holy Communion at 8am. Roman Catholic Mass will be celebrated at All Saints at 9am and a service of Holy Communion will take place at St.Philip’s, Scholes, at 10am. Church members will be invited to renew their Baptismal promises during a service of Holy Communion at All Saints at 10.30am.
Protecting Green Belt: Could an Act of Parliament passed more than half a century ago prove crucial in protecting the Green Belt between Scholes and Stanks? This intriguing question was raised at Monday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council by a Scholes representative, Coun George Hall. Amid growing concern among many villagers that thousands of new homes could be built in East Leeds during the next decade, the Leeds Corporation Act of 1956 could prove vital in resisting the worst threat to the Green Belt locally for many years. Coun Hall told the parish council that undertakings were given by Leeds Corporation to Parliament in 1956 that land between Scholes and Stanks would not be developed, thus preserving the village identity of Scholes. If it can be proved that these undertakings were given ‘for all time,’ then plans by a consortium of leading home builders to develop new housing estates in East Leeds could be placed in question. Parish councillors agreed that it might prove necessary to seek legal advice on the issue.
Warning to Drivers: West Yorkshire Police are using unmarked patrol cars and speed measurement guns in a major crackdown on drivers who speed through Barwick, Scholes and other villages in the area. For at least seven drivers their lack of care last week proved expensive. They were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices, with a fine of at least £60 and three penalty points on their licence. One driver was issued with a Court Summons after being caught driving at excessive speed in one local village, while three others were offered Speed Awareness courses as an alternative to a fine and penalty points. Police Community Support Officer Dan Sillers told the parish council this week that recent police checks in Scarcroft and other local villages showed that seven out of ten speeding drivers lived locally.
Bus Service Snub: A renewed plea to Metro to help Scholes residents obtain better bus services has been rejected, a disappointed Coun George Hall told the parish council. He recently wrote to Coun Chris Greaves, Chairman of Metro, asking for his support in persuading bus operator First to reconsider changing the route of services 64 and 68 to give Scholes residents better links to Cross Gates and Seacroft, as well as a bus service between Scholes and Barwick. Coun Greaves told Coun Hall that he would not pursue the issue with First because a trial service operated by Geldard Coaches several months ago had not shown that adequate demand existed for improved services from Scholes. “Metro are using this as an excuse,” said Coun Hall.
Driver Arrested: After a 4x4 vehicle was involved in a collision in Scholes with a fire appliance, its driver was arrested, PCSO Dan Sillers told the parish council. He also reported that during March a Scholes resident was charged with a drugs related offence. A Scholes property was burgled because a door was left unlocked and, in Barwick, a quad bike was stolen. The officer urged local residents not to leave doors unsecured, even when they are inside the property or in the garden. He offered to give any resident of the parish free advice on keeping their home secure.
Blooming Lovely: Let’s hope this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom judges enter Scholes from the York Road when they visit the village next Friday. The ‘host of golden daffodils’ which are now at their best along both sides of the road are a delight – and a credit to Scholes in Bloom volunteers and other local people who planted them. With attractive flower beds in several parts of the village, especially near the War Memorial and around the Coronation Tree, Scholes must stand a good chance of winning Gold this year. The lovely display of daffodils continues all the way into Barwick, too. We may be in the grip of deepening recession but the ‘daffs’ deliver delight whatever the economic climate.
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Friday, April 03, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Palm Sunday services: Shared worship will take place in both Barwick and Scholes on Palm Sunday. The congregation of St Philip’s Church, Scholes will welcome members of Scholes Methodist Church to share a service of Holy Communion at St Philip’s on Sunday, at 10am. At 10.30am members of All Saints’ Church, Barwick will join with Barwick Methodists, initially at All Saints. They will then process to the Methodist Church for a celebration of Holy Communion, pausing for prayer outside the Black Swan. Members of the Roman Catholic congregation will celebrate Mass at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, at 9am.
Holy Week services: On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday services of Holy Communion, with meditation on a piece of poetry, will take place at 7.30pm at St Philip’s Church, Scholes. On Maundy Thursday there will be a service of Holy Communion at All Saints at 7.30pm, with foot washing and silent meditation, while at Scholes Methodist Church Hall a Joint Liturgy will take place, with Holy Communion and foot washing. On Good Friday there will be a children’s activity morning at St Philip’s, Scholes at 10am. The Last Hour at the Cross will be observed at both All Saints and St Philip’s at 2pm. At 7.30pm congregations will join at St.Peter’s Church, Thorner for a shared service of Passiontide Readings and Music, featuring the combined choirs of all churches in the two parishes. An Easter vigil will be observed on Easter Eve at St Philip’s, at 7.30pm.
Scholes in Bloom: The judges of this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition will visit Scholes during the early afternoon on Friday, April 17, to carry out their Spring assessment. Village residents have been asked by the Community Forum to support the excellent work of Scholes in Bloom volunteers by cutting their lawns, trimming their hedges and helping to ensure that Scholes looks as attractive as possible for the judges’ visit. Following last year’s achievement in winning Silver Gilt, Scholes in Bloom will no doubt be ‘going for Gold’ this time.
Fashion Show success: Barwick Village Hall could have put up a ‘House Full’ sign on Monday evening when around 140 ladies filled the hall for a fashion show held to raise funds for Barwick in Bloom. An enjoyable display of Spring and Summer fashions was presented by Ann Marie, of Kippax and the event was co-ordinated by Elaine Collett, a member of the In Bloom committee. This was the second successful event in one month to be hosted by Barwick in Bloom, as their coffee morning on March 14 was described by committee member Geoff Yapp as ‘one of the best ever.’ The next big event will be the popular Open Gardens, on Sunday, June 28. And on Friday, July 10, a concert by Tadchorale will feature professional singer and comedienne Julie Hibbert.
Vandalism concerns: Members of Scholes Cricket Club are becoming increasingly concerned about the behaviour of vandals, who have damaged fencing and broken windows in the pavilion. The growing cost of repairs is having a serious impact on the club’s finances, members of the Community Forum have been told. West Yorkshire Police are aware of the problem and have made it clear that offenders will be prosecuted. The club’s new season begins on Saturday, April 18. New members for either the under-15 team or the senior team are always welcome. Anyone interested should contact Steve Waller, tel: (0113) 273-5822.
Parish Council: The April meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council will be held at Scholes Village Hall on Monday. Residents are invited to raise issues of concern during the parish forum at 7.15pm. This will be followed by the parish council meeting, which the public are fully entitled to attend to observe the business of the council.
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Friday, March 27, 2009
Barwick and Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Spring Concert: Tickets may still be available for this evening’s Spring Concert at Scholes Methodist Church, featuring The Savoy Singers. Admission, including light refreshments, will cost £4; accompanied children will be admitted free of charge.
Fashion Show: Barwick in Bloom volunteers will host a fashion show at the village hall on Monday, beginning at 7.15pm. The display will be presented by Ann Marie, of Kippax. Organisers of the event have described it as ‘a special evening for ladies – one not to be missed.’ Tickets costing £5, which includes a glass of wine, are available from John Tinker, tel: 0113 2812254 or Geoff Yapp, tel: 0113 2812561.
Fighting Talk: A new bid to persuade bus operator First to improve services provided to Barwick and Scholes residents is being made by a Scholes representative on the parish council, Coun George Hall. He has written to Coun Chris Greaves, Chairman of Metro, the passenger transport authority for West Yorkshire, urging him to ask First to reconsider their decision last year not to re-route local buses. This would improve people’s access to health, shopping and connections to other bus services available at Cross Gates and Seacroft. Coun Hall, who is also the Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, has been fighting for better bus services for more than three years. He told the Wetherby News this week: “At some time the powers-that-be in Metro will realise that our residents deserve a better service than First provide. We must not settle for less, however long it takes.”
June Date for New Priest: The Rev Andy Nicholson, who has been appointed by the Church of England as Priest in Charge of the parishes of Barwick with Scholes and Thorner with Scarcroft, is to be licensed into our parish on Tuesday, June 2. Andy, his wife Debbie, a teacher, and their two sons will be relocating from Richmond, North Yorkshire and will live in the vicarage at Thorner. Although some members of All Saints’ Church, Barwick and St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, remain unhappy at the Diocesan decision not to appoint a new Rector for Barwick and Scholes they will no doubt give a warm welcome to Andy and his family.
Easter Bonnets: Ladies, it’s time to bring out your Easter bonnets or, perhaps, decorate new ones. Scholes Community Care will host an Easter bonnet competition at their weekly coffee morning on Wednesday, April 1. This excellent village organisation needs more volunteers to provide transport and assistance for elderly people and those with disabilities. Please contact Maurice Walker, tel: 0113 2734685 or Ann Oldroyd, tel: 0113 2735949 if you wish to offer your help. Copies of a new publication which records the history of the care group, illustrated by photographs, are now available at a cost of £4.
Street Lighting: At the latest meeting of Scholes Community Forum questions were raised about why the new heritage-style street lamps have not been painted black to harmonise with the new street signs. Coun George Hall responded that the cost of painting the lighting columns would have to be met by the parish council from the precept – the charge added to Council Tax bills to pay for parish facilities and services. He added: “Given the current economic climate this would be considered by most people to be irresponsible.” The parish council met the considerable cost of installing heritage style street lamps in both Barwick and Scholes, rather than have standard lighting columns.
Scholes open space: Land to the rear of the new Scholes Lodge Farm housing development will be designated as public open space, provided a planning application submitted to Leeds City Council is approved before the end of this month. However, ownership of the land is not expected to be granted to the parish council for more than a year. Dog owners have been warned by the Community Forum that if they exercise their dogs on the land in the meantime they would be trespassing.
Parish Council: The next meeting of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council will be held on Monday, April 6 at Scholes Village Hall, beginning with the parish forum at 7.15pm. Village residents are invited to raise issues of concern during the parish forum. However, the parish council meeting, which begins at 7.30pm, is also open to the public.
Christmas Lights: The attractive tree lighting displayed for the first time in Barwick during the Christmas period, prompting many favourable comments, is to be extended this year to include the Coronation Tree in Scholes.
Easter services and events: The Wetherby News will be pleased to publish information about church services and other events taking place in Barwick and Scholes during the Easter period. In the absence on holiday of your village correspondent Jonathan, please send information to: ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk or call 07717 150625.
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Friday, March 20, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Probus Club: Members of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club – professional and businessmen who have fully or partly retired - will meet on Tuesday, March 24, to hear a talk by John Whitley on Patagonia. The meeting, at John Rylie House, will begin with coffee at 10.15am. For further information please contact Harvey Metcalfe: (0113) 2812441.
Spring Concert: Scholes Methodist Church will present a Spring concert by The Savoy Singers next Friday, March 27, at 7.15pm. Tickets, including light refreshments, will cost £4; accompanied children will be admitted free of charge.
Fashion Show: Described by its organisers as ‘a special evening for ladies – not to be missed,’ a fashion show will be hosted by Barwick in Bloom on Monday, March 30. Featuring a fashion display arranged by Ann Marie, of Kippax, the event will take place at the Village Hall, beginning at 7.15pm. Admission, costing £5, will include a glass of wine. Tickets are now available from Geoff Yapp, contact 0113 2812561 or John Tinker, 0113 2812254.
Joint service: Reflecting the new association between the parishes of Barwick with Scholes and Thorner with Scarcroft, congregations from both parishes will meet for a shared service on Good Friday, April 10, at St.Peter’s Church, Thorner, beginning at 7.30pm. Passiontide readings will be complemented by combined singing by the choirs of both St.Peter’s and All Saints’ Church, Barwick. Further information about services at all churches in Barwick and Scholes during Easter will be published in the next two issues of the Wetherby News.
‘Slow Down’ sign: A vehicle-activated sign warning drivers to slow down as they enter the 30mph speed restriction area in Scholes is to be installed on the Barwick side of Leeds Road, near the Coronation Tree. Residents who attended the latest meeting of Scholes Community Forum were told that Leeds City Council had placed an order for the sign, though no date has been advised for its installation.
Barwick sign talks: At the request of Barwick and Scholes parish council the Clerk, Chris Hassell, is discussing with the Highways department of Leeds City Council the best way to progress the council’s wish to install a vehicle-activated ‘Slow Down’ sign on Long Lane, one of the busiest access routes into the village. If this sign proves successful in slowing drivers down then the parish council has agreed to consider installing similar signs on Leeds Road and Aberford Road. Councillors now acknowledge that something must be done to deter speeding drivers, many of whom are, sadly, local residents.
Festival traffic: A meeting was taking place on Wednesday this week which could have a major bearing on the daily lives of local residents during the Leeds Festival in August. Following what most people described as the chaos which arose last year, when many local residents’ journeys for work or pleasure were severely disrupted by gridlocked junctions and endless queues, the event organisers are talking to West Yorkshire Police and local representatives in a bid to find a better way of handling the thousands of vehicles which converge on Bramham Park. Most local people believe festival traffic should be taken off the motorway much closer to the venue than previously. Bringing vehicles off at Colton resulted in huge delays on the outer ring road and the A64. One proposal being discussed for this year is to bring festival traffic off the motorway at Bramham cross roads and into the park from the A64. But this would probably mean diverting all eastbound traffic at the Seacroft roundabout. The parish council are being consulted by the event organisers and Scholes Community Forum have also asked to be involved in the discussions.
Stolen property: Local residents who have had property stolen from their homes may be able to retrieve at least some of it on Sunday, March 22. West Yorkshire Police are inviting people who have been the victims of theft to visit Wetherby Court House between 10am and 2pm to view stolen property which they have recovered. Proof of ownership will, of course, be required.
Scholes parking: Following concerns expressed by Scholes residents to the Community Forum, the problem of double parking close to the shops in Station Road is to be taken up by Police Community Support Officer Dan Sillars.
Pot holes: The atrocious winter weather and extensive use of road salt has left most villages with a pot hole problem. Some Scholes residents are so concerned about the number and depth of pot holes in their village that they have asked their parish councillors to raise the issue at the April meeting.
Diary date: Scholes Community Forum will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Manor House, Scholes, on Wednesday, April 22, at 7.30pm. All Scholes residents will be welcome to attend.
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Friday, March 13, 2009
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537 Brushing up well: Barwick in Bloom volunteers, who manage to look fashionable in high visibility jackets and Wellies, will be putting their gardening clothes and boots to one side tomorrow. They will be hosting their latest coffee morning to raise funds to enable the village to represent Yorkshire in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition. The village hall door will open at 10am, with the early arrivals gaining first choice from a wide selection of home-baked cakes and scones. Bring and buy, book and cake stalls will also be available. Admission costs just £1, which includes tea or coffee.
Elmet Men’s Group: Cycling from Vietnam to Cambodia – which sounds a lot further than from Barwick to Scholes – will be the speaker’s topic at the next meeting of the Elmet Men’s Group. This will be on Monday, March 16 at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, at 7.30pm. The group, led by Alan Stephenson, is open to all men in the parish of Barwick with Scholes, whether churchgoers or not. New members are always welcomed.
Scholes WI: Music of the Fifties and Sixties will be the topic of Michael Dunscomb’s presentation at the monthly meeting of Scholes Women’s Institute at the Methodist Church Hall on Wednesday, March 18, at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome.
Probus Club: Members of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club, who are professional and businessmen who have fully or partly retired, will meet on Tuesday, March 24 at the John Rylie Centre, Barwick. Speaker John Whitley’s topic will be Patagonia. The meeting will begin with coffee at 10.15am.
Spring concert: Members of Scholes Methodist Church will host a Spring Concert, to be performed by The Savoy Singers, on Friday, March 27, at 7.15pm. Tickets, including light refreshments, will cost £4 for adults; accompanied children will be admitted free of charge.
Parish Council Meeting: Crime report - The theft of a laptop computer from a house in Barwick in February was among crimes reported by West Yorkshire Police to the parish council at its monthly meeting, at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom, In addition, a garden shed was broken into and equipment was stolen. In Scholes, electrical equipment was stolen during a house burglary, a mobile phone was taken from another property and criminal damage was caused to a garage door.
Beware callers at the door - Barwick and Scholes residents were warned by the police this week that door to door salesmen are trying to sell dishcloths and leathers “at inflated prices” in both villages. Also, that “bogus fish men” are offering fish for sale on people’s doorsteps. PCSO Gaynor Duffy also told the parish council that the occupants of a white Transit van had been seen removing bags which residents had left out for collection by registered charities.
Wall repair concerns - When part of the stone wall surrounding All Saints’ Church, Barwick falls down, should the village contribute to the cost of repairs? That is an issue now facing parish councillors, who have been asked by the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds for a grant to help them pay for wall to be rebuilt. The work is currently being done by a contractor. No specific sum has been requested, though councillors were told that anything between £1,000 and £3,000 would be welcome. Councillors Ken Shutt and John Tinker both supported the grant application, the latter commenting that All Saints has “one of the best kept churchyards in Yorkshire.” Coun Geoff Yapp believed that if the parish council made a contribution it could come from the council’s ‘village conservation fund.’ However, Coun Ben Hogan, Chairman, questioned whether the Diocese should ask for assistance, rather than meeting the entire cost of repairs. “I feel that Barwick and Scholes are not being treated well by the Diocese at the present time,” he said. It was agreed to refer the request to the council’s Finance and General Purposes committee, who will discuss the issue next Monday.
Police Close Youth Club: West Yorkshire Police has closed down a Barwick youth club set up by police officers just a few weeks ago. Following reports of fights and disruptive behaviour by drunken youths, the club, held on Friday evenings in Barwick Village Hall, was shut down for good by officers last week. And when police officers took some of the young people back home one parent admitted giving them beer to drink.
The Youth Club was set up with good intentions by two Wetherby-based police officers. Their aim was to give young people from both Barwick and Scholes somewhere to meet, rather than just hang around in the street. To encourage the club’s development the parish council agreed to pay the room hire cost for at least the first three months.
But at Monday’s meeting of the parish council, Police Community Support Officer Gaynor Duffy made this surprise announcement: “We have had to shut it down.”
She revealed that the final youth club meeting had been disrupted by a group of teenagers, many of them the worse for drink. “One lad had drunk so much alcohol that he was in a very poor state; two lads started fighting in the street. It was decided that we couldn’t allow this to continue.
“We didn’t think they would be as bad as they were. I took a few of them home to their parents; one admitted she had bought beer for them.”
The Youth Service at Leeds City Council had been contacted to see if they could help to keep the youth club going but they said their staff resources were so stretched they couldn’t take on any more clubs. Nobody had come forward following an appeal to local people to help run the youth club.
One councillor said there had been a further incident recently when the police were called to Jack Heap’s Field by local residents. “There was a heck of a rumpus going on, with shouting and swearing. They are going round in a big gang.”
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Friday, March 06, 2009
Barwick and Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Scholes Public Transport: The future of the West Yorkshire Rural Partnership is currently in doubt. This is due to the loss of financial support from Yorkshire Forward. Metro are anxious to provide a facility enabling stakeholders can continue to discuss issues surrounding public transport outside the urban area. A road show is being held at Metro in Leeds on Wednesday, March 18, this will attended by forum and parish council representatives, but anyone having an interest in transport matters can attend between 11am and 3pm.
Greenbelt Land: The Scholes Forum have submitted a written response to the Yorkshire and Humberside Development plan body making it very clear that objections which are deeply felt to the possible greenbelt review. The comments made largely echo those made by Leeds City Council who consider the increased housing targets set for the Leeds City Region are excessive. Hopefully any further development will be located on brown field, previously used sites and aim to address the problems of affordable housing which are becoming evermore important at the present time due to the recession.
Dogs Banned: Following up from a story I covered recently due to the irresponsible behaviour of dog owners who fail to clear up after their dogs, the parish council unanimously decided at their meeting in February that dogs would be banned from Jack Heaps Field. The land was donated to the parish by Jack Heaps and was intended as a play area for young children. It is therefore unacceptable that dog mess is left on the field that could cause harm to children. Bins were provided and dog owners who used these bins will be frustrated with this outcome. However, not everybody used the bins provided and it is the irresponsible minority that have caused action to be taken. Leeds City dog wardens will be keeping a close watch on the situation. Prosecutions will be made if appropriate.
Children’s Playground: The children’s playground in Scholes is due for improvement and renovation shortly. The hawthorn hedge will be removed in order to provide improved visibility which will hopefully eliminate anti social behaviour with a new lower bow top fence being installed. A number of new items and equipment are also planned for the youngsters.
Thank You: To all those who supported the Friends of Barwick Scholes Christmas Fair. A magnificent £1,805 was raised for the school after expenses. Further events will be planned in the future. They will be advertised on the school website. www.barwick-in-elmet.leedslearning.org.
Charity coffee morning: On Saturday, March 7 the Scholes Methodist Church is holding a coffee morning in aid of the Salvation Army. Proceedings start at 10am to 12noon. Everyone is welcome.
Barwick in Bloom: Is in its 10th anniversary year and would like to celebrate by recruiting a few more helpers. There are no restrictions on age, gender or ability as long as you look good in a fluorescent jacket that is! You can join in on a Wednesday morning or whenever you have a spare couple of hours. It is truly a great cause and you will be adding to what already is a highly successful organisation and one that brings so much to the community. With hopefully more successes on the way later in the year it is a great time to get your wellies on and offer your help and support. If you would like any further information please contact John Tinker on 0113 2812254, or pop down to the next coffee morning on Saturday March 14 starting at 10am to 12noon. It is going to be held at Barwick Village Hall. There will be a ‘Bring and buy sale’, cakes and books. Everyone is welcome and the support is very much appreciated by the Barwick in Bloom faithful.
Parks and Countryside: Have kindly donated two silver birch trees to be planted in Morwick Grove, Scholes where more hawthorn/blackthorn hedging will be planted to screen the waste bins at the Primary Scholes. The total cost of the hedging will be £84.95.
Barwick Bowling Club: Are looking for new members for the summer season. All ages are welcome from 8 to 98 so there is a big scope for attracting new members. Coaching and bowls will be provided if needed. If you require any further information contact the club secretary Denise on 01937 833634.
Scholes Village Hall: The Valentines Ball held in Scholes was a tremendous success. All tickets were sold two weeks prior to the event. Ian and Shelley Jones give thanks to all those who supported this fundraising event.
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Friday, February 27, 2009
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Barwick and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Improved Lighting: The enhanced street lighting currently being installed in Barwick by the Southern Electric Company will improve visibility and safety in Aberford Road, Carrfield Road, Elmwood Lane and Leeds Road as far as Taylor Lane, near Scholes. Light standards within the village Conservation Area on Elmwood Lane, part of Leeds Road and part of Aberford Road, will be finished in black ‘heritage style,’ matching existing lights which are in keeping with the village’s rural character. The parish council has made a substantial contribution to the additional costs incurred by installing more decorative light standards. The total cost of the new lighting scheme will be just over £28,000, for 36 lamps. Of this sum, £18,242 was contributed by the developer responsible for The Sycamores housing scheme in Leeds Road, Barwick. Developers are required to contribute a sum of money for the benefit of the community in which they are building. The difference of £9,838 will be paid by the parish council from the parish precept added to residents’ Council Tax bills. Also, at the parish council’s request, all the new lamp standards are being fitted with twin brackets to enable hanging baskets to be displayed during the spring and summer. These will be especially important this year, with Barwick representing the county’s large villages in Britain in Bloom. Without the parish council’s intervention all the new lighting columns in both Barwick and Scholes would be of standard design and would not reflect the character of the villages in the way that ‘heritage style’ lamps do.
Parish Appointment: Members of All Saints’ Church, Barwick and St Philip’s Church, Scholes, should soon learn who has been appointed as Priest in Charge of the parish of Barwick and Scholes, coupled with the parish of Thorner and Scarcroft. Interviews of shortlisted candidates for the new post were taking place this week, chaired by the Ven Peter Burrows, Archdeacon of Leeds. At the request of the Parochial Church Council the post was advertised nationally. The successful candidate will be the first incumbent to hold responsibility for the two parishes. Previously there has always been a Rector for Barwick and Scholes and a vicar for Thorner and Scarcroft. The Wetherby News will report the identity of the Priest in Charge as soon as possible after the appointment is announced from the office of the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.
Green Belt Objection: Scholes Community Forum, an organisation never afraid to stand up for local residents, has sent a formal letter of objection to the authors of the Yorkshire and Humber Development Plan expressing their ‘deeply felt objections’ to a proposed review of the Green Belt around the village. The parish council has also backed the view expressed by Leeds City Council that the numbers of new homes suggested for the Leeds area would be excessive. It is no secret that a number of major house builders are planning to work together to develop thousands of new homes to the East of Leeds, once the recession is over and mortgages are more easily obtainable. The Green Belt, on which Scholes and Barwick depend to preserve their village identity, may be facing its greatest threat, in view of Government plans to build more housing in many parts of the country.
Speeders Warned: West Yorkshire Police recently issued Fixed Penalty Notices to 15 drivers for speeding and other motoring offences in Scholes or Barwick. Officers were disappointed to find that most of the offenders lived locally. In addition, three people were reported or received warnings after being caught driving in the villages in an anti-social manner. A police spokesman commented: “Many drivers have been warned about their excessive speed and the majority of them were local people; speed checks will continue.”
Crime Report: Three reports of burglary from sheds or garages in Barwick and two reports of attempted burglary, with nothing being stolen, were recorded by West Yorkshire Police during January. Also, a sum of money was stolen from a sheltered housing complex in the village. In Scholes, property was stolen from a house after a door was left unsecured and there was one report of criminal damage to a car. Tyres were stolen from a horse trailer and fuel was siphoned from two parked vehicles.
Bowling Club: The greens of Scholes Bowling Club will be re-opened early in March. New members, whether beginners or experienced bowlers, will be welcomed.
Parish Council: Local residents who wish to raise issues of concern with the parish council will have their monthly opportunity to do so next Monday, March 2, at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom. The parish forum, which is open to all Barwick and Scholes residents, begins at 7.15pm. This will be followed at 7.30pm by the parish council meeting, which the public are fully entitled to attend.
Winter Music: The latest and, presumably, the last in the present series of concerts entitled Music for a Winter’s Afternoon will take place on Tuesday, March 10 at Barwick Methodist Church. Once again the church’s organist, George Wright, will be accompanied on the piano by Bernard Davisworth, organist at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, to present a varied programme of light music. The concert will begin at 2.30pm and will end at 3.45pm. Admission will be free, though there will be a retiring collection. Refreshments will also be available.
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Running to fight Hunger: David Walker who comes from Scholes has been given a place in this year’s London Marathon to raise money for the charity ‘Action against Hunger’. His aim is to raise a minimum of £2,000 for this worthy cause. In light of the economy and the so called ‘credit crunch’ it is understandable that people are tightening their belts however, the London Marathon is a gruelling event as I am sure you will all know so any donation you can afford would be greatly appreciated by David. You can donate to David via post by sending a donation to his home address: 8 Emete Avenue, Scholes or visit the following website www.justgiving.com/davidwalker2009.
Barwick Tennis Club AGM: This years annual AGM meeting was held on the evening Tuesday, February 10. In attendance was the chairman John Hayton the club secretary Jill Druce, the treasurer Stuart Trentwortha and match secretary Keith Monkman. Also in attendance were members of the committee and members of the tennis club. The main decision at the meeting was that Jill Druce decided to step down as club secretary with Mark Wheeler appointed as her immediate replacement. Amongst discussion was the condition of the new courts who all agreed is much improved. It was told that that due to the unsatisfactory result from the work done resurfacing the courts that the club actually received a 25% discount of the total cost, saving around £1,700. This money will go towards the next resurfacing of the courts as it is an extremely expensive job. Also discussed was the start of the summer season which will officially begin on May 1. However, the club is open all year round when weather permits. Junior coaching will continue this year and is seen as vital to the club to develop young players for the future. Jonathan Miller also made himself available for individual and group coaching for the summer. It was decided that there would be a ‘mixed doubles team’ entered into this years mixed league and that there would be two men’s teams entered into the ‘Barkston Ash League’ this year. It is worth pointing out that the men’s ‘A’ team won the league last year so will look for similar success this year. If you would like details about membership please contact The chairman John Hayton on 0113 3935123.
Not-So-Sweet Charity: Barwick and Scholes residents who have donated goods for collection by charities have been disappointed to find the bags being stolen before the authorised collectors arrive. Reports of a white Transit-type van being involved have been given to the police. Residents are advised by the police to examine charity bags put through their door to make sure the collection is being made for a registered charity and not by a commercial organisation. If you suspect criminal activity in your area you can call the police at any time, day or night, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on free phone: 0800 555111.
Thank You: Sylvia Booth the Honorary Poppy Organiser would like to give thanks to everyone in Barwick and Scholes and to all that helped and contributed to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2008. They collected a fantastic £19,230.69 which shows the honourable respect for all those who fought for our country. The generosity is greatly appreciated.
Thank you: Elaine Collett would like to thank everyone who gave help, support and donations towards her fundraising effort in Barwick Village Hall on November 22. £165 was raised for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
Probus Club: Paul Gosling will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Barwick and Scholes Probus Club which is to be held at The John Rylie House in Barwick on Tuesday, February 24 starting with coffee at 10:15am. He will be speaking about ‘Tales from around the world’. If you’re a professional business man who is fully or partially retired this is the club for you. For further details contact Harvey Metcalfe on 0113 2812441.
Vacancy Update: As the matter is still ongoing we understand that interviews should still be taking place late February or early March. During the vacancy anyone wishing to contact the church on any matter can contact Leslye Thomas on 0113 2812488 or Elaine Pickard on 0113 2812339 for All Saints Church in Barwick or Bob Buttress on 0113 273 3223 or Kirsten Walker on 0113 260 2039 for St Phillip’s Church Scholes.
Parish Weekend: March 20 - March 22 2009 is exactly a month away! Green Gables hotel Scarborough is the venue for this year’s church weekend away. The cost for buffet supper on the Friday, B&B with in either hotel or packed lunch and dinner on Saturday and ending with lunch on Sunday is a very reasonable £90. Sounds like a bargain to me. For all who wish to go this annual event promises to be just what is needed as the spring approaches. For details about the trip, brouchure and booking form please contact Alan and Anne Stanley on 0113 2812769 or email alan.stanley@btclick.com
Barwick in Bloom: A date for your diary. The ‘Open Gardens 2009’ will be held on Sunday, June 28. The Barwick in Bloom team are now arranging the programme for this most enjoyable event. If anyone would like to help by offering to opening their garden they would greatly be appreciated and would add to one of this village’s most popular events of the year. For more information contact John Tinker on 0113 2812254 who says its is “a very rewarding experience”.
Organising an event?: Are you organising an event in Barwick or Scholes? To ensure that events do clash with one an other when organising an event in Barwick don’t forget to check and enter the event in the Village Events Diary at Antony’s bread shop on Main Street. For new events in Scholes Mandy and Satnam have kindly agreed to have a diary in their shop. If you would like your events to be included ring Ann Riley on 0113 2733560
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Friday, February 13, 2009
Barwick -in-Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07717 150625
Heartfelt Appeal: Members of Barwick Methodist Church will not have valentine hearts in mind when they host a coffee morning in their church tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to noon. Instead, they will be more concerned about raising funds for the Children’s Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. All proceeds from the event will be donated to that excellent cause.The admission charge of £1 will include coffee and biscuits.
Valentine’s Ball in Scholes: This event which is to be held at Scholes Village Hall on February 14 is sold out. Over 90 tickets have been sold for the event in which all proceedings will go towards the up keep of the hall for the future. This shows the strength of the community and should be a fantastic event for all who were lucky enough to get a ticket.
Barwick Lights Go Up: The Southern Electric Company contracted by Leeds city council to replace all the street lights in the Leeds metropolitan district have began to erect the new standard lamp street lights on the streets of Barwick. These new taller lights eventually replace the smaller old lights. They will give more light on an evening and look more modern. Heritage style lamps as opposed to the standard lamps are to be installed within Barwick’s conservation area to match those already in use at The Cross and on Main Street.
Scholes Scouts: Now that a new street light illuminates the area around Scholes Scouts’ headquarters in Rakehill Road, the Scouts and their supporters are thinking a pavement might be useful, too. Trouble is, the best quote they have received from contractors would leave them with no charge from £7,000. Members of the parish council, considering a request from the Scouts for a grant towards that daunting sum, believed they might do better by seeking financial support from Leeds city council’s Outer Areas fund.
A Good Sign: Barwick has moved a step closer to having its first vehicle – activated ‘Slow Down’ sign installed. Subject to discussions with Leeds city council’s Highways department, it could be installed on Long Lane, in an attempt to slow down vehicles approaching the village from Garforth. Members of the parish council have agreed to buy one sign to begin with, to see what impact it has on driver behaviour. A similar sign is now in use at Shadwell, where residents have reported some improvement in slowing down approaching vehicles.
No ‘Bleeps’ Please: Members of the Elmet Men’s Group may need a ‘bleep machine’ for their meeting at 7:30pm on Monday, February 16 – though as it will be held in All Saints’ Church, Barwick, it seems unlikely. The speaker’s topic will be ‘Naval Sayings and Phrases,’ so some, shall we say, colourful language might be expected. However, now that the popular song ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor’ has been banned from schools, perhaps the group’s guest speaker will feel the need for restraint. The popular group, led by Alan Stephenson, is open to all men of the parish whether churchgoers or not.
What’s Happening Where You Live: Is the title of the new event organised by Leeds city council. The consultation event will give local residents of Barwick the chance to meet officers from within the council and other partners along with the police who deliver in their area. The event is to be held on Monday, March 2 at Barwick Village Hall. Proceedings begin at 5pm and will run until 7pm. The unique event which will hopefully be one of many is being organised by Sandra Fowler who is the Area Project Officer for Leeds City Council. The aim of the event is to inform residents of future plans for the area in 2009 – 2010 as part of the area delivery plan and will give locals the opportunity to let the council know what people think is working and what isn’t. This event is one not to be missed and will give a great insight into the future of developments of Barwick.
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Friday, February 06, 2009
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Parish Council: Inspector Marcus Griffiths, who heads the Wetherby division of West Yorkshire Police, attended this month’s parish council meeting, held at Scholes Village Hall on Monday. Because of the atrocious weather it was hardly surprising that only two parishioners attended. The main issue discussed with the Inspector was the growing problem of motorists speeding through the villages. At times the debate was heated. Inspector Griffiths defended the response of the police to the issue. He stated that with limited resources it was difficult to prioritise catching speeding motorists over more pressing matters, for example burglary. This was acknowledged by members of the parish council. He said that in December, 17 fixed penalty tickets were issued to drivers speeding through Barwick or Scholes. A point of interest was that the majority of drivers stopped for speeding in the community were local residents. Although the police would continue to do whatever they can to address the problem, the Inspector said police attendance was only a small part of the solution. The first issue in addressing the underlying problem was to understand the roads and not just the motorists who use them. One of the main problem areas identified by Coun Geoff Yapp was Long Lane in Barwick, which links the village to Garforth. He stated that it is at this part of the village that most of the speeding is witnessed. It was put forward by the council that vehicle-activated ‘Slow Down’ signs would have a good effect on the speed of drivers when coming into the village. A similar sign had been successful in Scholes, where one is located just before the bridge on entering the village from the A64. It was stressed by Inspector Griffiths that it is the involvement of the community which will go a long way to improving the situation but did add that the police would help in any way possible within their resources.
Barwick Youth Group: This has only been running for two weeks so is in the early stages of development. It has been set up by West Yorkshire Police to engage with local young people, provide sporting activities and other interests. The youth group is held every Friday at Barwick Village Hall, from 8pm to 9.30pm. It is currently being run by two police officers, PC Andy Katkowski and PCSO Steve Wales. However, because the officers can be called away at any time to deal with emergencies the youth group is looking for volunteers to run it on a weekly basis. To encourage the youth group the parish council agreed to pay for the rent of the hall for an initial three month period.
Dogs Now Banned: It was agreed by the parish council that in future no dogs will be allowed on to Jack Heap’s Field, Barwick. Councillors say that the mess left by dogs is “disgusting” and should be stopped. This decision was unanimous and it was stressed that the main reasons for this measure to be put in place is that the field, which is owned by the parish council, is for sports activities and for children to use without their parents having to worry about it being fouled by dogs whose owners don’t seem to care.
Barwick Tennis Club: The Tennis Club will hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday, February 10 starting in the clubhouse at 7pm. Among topics for discussion will be the future year ahead and the club’s need to maintain and increase its membership.
Bowling Club: Members of Scholes Bowling Club will hold their annual general meeting at 7pm on Monday, February 9, in the Tennis Pavilion, Belle Vue Avenue. Prospective new members will be welcome to attend.
Scholes Scouts Illuminated: Scholes Scouts have thanked the Southern Electric Company for installing a new light standard, free of charge, just outside their headquarters on Rakehill Road, Scholes. They have also thanked Chris Hassall, clerk to the parish council, for his assistance in making this possible. The light has already been connected and is fully operational. Keith Pullan, treasurer of the Scouts, told the Wetherby News: “I have been associated with our Scout group since 1980 and even when I started there had been years of complaints about Scouts falling into puddles in the dark. At last we have light!”
Scholes Playground: Work by the parish council to begin improving the children’s playground in Scholes should begin in the near future, provided the Governors of the village school approve the proposals. The playground is situated near the library, on land for which the Governors have responsibility. At its latest meeting the parish council considered quotations received for removing the existing hedge and installing new fencing around the playground. It was agreed to accept a quotation from local company Nicholls Fabrications for £5,000. The next step will be to obtain grants to pay for new play equipment, as this will cost far more than parish council resources can cover. The clerk to the council, Chris Hassell, said he had approached the supplier who recently installed new equipment in Aberford’s children’s playground. This company is now producing a fully costed outline plan of what could be achieved in the relatively small space available. However, the parish council will also be required to invite quotes from other suppliers.
Barwick Planning Concerns: A developer’s revised proposals for new homes on land close to Elmwood Lane, Barwick, have been rejected by Leeds city council planners because they feel they are out of character with the village’s conservation area. The land in question was previously occupied by two detached properties, Elmhurst and Meadowcroft. Both were demolished last year to make way for a new housing development, for which a developer obtained planning approval. Learning of the city council’s opposition to the plans the parish council agreed on Monday that it should be represented at the hearing into the city council’s objections. An offer to attend made by Coun George Hall, who with Coun Geoff Yapp leads for the parish council on planning matters, was accepted.
New trees for Scholes: Following complaints by Scholes Community Forum about the manner in which trees in Morwick Grove, Scholes, were cut back by the city council, two replacement silver birches and a number of young trees are to be planted, at the cost of the city council.
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Friday, January 30, 2009
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Green Belt Concerns: Plans to review the Green Belt designed to protect Barwick and Scholes from over-development are causing mounting concern. Three of the four options suggested by the authors of a Yorkshire and Humber development strategy call for changes to the Green Belt to accommodate new housing, Scholes residents were told at the January meeting of their Community Forum. Many local people believe the development of several thousand homes would, if approved, seriously threaten the villages’ rural identity. Despite the current downturn within the construction industry it is known that a consortium of well-known home builders is interested in seeking outline planning approval for widespread development on land to the East of Leeds. The city council, with strong backing from the parish council, is resisting a proposal to build more than 4,000 new homes. However, the government is facing demands for thousands of new homes to be built in the UK, prompting fears in many parts of the country that a Green Belt review could have a major impact on rural villages. In today’s deepening recession it seems highly unlikely that developers will promote new home plans immediately, though once the economy begins to improve this period of consultation may prove to have been the lull before the storm.
Scholes Health Facilities: Scholes residents have been told that although the principle of providing improved health facilities in the village has been approved it could be a few years before this is achieved. This information was given to more than 30 local people who attended the January meeting of Scholes Community Forum, chaired by Coun George Hall, Lead Member. Three NHS representatives attended the meeting - Angie Whitfield and Jane Sadler, from the Leeds Primary Care Trust and Liz Holmes, Practice Manager at the doctors’ surgery in Scholes. They faced numerous questions about NHS services currently being provided, with some residents saying they believe these do not meet ‘approved standards.’ Following a frank discussion it was agreed that further consultation would take place, with the Community Forum being represented in these discussions. The Wetherby News reported last year a proposal to build a new health centre on land adjacent to St Philip’s Church, Scholes. The Forum meeting was told that although this remained the preferred solution, other options were to be considered. Residents welcomed news that a female doctor may hold a surgery in Scholes every Tuesday, something patients have been requesting for some time.
Trees ‘Devastated’ Claim: Scholes residents are up in arms at the manner in which trees in Morwick Grove were recently cut back, leading some critics to say they had suffered ‘devastating’ damage. Talks have been held by Community Forum representatives with the council’s forestry officers, who have pledged to take remedial action to try to rectify some of the damage.
Parish Council: Inspector Marcus Griffiths, who leads the Wetherby Division of West Yorkshire Police, is attending the February meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council. This will be held at Scholes Village Hall on Monday (February 2) starting with the parish forum at the earlier time of 7pm. The parish council invited the Inspector to the meeting to give local residents an opportunity to raise directly with him their concerns related to crime figures, crime prevention and road safety. The problem of drivers speeding through the village is certain to be raised, in view of local residents’ growing concerns about the safety threat they pose, especially to children and older people. A number of ‘Slow Down’ signs have recently been placed close to the main road through Scholes by Dan Sillars, the Police Community Support Officer for the village. A vehicle-activated ‘Slow Down’ sign, which illuminates to warn drivers they are entering a speed restricted area, is shortly to be installed on Main Street, close to the new homes at Scholes Lodge Farm. The cost of this will be met by the housing developer, as a condition of the planning approval.
Bowling Club: Members of Scholes Bowling Club will hold their annual general meeting at 7pm on Monday, February 9, in the Tennis Pavilion, Belle Vue Avenue. Prospective new members will be welcome to attend.
Church Contacts: Because the Rectory at Barwick is unoccupied there is currently no central phone number available to contact representatives of All Saints’ or St Philip’s churches. Anyone wishing to make contact with a church official, for example to arrange a wedding or baptism, is asked to call one of the following church wardens: Leslye Thomas on 2812488; Elaine Pickard, 2812339; Bob Buttress, 2733223 or Kirsten Walker, 2602039. All these are Leeds phone numbers.
Valentine’s Day: There will be a number of events taking place in Barwick and Scholes on Valentine’s day, February 14. They will include a Valentine’s Coffee Morning at Barwick Methodist Church at 10am, with all proceeds being donated to the Children’s Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. In the evening, a Valentine’s Ball at Scholes Village Hall will be held to raise funds for the upkeep of the hall. If you buy tickets, now available from Shelley Jones, tel: 0113 2326293, then you will go to the ball!
Afternoon Music: The next concert of light music in the series called ‘Music for a Winter’s Afternoon’ will be at Barwick Methodist Church on Tuesday, February 10. A selection of popular music will be played by Bernard Davisworth, on piano, and George Wright, organ. Admission is free but a collection will be taken.
Date for your Diary: Barwick in Bloom’s popular ‘Open Gardens’ event will this year be on Sunday, June 28. Residents willing to open their garden to public view, raising funds for Barwick in Bloom, are asked to call John Tinker on 0113 2812254.
Anyone who has toured the open gardens in previous years will no doubt agree this is a most enjoyable event which attracts lots of visitors, as well as strong support from local people. However, its success depends largely upon the generosity of those residents willing to open their gardens – as well as the many volunteers who bake delicious cakes and scones to refresh visitors and residents alike.
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Friday, January 23, 2009
Barwick in Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Jonathan Miller 07739 937537
Women’s Institute: Barwick Women’s Institute is just entering its second year and is keen to welcome new members. They now have a new venue in Barwick, the John Rylie Centre. Their next meeting is on Monday, February 2 at 7:30pm, when the topic of discussion will be ‘Scrap Books as a Hobby.’ For further information please contact Pat Watterson on 0113 2252018.
Parish Council: The next meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council will be held at Scholes Village Hall on Monday, February 2, starting with the Parish Forum at 7.15pm. Inspector Marcus Griffiths, who heads the Wetherby division of West Yorkshire Police, has been invited to attend the meeting to answer parishioners’ questions about crime and road safety issues.
Scholes Village Players: The comedy “Kindly Keep It Covered” is the up and coming spring play for Scholes Village Players. The dates have been finalised as April 22 to 25. A casting meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 28 in the ante-room at Scholes Village Hall. The meeting will start at 7:30pm. New members are always very welcome. For more details contact the play’s producer, Anne Kay on 0113 2812813.
Barwick in Bloom: The tireless work of the Barwick in Bloom volunteers in making Barwick look as attractive as it does is truly remarkable. Over recent years they have achieved great success in the large village category of Yorkshire in Bloom. As a result of winning last year Barwick will this year represent Yorkshire in the same category of Britain in Bloom. They will be competing against eight other finalists representing different parts of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and even Guernsey, in the Channel Isles. Judging will take place early in August with awards announced in Torbay on September 23. Says spokesman Geoff Yapp: “It is of course a big honour for our village and we will be giving it our best shot.” I am sure that they will get the full support of everyone in the village and we wish them well.
New Manager: The Fox & Grapes pub and restaurant at the junction of Kiddal Lane with the York road now has a new manager. Gemma Reid, originally from Derby, has been working with Vintage Inns since she was 18 and now, at just 22, she has come further north to take up her new appointment. Says Gemma: “Many of our customers live in Barwick and the surrounding area and it’s good to be managing a pub in such a vibrant community.” A new idea is to hold coffee mornings for walkers and other customers; the first of these will be on Friday, February 6 at 11am. All are welcome.
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Friday, January 16, 2009
Barwick in Elmet Area News
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Barwick in Elmet - Ron Miller 07717150625:
New home for gifts? Barwick in Bloom volunteers are offering local people a good opportunity to find a new home for Christmas gifts which, though doubt welcome, might not have been just what they wanted! There will be a ‘Good as New’ stall at their coffee morning at the village hall tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to noon. “It will be a chance to dispose of unwanted gifts for a good cause,” says Geoff Yapp, a member of the Barwick in Bloom team. Admission will cost £1, including coffee, and a book stall and bring a buy sale stall will also be available.
Parish concerns continue: I learned this week that the parish of Barwick and Scholes has had a Rector since the year 1190. It is hardly surprising that the decision taken by the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds not to appoint a new Rector is causing so much concern to local people, whether they are churchgoers or not. There is such a sense of history surrounding this matter. The latest issue of the parish magazine provides further insight into the concerns of the Parochial Church Council at the proposal to appoint a Priest in Charge responsible not only for Barwick and Scholes but also for the parish of Thorner and Scarcroft. At a recent meeting attended by the Ven Peter Burrows, the Archdeacon of Leeds, Dr Alan Stanley, a Lay Reader in the parish, challenged the process through which decisions had been made. He believed consultation with the parish had been poorly prepared and that “at every step decisions had been thrust upon us.” He added: “Each of our requests has been ignored and the parish feels it has been badly treated.” These comments prompted the Archdeacon to apologise if the PCC felt it had been “manipulated.” He advised the PCC that advertising the new post within the Diocese had attracted only one applicant. He therefore proposed that the post should be advertised in the Church Times. In early December two last minute applications were received but the Bishop and the Archdeacon decided to continue to advertise the post nationally during this month and put forward all three of the applications submitted with any new ones received. Interviews should now take place in late February or early March. Sylvia Snowdon, PCC Secretary, comments in the magazine: “The PCC is totally at one in agreeing that we must find the best person possible to take the parishes forward over the coming years.”
Housing plans resisted: Barwick and Scholes parish councillors agreed at their January meeting to support Leeds city council in resisting Government proposals which, if implemented, could eventually see 4,300 new homes built in the area. The city council believes this level of new development would be excessive and insists there is no need for a review of the current Green Belt. Parish councillors agreed to tell the city council they most certainly share this view.
Litter bins: Three new litter bins are to be located in Scholes, thanks to funding arranged by Leeds city council members who represent the village. One is to be installed at the bottom of Rakehill Road, another near the library and the third not far from the Coronation Tree, near Sirrells’ garages. The city council will take responsibility for emptying the bins.
Magnificent! The children of Barwick Primary School would like to thank everyone who supported their Children in Need coffee morning. They raised a magnificent £1,175. This is a fantastic achievement and one that the children and their teachers can feel very proud of.
Elmet Men’s Group: The excellent work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be the topic of a presentation at the next meeting of the group on Monday, January 19, in the Narthex at All Saints’ Church, Barwick. The group is looking to extend its membership. Its meetings are open to all men of the parish, whether churchgoers or not. Contact Alan Stephenson on 2813731 for more details.
Thanks for support: The Barwick Methodist Social Committee would like to thank all who supported their recent coffee morning, which raised £220 for Salvation Army funds.
Probus Club: Barwick and Scholes Probus Club welcomes new members to its regular meetings in John Rylie House, Barwick. The club is for professional and business men who have fully or partially retired. Their next meeting is on Tuesday, January 27 starting at 10:15am. Contact Harvey Metcalfe on
2812441 for more details.
Historical Society: The next meeting of Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society will be held on Wednesday, January 21 at John Rylie House, 7:30pm. Contact Glenys Day, tel. (0113) 2867341 for further information.
Introducing Jonathan: Barwick and Scholes have a new Wetherby News correspondent, Jonathan Miller, whose father Ron has stepped down from the post following relocation for family reasons. Aged 21, Jonathan has lived in Barwick most of his life and attended the village school before going to Boston Spa. After studying at Leeds Metropolitan University he began a career in the hospitality industry and is now Assistant Manager of the Fox and Grapes pub and restaurant on the York road near Barwick. A keen tennis player, he has won the men’s singles title at Barwick Tennis Club for the past four years and helps to coach the club’s young players. Says Ron: “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be a village correspondent for the Wetherby News and I hope to continue making contributions to the Barwick and Scholes column, if the Chief Reporter and Jonathan allow me to do so!”
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Friday, January 09, 2009
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Cash Machine Protest: A recent decision by Leeds City Council to approve the installation of a cash machine in a wall of the Gascoigne Arms, Barwick, was strongly criticised at Monday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council. It was ‘a travesty of justice’ that the machine was to be allowed in a conservation area, declared Coun George Hall. He questioned the purpose of the parish council, as guardians of the village communities, objecting to the proposed installation if the city planners were not prepared to protect the conservation area. “We are disgusted by this decision,” he declared. The parish council agreed with his views, regretting that their objection had not persuaded the city council to reject the application.
Parish Council Website: A proposal by coun John Hayton that he should develop a website for the parish council, at no cost, was approved. Once developed the site will provide useful news and information about the parish which may be of interest to local residents, as well as to visitors to the area.
Scholes Playground: A complaint about the state of the children’s playground in Scholes was made to the parish council by a Scholes parent. She said that when she visited the playground with her son she found it littered with broken glass. The clerk to the parish council, Chris Hassell, said he had obtained three quotes for the installation of new fencing around the playground and had arranged for the existing hedge to be removed shortly. Councillors hope that making the playground more visible from the road may help to moderate the behaviour of young people, some of whom do not live in Scholes but who congregate at the playground.
An Inspector Called: An invitation to attend the February meeting of the parish council, in Scholes, is to be sent to Inspector Marcus Griffiths, who heads the Wetherby Division of West Yorkshire Police. Councillors expressed concern on Monday at what they considered a disappointing response from the police to villagers’ concerns about drivers speeding in both Barwick and Scholes. Coun Ben Hogan, chairman, also expressed regret that no police representative attended Monday’s meeting to present a crime report for last month. Coun Geoff Yapp said he hoped Inspector Griffiths would attend the next meeting in person to advise the parish council what action the police are taking in response to residents’ concerns.
Festival Concerns: Kiddal Lane resident Andrew Mills sought the support of the parish council in lobbying the organisers of the Leeds Festival to ensure that traffic management for the next event in August is improved. He also suggested that instead of employing stewards who had no local knowledge the organisers should give young people who live locally a chance to be stewards, in exchange for tickets to the event. He advised the parish council that Harmony Blake, who heads the organising team, had agreed to meet him and Chris Hassell, clerk to the parish council, to discuss residents’ concerns that the road chaos which occurred before the festival last year should be avoided in future. Mr Mills said it had to be accepted that the Leeds Festival was now established as a popular national event which was “not going to go away.” He believes the people of Barwick should gain more benefit from the event, in the way that Thorner residents do. Councillors welcomed his intervention but suggested that West Yorkshire Police should be represented at the meeting. The clerk was asked to invite the police to attend. Coun George Hall said the police had “strongly refuted and were very upset” by the festival organisers’ suggestion that lack of action by police officers was to blame for the road chaos which preceded the event last August. However, some councillors believed the police could have prevented junctions and roundabouts from becoming gridlocked, preventing local people from reaching their workplaces, hospital appointments or leisure facilities. Mr Mills said he believed the organisers and the police were considering seeking approval to close the A64 between the Seacroft roundabout and Bramham crossroads to allow festival traffic to get into Bramham Park more quickly, bringing vehicles off the motorway at Bramham instead of near Colton. This would hopefully avoid a repeat of last summer’s chaotic scenes on the ring road and York Road.
Advice Sessions: Coun Ann Castle, who represents Barwick and Scholes residents as a Member of Leeds City Council will tomorrow, Saturday, resume her monthly advice sessions at Barwick’s John Rylie Centre, now it has reopened following refurbishment. Villagers can call in to have a chat with her about issues of concern between 10am and 11am. Coun Castle also holds advice sessions at the Manor House, Scholes, on the first Saturday of the month, between 10am and 11am.
Scholes Forum: A meeting of Scholes Community Forum will take place at the Manor House on Tuesday, January 13, starting at 9.30am. The meeting will have a health theme; local residents are invited to attend to raise any questions they may have about health service provision in Scholes. A representative of the Leeds NHS Primary Care Trust will attend the meeting to respond to villagers’ queries.
Winter Music: Barwick Methodist Church will present the latest in its popular series entitled ‘Music for a Winter’s Afternoon’ on Tuesday, January 13, at 2.30pm. Bernard Davisworth, organist at All Saints’ Church, Barwick and George Wright, organist at the Methodist Church, will once again play a selection of light music for piano and organ. Admission will be free but a retiring collection will be taken.
Bring out your Gifts!: Barwick in Bloom volunteers are offering local people a good opportunity to find a new home for Christmas gifts which, though no doubt welcome, might not have been just what they wanted! There will be a ‘Good as New’ stall at their next coffee morning, which takes place at the village hall on Saturday, January 17, from 10am to noon. “It will be a chance to dispose of unwanted Christmas gifts for a good cause,” says Geoff Yapp,a member of the In Bloom team. Admission will cost £1, including coffee, and a book stall and bring-and-buy stall will also be available.
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Thursday, November 27, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Coffee Morning: Members of Scholes Mothers’ Union will host a coffee morning tomorrow, Saturday, at the Church Hall between 10am and 12noon. Admission will be just 50 pence and all proceeds will be given to the church’s Overseas Fund and to another fund which assists families in need.
Chippy’s Pond: Plans to improve an area down Wood Lane, Scholes, which is known locally as Chippy’s Pond, will be discussed by the parish council at its December meeting next Monday at Scholes Village Hall, 7pm. The area was dubbed Chippy’s Pond as it was once the location of a quarry and brickworks owned by the Chippindale family. Leeds City Council has expressed interest in improving the area but, before allocating funding, Councillors wish to know whether the proposal has the support of local residents. The parish forum which precedes every parish council meeting has been extended to half an hour in length to enable Scholes villagers to express their opinions on the proposed improvements.
Local Bus services: Following a lengthy delay in responding to his request, Coun George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum and an elected member of the parish council has been invited to meet the Chairman of Metro, Coun Chris Greaves, on Monday, December 1. He will present a number of letters from Barwick and Scholes residents complaining about the unreliability of bus services provided to and from the villages by First Leeds. It is now more than three years since the first public meetings were held in Scholes to discuss the need for better, more reliable bus services. Last year it appeared that persistence was about to triumph when, following meetings in both Barwick and Scholes, First agreed to consider re-routing service 64 to link the two villages with the bus station at Seacroft as well as the city centre. But the hopes of local bus users were dashed when First concluded that the revised timetable could not be operated by the number of buses serving routes 64, 68 and 68A. Since then the numbers of complaints, mostly because buses have failed to turn up at all or are running way behind schedule, have increased. Coun Hall has previously met two former Chairmen of Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, without achieving the outcome which local residents need. He is now hoping for a more sympathetic hearing from Coun Greaves, an elected member of Bradford Council, who now chairs the Metro board. “Elderly people waiting two hours in cold weather and people either being made late for work or being delayed on their way home after a long day is wholly unacceptable,” says Coun Hall. He added: “This is not just a deregulation issue; it is a disgrace which needs correcting by pressure from our elected representatives.” The community forum has the full support of the parish council, as well as from Coun Alec Shelbrooke, who represents Barwick and Scholes on the city council, in its protracted battle to achieve improved, more reliable bus services.
Dog Owners Warned: Using the field adjacent to Scholes Primary School for dog walking is illegal, the village’s dog owners have been told in the latest issue of Scholes Community News. The field is owned by the Leeds Education Authority, who have the power to prosecute trespassers. Also, dog wardens employed by the City Council can issue fixed penalty notices to owners who walk their dogs on the field. Warning notices have been fixed to lighting columns, prompting the newsletter’s editor to comment: ‘Your dogs are not expected to read these…but the owners are!’
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Friday, November 21, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Barwick Hall ‘Saved’: Proceeds from a community coffee morning and table top sale at Barwick Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday, will go towards the £15,000 still needed to complete improvements to the building. The event will also be an opportunity for supporters of the village hall to celebrate their success in raising enough money to carry out vital repairs and improvements. The threat of closure, a real possibility just a few months ago, has been lifted as a result of more than £7,000 of funding from the parish council and from a landfill tax grant of £20,000 from Grantscape. “We are now confident that the village hall’s future has been assured,” Anne Thompson, who chairs the management committee, told the Wetherby News, adding: “We are very pleased with the great support we have received.” Tomorrow’s event starts at 10am and ends at noon. Admission costing just £1 will include a hot drink and biscuits. Organisations taking part will include All Saints’ Church, Barwick, Barwick in Bloom and the British Heart Foundation. Work begins next month to build a new entrance porch to the village hall, install new fire doors and replace the windows. The heating system is also to be replaced and old wooden cladding to the exterior will be removed and new waterproof cladding fitted. Without the tireless efforts of the hall’s supporters, including former committee member Elaine Reason, its future as a village amenity was in considerable doubt. It’s good to know that the ‘new, improved village hall’ now has a brighter future.
Scholes Fair: Members of Scholes Methodist Church will host their annual Christmas fair at the church tomorrow, Saturday, between 10am and 2pm. Several stalls will provide opportunities to buy gifts, including jewellery, scarves, Christmas cards and other festive goods. Hot meals and light refreshments will also be available, along with a home made cake stall.
Barwick Arts Club: The popular annual exhibition of paintings by members of Barwick Art Club will take place this weekend, at Barwick Miners’ Institute. Admission is free and a percentage of money raised through the sale of paintings will be donated to good causes. The exhibition will be open both tomorrow (Saturday) and on Sunday between 10am and 4pm. Light refreshments will be available both days.
Scholes Ceremony: Relatives and friends of the late Molly Samwell will gather in Rakehill Road, Scholes, at its junction with Belle Vue Avenue, at 10.30am tomorrow, Saturday, to mark the planting of a special tree recognising her many years’ service to the village. The tree, a Perrotica Persia Vanessa, or Persian Iron Wood, has been planted overlooking open fields, close to existing Hornbeam trees. “It is not a memorial tree, nor a monument,” says Coun George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum and an elected member of Barwick and Scholes parish council. “It is a living tribute to a much loved person who devoted herself to maintaining the quality of village life which we all enjoy today. The parish council and, through them, the people of Scholes who remember Molly with such affection decided to plant this tree and commemorate it in her name. We are proud to have known Molly, who was a friend to many and an inspiration to all.”
Lotherton Recital: Barwick and Scholes residents who support the Young Artists’ recitals at Lotherton Hall will attend the final recital of this year’s series on Sunday, November 23, at 2pm. The Rhodes Trio, always popular visitors to the hall, will play a programme dedicated to the works of Schubert. This will include his Notturno in E flat major and the Piano Trio in B flat major. Tickets for the recital cost £10, which includes tea and cakes served in the Oriental Room. Concessionary tickets at £8.50 or family tickets (two adults and up to two children) at £20 can also be obtained by calling Judith Ferris on (0113) 2813259.
Diary Date: Scholes Mothers’ Union will host a coffee morning on Saturday, November 29 at the Church Hall, from 10am to noon. Admission will cost just 50p and all proceeds will support the Union’s Overseas Fund and its caravan for needy families.
Scholes Playground: Plans to improve the children’s playground in Scholes, including new play equipment, are gradually moving forward, according to Scholes Community Forum. The equipment will be so expensive that financial support from Leeds City Council will be needed. The parish council is seeking assistance from Councillors who represent the interests of Scholes residents on the city council.
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Friday, November 14, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625: **** May be remembrance pics to follow
Remembrance in Scholes: A cold autumn wind caused hundreds of leaves to fall from the village’s Memorial Trees, which were rededicated in a moving ceremony earlier this year. They fluttered quietly to the ground, rather like falling poppy petals. More than 100 people gathered around the village’s war memorial, including Cubs, Scouts and Guides who joined those placing poppy crosses to honour the men of Scholes who lost their lives in two world wars. Unlike members of the Royal British Legion, whose campaign medals attracted much attention, these young people have thankfully not been called to experience the horror of armed combat. On Sunday, however, they shared with quiet dignity the respect held for those who left their village to serve but never returned. A Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, John Richardson, laid a wreath on behalf of the Lord Lieutenancy at both Scholes and Barwick war memorials. Coun Ben Hogan, Chairman of Barwick and Scholes parish council, paid a similar tribute.
Remembrance Day service: In Barwick, a special service at All Saints’ parish church was conducted by Dr Alan Stanley, a Lay Reader in the parish, who also led the Acts of Remembrance in both Barwick and Scholes. During his sermon he observed that, since the end of the 1939-45 conflict, there has been only one year in which no members of Britain’s armed forces lost their lives on active service. The Chairman of Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion, Victor Brothers, proudly carried – and poignantly lowered - the Legion’s standard at both ceremonies in silent tribute to the fallen. During both village ceremonies local resident and musician Ken Lancashire sensitively played the Last Post and Reveille on the bugle to begin and end the two minutes’ silence.
Bus services: Further evidence of the unreliability of First bus services linking Barwick and Scholes to Leeds city centre emerged this week. On Monday, my wife chose to catch the 64 bus due to leave just after 1pm. When she arrived at the bus stop on Boar Lane she met two ladies who had been standing and shivering for over half an hour. The 64 which should have left Leeds a few minutes after 12.30pm had failed to turn up at all. Waiting at a bus stop for half an hour is bad enough in decent weather but on a cold autumn day it is surely unacceptable for bus users to have to do so. Only last week the Wetherby News reported renewed protests from Scholes residents about buses failing to operate on route 68. This is the service on which buses alternate with route 64 so the two services are closely linked. Coun George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum and an elected member of the parish council, has been battling for at least three years to see some improvement in local bus services. Last summer residents attended public meetings in both villages and voted in favour of a proposed re-scheduling of service 64 so that it served Scholes as well as Barwick. A senior Metro officer told both meetings that First were willing to try alternative routings in a bid to meet residents’ requests. However, they reneged on that pledge and, since then, have done nothing whatsoever to address passengers’ concerns. The company may be called First…but Barwick and Scholes bus users believe they come last.
Children in Need: Pupils and staff at Barwick Church of England Primary School will hold a coffee morning today, Friday, to raise money for the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal. Coffee and biscuits will be available from 10am to 11.30 am. A cake stall, tombola and raffle will also be used to help raise funds for the popular charity.
Flower club workshop: Members of Barwick in Elmet Flower Club will hold a workshop, open to everyone, tomorrow (Saturday) at Scholes Village Hall, from 10am to noon. Tutor Joan Dalby will offer both beginners and those with some flower arranging experience some ideas for ‘Christmas with a Touch of Class.’ Admission will cost £4 and further information can be obtained by calling Jane Macauley, the club secretary, on 0113 2645491.
Public meeting in Barwick: Parishioners will have an opportunity to question prospective parliamentary candidate Alec Shelbrooke on topical issues at a public meeting at the village hall on Monday, at 7.30pm. Organised by Elmet and Rothwell Conservatives, the meeting will begin with the candidate’s views on issues including the cost of living, taxation, law and order, taxation and Europe. Questions will then be invited from the floor.
Art club’s exhibition: There are a number of skilled and creative artists living in Barwick. Next weekend, as members of Barwick Art Club, they will present a two-day exhibition of their work at Barwick Miner’s Institute. This will be open on both Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 4pm. Admission will be free and a percentage of all sales will be given to good causes. Tea and coffee will also be available.
Community coffee morning: Although Barwick Village Hall has successfully applied for grants from the parish council and from GreenScape, a charity which distributes Landfill Tax receipts, its committee still needs to raise funds for the hall’s upkeep and improvement. A community coffee morning will be held on Saturday, November 22, from 10am to noon. Stalls will include bring and buy, books, home made cakes and tombola. Admission costing £1 will include light refreshments.
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Friday, November 07, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Remembrance Sunday: Services of Remembrance will be held in the parish, as they will be across the nation, on Sunday. An Act of Remembrance will take place at Scholes War Memorial at 10am, followed by a United Service at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, which will be shared by members of Scholes Methodist Church. Some members of Scholes Community Forum intend to walk informally between the village’s Memorial Trees on their way to the War Memorial. Anyone wishing to join them should meet outside Orlando’s Restaurant at 9.45am. In Barwick, a special service at All Saints’ Church will be conducted by Dr.Alan Stanley, a Lay Reader in the parish. This will begin at 10.30am and will be followed by the Act of Remembrance at the village’s War Memorial.
Bus Service Protests: Scholes Community Forum, which addresses issues of concern to local residents, this week sent renewed protests to Metro, the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority, about the ‘wholly ineffective bus services’ to and from the village. A strongly worded letter from Coun George Hall, Lead Member of the Forum and an elected Member of Barwick and Scholes parish council, said residents sent their complaints to him ‘because they feel that Metro and First just do not care.’ This latest protest followed a villager’s complaint that he waited in the cold for almost an hour last Friday but the bus due just before 4pm ‘never turned up.’ A second bus, due to pass through Scholes in the opposite direction, didn’t appear either. In his letter to Metro, Coun Hall said ‘the platitudes which are expressed (in response to complaints about bus services) are of little help to those, especially the elderly, waiting up to two hours if one service fails to arrive, especially in the cold weather.’ Reiterating his request for a face-to-face meeting with Metro’s Chairman he added: ‘Yet again I ask that serious consideration is given to diverting bus service 64 through Scholes. Alternatively, the 68 and 68A should be re-routed so that both District centres, Cross Gates and Seacroft, are visited in both directions, thereby offering a cover for the wholly ineffective service currently being provided.’
Barwick Speeding Concerns: Despite evidence that three out of four drivers exceed the speed limit on one of the main access roads into Barwick, Leeds City Council’s Highways Department says increased traffic calming in the village can’t be justified. Parish councillors meeting on Monday were indignant to receive a letter from a senior council officer who, in so many words, said there are not enough crashes or accidents on Barwick roads to justify the cost of more measures designed to slow drivers down. This from a local authority which funds a road safety team dedicated to preventing casualties on local roads. Coun Geoff Yapp said recent traffic monitoring on Long Lane, which links Barwick to Garforth, showed that 75 per cent of drivers were going faster than the 30mph speed limit. “We need support from our Leeds councillors,” he said, adding that meeting officers to discuss the issue “will not get us anywhere.” Coun John Tinker said he believed Aberford Parish Council had paid for solar powered ‘slow down’ signs costing £700 each. “If that’s all they cost then we should have them on all approach roads into Barwick,” said Coun Yapp. Members agreed to call on Leeds councillors for support and, meanwhile, to ask Aberford parish council what their signs cost and whether they are proving reliable.
Penda’s Greenway Meeting: More than 100 Scholes residents attended a public meeting at the Village Hall on October 29 to learn more about the Penda’s Greenway. The meeting was addressed by David Hall, regional director of Sustrans, an environmental charity which promotes sustainable transport. He said the proposed cycle and walkway would link Thorner and Scholes with the Cross Gates district shopping centre, though it is unlikely to open before 2011. It will cost more than £800,000 and grants are to be sought by Sustrans from various sources. The majority of residents attending the meeting, who were joined by guests from Thorner parish council, expressed interest in the proposal and supported it in principle. Their major area of concern centred on where the route of the Greenway would leave the old railway track and pass down two residential streets, Nook Road and The Approach, before rejoining the former rail line just beyond the bridge on Scholes Lane. So while supporting the overall idea, residents urged that further consideration should be given to the design of the proposed route. Leeds City Council’s Highways Department has already given some support to the Greenway, though the entire project would require planning approval. The public meeting was called by Barwick and Scholes parish council in response to requests from members of Scholes Community Forum for improved consultation to take place between Sustrans and local residents.
New Funding for Hall: Supporters who have worked tirelessly to sustain and improve Barwick’s Village Hall are celebrating the award of a £20,000 grant from a national charity, GrantScape, which distributes funding raised from Landfill Tax. Giving them even more reason to smile, Barwick and Scholes parish council agreed on Monday to make a £5,000 grant to the hall’s refurbishment fund from the parish precept. In addition, members agreed to make a donation of £2,272 to meet the charity’s requirement for a third party contribution. The welcome grant of £20,000 is coming from the community programme of landfill site managers Caird Bardon Ltd. The hall’s management committee need £28,000 to complete a programme of improvements which began last year. Most urgent is the replacement of the hall’s heating system, the installation of fire safety doors and the removal of the original wooden external cladding and replacement with hard-wearing brown pvc.
Scholes Burglary: At Monday’s parish council meeting the Chairman, Coun Ben Hogan, reported that heartless thieves recently entered the home of an elderly woman in Scholes and stole jewellery and other valuables. The resident had fallen asleep in her living room and, unfortunately, the door to her property was unlocked. Coun Hogan urged all parishioners to protect their homes by ensuring that doors and windows are closed and locked, even when they are on the premises.
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
New Support for Forum: Following an appeal to local people for more financial support, 37 Scholes residents have joined Scholes Community Forum. Their subscriptions have helped to ensure that the forum can continue to be a strong voice for local residents, representing their interests in response to local issues of concern. Several residents have also made donations to the forum. Welcoming the outcome the forum’s Lead Member, Coun George Hall, said renewed financial support would also enable publication of a monthly newsletter to be continued. He added: “In these times of national financial concern it is much appreciated that the generous spirit which exists in our community has once again become evident.” Meetings of the forum are held at the Manor House on the second Tuesday of each month and all residents are welcome to attend.
Memorial Trees: To the surprise and concern of members of Scholes Community Forum, one objection has been submitted to Leeds City Council against the proposed Tree Preservation Order which would protect the Memorial Trees in Station Road, Scholes, in perpetuity. However, 47 letters supporting the order have also been sent to the city council. The final decision will rest with members of the Plans Panel, on a date yet to be identified. Coun George Hall has urged war veterans to turn up on that day, wearing their bravery and campaign medals, in a bid to influence a decision in favour of the order being made.
Charity Card Sale: The popular annual sale of charity Christmas cards held at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, will take place tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to 12noon. Among the charities to benefit will be Candlelighters, Christian Aid, Breast Cancer Care, Martin House, Oxfam and St.Gemma’s Hospice. Visitors will also be able to buy cards supporting the church’s refurbishment fund. Tea and coffee will be available.
Parish Council: The November meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council will be held on Monday at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom, beginning at 7.30pm. This will be preceded at 7.15pm by the parish forum, at which any resident is invited to bring to councillors’ attention any local issues of concern they may have. Parishioners are fully entitled to attend the parish council meeting to listen to discussions and hear what decisions are made.
Police ‘Surgery’: A chance for Scholes residents to raise with the police issues relating to crime and public safety will be offered by a ‘surgery’ to be held at the Manor House, Scholes, on Tuesday, November 4, starting at 10am. Police community support officer Dan Sillers, who has special responsibility for Scholes, will be present to answer residents’ questions.
Road Safety Week: Members of Scholes Community Forum, with support from the police, will mark Road Safety Week, which starts on Monday, November 10, by monitoring the speed of vehicles going through the village. Their aim will be to encourage drivers to keep to the 30mph speed limit which applies in Scholes. However, police officers with power to issue fixed penalty notices to offenders will also be attending.
Event’s Success: The Autumn Fair recently held at Barwick Village Hall to support the national children’s charity the NSPCC raised very nearly £900. Although this excellent total fell short of the record of just over £1,000 raised by the same event last year, organisers Gill Nichols and Janet Doherty believe it was a highly satisfactory outcome in view of the current economic climate. After almost 20 years of voluntary service to the charity, which works to combat cruelty to children, both now believe it is time to step down and are hoping that other local people will ensure the event is continued.
Centre Re-opens: Barwick’s popular John Rylie House, a community resource which provides a wide range of social activities and support for older residents of the village, re-opened on Tuesday after being closed for several months. Major reconstruction of the centre was required after contractors discovered structural faults. The much improved facilities have been warmly welcomed by centre users. Several local organisations, including the village’s Historical Society, which looks after Barwick’s archives, will now be able to return to the centre, which is run by Aire Valley Homes on behalf of Leeds City Council.
Remembrance Sunday: Services of Remembrance will be held in the parish, as they will be across the nation, on Sunday, November 9. An Act of Remembrance will take place at Scholes War Memorial at 10am, followed by a United Service at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, which will be shared by members of Scholes Methodist Church. Some members of Scholes Community Forum intend to walk informally between the village’s Memorial Trees on their way to the War Memorial. Anyone wishing to join them should meet outside Orlando’s Restaurant at 9.45am. In Barwick, a special service at All Saints’ Church will be conducted by Dr.Alan Stanley, a Lay Reader in the parish. This will begin at 10.30am and will be followed by the Act of Remembrance at the village’s War Memorial.
Poppy Appeal: Members of the Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion will once again be calling at local homes during the next few days to invite residents to buy poppies. The proceeds from the Poppy Appeal are dedicated to helping former members of the Armed Forces and their families. Sadly, the need for the Legion’s support is as great today as it was after two World Wars and every conflict since. Watching news coverage of members of the Parachute Regiment returning home this week without nine of their colleagues brought home once again the sacrifices being made by our servicemen and women in Afghanistan and Iraq. Please support the Royal British Legion by buying a poppy to support its vital work.
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Friday, October 24, 2008
Barwick In Elmet & Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Break with History?: The parish of Barwick-in-Elmet with Scholes is one of the oldest in Leeds; its history can be traced back more than 900 years. Only Adel, which also boasts a Norman church, is believed to be older. So it is hardly surprising that proposed changes by the Church of England are causing some parishioners concern. Although it is likely to be some time before an official announcement is made, the Wetherby News learned this week that the post of Rector of Barwick and Scholes, vacated several months ago by Rev Brunel James when he became Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, is not to be filled by the appointment of a new Rector. Instead, a Priest in Charge will be appointed, with responsibility for what now are two separate parishes, Barwick with Scholes and Thorner. The Vicar of Thorner retired last year so that parish also has a vacancy.
Confirming that a decision had been taken to appoint a priest to provide ministry in all three villages, Rev John Carter, spokesman for the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, told the Wetherby News that “consultation at every stage” had taken place, involving the Archdeacon of Leeds, Ven Peter Burrows, the Whitkirk Deanery – which comprises 22 churches - and the Parochial Church Council, whose members represent parishioners. He said the decision was not primarily driven by the need to cut costs. It was part of the Deanery’s responsibility to decide how many clergy were needed and how their resources should be allocated to parishes. He added that no decision had been made on whether the new Priest in Charge would live at the Vicarage in Thorner or the Rectory in Barwick. The parish of Barwick and Scholes has had more than 50 Rectors over the past 900 years so a decision not to appoint a new Rector will create a significant break with tradition. Since Rev Brunel James left the parish, services have been conducted at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, by an Honorary Assistant Priest, the Ven John Oliver, a retired Archdeacon of Leeds who lives in Barwick and by priests from the Seacroft pastoral team. At St Philip’s Church, Scholes, services are primarily conducted by Dr Alan Stanley or by his fellow Lay Readers.
Centre to Re-open: Regular visitors to Barwick’s John Rylie House have this week been celebrating very welcome news. The popular centre, which was abruptly closed several months ago after structural faults were discovered by contractors, is to re-open next Thursday, October 28, with Bingo at 7pm. Strong friendships which flourished among the centre’s users can now be revived in the knowledge that the building has been re-roofed and totally refurbished. Improved access for wheelchair users has also been installed by Aire Valley Homes, who run the centre on behalf of Leeds City Council.
Tennis Triumph: Members of Barwick Tennis Club attended the annual awards dinner hosted at Wetherby Golf Club last Friday by the Barkston Ash Tennis League. As reported a few weeks ago, Barwick’s ‘A’ team won the League’s Men’s Championship this year, following a closely fought season with teams including Scholes, Thorner and Tadcaster. Members of the successful team were Richard Fenton, Glyn Frampton, John Hayton, Jonny Miller, Matt Prior, Stewart Trewartha, Mark Wheeler and Dave Wilkinson. They won 10 of their 12 league matches, taking the title in the last match of the season, against Scholes.
Popular Concert: This evening’s concert by ‘Reflections,’ to be hosted by Barwick in Bloom at the Methodist Church, is virtually sold out. Spokesman Geoff Yapp says just a handful of tickets, costing £3, remain available and can be obtained by calling him on (0113) 281-2561. Last Saturday’s ‘In Bloom’ coffee morning was, as usual, very well supported by local residents. “Thankfully the economic downturn has not yet reached us; everything was sold,” says Geoff. With the costs of entering Britain in Bloom next year to be met the group needs to raise additional funds so greatly appreciates the support it receives.
Scholes Concert: Musicians of Gawthorpe Brass Band, who took part in Scholes Gala during the summer, will pay a welcome return visit to the village tomorrow, Saturday, to play a concert at the village hall. Judging from its title, ‘Last Night of the Proms,’ it promises to be a rousing, ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘Jerusalem’ occasion. Tickets costing £5, or £4 for concessions, are available at both Barwick and Scholes post offices.
Scholes Coffee Mornings: The Manor House, Scholes, is the place to head for at 10am on Wednesday mornings for anyone who enjoys a chat over a nice cup of tea or coffee. The weekly events are hosted by members of Scholes Community Care and newcomers are always welcome.
Alternative Hallowe’en: A reminder that everyone is welcome to attend the free Alternative Hallowe’en event to be held outside St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, at 7pm on Friday, October 31. There will be food, games and fun…but no trick or treat!
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Friday, October 24, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Penda’s Greenway: A public meeting, to be held at Scholes Village Hall on Wednesday, October 29, will give local residents a chance to put questions to the people behind the Penda’s Greenway proposal. The meeting will begin at 7pm and all parishioners are invited to attend. Penda’s Greenway is a proposed walking and cycling route which is planned to start in Thorner, pass through Scholes and end at Cross Gates, near the shopping centre and railway station. For most of the way it will follow the route of the old Wetherby - Cross Gates railway line. The proposal was progressed with funding from Leeds City Council and Sustrans, a leading sustainable transport charity, who carried out a feasibility study and produced draft costings. A steering group was formed last year as a result of public interest in the potential of using the route of the old Leeds to Wetherby railway line for walking, cycling or horse riding. Organisations represented on the steering group include Barwick and Scholes parish council, Scholes Community Forum and Thorner parish council. Because the route passes directly through Scholes, close to Nook Road, The Avenue, The Approach and Station Road, the parish council believes local people should have the opportunity to learn more about the proposal and called for the public meeting to be arranged. The Regional Director of Sustrans, David Hall, will attend to explain Sustran’s involvement in this initiative with Leeds City Council and, in particular, indicate how it may affect the people of Scholes.
Barwick Speeding Concerns: A recent survey of traffic volumes and speeds on Long Lane, Barwick, identified ‘significant concerns’ about the speed at which some drivers go through the village. This was reported to members of the parish council at their October meeting. The findings will come as no surprise to many villagers who have for some time been expressing concern about vehicle speeds and the threat to pedestrians, especially children and older people. Councillors agreed to ask West Yorkshire Police to carry out more speed checks in the village and to seek the views of Leeds City Council’s highways department on what might be done to address this serious issue.
‘Slow Down’ Signs: Barwick still has no vehicle-activated ‘Slow Down’ signs which illuminate to warn drivers they are entering a 30mph speed restriction area. Scholes has had one for some time, on the approach to the village from the York Road, and may soon be getting a second one close to Scholes Lodge Farm, paid for by the housing developer. It is understood that a similar sign is now operating in Aberford, on the approach to the village from Hook Moor. Surely it is time Barwick had modern signs of this type, reminding drivers to slow down in the interests of public safety? However, the provision of traffic calming measures, including signs, is the responsibility of Leeds City Council, who need to be persuaded that something must be done to counter the threat caused by speeding drivers.
Arrests Made: In their crime report for September, police community support officers told the parish council that arrests had been made in connection with drugs-related and other serious offences. In one incident of theft, Yorkshire stone was removed from a driveway of a local home. Councillors drew to the officers’ attention their concern about speeding drivers and the levels of anti-social behaviour in both Barwick and Scholes. A Safety Week is to be held from November 10-16, the parish council was informed. The police officers also reminded local residents to lock up their garages and other outbuildings, following an increase in thefts of garden tools, electrical appliances and other property.
Barwick Fair: Permission to operate a fair on Jack Heap’s Field, Barwick, this week and until next Tuesday was granted by the parish council to Watson’s Amusements, on payment of £350 rental. Does anyone know why it always seems to rain when the fair returns to Barwick every autumn?
Scholes Film Season: It will be cartoon time at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, starting at 2pm. Organisers of the church’s popular film season know there’s nothing more likely to delight youngsters than a good cartoon and tomorrow’s ‘U’ certificate film should get them all laughing.
Coffee Morning: Volunteer members of Gold award winning Barwick in Bloom will host their latest fundraising coffee morning tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to noon at the village hall. Admission will cost £1, including coffee; stalls will include cakes, books and bring-and-buy. The welcome will be warm, whatever the weather. Tickets for the concert by ‘Reflections’ at the Methodist Church on Friday, October 24, are still available from Geoff Yapp, tel: 0113 2812561. Admission will be £3, including refreshments.
Alternative Hallowe’en: There will be no ‘trick or treat’ at an alternative Hallowe’en event to be held outside St Philip’s on the evening of Friday, October 31. But there will be games, fun and food, so local people can park the broomsticks, take off the menacing masks and enjoy themselves!
Art Exhibition: Local artists will display their work at the annual Barwick Art Exhibition to be held at the Miners’ Institute on Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23. There will be no charge for admission to the exhibition, which will be open from 10am to 4pm on both days. A percentage from all sales and donations will be given to local charities.
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Friday, October 10, 2008
Barwick In Elmet
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
Britain in Bloom: Volunteer members of award-winning Barwick in Bloom decided at their recent annual general meeting to accept the invitation of this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition judges to represent the county’s large villages in next year’s Britain in Bloom contest. This will mean a lot of extra work for the group but members are keen to represent the county in the prestigious national competition. They received the invitation after Barwick had been judged the outright winner of the Large Village category to take the Gold Medal in this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition. Entering the national event will mean the village cannot enter the Yorkshire contest next year.
‘Still on her travels:’ This will be the title of a presentation to be given by guest speaker Sarah Hopps to members of Barwick in Elmet Horticultural Society at their meeting on Monday, October 13, in the Village Hall at 7.45pm. The society is still celebrating the great success of its annual show, which we reported last month.
Musicians Entertain: The first of three light music concerts in the popular series called ‘Music for a Winter’s Afternoon’ will take place on Barwick Methodist Church on Tuesday, October 14, at 2.30pm. As usual, an enjoyable selection of music will be played by Bernard Davisworth, on piano and George Wright, on the organ. Bernard is the organist at All Saints’ Church, Barwick while George plays the organ at the Methodist Church. Admission is free but a retiring collection will be taken. Two further concerts in the series will be on November 11 and December 9.
Coffee Morning: Barwick in Bloom members never sit on their laurels, even after winning a Gold award in Yorkshire in Bloom for the second time. They will be back in fundraising mode on Saturday, October 18, hosting a coffee morning at the village hall from 10am to noon. Admission costing £1 will include coffee and all are welcome to attend. Cake and books stalls, along with a bring and buy stall, will add to the attraction of the event. The ‘In Bloom’ team will also present a concert by ‘Reflections’ at Barwick Methodist Church on Friday, October 24, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £3, including light refreshments, are now available from Geoff Yapp, Tel: 0113 2812561.
Parish Council: October’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council was held at Scholes Village Hall on Monday. Items on the agenda for discussion included the forthcoming replacement of some of Barwick’s street lights by installing heritage style light standards along Elmwood Lane and at other points close to the village centre. Another agenda item concerned traffic levels on Long Lane, Barwick, while Scholes members were due to report on vehicle speed monitoring in their village, which caused West Yorkshire Police to send cautionary letters to a number of drivers. Decisions taken by parish councillors will be reported in next week’s Wetherby News.
A new reader! This week’s column is somewhat shorter than usual but for a very good reason. Your parish correspondent and his wife became Grandparents for the first time on Sunday, when their youngest daughter Samantha brought James Charles Wells into the world at Barnsley District Hospital. Sam and her husband Gareth were married at All Saints’ Church, Barwick. The Wetherby News welcomes new readers
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Barwick In Elmet
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Tennis Photo: Top row - Mark Wheeler, Richard Fenton, Matt Prior, Bottom row - John Hayton, Glyn Frampton
Tennis Triumph: Barwick Tennis Club members are celebrating their men’s ‘A’ team achievement in winning the Barkston Ash tennis league after a close finish to the season. A record number of eight members played for Barwick, winning 10 out of their 12 fixtures. Four teams could have won the league and it was only in their last match, against local rivals Scholes, that Barwick clinched the title. Barwick’s successful players were: Richard Fenton, Glyn Frampton, John Hayton, Jonathan Miller, Matt Prior, Stewart Trewartha, Mark Wheeler and Dave Wilkinson. They will receive the trophy at an awards ceremony to be hosted by the League at Wetherby Golf Club on October 17.
Harvest Thanksgiving: It’s a big weekend for members of Barwick Methodist Church. This evening (Friday) the nationally-known presenter of ‘The Organist Entertains’ on BBC Radio 2, international organist Nigel Ogden, will play at a Celebration Concert. A coffee morning tomorrow, between 10am and noon, will give visitors a chance to view the harvest display in the church. And on Sunday a service of Harvest Thanksgiving will take the theme of Barwick in Bloom. The preacher will be John Botterill. Nigel Ogden was invited to visit Barwick by George Wright, organist at the Methodist Church, who met the presenter at a recital. The organ he will be playing this evening has an interesting history, John Botterill told the Wetherby News. It was built in 1897 at St Philip’s Church, Hull but the church was destroyed in the Blitz, leaving only the organ relatively intact. In 1943 the organ was salvaged and rebuilt at Osmondthorpe Methodist Church, Leeds but 30 years later it was presented to Barwick Methodist Church where it was rebuilt by J.Malcolm Spink, of Middleton, Leeds, who still maintains it for the church. On May 26 2002 the church was struck by lightning, destroying all the organ’s circuitry, so it had to be completed refurbished once again, by the same renowned organ specialist.
Heritage Weekend: Barwick folk can expect to see many visitors in the village this weekend. The Norman parish church of All Saints and Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society are both playing an active part in the annual Heritage Weekend, organised by Leeds Civic Trust and English Heritage. This is a national event, with more than a thousand churches, stately homes, museums and other places of interest, many of them not normally open to the public, inviting visitors inside. Barwick’s ancient church, dating back to the 12th century, will be open tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to noon and, following a lunchtime wedding, will re-open from 2pm to 4pm. On Sunday the church will open its doors from noon to 4pm. Tea and coffee will be available in church.
Earthworks tours: During Heritage Weekend members of Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society will give guided tours of the village’s Iron Age and Norman Earthworks. Tours will depart on the hour from Hall Tower Field today, Friday, from 2pm to 4pm. Tomorrow and Sunday, tours will begin on the hour from 11am to 4pm. Visitors are advised to wear stout footwear as the full tour includes steep steps and stiles; a shorter tour, with no climbing required, will also be offered. Information about other places of interest open during Heritage Weekend is available on a website: www.heritage.co.uk. A meeting of Barwick’s Historical Society will be held on Wednesday, September 17, at the Manor House, Scholes, 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend. Information about the society can be obtained by calling 0113 2867341.
Now Showing, At A Church Near You: The film season at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, continues next week with a full length feature film, with a certificate no higher than 12, being shown on Tuesday at 7.30pm. This will be followed on Saturday, September 20 by the screening of a film suitable for younger viewers; this begins at 2pm. For more information please call Peter or Diane: 0113 2640673.
Scholes in Bloom: The annual general meeting of Scholes in Bloom will be held on Tuesday, September 23, at the Manor House, Scholes, at 7.30pm. By then the village’s green-fingered volunteers, led by their Chairman, Ben Hogan, will know whether their sterling efforts this year were enough to win an award in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition. This year’s winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony being held in Barnsley next Tuesday. Whatever the outcome, they already know their work is appreciated in the village. So much so that a poster outside St.Philip’s Church proclaims: ‘Thank you Scholes in Bloom for making our village bloomin’ lovely.’
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Friday, August 29, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Festival Complaints Hotline: The organisers of the Leeds Festival, taking place today and over the Bank Holiday weekend in Bramham Park, have advised the residents of Barwick and Scholes that a 24-hour ‘hotline’ has been set up to take complaints. The number is: (01937) 841081 and it will be staffed until 8pm on Monday. If you have reason to call and find an answer machine responds, leave a message and, according to the organisers, someone will call you straight back. They also point out that ‘noise levels are strictly regulated and monitored by our on-site acoustic consultants and by Environmental Health at Leeds City Council.’ Although the main stage entertainment will end at 11pm each night, what the organisers call ‘low key’ entertainment, such as cabaret and comedy, will continue through the night until 6am the next morning. One of the headline acts, the heavy rock band Metallica, will use fireworks as part of their performance tonight, at some point between 9.30pm and 11pm. The out-of-hours noise complaint service at Leeds City Council can be called up to 3am tomorrow and Sunday and up to 2am on Monday; their number is (0113) 240-7361.
Road Closure: In the interests of safety, West Yorkshire Police requested that the junction of Kiddal Lane with the A64 York Road, near the Fox & Grapes, should be completely closed from noon on Wednesday, August 20 to 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday. The closure is intended to prevent drivers attending the Leeds Festival from doing a u-turn at the junction. During the same period the junction of Potterton Lane and Kiddal Lane will also be closed, other than for residents to access their properties along those lanes.
Channel Swim Success: Amanda Hassell, whose parents Chris and Claire Hassell live in Elmwood Lane, Barwick, has raised almost £2,000 to support the work of the Army Benevolent Fund by swimming the English Channel as a member of a team from the Adjutant General’s Corps. Following her recent promotion, Amanda is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Corps and was captain of the cross-channel team for their 22 mile swim from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, competing with other Army teams. After swimming in very cold water and suffering sea sickness on the team boat, as it crossed busy shipping lanes, Amanda says she is in no hurry to repeat the adventure, though she describes it as ‘an incredible experience.’
Plants and Flowers: Two events of interest to local growers of plants, flowers and vegetables are to be held during the first two weeks of September. The first, on Saturday, September 6, will be the 43rd annual show to be hosted by Barwick-in-Elmet Horticultural Society. This will be held at Barwick Village Hall, with doors opened at 2pm and trophies presented an hour later. A silver collection will be taken at the door and a wide range of flowers, plants, vegetables, crafts and photographs will be on display. Winning pictures produced by pupils at Barwick Primary School will also be on view. The second event, on Wednesday, September 10, will be a meeting of Barwick-in-Elmet Flower Club at Scholes Village Hall, 7.30pm. A demonstration of flower arranging entitled ‘Another Bunch of Daisies’ will be given by Linda Hardman. Admission will be £4 and all are welcome. For further information please call the secretary: (0113) 264-5491.
Thanksgiving Weekend: A reminder that Nigel Ogden, presenter of ‘The Organist Entertains’ on Radio 2, is to take part in a Celebration Concert at Barwick Methodist Church on Friday, September 12, at 7.30pm. This event will form part of the church’s Harvest Thanksgiving Weekend. Admission, by ticket only, will cost £6; tickets are now available from church members. A coffee morning in the church the next day will enable visitors to admire the Harvest Display and proceeds will be given to the Flower Fund. On Sunday, September 14 a Service of Harvest Thanksgiving will be held with the theme of Barwick in Bloom; the preacher will be John Botterill.
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Friday, August 22, 2008
Barwick In Elmet
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625:
Festival Complaints Hotline: The organisers of the Leeds Festival, taking place today and over the Bank Holiday weekend in Bramham Park, have advised the residents of Barwick and Scholes that a 24-hour ‘hotline’ has been set up to take complaints. The number is: (01937) 841081 and it will be staffed until 8pm on Monday. If you have reason to call and find an answer machine responds, leave a message and, according to the organisers, someone will call you straight back. They also point out that ‘noise levels are strictly regulated and monitored by our on-site acoustic consultants and by Environmental Health at Leeds City Council.’ Although the main stage entertainment will end at 11pm each night, what the organisers call ‘low key’ entertainment, such as cabaret and comedy, will continue through the night until 6am the next morning. One of the headline acts, the heavy rock band Metallica, will use fireworks as part of their performance tonight, at some point between 9.30pm and 11pm. The out-of-hours noise complaint service at Leeds City Council can be called up to 3am tomorrow and Sunday and up to 2am on Monday; their number is (0113) 240-7361.
Road Closure: In the interests of safety, West Yorkshire Police requested that the junction of Kiddal Lane with the A64 York Road, near the Fox & Grapes, should be completely closed from noon on Wednesday, August 20 to 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday. The closure is intended to prevent drivers attending the Leeds Festival from doing a u-turn at the junction. During the same period the junction of Potterton Lane and Kiddal Lane will also be closed, other than for residents to access their properties along those lanes.
Channel Swim Success: Amanda Hassell, whose parents Chris and Claire Hassell live in Elmwood Lane, Barwick, has raised almost £2,000 to support the work of the Army Benevolent Fund by swimming the English Channel as a member of a team from the Adjutant General’s Corps. Following her recent promotion, Amanda is now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Corps and was captain of the cross-channel team for their 22 mile swim from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, competing with other Army teams. After swimming in very cold water and suffering sea sickness on the team boat, as it crossed busy shipping lanes, Amanda says she is in no hurry to repeat the adventure, though she describes it as ‘an incredible experience.’
Plants and Flowers: Two events of interest to local growers of plants, flowers and vegetables are to be held during the first two weeks of September. The first, on Saturday, September 6, will be the 43rd annual show to be hosted by Barwick-in-Elmet Horticultural Society. This will be held at Barwick Village Hall, with doors opened at 2pm and trophies presented an hour later. A silver collection will be taken at the door and a wide range of flowers, plants, vegetables, crafts and photographs will be on display. Winning pictures produced by pupils at Barwick Primary School will also be on view. The second event, on Wednesday, September 10, will be a meeting of Barwick-in-Elmet Flower Club at Scholes Village Hall, 7.30pm. A demonstration of flower arranging entitled ‘Another Bunch of Daisies’ will be given by Linda Hardman. Admission will be £4 and all are welcome. For further information please call the secretary: (0113) 264-5491.
Thanksgiving Weekend: A reminder that Nigel Ogden, presenter of ‘The Organist Entertains’ on Radio 2, is to take part in a Celebration Concert at Barwick Methodist Church on Friday, September 12, at 7.30pm. This event will form part of the church’s Harvest Thanksgiving Weekend. Admission, by ticket only, will cost £6; tickets are now available from church members. A coffee morning in the church the next day will enable visitors to admire the Harvest Display and proceeds will be given to the Flower Fund. On Sunday, September 14 a Service of Harvest Thanksgiving will be held with the theme of Barwick in Bloom; the preacher will be John Botterill.
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Friday, August 15, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
Wind mast proposal: An application for planning approval to erect a 60 metre (about 200ft.) ‘wind mast’ near Scholes has been submitted to Leeds City Council. The proposal has been put forward by the proprietors of a farm located beside the Leeds-York road, opposite Hayes Garden Centre. It is believed they wish to use the mast for a two year power generating trial. However, the Wetherby News understands that a number of objections to the application have already been submitted to the council’s planning department. The application is likely to be discussed at the next meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council, on September 1.
Scholes Memorial Trees: plans are well advanced for a major event taking place in Scholes on Saturday, September 6, when the village’s 23 Memorial Trees will be re-dedicated. A Service of Thanksgiving will be conducted at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, by Dr Alan Stanley, a Lay Reader in the parish. During the service the avenue of horse chestnut and lime trees in Station Road will be re-dedicated to the memory of men from the village who lost their lives in the first and second world wars. Many residents take the view that the trees also commemorate the sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces in Bosnia and, currently, in Afghanistan and Iraq. Her Majesty The Queen will be represented at the service by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Michael Fox and his wife, Mrs Linda Fox. Invitations extended by Scholes Community Forum have also been accepted by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leeds, Councillor and Mrs Frank Robinson, by Colin Burgon, Member of Parliament for the Elmet constitutency and by Coun Ann Castle and Coun Alec Shelbrooke, elected members of Leeds City Council, who represent Barwick and Scholes. Members of the Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion will take part in a parade preceding the service. Uniformed representatives from RAF Linton on Ouse will also join the parade, recognising that five Scholes villagers serving in the RAF and one serving in the Fleet Air Arm lost their lives in wartime. The Army Foundation College in Harrogate has also been invited to send a detachment. After the service members of Barwick and Scholes parish council will join the Community Forum in hosting a reception for the principal guests.
Barwick Village Hall: Restrictions imposed by Leeds City Council on the number of lamp standard posters which can be displayed to publicise local events have been blamed for a much smaller attendance than usual at the most recent community coffee morning and table top sale at Barwick Village Hall. To make matters worse, legal restraints have placed in doubt whether the organisers can continue to offer a table top sales opportunity to local groups. “In future we may only be permitted to hold coffee mornings, which don’t raise as much as table top sales,” co-organiser and village hall stalwart Elaine Reason told the Wetherby News this week. The event on August 2 was attended by around 200 people and raised about £300, all of which will go towards the improvement and upkeep of the village hall. Representatives of Macmillan Cancer Support also raised funds during the event. Despite the success of recent fundraising, the hall is still struggling. Declining support for some classes has led to them being discontinued and others, such as a slimming club, have been postponed until September. The next village hall fundraiser will be a coffee morning on Saturday, November 22. Committee members remain hopeful that their application for a Landfill Tax grant will prove successful, enabling repairs to the roof and heating system to be carried out. Major refurbishment of the toilets has already taken place.
Panto time…what, again? Although much of the harvest remains in rain-drenched fields some local folk are already planning events to take place in the autumn. Among them are Scholes Village Players, whose fun-packed pantomime in November is always a popular family attraction. This year the panto will be Dick Turpin and the Players have begun looking for cast members of all ages who might wish to take part or for volunteers to work backstage. A casting meeting is to be held next Wednesday, August 20, at Scholes Village Hall, from 7pm. The panto will be presented from Monday, November 24 to Saturday, November 29.
Search for new Rector: It is likely to be several months, perhaps even next year before a new Rector for Barwick and Scholes is appointed, according to Sylvia Snowdon, Secretary to the Parochial Church Council. With former Rector, Rev Brunel James, now serving as Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, the parish is depending upon its four Lay Readers and on clergy visiting from other parishes to conduct services at All Saints’ Church, Barwick and St.Philip’s Church, Scholes. Whoever is ultimately appointed will be the 55th Rector of the parish since the year 1190, so members of the Parochial Church Council will no doubt bear in mind the historical significance of their important decision. Meanwhile, fundraising for the refurbishment of the interior of All Saints continues. The Wetherby News will report the appointment of the new Rector as soon as possible.
Speeding in Scholes: Members of Scholes Community Forum, working alongside West Yorkshire Police, were shocked by the speed at which some drivers approached a speed monitoring device they were operating in both Leeds Road and Station Road, Scholes, last week. One driver’s speed was recorded as 60mph in a 40mph zone while another was doing 48 mph in a 30mph zone. However, one plus point from the use of the Speed Indication Device was that most of the speeding drivers did not live in the parish, unlike the last time the equipment was deployed. “Some of the speeds were absolutely ridiculous,” said Coun George Hall, Lead Member of the Forum and an elected member of the parish council. He added that the police are sending warning letters to drivers whose speeds were considered to be excessive, reminding them of the danger they cause for pedestrians and other road users by speeding.
Parish Council: Following their August break, members of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council will reconvene on Monday, September 1, for a meeting at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom. The Parish Forum at 7.15pm will give local residents a chance to raise issues causing them concern. This will be followed at 7.30pm by the parish council meeting, chaired by Coun Ben Hogan, of Scholes. This meeting will be open to the public, as indeed all council meetings are. Among topics likely to be discussed will be plans to replace many of Barwick’s old lamp standards with heritage style street lighting.
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Friday, August 08, 2008
Barwick In Elmet
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Mighty Maypole Moves: Strong gusts of wind did cause Barwick’s mighty Maypole to move slightly out of position, the Wetherby News can reveal. A few weeks ago we reported that some villagers were expressing concern that the Maypole, re-erected on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, appeared to be leaning slightly – not as much as the Tower of Pisa but enough to be noticed. It is hard to believe that the pole, having been lowered into a deep socket which was then filled with several tons of earth tamped down by a volunteer using a powerful machine, could still move out of position. However, Nigel Trotter, Chairman of Barwick Maypole Trust, has confirmed that the 96ft pole, which is the biggest in the country taken down and re-erected every three years, did in fact move. He said strong gusts of wind during the two weeks immediately after the raising ceremony caused the pole to lean slightly towards the cottages at The Cross. However, remedial action was swiftly taken by members of the Trust, with help from a local farmer and his tractor. “You will notice that the pole is now straight again,” Nigel told the Wetherby News this week. Although the village’s economy might benefit from having the ‘Leaning Maypole of Barwick’ as a visitor attraction, the Trust would rather have the pole straight, safe and secure…and villagers would no doubt agree with them!
Fundraising Events: Two events organised to raise funds for the refurbishment of All Saints’ Church, Barwick, take place in the near future. Next Tuesday, August 12, a summer coffee morning will be hosted by the residents of 2 and 3 Richmondfield Crescent, between 10am and 12noon. On Monday, August 25, a ‘Buffet lunch on a Summer’s day’ will be held by John and Anne Oliver at their home in Chapel Lane, Barwick, at 12.30pm. Tickets costing £5 are available from the hosts on a first come, first served basis. And they warn prospective guests: ‘Bring your own chair!’
Walkers At Risk?: Walking with my wife from Scholes to Barwick one day this week, between golden, harvest-time fields, should have been a great pleasure. The lovely views certainly didn’t disappoint but the constant rush of vehicles along the narrow road poses a real threat to walkers, especially where the pavement narrows. The slipstream from an Aberford-bound 64 bus almost swept us off our feet as the driver ensured adequate space for vehicles going the other way. Can we hope that, one fine day, Leeds City Council will provide a wider pavement between the two villagers - or even a wider road? No doubt the cost benefit analysis would prove prohibitive so the chances of it happening are, we suspect, very slim indeed. Thankfully, the harvest remains a time to celebrate the richness of our countryside and the skills and hard work of our farming community.
Heritage Weekend: Barwick’s ancient parish church of All Saints, which dates back more than 800 years, has again been selected as being of particular interest to visitors during Leeds Heritage Weekend in September. Organised by English Heritage, in association with Leeds Civic Trust, the annual event enables people to visit many buildings and sites which are not always open to the public. On Saturday, September 13, All Saints will be open from 10am to 12noon and from 2pm to 4pm; a wedding will take place during the lunchtime period. The following day the church will open its doors to visitors from 12noon to 4pm. Light refreshments will be available on both days. Information about other attractions open for viewing during the weekend can be found by visiting the following website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Tribute to Rector: Rev Brunel James, who recently stepped down as Rector of Barwick and Scholes to become Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, was the 54th Rector of the parish since the year 1190. A warm tribute to Brunel and his wife Beki is paid in the current issue of the parish magazine by Martin Tarpey, a member of the parish congregation. Noting that Brunel was well aware of his responsibility to safeguard eight centuries of historical precedence, he comments: ‘His task was to cherish and consolidate the best practice and traditions in the parish, whilst initiating and modernising where needed.’ There was an on-going concern to attract and appeal to younger worshippers in the church but at the same time satisfying the religious and spiritual needs of older people. A highlight of their service to the parish was the way in which Brunel and Beki encouraged and provided for the needs of young children and their parents in both All Saints’ Church, Barwick and the more contemporary St.Philip’s Church, Scholes. They had also introduced a very successful pre-marriage course, engaged with the wider community in schools, musical and public events, led sponsored walks and contributed to heritage, Maypole and sports festivals. Martin added: ‘Balancing the needs of two very different churches in two very different villages in a period of rapid and bewildering social change is a challenging matter and one that Brunel has achieved extremely successfully.’ The parish would miss Brunel’s ‘cheerful, devout and optimistic ministry’ but church members were delighted that his new post will enable him to use his gifts on a bigger stage with an Archbishop, Dr John Sentamu, he admires. Six years in Barwick and Scholes had been memorable for both Brunel and Beki, especially because their three children were all born during their time in the parish. Everyone in the parish wished them God speed for the future.
Annual Show: Barwick in Elmet Horticultural Society will holds its 43rd annual show at the Village Hall on Saturday, September 6, beginning at 2pm. Trophies will be presented at 3pm, followed by a sale of produce. A silver collection will be taken at the door. This event is one of the most popular in Barwick’s social calendar and always attracts scores of visitors keen to see the flowers, vegetables and crafts on show. This year there will also be a display of winning pictures produced by children at the village’s primary school.
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Friday, August 01, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Village Hall Event: A community coffee morning and table top sale at Barwick Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday, will be the latest to raise funds for improving and maintaining the hall. They have proved highly popular since they were started last year. Organisers have also given some of the money raised to a local or regional charity, including the life-saving Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Tomorrow’s event will begin at 10am and run until noon. The charity to benefit from some of the proceeds will be Macmillan Cancer Support and their dedicated team of nurses. Admission will cost £1 and includes refreshments. Local organisations, including the Barwick branch of the Women’s Institute and the Scottish Country Dancing and Indoor Bowls groups which meet at the village hall, will be among those showcasing their work (the WI will have a homemade cake stall). Demand to hire a table at a cost of £5 is always high but to enquire about remaining availability please call 0113 2813167 or email: barwickvillagehall@hotmail.co.uk
Commenting on the latest improvements made to the village hall, local resident Elaine Reason told the Wetherby News that new toilets for ladies and for disabled people had been completed and a new gents’ toilet would soon be finished. The committee remains hopeful of success with their recent Lottery funding application, though it could be next Spring before this might become available. If it does then upgrades to the hall’s heating system, ceiling repairs and the installation of fire doors will be high on the ‘jobs to do’ list. The village hall is a vital meeting place and social venue and deserves to be supported.
Dogs’ Trust Open Day: Hundreds of dog lovers are expected to converge on the Dogs’ Trust centre at Woodlands Farm, York Road, Barwick on Sunday, August 3, for an open day and fun dog show. There will be lots of attractions and entertainment available from 11am onwards. Entry will cost £1 for a family of up to four people and car parking will also be £1. Further details can be obtained by calling 0113 2814937.
Ladies’ Fellowship: A summer coffee morning will be held by members of Barwick Ladies’ Fellowship on Tuesday, August 12, at numbers 2 and 3 Richmondfield Crescent. Proceeds will go to the All Saints’ Church refurbishment fund.
Big Occasion: Scholes Community Forum members were delighted to learn this week that Her Majesty The Queen will be represented at the Service of Thanksgiving on Saturday, September 6, when the village’s Memorial Trees will be re-dedicated. The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Michael Fox DL and his wife Mrs Lynn Fox have confirmed they will attend. The Deputy Lord Lieutenant is one of the Queen’s personal representatives in West Yorkshire. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leeds, Councillor and Mrs Frank Robinson, will also be present, as will local MP Colin Burgon and the Archdeacon of Leeds, Canon Peter Burrows. As reported earlier in the Wetherby News, the thanksgiving service at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, will be conducted by Dr Alan Stanley, a Lay Reader at the church. The 23 Memorial Trees commemorate the sacrifice made by men of the village who lost their lives in two world wars, as well as paying tribute to members of the Armed Forces who have lost their lives in more recent conflicts.
Barwick Bowling Club: A recent open day held at the village bowling club attracted two prospective new members, though the club would welcome many more. Later this month, on August 31 to be precise, the club will host the annual friendly competition played between the bowlers of Barwick and Scholes for the Sleights Trophy. This was given to the clubs by a former parish councillor. Four sets of doubles games and eight singles matches decide which village will hold the trophy for the next year.
Nigel Ogden to Visit: Anyone who listens to the Radio 2 programme ‘The Organist Entertains’ will be familiar with the name of its presenter, Nigel Ogden. Members of Barwick Methodist Church have successfully invited Nigel to visit the village on Friday, September 12 to play at a Celebration Concert, at 7.30pm. Admission, costing £6, will be by ticket only. The concert will be a highlight of the Methodist Church’s Harvest Thanksgiving Weekend.
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Friday, July 25, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Garden Party: A family garden party and barbecue is to be held by the Friends of All Saints’ Church, Barwick, tomorrow, Saturday, between 1pm and 5pm. The event will take place in the rectory garden, where a marquee will provide shelter if it rains. Tickets for the barbecue are now available at £6 for adults and half price for children. These can be bought in advance by calling 0113 2812218 or 0113 2813995. The Friends of the Church are backing a major fundraising campaign to meet the cost of ‘re-ordering’ the interior of the ancient Norman building. Planned improvements include providing longer opening hours, better meeting spaces, a daily cafe and facilities for young worshippers.
Maypole Meeting: Barwick’s Maypole tradition requires that a public meeting is held soon after the Maypole raising ceremony, which an estimated 3,500 people enjoyed on Spring Bank Holiday Monday. The ‘triennial public meeting,’ organised by Barwick-in-Elmet Maypole Trust, took place at the village hall on Monday evening, when this year’s event was reviewed and outline plans for the next Maypole celebration in 2011 were discussed. Surprisingly, the meeting was poorly attended; seven local residents were outnumbered by eight committee members. Perhaps this reflected the overall satisfaction felt by villagers about the way the Maypole festival was organised and run? Had the event proved disappointing the village hall would probably have been well filled by those keen to criticise. Also, although the meeting was publicised, many people may not have been aware it was taking place. “We came to congratulate you on a job well done,” said Mrs Terry Lister, whose husband Denis added: “We wanted to show our appreciation.” Nigel Trotter, chairman of the trust, said he believed the best measure of the event’s success was “the number of people smiling on the day.” During the meeting Nigel presented a framed photograph to Kath and Carl Whitfield, taken after they had finished their mammoth, 80-hour task of repainting the Maypole. The trust’s Chairman and those committee members wishing to continue maintaining the village’s Maypole tradition were unanimously re-elected. After the meeting the trust’s joint secretary, Shelly Vipond, told the Wetherby News that the Maypole festival cost around £6,000, of which £2,300 was for insurance and £1,300 for the mobile crane. However, £5,500 was collected on the day or by ‘showing the garlands’ and, after adding the £2,000 contributed by the ‘Friends of the Pole,’ all costs were covered.
Scholes in Bloom: Members of St Philip’s Church, Scholes, are so impressed by the efforts of Scholes in Bloom volunteers this year that they have displayed a large poster close to Main Street. It simply thanks Scholes in Bloom members for making the village ‘Bloomin’ Beautiful!’ There is no doubt that the green-fingered In Bloom volunteers, who turn out in all weathers every Monday morning, have excelled themselves this year. Flower beds in the village are a blaze of colour, while the hanging baskets – displayed for the first time in three years thanks to the new lamp standards – have attracted much favourable comment from residents and visitors alike. Let’s hope the Yorkshire in Bloom judges, who visited Scholes last week, were equally impressed.
Scholes Diary Date: Saturday, September 6 will be a special day in Scholes, when the village’s 23 Memorial Trees will be re-dedicated to the memory of men from the village who gave their lives in two world wars. Many people consider the trees also commemorate the sacrifice of men and women from Britain’s armed forces who have lost their lives in more recent conflicts, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Plans to re-dedicate the trees were begun by Scholes Community Forum as soon as members heard the welcome news that Leeds City Council had agreed to impose a Preservation Order on the horse chestnut and lime trees which line both sides of Station Road. The forum, with support from the parish council and city councillors, had urged the city council to reconsider its earlier refusal to impose the order. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leeds will be the principal guests at the re-dedication service, which will be conducted by Dr Alan Stanley, a Reader at St Philip’s Church, Scholes. Members of the Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion will join a detachment from the Prince of Wales’ Yorkshire Regiment in a parade preceding the service.
Barwick Diary Date: Community coffee mornings and table top sales organised to raise funds for improving and maintaining Barwick Village Hall have proved highly popular since they were started last year. Organisers have also given some of the money raised to a local or regional charity, including the life-saving Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The next event is to be held on Saturday, August 2, starting at 10am. Admission will cost £1 and include refreshments. Local organisations, including Barwick in Bloom and the Barwick branch of the Women’s Institute, are likely to be among those showcasing their work. Demand to hire a table at a cost of £5 is always high but to enquire about availability please call 0113 2813167 or email: barwickvillagehall@hotmail.co.uk
Support Your Post Office: Although post offices in Barwick and Scholes were, much to the relief of local people, reprieved in the latest round of closures, a further threat to the income of rural post offices remains. The Government is soon to choose a successor to the Post Office Card Acount. If Royal Mail is not successful in its bid to retain the card account business then revenue vital in helping post offices to remain financially viable will be lost. At present more than four million people choose to access their benefits at the post office each week. If the card account business is awarded to one of Royal Mail’s competitors then it is feared that another 3,000 post offices will be forced to close. The National Federation of Sub-postmasters is campaigning to keep the card account business for its members. They are urging members of the public to ask their Member of Parliament – for Barwick and Scholes that is Colin Burgon, MP – to sign an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons and to write to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, calling on him to ensure that the card account remains a Post Office product. Pre-printed cards for sending to your MP are now available at your local post office.
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Friday, July 18, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Christmas Lights Approved: We know it’s far too soon to be talking about Christmas. However, the Wetherby News can reveal that, for the first time, Barwick is to have Christmas lights this year, courtesy of Leeds City Council. Just what form the illuminations will take is not yet known, though it is the city council’s practice to re-use in outlying areas of the district some of the Christmas lights first used to decorate the city centre. Budget approval for a Barwick lighting scheme was approved at a meeting last week attended by Coun Ann Castle, one of three Harewood Ward councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents. Unfortunately, the Christmas lights will not extend to Scholes, at least not this year.
Garden Party: If we are going to have some pleasant summer weather then the organisers of events taking place in Barwick and Scholes this weekend would like it to begin now! Members of Barwick Methodist Social Committee are hosting a garden party tomorrow, Saturday, at the home of Philip and Greta Pierce, 3 The Coppice, starting at 2pm. If it rains then the event will be held in the Methodist Schoolroom. Admission, including a cream tea, will cost £2 for adults, £1 for children or £5 for a family. There will be a cake stall, treasure hunt and tombola, plus games including a children’s favourite, Hook-a-Duck.
Scholes Film Show: The latest movie to be screened as part of St.Philip’s Film Season, Scholes, will be shown on Sunday, starting at 4pm. The film show organisers cannot publicise the name of the film. However, they invite filmgoers to ‘put on your dancing shoes’ for what they call ‘our most requested film yet .’ Intriguing! Could it be Fred and Ginger once again tripping the light fantastic, or dancers of a more contemporary era? Please call Peter or Diane on 0113 2640673 for more information.
Probus Club: The next meeting of this group of professional and businessmen who have fully or partially retired will take place at Barwick Cricket Club on Tuesday, July 22, starting with coffee at 10.15am. Guest speaker John Beevers will talk about ‘the West Country.’ For further information call Harvey Metcalfe on 0113 2812441.
Has the Maypole moved?: Villagers who watched the recent Maypole raising witnessed the care with which Britain’s tallest Maypole was re-erected. Several tons of soil were put back into the hole by strong volunteers and tamped down by the operator of a powerful machine. However, a number of local people are beginning to ask the unthinkable. Has the mighty Maypole moved? It no longer looks absolutely perpendicular and, viewed from behind the Gascoigne Arms, it doesn’t seem to line up with the War Memorial in the way it did initially. Perhaps members of the Maypole committee could take a look at it….just to be on the safe side?
Thanksgiving Service: It is hoped that members of the Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion, though declining in number, will play a prominent part in the service and parade of thanksgiving to be held at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes on Saturday, September 6, at 2.30pm. As reported in the Wetherby News, the service will include the re-dedication of the village’s 23 Memorial Trees, which line both sides of Station Road and commemorate members of the Armed Forces from Scholes who give their lives in two world wars. A detachment from the Prince of Wales’ Yorkshire Regiment will parade during the event, which is to be attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leeds.
Book Your Table Now!: That’s the message from the organisers of a Community Coffee Morning and table top sale to be held at Barwick Village Hall on Saturday, August 2, starting at 10am. So many people and organisations wanted to take a table at previous events that late applicants had to be disappointed. It costs £5 to hire a table and early booking is essential. Anyone interested should call 0113 2813167 or 2812145. Bookings can also be made by email at: barwickvillagehall@hotmail.co.uk
Expensive Digging: It could cost around £10,000 to carry out a full scale archaeological survey of land to the rear of the new housing development at Scholes Lodge Farm, members of the parish council were told at their July meeting. However, this cost would not have to be faced by local taxpayers; it would require a successful bid for Lottery funding. The parish council is currently taking advice to ensure that the historical importance of the site is recognised. The moat and surrounding area is already registered by Leeds City Council as a Class 2 site of archaeological significance. In recent weeks discussions have been taking place with the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service. Ecologists are investigating to see if the flora and fauna in the area is of particular importance and a wildlife study is also to be carried out. Meanwhile, concern is growing among local residents that the grass in the field needs cutting and weeds removed. Scholes Community Forum has asked residents to be patient and allow the specialists to complete their investigations first.
Any News?: News items for the Barwick and Scholes column are always welcome. Please give your village correspondent a call on the number shown within the heading – or send an email. It would be good to hear from you!
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Friday, July 11, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Scholes Scouts’ Barbeque: Scholes Scouts will host their popular annual barbeque tomorrow (Saturday) at the Scout Hut in Rakehill Road, starting at 3pm. As well as freshly cooked food and a licensed bar there will be stalls and games providing family entertainment. All profits will be used to support the village’s Scouts, Cubs and Beavers. New leaders are required to help with the Beavers as there is a waiting list of youngsters wanting to join. Please call Keith Pullen if you wish to volunteer: 0113 2731721.
Barwick Choral Event: ‘Songs for a Summer Evening’ will be presented by Tadchorale at Barwick Village Hall tomorrow (Saturday) commencing at 7.30pm. Proceeds will be shared between Barwick in Bloom and Tadchorale. Tickets costing £5 can be obtained from ‘In Bloom’ volunteers or by calling Alan Stephenson: 07855 595060.
Garden Party: Ever the optimists, a ‘summer’ garden party will be held by members of Scholes Methodist Church tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 28 Rakehill Road, Scholes between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. Teas including strawberries will be available; all are welcome. Admission will be £2.50 per person.
Scholes Thanksgiving: The decision by Leeds City Council to impose a Tree Preservation Order covering the 23 Memorial Trees which line each side of Station Road, Scholes, was welcomed by Barwick and Scholes parish council, meeting at Scholes Village Hall on Monday. Coun George Hall provided details of the Service of Thanksgiving which is being organised by Scholes Community Forum. This will take place on Saturday, September 6, at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, at 2.30pm. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leeds have agreed to attend, as have Colin Burgon MP and councillors who represent the Harewood ward (which includes Scholes) on the city council. Members of the Royal British Legion and a detachment of the Prince of Wales’ Yorkshire Regiment will parade. The highlight of the service, to be conducted by Dr Alan Stanley, will be the re-dedication of the trees to the memory of those from the village who lost their lives during the first and second World Wars. The service will also pay tribute to all men and women of the Armed Forces killed in more recent conflicts, including Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Parish council members agreed to support the event by attending and by hosting, in association with Scholes Community Forum, a reception for the Lord Mayor and other guests.
Barwick Street Lighting: Progress in planning the installation of improved street lighting in Barwick, using heritage style columns, was reported to the parish council by its clerk, Chris Hassell. He said the city council’s contractor, Southern Electric, has now agreed to replace 36 lamp standards. Their suggestion that the work should wait until hanging baskets have been removed from the existing lighting columns was approved, with September being earmarked for new lights to be installed.
Sign of the times?: How much should it cost to move a street sign 10 yards down a street in Scholes? The answer, according to contractors, is £124. Parish councillors were taken aback; “it’s excessive,” said one. However, they agreed to the job being done in the interests of residents in the Belle Vue estate who have complained that new signs recently installed are causing confusion to visitors. On the positive side, the stylish black signs are causing favourable comment. Coun Paul Birdsall declared: “People are calling from Gledhow, Shadwell and elsewhere to ask how we obtained these signs.”
Parking in The Boyle: Following complaints by local farmers that they can’t get their vehicles up or down The Boyle because of cars parked near two tight bends, the parish council agreed to contact residents to ask for their co-operation. Coun Geoff Yapp said that would be a far better solution than applying for approval to put yellow lines on what is believed to be the village’s oldest road.
Bus Shelters: Glass panels in two Scholes bus shelters which have been defaced by ‘taggers,’ the people who apply graffiti to walls and other surfaces, are to be replaced by Metro before the Yorkshire in Bloom judges visit Scholes next week, Coun George Hall told the parish council. Police community support officer Dan Sillars said the problem was so widespread that West Yorkshire Police have set up a special team to target the taggers and prosecute them. He agreed to ask his colleagues in the Neighbourhood Policing Team to help him keep an eye on the shelters once they were repaired. One councillor, tongue in cheek, asked if he would like a camp bed; he declined with thanks!
Lock Up Your Sheds: The police officer’s crime report for the two villages showed an increase in thefts of equipment and tools from garden sheds and farm buildings. He also disclosed that several arrests had been made in connection with thefts from homes in Barwick. Urging local residents to remain vigilant, he said the police had a small quantity of property marking pens and door alarms available. These could be obtained by attending one of the regular police ‘surgeries’ or by contacting the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Wetherby: 0113 2855374.
An Inspector Called: Councillors agreed that a letter be sent to Inspector Marcus Griffiths, who heads the police team based in Wetherby, following critical comments by Coun Desma Thompson about what she described as a “horrendous” response when she called the police 0845 number. PCSO Sillars said the central number provided the benefit of being manned 24 hours a day. However, he recommended people to call the Wetherby number, 0113 2855374, in the first instance.
Christmas Lights: A decision was being taken by the city council this week on whether Barwick should be allocated Christmas lights for the first time this year. The Wetherby News hopes to illuminate readers with the outcome in next week’s issue.
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Friday, July 04, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Memorial Trees: The future protection of the cherished Memorial Trees which line Station Road, Scholes, will be assured by Leeds City Council’s welcome decision to impose a Tree Preservation Order. Members of Scholes Community Forum were delighted to learn that the 23 horse chestnut and lime trees, which were planted in 1924 in memory of men from the village who gave their lives in the First World War, are to be given more protection. During the conflict three Scholes men were awarded the Military Cross and one received the Military Medal for bravery. Many villagers take the view that the Memorial Trees also commemorate the sacrifice of Scholes servicemen who died during the Second World War, as well as those who lost their lives in Bosnia and, more recently, in Afghanistan and Iraq. A Preservation Order was originally approved by the former West Riding County Council in the early seventies. Parish records show that a survey of the trees was completed in October, 1972 but don’t confirm that the Order was ever imposed. The County Council was discontinued in 1974, leaving many residents believing – in turns out wrongly – that the trees were legally protected. In 2006 Barwick and Scholes Parish Council learned that they were not protected so asked the City Council to impose a preservation order. The Council declined, on the grounds that as they own the trees they would ensure they were protected. However, councillor George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum and an elected member of the parish council, pressed the city council to reconsider. councillor Alec Shelbrooke, a Harewood ward representative, supported his campaign and both are delighted by the outcome. The Order will protect the Memorial Trees in perpetuity, as living tributes to all members of the Armed Forces from Scholes who have given their lives for their country or, in years to come, those who may be called upon to do so.
Bloomin’ Lovely: The Open Gardens event hosted by volunteer members of Barwick in Bloom on Sunday was a huge success, with an estimated 1,000 visitors descending on the village. Only one downpour, during the early afternoon, temporarily dampened visitors’ spirits as they toured 14 gardens opened to view, a record for an event marking its eighth successful year. Twelve ladies worked tirelessly in the Village Hall providing refreshments; most of the cakes and scones were home baked and generously donated to help raise funds for future planting and enhancement schemes. John Tinker, who leads the resilient, weather-proof band of Wednesday morning ‘In Bloom’ volunteers, was delighted with the whole event. And the Wetherby News has been asked to point out that, without singling out individuals for praise, the ‘Scottish management’ of the car parking in Jack Heaps Field was exemplary…some described it as a dynamic work of art! John wishes to thank everyone involved in the event, particularly the residents who opened their gardens, the volunteers who organised and ran the day and, of course, the many people who supported it by touring the gardens. Now the attention of the ‘In Bloom’ team has turned to the Yorkshire in Bloom competition; the judges will soon be visiting both Barwick and Scholes. Will Barwick once again achieve a Gold award – or will this year bring Gold to the volunteers Scholes In Bloom? Whatever the outcome, the floral displays and hanging baskets in both villages are a delight.
Slowing Down Again: Many Scholes residents have welcomed the completion of repairs to the vehicle-activated ‘Slow: 30mph’ sign at the entrance to the village from the York road. The sign, which detects when approaching vehicles are exceeding 30mph and urges drivers to slow down, has not been operating for several weeks. However, it is now working again and villagers hope it will deter at least some drivers from exceeding the speed limit through Scholes.
Coffee Morning: A charity coffee morning will be held at Scholes Methodist Church tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to 12 noon. Coffee and biscuits will cost just 50 pence. All proceeds will be given to the Leeds Methodist District Holiday Scheme, which provides holidays for children who would otherwise not have one.
Flower Club: Barwick in Elmet Flower Club will host a demonstration of flower arranging by Rosalind Walker on Wednesday, July 9, starting at 7.30pm in Scholes Village Hall. Admission will cost £4 and all are welcome.
Garden Parties: Members of Methodist churches in both Barwick and Scholes are to host garden parties during July. The first event will be on Saturday, July 12 at 28 Rakehill Road, Scholes, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. Summer strawberries, a bring and buy stall and raffle will be among the attractions. Admission will cost £2.50 and everyone will be welcome. Just one week later, on Saturday, July 19, Barwick Methodist Social Committee will host a garden party at 3, The Coppice, Barwick, from 2pm to 4pm. The adult admission charge of £2, with a reduced charge of £1 for children or a family ticket for £5, will include a cream tea.
Christian Aid: Generous Barwick villagers donated almost £2,000 during this year’s Christian Aid collection. Tax reclaimed through Gift Aid took the grand total to £2,188. Organiser Sue Cole wishes to thank everyone for their contributions.
Film Season: Showing full-length feature films suitable for all the family has clearly proved popular at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes. Anyone going to the 7.30pm screening on Thursday, July 10, is promised ‘a gripping adventure.’ And the film to be shown at a matinee performance starting at 4pm on Sunday, July 20, is described by the organisers as ‘our most requested film yet.’ For further details please call Peter or Diane: 0113 2640673.
Marathon Success: Barwick tennis coach Jonathan Miller swopped tennis trainers for running shoes last Sunday when he completed the Humber Bridge Half Marathon, his first event at that distance, in less than two hours. Generous sponsors enabled him to raise almost £300 to support the vital work of Macmillan Nurses. Jonathan took part in the event with his brother-in-law, Gareth Murray, who lives in Monk Fryston. Congratulations to both of them!
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Friday, June 27, 2008
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Vandalism Condemned: Anger and frustration at unsightly graffiti which has defaced bus shelters in Scholes has been voiced by Coun George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum and an elected member of Barwick and Scholes parish council. The shelters, bought in part through contributions from local residents’ Council tax payments, are located in Station Road. Coun Hall told the Wetherby News: “It is sad that our environment is impaired and the efforts of some of us, not least our Scholes in Bloom volunteers, are undermined by this mindless vandalism. I feel both anger and frustration.” He added that the damage could not simply be the result of the perpetrators being bored and asked: “What kind of respect do those doing this damage have for others or, indeed, their surroundings? West Yorkshire Police have been invited to address this issue and, hopefully, those responsible will be traced and Court action will follow.” Scholes residents have become increasingly concerned at rising crime figures in their village. At the annual general meeting of the community forum a West Yorkshire Police Community Support Officer reported that burglaries from homes in Scholes had risen substantially in just a year. Thefts from homes in Barwick have also increased but, according to parish councillors, not all incidents are reported to the police. The numbers to call to report any theft, burglary or suspicious activity are: 0113 2855374 or 0845 6060606. Free security checks are available from the police; please call the first number to arrange a home visit.
Barwick Summer Fair: Barwick in Elmet primary school’s summer fair will be held tomorrow, Saturday in the school grounds, from 12noon to 3pm. Entrance will cost £1, though children will be admitted free of charge. A laptop computer will be the first prize in a raffle. Stalls will include cakes and plants, while games will include Beat the Goalie, Hoopla and other favourites. There will also be a children’s fun run. Just a few weeks ago the school’s pupils and staff did the village proud by upholding Barwick’s reputation as the home of Britain’s finest Maypole dancing, around what is certainly the country’s finest Maypole. So tomorrow’s event gives local people a chance to return the favour by supporting the school’s summer fair.
Open Gardens: A typing gremlin attacked this column last week! Barwick in Bloom’s popular annual Open Gardens event will be held on Sunday from 1pm to 5pm (not 3pm as inadvertently reported). Keen supporters will know that it generally takes far more than two hours to admire all the gardens whose green-fingered owners generously open their gates to the public, raising funds for Barwick in Bloom’s ongoing work. Further time is also required to visit the Village Hall for refreshments, including cakes which challenge the resolve of any weight watcher. There will also be a plant stall for those spurred on by their gardens tour. Programmes costing £2 allow admission to all the open gardens. These can be bought at the village hall, at each participating garden, or in advance by calling Geoff Yapp on 0113 2812561 or John Tinker on 0113 2812554.
Coffee Morning: Members of Scholes Methodist Church will host a charity coffee morning on Saturday, July 5, from 10am to noon. Coffee and biscuits will cost 50 pence and all proceeds will be donated to the Leeds Methodist Holiday Scheme.
Flower Club: Barwick in Elmet Flower Club will present ‘Magic Moments,’ a demonstration of flower arranging by Rosalind Walker, at Scholes Village Hall on Wednesday, July 9, at 7.30pm. Admission will cost £4 and all are welcome. For further information please call the club secretary: 0113 2645491.
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Friday, June 20, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
John Rylie Centre: Contractors this week began the complex task of rebuilding Barwick’s popular John Rylie Centre, in Carrfield Road. The centre had to be closed several weeks ago when structural faults were discovered during work to improve access for disabled people. Older people who regularly met at the centre for weekly Bingo sessions have temporarily moved to the Miners’ Institute, while monthly coffee mornings are being held in people’s homes.
Picnic Praise: Members of Scholes Churches Together are meeting for ‘Picnic Praise’ on Sunday, June 22, outside St Philip’s Church. The event will begin at 4pm with a barbecue, followed by a short, open air service at 5pm. All are welcome to attend, whether churchgoers or not.
Open Gardens: Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Barwick in Bloom will hold its popular Open Gardens event on Sunday, June 29. A programme costing £2 is all people will need to gain access to several, normally private gardens whose owners have kindly agreed to open them to the public between 1pm and 3pm. In addition to touring the gardens, visitors can enjoy refreshments, including home made cakes and scones, at the village hall, where they will also find a plant stall. Programmes can be bought on the day on in advance by calling Geoff Yapp on 0113 2812561 or John Tinker on 0113 2812554.
Baskets Return: Hanging baskets are back in Scholes again, looking good on the village’s new heritage style street lighting columns. Scholes in Bloom have not been able to complement their flower beds with hanging baskets for the past three years, as Leeds City Council believed the old street light brackets were not strong enough to hold them and could present a risk to public safety. With the Yorkshire in Bloom summer judging coming up, Scholes ‘In Bloom’ volunteers will no doubt be looking forward to some friendly competition with their Barwick counterparts to see if one of the villages can win a coveted Gold award this year.
Home Security: West Yorkshire Police have again appealed to Barwick and Scholes residents to protect their homes, cars and valuables against opportunist thieves during the summer. Leaving windows open or doors unlocked, even while the home is occupied, is like sending burglars a gilt-edged invitation to pop in and just help themselves. And with modern cars increasingly difficult to break into, thieves go looking for the ignition keys and, once they find them, they can have your car out of the drive in seconds, never to be seen again. And if you leave your ‘sat nav’ in the glove compartment or boot you are advised by the police to think again. Thieves have discovered a way of knowing they are there and will break into the car to reach them. Satellite navigation systems are a great help in finding where you want to go – but they are useless at finding themselves!
Summer Songs: Tadchorale will sing Songs for a Summer Evening at Barwick Village Hall on Saturday, July 12, at 7.30pm. All proceeds will be shared between Barwick in Bloom and Tadchorale. Tickets costing £5 are available from Alan Stephenson, tel: 07855 595060 or from members of Barwick in Bloom.
Walking Challenge: Also on Saturday, July 12, the former Rector of Barwick and Scholes, Rev Brunel James, will lead a group of people on a two peak sponsored walking challenge in the Dales. The walk will cover 14 miles and take around eight hours, starting at 10.30am from the Ribblehead Inn close to the famous viaduct. Shared transport up to Ribblesdale will be available, leaving the Rectory in Barwick at around 8.30am. “It will be good fun and a good challenge in some of the Yorkshire’s best scenery,” says Brunel. All donations from sponsors will be shared between the All Saints’ church refurbishment fund and the Cystic Fibrosis research charity. A longer walk of about 25 miles, covering three peaks, is also to be tackled by a group of experienced walkers and there will be a one peak walk of just over eight miles, too. For further information or sponsorship forms please contact Brunel, tel: 0113 2812218 or email him at: brunel@fish.co.uk
Tennis Tournament: The first tournament of the season at Barwick Tennis Club was supported by the landlord of the village’s New Inn, Mr Gary Shepherd and his wife Annette. Winners of the mixed doubles event were Sue Wilkinson and Jonathan Miller.
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Friday, June 13, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625:
Scholes Gala: Organisers of this popular annual event, which raises funds for the upkeep of the village hall, breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday when morning rain gave way to a dry afternoon. The theme of ‘Myths and Legends’ gave those taking part in the procession through the village plenty of creative opportunity. Guest of honour for the occasion was Scholes resident Alan Senior MBE, who recalled the origins of the village hall and reminded his large audience of its importance to the community and the many groups who use its facilities. The Gala Queen, Courtney Fisher, addressed the crowd with great confidence. She was accompanied by two attendants, Jade Adams and Olivia Sanders and by two Beefeaters, Jack Crosfill and George Dixon. Pupils at Scholes Elmet Primary School gave an excellent display of country dancing; they were a credit to the school and their teachers. Musicians from Gawthorpe Brass Band played a medley of popular tunes, while young people of ‘La Classique’ majorette group also entertained the crowd. The gala brought together an estimated 2,000 people, most of them local residents and their families and friends, to enjoy the occasion. It is an opportunity for volunteers from organisations which depend upon the village hall to supports its committee’s work in sustaining and improving its facilities. And one for visitors to share the strong sense of community, woven like a thread of gold through Scholes Gala.
Barwick lighting: Following last year’s ‘Saga of Scholes Street Lighting’ it is now the turn of Barwick residents to wait and wonder when the contractor engaged by Leeds City Council to upgrade street lighting across the metropolitan district will get round to the Maypole village. The parish council has told the Southern Electric Company it would be pleased to have 28 ‘heritage style’ lamp standards at its earliest opportunity, as these would improve visibility, security and road safety in the village.
Scholes housing plans: A consortium of housing developers including Persimmon Homes and Taylor-Wimpey has begun aerial surveys of land between Austhorpe Road and Scholes earmarked for future development. Members of Scholes Community Forum have been told that, during the next few weeks, ecological and wildlife studies are to be carried out in the Scholes area. Any development proposed will be part of the revised Unitary Development Plan for Leeds adopted by the City Council in 2006 and approved by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate. Construction of a link road to Thorpe Park has also been proposed.
New Councillor: Barwick resident John Hayton has been appointed a member of the parish council and was welcomed to his first meeting by the Chairman, Coun Ben Hogan. An accountant and business adviser, Mr Hayton recently set up his own business within the village. He is also Chairman of Barwick Tennis Club.
Bloomin’ lovely: Barwick in Bloom, whose green-fingered volunteers do so much to make the village look attractive, will host its popular Open Gardens event on Sunday, June 29, from 1pm to 5pm. Generous local residents will open their gardens to be admired and critically reviewed, all to raise funds for Barwick in Bloom. Programmes costing £2 are available from Geoff Yapp, tel. (0113) 281-2561 or John Tinker, tel. (0113) 281-2554.The group is also looking for more volunteers - but insists that they must look good in a high visibility jacket and Wellies!
The big picture: This summer’s popular season of feature films, shown at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, will continue on Sunday (June 15) at 4pm and the following Thursday, June 19, at 7.30pm. The titles of the films to be shown have not yet been revealed but are likely to be suitable for all the family. Details can be requested by calling (0113) 264-0673.
Tennis tournament: Barwick Tennis Club’s first tournament of the season was played on Sunday, sponsored by the New Inn’s landlord Neil and his wife Annette. Neil was among players taking part in the American tournament, which was won by doubles partners Sue Wilkinson and Jonathan Miller. The club has a strong membership of both adults and juniors and Barwick teams continue to play in the Barkston Ash league.
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Friday, June 06, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Phone Mast Protest: Several Barwick residents protested at Monday’s parish council meeting against the decision of a Government planning inspector to allow phone company O2 to replace an existing phone mast near Long Lane with a more powerful version. The company recently appealed against Leeds City Council’s refusal to give planning permission for the new mast. Their appeal has now been allowed, despite strong opposition led by local resident Martin Fox and supported by the parish council and hundreds of villagers. One resident said many people believe the relatively high number of cancer victims living in Beck Meadow, Parlington Meadow and parts of the Gascoigne estate is linked to emissions from the existing phone mast. They fear that the operation of a more powerful mast can only increase the threat to the health of local residents. Coun Ben Hogan, chairman, urged residents to “keep fighting the battle” by protesting to Members of Parliament, Leeds City Councillors and to the phone company itself. It was agreed that Dr Kevin Porter, who leads the doctors’ practice in Barwick, should be asked for comparative figures showing the numbers of cancer victims in each part of the village. These would show whether there are more people suffering from the disease in the south of the village. Coun Geoff Yapp regretted that, with the phone company’s appeal having been upheld, there was now a real danger that O2 would boost the power of the mast still further, despite the concerns of villagers. He said it was essential that residents made it clear to the company their belief that the cluster of cancer victims is linked to the mast’s operation. In response to a councillor’s comment that experts insist there is no conclusive evidence that phone masts create a health hazard, one resident said: “Forty years ago the Government insisted that smoking did not endanger people’s health.”
Scholes Gala: Organisers of the highly popular Scholes Gala are keeping their fingers crossed that tomorrow’s event will be blessed with dry weather, following heavy rain earlier in the week. The procession of floats, highlighting this year’s theme of ‘Myths and Legends,’ will set off from the village school at 12noon. It will pass through most parts of the village, returning to the school playing field around an hour later. At 1.30pm Scholes resident Alan Senior, MBE, will declare the event open and crown the Gala Queen, Courtney Fisher. The Queen’s entourage will comprise two Attendants, Jade Adams and Olivia Sanders, plus two Beefeaters, Jack Crosfill and George Dixon. Children who attend Scholes Elmet Primary School will give a display of country dancing in the arena. Musicians of the Gawthorpe Brass Band will play and ‘La Classique Majorettes’ will twirl their batons and demonstrate synchronised marching. There will be children’s races, a Punch and Judy Show, various stalls and home made refreshments will be available. All proceeds from the gala go towards the upkeep of Scholes Village Hall and improving its facilities.
John Rylie Centre: Coun Ann Castle, who represents the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, brought encouraging news to Monday’s parish council meeting about Barwick’s John Rylie Centre. This had to be closed down a few weeks ago after contractors improving access for disabled people discovered structural faults in the building. The closure has deprived many elderly residents of their regular Bingo and social meetings. However, Coun Castle disclosed that Aire Valley Homes, who own the centre, had told her that repairs would begin in the near future and could take as little as five weeks. Coun John Tinker welcomed this news, saying he had feared the popular centre could be closed for months.
Tributes Paid: Two well-known local men, Harold Lunn and Arthur Nichols, both of whom died recently, were remembered at the latest meeting of Scholes Community Forum. Tributes were paid to Mr Lunn as ‘the friendly butcher’ who worked at the award-winning Wilson’s Butchers in Cross Gates. Mr Nichols, a member of the farming community in the parish, was especially remembered for his achievements as Barwick’s Maypole climber for 24 years. He first climbed the Maypole in 1958, as a young man of 17, and was to climb it a further seven times as the climax to the triennial pole raising ceremony, celebrated once again last month.
Bus Service: The ’69 Circular’ bus operated by Geldard Coaches will operate until the end of June but will then be discontinued, due to passenger figures proving much lower than expected. This is disappointing not only for those local people who have found the service very useful – and the drivers friendly - but also for the company, whose proprietor Terry Geldard had high hopes for the success of the service.
Good result: A Barwick coffee morning recently hosted by David and Margaret Clough raised an impressive £865 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. This excellent result delighted everyone supporting the society’s work.
Barwick Concert: The music of George Gershwin was celebrated by pianist Frank James at a lunchtime concert at All Saints’ parish church, Barwick, last Saturday. Mr James, whose son Brunel was until very recently the Rector of Barwick and Scholes, played a wide selection of Gershwin compositions. All proceeds were donated to the church’s refurbishment fund.
Police surgery: Dan Sillars, a Police Community Support Officer in Barwick and Scholes, will hold a police ‘surgery’ in Scholes on Wednesday, June 11, starting at 10am in the Manor House. Other opportunities for Scholes residents to raise issues of concern with the police will be on July 2 and August 13.
Elmet Horticultural Society Meeting: Perennials will be speaker Carol Carthy’s specialist subject at a meeting of Barwick in Elmet Horticultural Society on Monday, June 9, beginning at 7.45pm in the village hall. New members are always welcome.
Small Talk: ‘The world of small things’ will be the intriguing subject of a talk to be given by Mrs Lilian Barton at a meeting of Barwick Ladies’ Thursday Club on June 12. It will be held at the Methodist Schoolroom at 7.45pm.
Speed Sign: The vehicle activated road sign which warns drivers approaching Scholes from the York road that they are entering a 30mph zone is soon to be repaired by the City Council. This news, provided by Coun Alec Shelbrooke, was welcomed by Scholes Community Forum.
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Friday, May 30, 2008
Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
And All That Jazz: Barwick’s historic parish church of All Saints is usually filled with music performed by its excellent choir and organist Bernard Davisworth. But tomorrow (Saturday) lunchtime its ancient walls will echo to the sound of jazz played by Frank James, whose son Brunel has been Rector of Barwick and Scholes for the past six years. His concert will include many jazz classics and will be followed by a ploughman’s lunch. Tickets costing £6, including lunch, are available by calling the Rectory: 0113 2812218.
Women’s Institute: A representative of the Dogs Trust will be the guest speaker at the June meeting of Barwick Women’s Institute at the village hall on Monday, June 2, starting at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome.
Scholes Film Dates: The current season of feature films which is proving popular at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, continues with two presentations in June. These will be on Sunday, June 15 at 4pm and the following Thursday, June 19, at 7.30pm. During May the church’s growing band of movie-goers enjoyed two full length feature films. You don’t have to be a church-goer to attend. Please call 0113 2640673 for more information.
Picnic Praise: Another unusual event to be held at St Philip’s Church, Scholes, will be an open air ‘picnic praise’ service outside the church on Sunday, June 22, starting with a barbecue at 4pm.
Parish Council: The June meeting of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council will be held next Monday, June 2, at Barwick Methodist Schoolroom. The parish forum, at which residents can raise matters of concern, will begin at 7.15pm, followed by the council meeting. Agenda items are likely to include an update on plans to improve street lighting in Barwick and the concerns of Scholes residents about possible restrictions in their use of the village school playing field.
Open Gardens: Barwick in Bloom’s annual open gardens event will this year be on Sunday, June 29, from 1pm to 5pm. Several residents have agreed to open their gardens to view, raising funds for the ‘In Bloom’ group celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. To buy programme tickets in advance, at a cost of £2, please call Geoff Yapp on 0113 2812561 or John Tinker, tel: 0113 2812554.
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Friday, May 23, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Coffee and Cakes: A coffee morning organised by David and Margaret Clough, to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, will be held at Barwick Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to 12noon. Admission will cost £1 and will include coffee and biscuits. There will be no shortage of delicious cakes to tempt visitors, either to take home or to enjoy during the event. A raffle, tombola and other stalls will also be available.
Maypole Timetable: There has been some confusion recently about the precise time of the Maypole raising in Barwick on Monday, Spring Bank Holiday. However, the final programme makes it clear that the raising of the Maypole will begin at 11am at The Cross, in the centre of the village. A mobile crane will lift the pole, in line with health and safety regulations, before volunteers from the Maypole Trust help the crane operator lower the pole into the correct position. At 1pm the Maypole Queen’s procession will set off from the village primary school, making its way down Main Street to Hall Tower Field. There, at 2.15pm, India Wilson, of Parlington Meadow, Barwick, will be crowned by the Lady Mayoress of Leeds. India will be attended by her Maid of Honour, Holly Hurst. ndia will then address the crowd before inviting children who attend the village’s Church of England primary school to perform traditional dancing around a replica of the Maypole.
At 4pm the four huge garlands, each hand-crafted from over 1,000 pieces of fabric, will be raised up the pole, where they will remain on display for the next three years. And at 4.30pm the raising ceremony will be completed when a young man of the village bravely attempts to climb to the top of the pole to spin the fox-shaped weather vane. As there are no foot or hand rests on the pole above the garlands it is incredibly difficult to climb to the top of the pole, though the determined climber will not be short of vocal support from the crowd below! Stallholders taking part in the popular street market, offering a wide range of crafts and produce, much of it locally produced, will open for business at 11am. The traditional funfair, food stalls and ice cream van will add to the attraction of the village’s renowned triennial Maypole celebration. In 2005, when the event was blessed with glorious weather, more than 5,000 visitors enjoyed the occasion. A full report and pictures will be in next week’s Wetherby News.
Parish Precept: Barwick and Scholes Parish Council has £38,000 to spend during the current financial year, £3,000 less than last year. This represents an 8.7 per cent reduction, largely due to the council not expecting to need to retain a planning consultant to help fight controversial residential development proposals. Council taxpayers contribute to the parish precept through their payments to Leeds City Council.
Speeding Drivers: Concern about irresponsible speeding by some drivers, many of them local residents, in both Barwick and Scholes was expressed at the annual parish meeting. “We are experiencing great difficulty with speeding traffic in Scholes,” Coun George Hall commented. He said this was partly the result of the ‘slow down’ sign on the approach to the village from York Road not working for the past few weeks. He urged West Yorkshire Police to step up their use of radar speed guns in the village until the sign has been repaired. Inspector Marcus Griffiths said the police would do their best to meet that request, though he commented: “There is no doubt that speeding in the villages is getting worse. We can enforce but we struggle to educate drivers, many of whom think they can drive just as they like. There are too many drivers who speed.” However, he added that more officers now attached to the Neighbourhood Policing Team had been trained to operate the radar gun “so we have people who can come out to the villages.” Coun Geoff Yapp said many of the speeding drivers lived locally and it would send out a clear message if some of them were caught by the police and penalised.
Village Crime Figures: There were more than twice as many home burglaries in Scholes than in Barwick last year, police community support officer Dan Sillars told the parish meeting. Sixteen burglaries were reported in Barwick and 38 in Scholes. Inspector Griffiths said 60 per cent of the burglaries in the villages could have been prevented if residents had locked their doors and windows. Opportunist thieves struck when they saw an open door or window, even if residents were in the garden or had just popped out for a short time. “People are becoming victims of crime when they don’t need to,” he said. The Inspector thanked the parish council for its support of police officers, adding: “There is no doubt that crime figures for the villages are very, very low.” Coun Geoff Yapp said residents liked to see police officers walking the beat in their village; this made a big difference.
Chairman Re-elected: Coun Ben Hogan, of Scholes, was re-elected Chairman of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council; Coun David Leeming, of Barwick, was elected Vice Chairman. To fill a vacancy for a Scholes councillor it was agreed that village resident Gerard McDonough should be elected as a member of the council.
Allotment Rents: The parish council agreed that rent levels for allotments and sports clubs in Barwick and Scholes should remain the same as last year for the new financial year, which ends on March 31 next year.
School Playing Field: As ‘guardians of the parish,’ members of the parish council should, if only out of courtesy, be involved in discussions about the future of the playing field adjacent to Scholes Primary School. Coun George Hall, who is also Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, made this comment after the parish council was told that the school’s Headteacher, Mrs Pam Edwards, had declined to attend the council meeting to discuss the issue. Coun Hall said the local education authority, Leeds City Council, owned the playing field and was only listening to the views of the school’s Governors and Head.
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Friday, May 16, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Surprise Visit: With bells on their shoes, flowers and grouse feathers in their hats and smiles on the men’s blackened faces, Morris dancers from Shropshire, near the Welsh border, paid a surprise visit to Barwick on Sunday afternoon. The Ironmen and Severn Gilders, from Ironbridge, had given displays of the Border style of Morris dancing at Fountains Abbey and in Ripon on Saturday. They then entertained hundreds of people at Lotherton Hall on Sunday morning. Their hosts, Harrogate-based Morris team Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers, suggested ending a successful, sunny weekend with refreshments at the Gascoigne Arms, Barwick – where they gave an impromptu display in the pub’s car park along with men of the Ripon City team. One of the Ironmen told the Wetherby News that all men who dance the Morris in Shropshire and neighbouring counties maintain the centuries-old tradition of painting their faces black, though the precise reason remains unclear. With their bright red and black costumes, hats as big as hanging baskets and jangling bells on their clogs, they certainly attracted attention in Barwick in Elmet. A member of the Harrogate team, Anita Hatfield, said the village, with its Maypole tradition soon to be celebrated, was an ideal place to end their weekend of dancing. Marcus Collumb, licensee of the Gascoigne Arms with his wife Tracy, said he was delighted the dancers had chosen a Barwick pub to complete their weekend of displays.
Heritage Rescue: The unexpected closure of Barwick’s John Rylie House community centre for structural repairs has left members of the village’s Historical Society with a storage problem. The society’s archive, containing historic documents, maps, books and photographs, has been stored in a temperature controlled room at the centre for the past four years. Under strict safety precautions, members of the society were allowed to remove the archive but, with no suitable alternative immediately available, its contents are currently being stored in several members’ homes. The society’s archivist, Cathryn Howard, told the Wetherby News: “We urgently need temporary storage for the archive while the centre is being repaired, so if any readers have a spare room or suitable storage space available, preferably free of charge, we would be pleased to hear from them.” Please call 0113 2812171 if you think you can help.
Councillor’s Offer: Closure of the John Rylie Centre has also left councillor Ann Castle, who was re-elected as a Harewood ward member of Leeds City Council on May 1, with nowhere to hold her monthly Barwick ‘surgery.’ So after consulting local people she has offered to visit parishioners in their home while the centre is being repaired. To arrange a meeting with councillor Castle residents should call her on 0113 2896922 or 0113 3951948. However, her Scholes surgery will continue to be held on the first Saturday of each month, at the Manor House, from 10am to 11am.
Scholes Meeting: The annual parish meeting and the May meeting of Barwick and Scholes parish council were held at Scholes Village Hall on Monday evening. Among issues of concern discussed were the response of the Head Teacher of Scholes Primary School to the parish council’s recent enquiry about the future use of the school playing field and progress reports on other Scholes issues. These included plans to install traffic calming measures close to Scholes Lodge Farm, a report on the parish council’s request for dog bins to be provided and maintained in the village and Yorkshire Water’s response to sewage overflow problems in Main Street. Barwick topics considered included an update on plans to enhance street lighting in the village and on proposed traffic calming measures in Long Lane. A report of the annual parish meeting and the parish council meeting will be published in next week’s Wetherby News.
Don’t be late!: Hardy annuals will have had Barwick Horticultural Society’s yearly plant sale circled on their calendars for months. They will no doubt be waiting outside Barwick Village Hall for the doors to open at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday, May 17, ready to snap up the best bargains! Some of the hundreds of plants on sale will have been grown by society members while others will be sold by local nurseries – all at good value prices. A spokesman for the society told the Wetherby News: “We recommend arriving early to take advantage of the widest choice of plans offered for sale. Some people turn up late in the afternoon and wonder why there is so little left.” Half of the event proceeds are donated by the society to village hall funds, which are in urgent need of ‘propagation.’ So the event’s organisers hope green-fingered gardeners visiting the popular plant sale will dig deep into their wallets or purses to support two excellent local organisations.
Whitby ‘Getaway’: Members of the John Rylie Centre in Barwick were taking a coach trip to Whitby yesterday, Thursday, giving them a chance to put their concerns about the centre’s future to one side for a while. Although initial fears, that the centre would have to be demolished, proved wide of the mark it seems inevitable that it will be closed for rebuilding for some considerable time. Serious structural defects were identified during work to provide improved facilities for disabled people, causing surveyors to declare the centre unsafe for public use. High security fences which now surround the popular rendezvous are a depressing sight for residents of sheltered housing in Carrfield Road and for other local people who use the centre. Although other meeting places are available in the village they are too far away for infirm elderly people to reach on foot. So unless someone can come up with a short term venue, the social contact and friendships encouraged by the centre will have to be suspended. Let’s hope a day out in Whitby, perhaps enhanced by the port’s famous fish and chips, cheered up the centre’s users.
Coffee and Cakes: A coffee morning organised by David and Margaret Clough to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society will be held at Barwick Village Hall on Saturday, May 24, from 10am to 12 noon. Admission will cost £1 and will include coffee and biscuits – but not cake! However, there will be no shortage of delicious cakes to tempt visitors, either to take home or to enjoy during the event. A raffle, tombola and other stalls will also be available.
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Friday, May 09, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Village News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
email ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
John Rylie Centre: Their initial aim was to improve access to Barwick’s popular John Rylie Centre for the benefit of people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users. But within hours of starting work, contractors discovered worrying evidence of structural faults, which could have put the safety of centre users at risk. So instead of installing a ramp at the rear and widening doorways, the contractors surrounded the centre with high fences and posted signs defining the building as a dangerous structure. Rumour quickly spread around the village that the centre, which provides regular activities and friendship valued by residents of the sheltered housing in Carrfield Road as well as other older people living in Barwick, was so badly damaged that it would have to be demolished. However, Aire Valley Homes, who manage the centre on behalf of Leeds City Council, were quick to reassure users that the building was not dangerous and will be repaired. This could take some time but is likely to be achieved far more quickly than having to build a new centre. The welcome decision to repair the building also means that work already completed, including fitting double glazed windows, was not done in vain. It is hoped that an alternative meeting place for centre users can be found for a temporary period, in a bid to ensure that Bingo sessions and other centre activities can be continued.
Parish bids farewell to Rector: A United Parish Holy Communion service at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, at 10am on Sunday, May 9, will the last parish service to be conducted by the Rector of Barwick and Scholes, Rev Brunel James, before leaving the parish. As previously reported, he has been appointed Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. Instead of working in the study of Barwick Rectory, Brunel will be based at Bishopthorpe Palace, York and will live near to the palace with his wife Beki and their three children. Sunday’s Pentecost service will be followed by a Parish Pentecost Brunch, to be hosted by Barwick and Scholes Pathfinders in St.Philip’s Church Hall. The menu will include full English breakfasts and jacket potatoes. All profits will be donated to the Sudan Darfur Appeal.
Annual Parish Meeting: Barwick and Scholes residents will have a chance to voice issues of concern at the Annual Parish Meeting to be held next Monday, May 12, at Scholes Village Hall, beginning at 7.30pm. This meeting will be followed by the annual general meeting of the parish council, which members of the public are entitled to attend. Topics on the agenda will include an update on plans to improve street lighting in Barwick with more ‘heritage style’ lighting columns, traffic calming measures in Long Lane, Barwick, a response from the Headteacher of Scholes Primary School to the parish council’s concerns about the future use of the school playing field and a reply from Yorkshire Water about persistent problems caused by sewage leaking from old drains beneath Main Street, Scholes.
Barwick Maypole Celebration: With less than three weeks to go before Barwick residents uphold the village’s centuries-old Maypole tradition, members of Barwick Maypole Trust will soon be ‘showing the garlands.’ This is the custom of visiting every home in the village to show residents the four new garlands, each painstakingly made by sewing together more than 1,000 pieces of fabric. Once the 96ft.high Maypole has been put back in position on May 26, Spring Bank Holiday Monday, the garlands will be hung near the top of the pole, to remain there for the next three years. Barwick’s Maypole is the highest in the country to be lowered and raised at regular intervals. On the big day the Maypole will be raised from 10am, followed by the Maypole Queen’s parade through the village and traditional dancing in Hall Tower Field by children who attend the village primary school. A highlight of the event will be the crowning of the Maypole Queen, India Wilson, who will be attended by her Maid of Honour, Holly Hurst. Following the success of the craft and produce stalls introduced in 2005, a street market will again be trading this year, along with the ever-popular funfair.
Showing at a church near you: Family films screened during April at St,Philip’s Church, Scholes, proved so popular that the season of films is to be continued on a monthly basis, at least for the time being. The two films shown last month were ‘Chocolat’ and ‘Tigger, the Movie.’ Next film dates are Saturday, May 17 at 2pm and Thursday, May 22 at 7.30pm, with both presentations at St.Philip’s. Call (0113) 264-0673 for details.
Fundraising Success: A coffee morning recently organised by the Methodist Social Committee within the parish raised £223 for the Stroke Association at Seacroft Hospital.
Flower Club: ‘Nature’s Bounty’ will be the theme of a flower arranging demonstration to be given by Marguerita Braithwaite at a meeting of Barwick Flower Club on Wednesday, May 14. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting, starting at Scholes Village Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets will cost £4. Further information can be obtained by calling the club secretary, tel: (0113) 264-5491.
Wine Tasting: Barwick Women’s Institute will host a wine tasting evening at the Village Hall on Saturday, May 17, at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5 will include wine and supper. Call (0113) 281-2529 for tickets or information.
Tennis Club Open Day: Members of Barwick Tennis Club will host an open day at their courts near Jack Heap’s Field on Sunday, May 18. Players of all ages and levels of tennis ability will be welcome to try out the club’s newly-resurfaced courts and other facilities. Coaching for players of all ages is also available at the club at prices well below those charged at larger clubs and tennis centres in the Leeds area. For more information call (0113) 393-5123.
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Friday, May 02, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Important Meetings: The annual parish meeting for Barwick and Scholes residents will be held on Monday, May 12, at Scholes Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. This meeting, which gives parishioners the opportunity to raise local issues of concern, will be followed by the annual parish council meeting at 8pm. Topics on the parish council’s agenda include: an update on proposals for enhanced street lighting in Barwick; traffic calming measures in Long Lane, Barwick; a response from the Headteacher of Scholes Primary School to enquiries about the future use of the school playing field and a report from Yorkshire Water about sewage problems in Main Street, Scholes.
Both meetings are open to members of the public.
Bus Service to Cease: The proprietor of Leeds-based Geldard Coaches, Terry Geldard, has expressed great regret at his decision to stop operating the ’69 Circular’ bus service he introduced just a few weeks ago. The service currently links Aberford, Barwick and Scholes with Seacroft Green bus station and shopping centre, Cross Gates, Colton and Garforth. In a letter to Coun George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, Mr Geldard said the number of passengers using the service was simply not enough to justify it continuing, despite low introductory fares and the acceptance of Metro cards. It is not yet known just when the service will stop operating. Many local residents have expressed their disappointment that the company did not feel able to continue the service for longer, giving more time for people to become aware of it.
Centre Improvements: The popular John Rylie Centre in Barwick has been closed temporarily to allow contractors to make major improvements. Double glazed windows have already been installed, new fire doors are being fitted and doorways widened to improve access for wheelchairs. A ramp to improve wheelchair access is being built at the rear of the centre. A further closure for three weeks will be required in the near future for the installation of new kitchen unit and worktops, new wiring in the kitchen and re-tiling. At a later date the centre will be completely redecorated and new carpets fitted. All costs are being met by Aire Valley Homes, in association with Leeds City Council. Mrs Julie Naylor, who has been the Warden of the John Rylie sheltered housing scheme and centre for the past 26 years, told the Wetherby News that the improvement scheme was the biggest ever carried out there. Although centre users were disappointed that the centre would be closed for several weeks they were looking forward to enjoying its modern new facilities.
Scholes Coffee Morning: Members of Scholes Methodist Church will host a coffee morning tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, at the Methodist Schoolroom, from 10am. All proceeds will be donated to NCH, the country’s biggest children’s charity which helps more than 15,000 children and their families.
Balloon Race: Helium balloons which members of Barwick Women’s Institute have recently been selling at £1 each will be released from the Village Hall at 7.15pm on Monday, May 5. All balloons will carry numbers and the balloon travelling the greatest distance will win a £25 gift token for its purchaser. A contribution from the proceeds of the balloon race will be donated to the Candlelighters charity. On Saturday, May 17, the Women’s Institute will host a wine tasting evening at the village hall, at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5, including wine and supper, are available from members or by calling 0113 2812529.
Pentecost Brunch: Barwick and Scholes Pathfinders will host a Parish Pentecost Brunch at St.Philip’s Church Hall, Scholes, following the united parish service on Pentecost Sunday, May 11, beginning at 10am. This will be the last service, other than weddings, to be conducted in the parish by the Rector, Rev Brunel James, before he takes up his new appointment as Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. All profits from the brunch will be donated to the Sudan Darfur Appeal.
Maypole garlands: The sewing of thousands of pieces of fabric which create the four garlands displayed on Barwick’s Maypole is almost complete, at least for another three years. Volunteer garland makers have been hard at work for weeks. In line with tradition the garlands will be ‘shown to the village’ by members of the Barwick Maypole Trust carrying them from house to house, at the same time seeking voluntary donations to the Trust funds. This collection is vital in helping to meet the substantial costs incurred in upholding Barwick’s Maypole tradition.
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Friday, April 25, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Rector to Leave Parish: Rev Brunel James, Rector of Barwick and Scholes, is to leave the parish to become the Domestic Chaplain to the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu. He told the Wetherby News: “We have spent six happy and productive years in the parish so leaving will be a bitter sweet experience for me, my wife Beki and our three children, who were all born while we have been living in Barwick.” Brunel’s final Sunday service as Rector will be on May 11, when he will celebrate Pentecost with a united parish Holy Communion service at St Philip’s Church, Scholes. However, he will conduct a number of Baptisms and weddings before leaving the parish in the summer. He will take up his new appointment in mid-June, based at Bishopthorpe Palace and his family will need to live close to the palace. He was appointed to his new post following two interviews; three other candidates were also considered. Commenting on his new appointment he added: “It is a privilege to be invited to work for the Archbishop of York, someone I have always admired. He has brought a breath of fresh air to the Church of England.”
Maypole Queen Chosen: Barwick’s Maypole Queen for 2008 will be India Wilson. She was elected by young people of the village, aged between eight and 14, who cast their votes at Barwick C of E Primary School last week. Holly Hurst was elected Maid of Honour. India will have an important role on the day Barwick’s famous Maypole is raised on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 26. She will walk in procession with Holly and two pages, yet to be selected. On arrival at Hall Tower Field the Maypole Queen will be crowned, probably by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, and by tradition must then make a speech – a daunting task in front of hundreds of people. Children from the primary school will then dance around a replica of the village Maypole. The election of Maypole Queen was organised on behalf of the Mayole Trust by the primary school and overseen by the Head Teacher, Peter Doherty.
Fancy a Good Laugh?: If you are reading this column on Friday there is still time for you to support the longest-established amateur theatre company in Leeds. Scholes Village Players, who have been entertaining local audiences for more than 75 years, are presenting a very funny comedy called ‘Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime’ at Scholes Village Hall, commencing at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5 will be available at the door, provided the Players have not had to use the ‘House Full’ sign they often need during their popular November pantomime. Directed by Barwick resident Anne Kay, the comedy has been described as ‘a cross between Blackadder and The Naked Gun.’ Anne commented: “We know that what people enjoy most of all is a good comedy so that is exactly what we are offering.”
Military Wedding: Four Lieutenant Colonels and two Majors formed a military guard of honour for Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Hassell, daughter of Barwick residents Chris and Claire Hassell, and her bridegroom Michael Cox as they left All Saints’ Church, Barwick, after their wedding last Friday. Although guests were welcomed by the Rector of Barwick and Scholes, Rev Brunel James, the marriage ceremony was conducted by the Rev.Tim Cole, Senior Chaplain at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Two officers who formed the Guard of Honour have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, while the two Majors will be going to Iraq in the near future. The bride, who has also served in Basra, Iraq with the Adjutant General’s Corps, took part in the Remembrance Day services in both Barwick and Scholes last November.
The bridegroom is a civilian physiotherapist attached to the Army. The bride’s mother is a member of Barwick and Scholes parish council and her father is clerk to the parish council.
Bridge Closure: Work to strengthen Laverack Bridge, on the Barwick to Garforth road, is due to be completed early next week, allowing the busy bridge to be reopened. Its closure for the past couple of weeks has meant a long detour via Aberford which has proved especially inconvenient for people who need to use the road every day. However, many Barwick residents have commented on how quiet it has been on Leeds Road while the bridge has been closed. Hundreds of drivers travel to Leeds via Garforth and Barwick to avoid congestion at Colton but in doing so create rush hour traffic peaks in the village, making if difficult for people to cross the road safely. Why the Highways Agency did not widen the bridge at the time the motorway link was being built is not known but the cost was possibly prohibitive.
Five Year Plan: The agenda for tomorrow, Saturday’s meeting at St Philip’s Church, Scholes to review progress with the five year plan for the parish now has a surprising new item: the need for a new Rector. The meeting was organised by the Parochial Church Council several weeks ago, long before news of Rev Brunel James’ new appointment. Writing in the parish magazine, the Rector says that a parish as diverse as Barwick and Scholes has “a constant struggle to hold on to a common vision. ”However, it was crucial for the Church Council and regular worshippers to share a broad and inclusive vision and a strong strategy to make the vision a reality.
Poppy Proceeds: Through the generous support of local people the Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion raised an impressive £14,500 with the latest Poppy Appeal. Thanking everyone for their support, branch secretary Edna Barrett has appealed for two or three ex-service men or women to spend about three hours a month helping to keep the branch going. Set up more than 75 years ago, the branch faces closure within the next few months if volunteers cannot be found to support its ageing committee members. This could bring to an end the tradition of having a local Poppy Appeal in Barwick and Scholes. Anyone willing to help is asked to call Victor Brothers, branch vice-chairman, tel: 0113 2812037.
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625: ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
‘Disbelief and Horror’: Many Scholes residents expressed serious concern, at the annual general meeting of Scholes Community Forum last week, that public access to the village school playing field could in future be restricted. According to the Forum’s Lead Member, Coun George Hall, some villagers “greeted with disbelief and horror” the news that the future of Scholes Gala, the year’s biggest fund raiser for the Village Hall, was being placed in doubt. The school’s Headteacher, Mrs Pam Edwards, has asked parents for their views on the future of the playing field, which is owned by Leeds City Council, the local education authority. According to parish councillors she has also told the voluntary committee which runs Scholes Village Hall that, after this year, they must pay a substantial fee to use the playing field for Scholes Gala. Some residents attending the Forum meeting said the decision of the school’s governors not allow the extension of the children’s playground, located within the school field, coupled with the current lack of consultation about the future of the playing field, would lead to “a distinct lack of goodwill towards the school management.”
Friends of the Pole: More than 200 generous people have so far become Friends of the Pole by agreeing to pay an annual subscription of at least £5 for the next five years. Some have sent the Maypole Trust cheques for up to £25. The Friends’ support has already raised almost £2,000 and is vital if Barwick’s Maypole tradition is to be sustained for future generations. “Most of the Friends are local residents but some subscriptions have come in from as far afield as Canada and Norway,” says Mark Vipond, co-secretary of the charitable Maypole Trust. The tradition of lowering and raising the huge Maypole every three years has been maintained for more than 200 years. Having been lowered at Easter the pole is now being repainted in readiness for the village’s Maypole festival on May 26, Spring Bank Holiday Monday, when it will be raised at 11am. Afterwards the traditional procession through the village will be followed by the crowning of the Maypole Queen and Maypole dancing by children who attend the village primary school. A craft fair and funfair will be added attractions. New Friends of the Pole are welcomed; cheques for at least £5 should be sent to: Barwick-in-Elmet Maypole Trust, 14, The Boyle, Barwick-in-Elmet, Leeds, LS15 4JN.
Maypole Queen: Who will be chosen as Barwick’s Maypole Queen for the 2008 celebration of the Maypole tradition? Following initial postponement of the election of the Maypole Queen, to allow time for more nominations to be received, it was hoped that the Queen and her attendants would be chosen at a school meeting this week. Traditionally the village’s Maypole Queen is crowned by the Lord Mayor of Leeds on Maypole Day.
Community Forum: Around 60 local residents attended Scholes Community Forum’s annual general meeting. Formed just over two years ago, the Forum is now established as a representative body for the village. Among topics discussed were several health-related issues: the need for improved access for disabled people to the doctors’ surgery in Scholes, a request for a female doctor to join the practice and for the surgery to be open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Coun George Hall, Lead Member, said he had been assured these matters would be reconsidered by the practice at its next meeting. A report from the police on rising crime figures over the past year gave rise to anxiety. Home security, the speed of vehicles and car parking are among key issues concerning residents. Coun Alec Shelbrooke, one of three Leeds City councillors who represent Scholes, said he was disappointed that the village’s ‘memorial trees’ were still not protected by preservation orders, despite everyone’s efforts. He had written to the Council’s chief legal officer seeking an explanation. Information was expected from Royal Mail shortly on whether post offices in Scholes and Barwick are to face closure threats. Although there were many rumours, there had been no official announcement of their decision. In his annual report Coun Hall thanked his Forum colleagues for their voluntary work and villagers for their support and enthusiasm. He also thanked those residents who sponsor the Forum’s informative newsletter by paying its printing costs.
Barwick Lighting: Contractors engaged by Leeds City Council to replace street lighting columns across the metropolitan district have submitted a cost quotation to the parish council for installing 28 ‘heritage style’ lighting columns in Barwick. However, councillors agreed that 35 existing columns should be replaced on Aberford Road and Elmwood Lane, as well as Main Street. A revised price is now being sought.
Christmas Lights? Will Barwick and Scholes have Christmas lights to display this year? The Wetherby News has learned that a request has been submitted to Leeds City Council for the villages to be supplied with lights for the festive period. However, the parish council is awaiting a response.
Councillors Thanked: Two retiring members of Barwick and Scholes parish council, Coun Colin Bond, a Barwick representative and Coun Geoff Holmes, of Scholes, were thanked for their voluntary service to the council, at its April meeting. Coun Ben Hogan, Chairman, praised their commitment and public service for, respectively, ten years and five years.
Barwick Crime Concerns: West Yorkshire Police are to be asked by Barwick and Scholes parish council to respond to a councillor’s suggestion that security cameras should be installed on each approach road to the village to deter or identify visiting criminals. The request comes amid growing concerns among local residents that crime figures are rising in Barwick.
Scholes Sewage Problems: Following another leakage of raw sewage into the garden of a house in Main Street, Scholes, Yorkshire Water have offered to supply new gravel for the resident’s driveway. The parish council was told that the cutting and removal of tree roots, which are partly blocking the main sewer pipe in that part of the village, had still not been carried out by Yorkshire Water. Many residents fear that the construction of new housing in the area has resulted in the sewer not being able to cope with higher outflow levels, especially after heavy rain.
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Friday, April 11, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Village News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Scholes Concerns: For many years the playing field adjacent to Scholes Primary School has been regarded by local residents as the ‘village green.’ Somewhere for children to play and for adults to enjoy a walk. It is also the traditional venue of the village’s biggest annual event, Scholes Gala. Recognising its importance to local people, the parish council pays for the grass in the playing field to be cut regularly; that is costing Council Tax payers £750 this financial year. The agreement that villagers can go on to the playing field is not set out in a formal contract but the parish council’s cost contribution shows that they believe an agreement, albeit based upon custom and practice, certainly exists. However, the future use of the playing field by local residents and for the Gala is being questioned by the school’s Headteacher, Mrs Pam Edwards, and the school’s Governors. In a letter sent to the parents of children attending the school – some of whom do not live in the village – the Headteacher has asked for proposals for the future use of the playing field. One idea is that it might even be shared with neighbouring villages. At Monday’s parish council meeting Scholes representatives expressed considerable concern. Coun Paul Birdsall said he was unhappy that only parents and not the village as a whole were being consulted. Coun Clare Hassell considered some of the Headteacher’s ideas to be “fanciful to say the least.” She described the proposal that Scholes could provide facilities for four villages as “a ridiculous suggestion.” Such facilities already existed at John Smeaton Sports and Leisure Centre. Coun Desma Thompson said residents should have been consulted, as they “lived with the school.” Coun George Hall, though “very uncomfortable” at the Headteacher’s proposals, said it was important to bear in mind that the playing field belongs to the school and the local education authority, not to the parish council. “If we want this to be the village green then the parish council has to consider the views of the LEA.” He added that Mrs Edwards had told the Village Hall committee that the playing field could be used for this year’s gala without charge but they would have to pay for its use in future. Coun Birdsall believed it was clear the Headteacher “wants the public off that field.” It was agreed to raise the concerns of the parish council with Mrs Edwards, inviting her to attend the next meeting in person or to respond by letter.
Barwick Resident’s Protest: A small number of individuals from outside the village who congregate near the children’s playground “are making Barwick look like an inner city council estate rather than the rural village it is.” This opinion was expressed by Barwick resident Martin Fox in a strongly-worded letter considered at Monday’s parish council meeting. He urged the council to discuss with Leeds City Council the installation of lighting and security cameras near the playground as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour. Mr Fox also described as “totally irresponsible” those responsible for the seating area at the playground being showered in broken glass. He had seen two mothers picking up the pieces by hand to make the area safe for their children to play. The playground equipment, signage and wall were all covered in graffiti. He also drew attention to high levels of graffiti to be found on post boxes, street signs and lighting columns in many parts of Barwick. The phone box door glass had also been smashed. The problems caused by individuals who congregate in the village in the evenings should, he believed, be “tackled head on and the offenders dealt with appropriately through the powers given to local authorities to deal with such anti-social behaviour.” The police had been very active in sorting out problems at weekends “from the pubs in Barwick” – and that was most welcome – but he said there was no police presence to deal with problems near the playground. Councillors agreed to raise the issues with West Yorkshire Police and ask for more frequent police visits to the area to combat the problems.
Scholes Community Forum: A report of the Forum’s annual general meeting, which took place on Tuesday evening, will be published in next week’s Wetherby News. Issues expected to be discussed included the proposed health centre and apartments development near St Philip’s Church, rising levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the village and the future use of the school playing field by villagers.
Scholes in Bloom: Our report that Yorkshire in Bloom judges visited Scholes for the spring judging last week was a little premature. Their visit was, in fact, on Wednesday and will be reported in our next issue.
Barwick Coffee Morning: Members of Barwick Ladies’ Thursday Club will host a Coffee Morning at the Methodist Schoolroom tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to 12pm. Admission costing £1 will include coffee and biscuits. A cake stall and raffle will also be available to visitors.
All About Herbs: Growing and using herbs will be described by Paul and Chris Turner at a meeting of Barwick Horticultural Society on Monday, April 14, starting in the village hall at 7.45pm.
Table Top Sale: Barwick Women’s Institute will host a Table Top Sale and Afternoon Tea at the village hall on Saturday, April 19, from 2pm to 4pm. Stalls will include home made cakes and a bottle tombola. Admission costing £1 will include tea and biscuits. Anyone wishing to hire a table, at a cost of £5, should call (0113) 2813167.
Bowling Club: Barwick Bowling Club is looking for new members, ideally aged between eight and 98! Coaching and bowls will be provided, along with a warm welcome. Call the secretary for details: (01937) 833634.
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Friday, April 04, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Good News: Post offices in Barwick and Scholes, which many people feared would soon face the threat of closure, are to remain open, the Wetherby News learned this week. Although no official announcement has been made by Royal Mail – and is unlikely to be made for several weeks – it is believed that both post offices, along with the post office in Thorner, will be excluded from the list of West Yorkshire branches threatened with closure. This is excellent news for local residents, especially elderly people, who depend upon the wide range of services provided by our village post offices. Barwick and Scholes Parish Council had already begun a ‘save our post offices’ petition, which several hundred local people have signed. Hopefully this will no longer be required, provided Royal Mail confirms that it will be business as usual at our local post offices.
Maypole Queen Election: The search is on to select Barwick’s Maypole Queen, who will be crowned during the Maypole festival being held in the village on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 26. Whoever is chosen will have an important job to do on behalf of the village. The Maypole Queen travels in procession from the village school to Hall Tower Field where she is crowned, usually by the Lord Mayor of Leeds. She then has to make a short speech thanking everyone for attending the Maypole raising and for working to make the event successful. All girls who will be aged 12, 13 or 14 on May 26 and have lived in Barwick for at least four years are entitled to put themselves forward for election as Maypole Queen. The election will take place at the school next Wednesday evening, April 9 and all pupils aged between eight and 14 will be entitled to vote. Entry forms are available at the school and at the village post office; the closing date for entry is Monday, April 7. Attendants for the Maypole Queen will also be selected.
Scholes Playing Field: Parents of children attending Scholes primary school have been asked by headteacher Mrs Pam Edwards for their views on the best use of the school playing field. However, members of Scholes Community Forum believe wider consultation among local residents should be carried out. The playing field, which adjoins the school, belongs to the Local Education Authority. It is the venue each summer for Scholes Gala, which raises funds for the village hall. However, Mrs Edwards has expressed concern to the parish council about the fact that some local people walk their dogs on the playing field, making it unsuitable for the children to play on.
Royal British Legion: The uncertain future of the Barwick and Scholes branch of the Royal British Legion will be among topics raised for discussion at Scholes Community Forum’s annual general meeting next Tuesday, April 8. Unless the branch attracts more members it could face having to close. This could result in the two villages no longer having a local Poppy appeal, as poppies are sold by Legion members and supporters. Branch members also play a key role in Remembrance Day ceremonies in both villages. Inevitably, membership of the branch has declined with the passing of the years.But the work of the Royal British Legion is as vital today as it ever was, providing practical support to ex-servicemen and women and their families. Judging from the large hole in the branch flag, which hangs in All Saints’ Church, Barwick – a flag used on Remembrance Sunday – it appears that the branch also needs a new flag. Perhaps locally-based companies or individuals would consider contributing to the cost of a replacement flag, which could be carried with pride by a member of the Legion? But a more pressing need is for new members to continue the excellent work of the Legion’s local branch.
Scholes Community Forum: All Scholes residents, regardless of age, are invited to attend the annual general meeting of the Forum next Tuesday evening at the Village Hall, 7.30pm. Says Coun George Hall, the Forum’s Lead Member: “There are several issues currently being discussed in the village which require more consultation. The Forum encourages those who wish to have their say to attend the meeting and express their views. It is an opportunity not to be missed, enabling the voice of the individual to be heard.” Parish councillors, members of Leeds City Council and officers from West Yorkshire Police are expected to be among those present.
Coffee Morning: Barwick resident Sue Cole is hosting a coffee morning at her home, 4 Gascoigne Avenue, tomorrow (Saturday), from 10am to 12noon, to raised funds for the refurbishment of All Saints’ Church, Barwick. Admission will cost just £1, which will include coffee and biscuits. A cake stall will also be available.
Flower Club: A demonstration of flower arranging entitled ‘Welcome to my World of Colour,’ will be given by Heather Hayes at a meeting of Barwick Flower Club next Wednesday, April 9, at Scholes Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Admission will cost £4 and all are welcome to attend.
Table Top sale: Barwick Women’s Institute will host a table top sale and afternoon tea at the village hall on Saturday, April 19, from 2pm to 4pm. Stalls will include home made cakes and a bottle tombola. Admission costing £1 will include tea and biscuits. Anyone wishing to hire a table, at a cost of £5, should call 281-3167.
Barwick Bowling Club: Is looking for new members, ideally aged between eight and 98! Coaching and bowls will be provided, along with a warm welcome. Call the secretary for details: (01937) 833634.
Spring Judging: Much to everyone’s delight the sun was shining during the morning of the Yorkshire in Bloom judging in both Barwick and Scholes last Thursday, March 27. Displays of Spring flowers now enhancing both villages are the result of many hours of work put in by volunteers with the ‘In Bloom’ teams, braving the elements. Hanging baskets are already on display in Barwick and, for the first time in three years, Scholes residents can look forward to summer baskets being displayed on the village’s new heritage-style lamp standards.
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Friday, March 28, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick in Elmet - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Maypole tradition upheld: Barwick residents will no doubt have noticed that a familiar sight at The Cross, in the centre of the village, is now missing. The Maypole, which at around 96ft is the tallest in the country, was taken down on Easter Monday as the first stage in Barwick upholding its Maypole tradition this year. Every three years the pole is lowered, its condition checked and its intricate red, white and blue decorations repainted. The pole will be raised again on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 26. Members of Barwick-in-Elmet Maypole Trust, the volunteer guardians of the Maypole tradition, have already published a timetable for the big day. This will see the Maypole raised at 11am – unlike in previous years, when the raising ceremony came at the end of the festival. The new time will leave the afternoon free for the procession of floats through the village, the crowning of the May Queen and Maypole dancing by local children in Hall Tower Field. Meanwhile, the Trust’s main priority for the next few weeks will be fund raising to meet the huge cost of road closures, cranes and other vital aspects of the festival. Also, skilled garland makers are hard at work sewing together thousands of pieces of fabric to create four new garlands, which will be displayed on the Maypole for the next three years. The Wetherby News will keep readers informed about the progress of the Maypole day plans.
Children’s competition: Barwick children aged up to 11 have been invited to enter a competition to find the best picture to go on the cover of the programme for Maypole Day. Shelly and Mark Vipond, joint secretaries of the Maypole Trust, say the winning picture is likely to feature a Maypole theme, perhaps Maypole dancing, the raising of the pole or the parade through the village. Entries need to be A4 in size and sent by April 30 to the Trust at 14, The Boyle, Barwick, LS15 4JN. The entry fee is £2 per picture, with all proceeds going to Maypole funds. For further information, call 281-1078 or email: barwickmaypolecommittee@hotmail.com
Scholes speed warnings: Members of Scholes Community Forum will once again be at the roadside with SID, Leeds City Council’s Speed Indication Device, during the week beginning Monday, April 7. This is not a speed camera but a device which measures the speed of an approaching vehicle and displays it for the driver to see. Drivers exceeding the 30mph limit will be reminded by the Police and local residents operating the equipment why the limit is important to the safety of local people. A large number of drivers found to be driving too fast the last time SID was used in Scholes were found to be residents of the village. Leeds City Council has been advised that the automated road sign on Scholes Lane which warns drivers to slow down has stopped working and needs repairing by specialist contractors.
St Philip’s proposals: A meeting with the Archdeacon of Leeds to discuss proposed development of land close to St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, is to take place on Wednesday, April 2. Coun George Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, will attend the meeting, accompanied by Forum members. The meeting has been called in response to local residents’ concerns. Outline proposals from the Parochial Church Council, if approved by the Diocese and Leeds City Council, would see a purpose-designed medical centre for the village being built near the church, along with a complex of apartments for elderly residents. The doctors’ practice in Scholes would move into the new health centre, providing improved access and better facilities for patients. However, the plans have been strongly criticised by some villagers, particularly as the development would remove much of the green space around the church. A public meeting to discuss the plans is to be held by the Church Council at Scholes Village Hall in the near future. The date of this is not yet known.
Spring Coffee Morning: The Stroke Association at Seacroft Hospital will benefit from the proceeds of a Spring coffee morning to be hosted by members of Barwick Methodist Church at the church schoolroom tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am until noon.
Village Ramble: All are welcome to join members of Barwick Women’s Institute for a ramble around the village, covering up to three miles, next Friday evening, April 4, starting from the Village Hall at 6.30pm. The April meeting of the WI will be on Monday, April 7, when chef Linda Fuzzard will give a cookery demonstration.
Tempting cakes: Barwick resident Sue Cole will host a coffee morning at her home, 4 Gascoigne Avenue, next Saturday, April 5, from 10am to 12 noon. All proceeds will go to the All Saints’ Church refurbishment fund. Coffee and biscuits will cost £1 and a cake stall will be a feature of the event.
Community Forum: The annual general meeting of Scholes Community Forum will be held at the Village Hall on Tuesday, April 8, at 7.30pm. This will give residents an excellent opportunity to ‘have their say’ on any local issues currently being discussed in Scholes. The meeting will be chaired by Coun George Hall, Lead Member, who told the Wetherby News: “Everyone, irrespective of age, is invited to attend the meeting. It is an opportunity not to be missed.” Among those present will be Leeds City councillors, Barwick and Scholes parish councillors and officers from West Yorkshire Police.
Historical Society: The remarkable history of Barwick-in-Elmet is revered by members of the village’s Historical Society, whose annual general meeting takes place on Wednesday, April 9, at the John Rylie Centre, 7.30pm. All will be welcome to attend. Further information can be obtained from Glenys Day, tel: (0113) 286-7341, e-mail glenysmday@beeb.net. The Society also has an informative website: www.barwickinelmethistoricalsociety.com
‘In Bloom’ judging: Yorkshire in Bloom judges were due to visit both Barwick and Scholes yesterday, Thursday, to carry out their Spring appraisal of the villages’ floral displays. With late frosts, gale force winds, Easter snow and heavy rain, recent weather has created highly challenging conditions for our local In Bloom teams. However, their willingness to work in all weathers has once again produced attractive displays in both Barwick and Scholes which are a credit to the green-fingered volunteers.
Councillor’s surgery: Councillor Ann Castle, one of three Harewood ward councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, holds regular local surgeries to enable people to raise any issues they may have. The Scholes surgery is held on the first Saturday of each month at the Manor House from 10.00am to 11.00am while the Barwick surgery is held at John Rylie House, also from 10.00am to 11.00am, on the second Saturday of the month.
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Friday, February 29, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
In Praise of Mum: Following the outstanding success of a pancake party on Shrove Tuesday, which around 100 people attended, St Philip’s Church, Scholes, will host a Mothering Sunday family tea at 4pm this Sunday. All local families are invited to join the occasion – but remember to take your Mum! This will be the latest in a series of events held at the church recently, including two popular showings of full length films for the family and, last Saturday, a live band played for young people aged between 11 and 16. On Saturday, March 8 there will be a Quiz Night at the church , with a hot supper provided. Another family film will be shown on Wednesday, March 19, at 7.30pm, while the Kairos Ensemble – graduates from the Royal Academy of Music - will give a modern jazz interpretation of the meaning of Easter on Good Friday, March 21, at 7.30pm. Vocalist Pete James also composed the work; he’s the younger brother of Rev Brunel James, Rector of Barwick and Scholes. They come from a musical family, as their father Frank James was well known for many years as the pianist and presenter for the popular Naval Warfare spectacular at Peasholm Park, Scarborough. He also gave a concert in Barwick last summer and Brunel has asked him to pay a return visit in May.
Parish Council Meeting: Residents of Barwick and Scholes are fully entitled to attend meetings of the parish council, though few choose to do so. The March meeting, next Monday, will be held at Scholes Village Hall. The Parish Forum, at 7.15pm, is an opportunity for any resident to draw to the parish council’s attention issues which concern them. The issue is immediately discussed and the person who raised it can express their opinion. However, once the main meeting begins at 7.30pm members of the public can listen to councillors’ discussions but are not permitted to join in. There is no requirement for people to remain for the whole meeting, though they can if they wish. Our parish council is a cornerstone of local democracy and the first line of defence against planning applications which, if successful, would result in controversial developments in the villages. Councillors have also pledged to fight to retain a post office in both Barwick and Scholes.
Air Ambulance Support: Barwick resident Sandra Spearman, who was airlifted by helicopter from the field near Flats Lane after an accident last year, has good cause to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Thanks to villagers and visitors, she managed to raise an impressive £600 for the charity at the community coffee morning and table top sale attended by more than 300 people at Barwick Village Hall on February 16. That included £180 in raffle proceeds, donated to the charity by the event’s organisers, local residents Elaine Reason and Anne Thompson, who are leading a campaign to repair and improve the hall. However, a further £300 was raised for the village hall, which will help pay for current improvements to the toilets and heating system. The roof will have to leak a bit longer, though the current bid for a grant from Landfill Tax, if successful, would probably solve that problem.
Anyone for Tennis?: With spring flowers now brightening our villages, members of Barwick and Scholes tennis clubs will no doubt be itching to get back on court. Some hardy souls at Barwick have played throughout the winter whenever possible, enjoying the benefit of the club’s newly resurfaced courts. Even doing most of the work themselves, the job cost the club £12,000; it would have been double that otherwise. Says committee member Geoff Yapp: “All we now have to do to finish the job is to repaint the courts green, which we can do when the weather improves.” New members are always welcome at both Barwick and Scholes tennis clubs, regardless of playing standard. Coaching for players of all ages and abilities is available from 20-year-old Jonathan Miller, winner of the Barwick men’s singles title for the past three years.
New Bus Service: Less than three weeks to go before the ’69 Circular,’ a new, weekday bus service linking Barwick and Scholes with Aberford, Seacroft Green bus station and shopping centres at Cross Gates, Colton and Garforth, begins to operate. For an introductory period – we don’t yet know how long that will be – Geldards Coaches will charge just £1 per adult for a ticket which can be used on the new service for any number of rides the same day. Passengers will be able to get on and off as often as they wish - and that includes Metro card holders travelling free of charge. The ’69 Circular’ will use the same bus stops as existing bus services, offering villagers what promises to be a useful new public transport link.
Historical Society: ‘From London Bridge to Rakehill Road’ will be the intriguing title of a talk to be given by former parish councillor Christine Hudson at the next meeting of Barwick Historical Society. This will be held on Wednesday, March 5 at the John Rylie Centre, Barwick, starting at 7.30pm.
Councillor’s Surgery: Councillor Ann Castle, one of three Harewood ward councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, holds regular local surgeries to enable people to raise any issues they may have. The Scholes surgery is held on the first Saturday of each month at the Manor House from 10am to 11am while the Barwick surgery is held at John Rylie House, also from 10am to 11am, on the second Saturday of the month.
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Friday, February 22, 2008
Barwick In Elmet
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Village Hall Success: The future of Barwick’s Village Hall is now looking more positive, thanks to the determination of two village residents and the support of local people. The ‘dynamic duo,’ Anne Thompson and Elaine Reason, whose battle to save the village hall has won praise from the parish council and from villagers, organised another successful coffee morning and table top sale last Saturday. “I could have sold 50 stalls at a fiver each but we don’t have the room so I had to turn many people away,” Elaine told the Wetherby News. The event not only raised funds for urgent repairs and improvements to the hall’s toilets and heating system but also for several other community organisations and charities. Stallholders included Barwick in Bloom, the Dogs Trust, Barwick Women’s Institute and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Elaine added that if their current bid to obtain a substantial grant from Landfill Tax proves successful then the village hall would be put in a much stronger financial position. This would be excellent news, as last weekend’s event once again demonstrated the importance of the village hall in bringing Barwick people together as a community.
Scholes Playground: Members of the parish council are keen to make improvements to the children’s playground, which lies within the grounds of the village primary school. Ideally they would like to increase the size of the playground but, following a meeting between councillors and the school’s Headteacher, Mrs P Edwards, that seems highly unlikely. This is a local issue on which the options available to the parish council are very limited. The playground does not belong to the parish but is owned by the school and, therefore, by the local education authority. The Headteacher has indicated that she would be happy for the playground to be improved but would not support the use of additional land to extend it. As it is, she is concerned that members of the public walk their dogs on the school playing field and, as a result, make it unsuitable for children to use. There is also a security issue for the school, as young people congregate at the playground in the evenings.However, councillors were told at their February meeting that the school’s new closed circuit TV cameras could be used to scan the playground. The school’s Governors were to discuss proposed improvements to the playground at their meeting last week. Meanwhile, the parish council has agreed to invite quotations for improving the playground’s equipment, installing a ‘play safe’ surface and removing the hedge which now screens the playground from Main Street, replacing it with a ‘see through’ fence. It has been claimed that some young people hide behind the hedge while taking drugs. Removing it will make the playground more visible from the road.
Police Warning: A recent increase in the number of crimes being reported by Scholes residents to West Yorkshire Police has prompted a renewed appeal from the police that people should keep their doors and windows closed and locked. There have been a number of burglaries in Scholes, as well as cars being stolen by thieves who get into homes through an open door or window and take the owner’s keys. In Barwick, police closed down what they described as ‘a small cannabis factory,’ in The Boyle, and arrests were made.
Bus Shelter Dispute: The parish council’s disagreement with Metro over the installation of a new bus shelter near the junction of Main Street, Scholes with Rakehill Road, continues. The shelter has a distinctly unfinished look about it. Presumably this is the consequence of the parish council telling Metro that their contractor has put up the wrong type of shelter. It should have been identical to the one across the road, which is a simple canopy with no end panels likely to attract the attention of graffiti sprayers. The new shelter has end panels and the parish council have told Metro they don’t want it. What’s more, they have declined to send Metro their cheque for £2,500 until the correct type of bus shelter has been supplied. Coun Ben Hogan, chairman of the parish council, told the Wetherby News this week that Metro have indicated it could be months before a replacement shelter matching the other one can be supplied. At least in Scholes they have bus shelters to argue about. In Barwick you can count the number of bus shelters on one hand. In fact, to be more precise, on one finger.
Barwick Concert Date: Barwick in Bloom volunteers are to host a fund raising concert of popular music during the evening of Leap Year day, Friday, February 29. To be held at the Methodist Church, at 7.30pm, the concert will be performed by well-known local musicians Bernard Davisworth, on piano and George Wright, organ. Popular vocalist Clayton Brooks will pay a welcome return visit to Barwick to sing a medley of favourite songs. This concert promises to be a sell-out so the organisers recommend early booking to avoid disappointment. Tickets costing £3 are available from John Tinker, tel: 0113 2812554 or from Geoff Yapp, tel: 0113 2812561.
New Bus Timings: A timetable has now been issued by Geldard’s Coaches for their new bus service linking Aberford, Barwick and Scholes with Seacroft, Cross Gates, Colton and Garforth shopping centres. The new service, which begins on Wednesday, March 19, will be called the ‘69 Circular’ and will operate only on weekdays. An introductory £1 fare for adults will provide unrestricted travel for the day of issue, only for use on the new service, and passengers will be able to break their journey as many times as they wish. Free travel passes issued to older people and half fare passes for children and young people will be accepted. During school terms the first buses to leave the Aberford bus turning circle will be at 09.02 and they will depart at two minutes past the hour until 14.02. During school holidays the first buses will leave at 08.02 and there will be two extra departures in the afternoon, at 15.02 and 16.02. Taking the 09.02 departure as an example, buses will arrive at Barwick at 09.12, at the Seacroft Green bus station at 09.22, at Colton shopping centre at 09.32, Garforth (Tesco) at 09.42 and return to Aberford at 09.50. A second bus will travel in the opposite direction. Passengers using the new service for shopping will be spoiled for choice, with three superstores and shopping centres at Cross Gates and Garforth all on the route. At Seacroft Green bus station there are connections with buses going to St James’ Hospital, to Harrogate and with Coastliner buses going to East coast resorts.
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Friday, February 15, 2008
Barwick & Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet & Scholes- Ron Miller 07717 150625:
Campaign Event: Barwick’s ‘save our village hall’ campaign, being led by determined village residents Elaine Reason and Anne Thompson, will benefit from the proceeds of a community coffee morning and table top sale at the hall tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am to noon. Admission costing just £1 will include refreshments. Stalls and displays of work will be hosted by several village organisations, including All Saints’ Church, Barwick in Bloom, the Dogs Trust and the Women’s Institute. Acclaimed by the Parish Council for their voluntary commitment to the hall’s maintenance and improvement, the ‘dynamic duo’ are hoping to equal, if not exceed the £800 raised by their first community event in December. “Let’s hope the community spirit prompts lots of people to attend our second fundraising event,” says Elaine. Despite having no guarantee of grants to help with repairs, work has already been done to improve the toilets and provide an additional toilet to meet the needs of disabled visitors to the hall. Elaine added: “We then need to concentrate on the heating, as parts of the current system are becoming obsolete. If we had no heating we would have to close the hall.” Barwick Village Hall is a vital community resource on which many groups depend. So Anne and Elaine are appealing to their fellow villagers to turn out tomorrow, whatever the weather, to support their excellent campaign.
New Bus Service: Terry Geldard, proprietor of Leeds-based Geldard Coaches, accepted an invitation to attend Tuesday’s meeting of Scholes Community Forum. He provided detailed information about the ’69 Circular,’ a new, community-based bus service his company is to launch on Wednesday, March 19, with an introductory adult fare of just £1 for an all-day, multi-journey ticket. Buses will leave from the Aberford bus terminus on the hour, from 9am to 3pm during school terms and from 8am to 4pm during school holidays. One bus will travel to Barwick, Scholes, Seacroft Green bus station (at the superstore and shopping parade), Cross Gates, Colton shopping centre, Garforth Main Street and back to Aberford. A second bus will travel the same route in the opposite direction. Mr Geldard said he would supply 1,000 timetables to Scholes Community Forum, whose members agreed to distribute them to homes throughout the village. He added that if the new service was well supported then he would consider extending it to other destinations, including Wetherby.
Viking ‘invasion:’ There is no cause for alarm! A group of visitors to Barwick tomorrow, Saturday, will not really be Vikings, nor can one coach be described as ‘an invasion.’ However, the historical importance of Barwick’s ancient parish church of All Saints, which dates back more than 800 years to Norman times, has not been lost on the organisers of the 23rd annual Jorvik Viking Festival in York. They have included All Saints as one of several churches of historical interest to be visited during a tour of ancient churches. The festival programme invited those taking part to ‘visit some of the sites menaced by the Viking King Harald Hardrada.’ During their guided tour of All Saints the visitors will be especially keen to see the Saxon Stones which date back to the same period. Writing to Rev Brunel James, Rector of Barwick and Scholes, Jorvik Viking Centre events assistant Chris Tuckley commented: ‘I’m looking forward to concluding our visit with the view from the Motte as the sun goes down.’ Contrary to popular myth, the invading Vikings did not have fierce looking horns on their helmets, so don’t be too disappointed if you see tomorrow’s visitors at All Saints or on Wendel Hill looking less menacing than King Harald!
Barwick Concert Date: Barwick in Bloom volunteers are to host a fund raising concert of popular music on Friday, February 29 – something they could only do during a Leap Year. To be held at the Methodist Church, beginning at 7.30pm, the concert will be performed by well-known local musicians Bernard Davisworth, on piano and George Wright, organ. Popular vocalist Clayton Brooks will pay a welcome return visit to Barwick to sing a medley of favourite songs. This promises to be a sell-out concert so to avoid disappointment early booking is advised by the organisers. Tickets costing £3 are available from John Tinker, tel: 2812554 or from Geoff Yapp, tel: 2812561.
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Monday, February 11, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes area news
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Post Office Closure Fears: “A petition will not achieve anything,” Councillor Clare Hassell declared at Monday’s meeting of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council. Her frank prediction was made during discussion about the possible closure threat faced by the post offices in both villages. She added that in other parts of the country which had already completed a public consultation about post office closures, protests and petitions had not achieved any reduction in the numbers of post offices being closed. Clerk to the parish council, Chris Hassell, said the public consultation period for West Yorkshire post offices, including Barwick, Scholes and the whole of the Leeds district, would not begin until May 13. However, during the preceding 12 weeks there would be extensive discussions with ‘local stakeholders,’ including talks with Postwatch, the independent consumer watchdog for postal services. Factors which would influence decisions taken by the post office included the proximity of a post office proposed for closure to other branches nearby, the number and age of customers now using their local post office and the availability of public transport to other communities.
‘Disappointed’ by Bus Services: The parish council agreed unanimously that their disappointment at the lack of progress in improving bus services to Barwick and Scholes, operated by First Leeds, should be voiced at Wednesday’s meeting of the Yorkshire Rural Transport group. Coun George Hall, a Scholes representative, said he would voice the concerns of local people at the meeting. First have indicated that proposed changes to the route of the 64 service, which would allow alternate buses travelling between Barwick and Leeds to go through Scholes, could only be achieved by reducing the current half hourly service to an hourly frequency. This would not meet the requirements of passengers, especially those using the buses to get to and from work, school or college. Councillors also agreed that Coun Hall should continue discussions with First and Metro to see if some improvement in the routes and reliability of services could still be achieved.
New Bus Service Welcomed: The launch of the ’69 Circular’ bus service on Wednesday, March 19, by Geldard Coaches was welcomed by councillors. Double decker buses, after completing school runs, will depart from Aberford on the hour, from 9am to 3pm during term times and from 8am to 4pm during school holidays. One bus will go via Barwick, Scholes, Seacroft Green, Cross Gates, Colton and Garforth while a second bus will travel in the opposite direction. Details of the new service are exclusively reported in this issue of the Wetherby News. Coun George Hall, who has been fighting for improved bus services in Scholes for over three years, said he welcomed the new service but added that his “biggest fear” was that the new service would attract passengers away from the First Leeds buses operating to and from Leeds, prompting First to reduce service frequency. Also, he had heard that bus operator Aviva might soon withdraw its service linking Barwick with Wetherby.
Yorkshire Water Apology: In a letter to the parish council the Chief Executive of Yorkshire Water, Kevin Whiteman, has expressed his apologies to a resident of Main Street, Scholes, whose drive and garden were recently flooded with raw sewage after heavy rain. The utility boss said initial investigation had unearthed a buried manhole chamber and this would be removed. Contractors working on behalf of Yorkshire Water were seen to be excavating near the resident’s home this week.
Barwick ‘Battlers’ Praised: Two Barwick residents, Anne Thompson and Elaine Reason, who are battling to secure the future of Barwick Village Hall, were praised at Monday’s council meeting. “They are doing a sterling job,” said Coun Ben Hogan, Chairman. Councillors agreed to support the women’s efforts to achieve grant funding by pledging to contribute an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of whatever grants they can obtain. Don’t forget the village hall’s community coffee morning and table top sale will be held next Saturday, February 16, from 10am to 12noon. Admission £1, including refreshments. All proceeds will go towards repairing the hall’s heating system and improving the toilets.
Garden Centre Appeal: Owners of Hayes Garden Centre on the Leeds-York road near Scholes will begin on Tuesday their appeal against Leeds City Council’s rejection of planning approval for extensive redevelopment of the centre. The appeal hearing is expected to last for four days. Coun Geoff Yapp and Coun George Hall will attend on behalf of the parish council, which supported the applicant’s proposed improvements.
Scholes Bus Shelter Row: It looked like a good deal for the parish – a bus shelter, one previous owner, at half the price of a new one. The parish council agreed to pay £2,500 for the shelter to be installed on Main Street, near its junction with Rakehill Road. They were assured it would be the same design as the existing one across the road. But when contractors installed the shelter last week it was clearly a different design. Parish councillors were not impressed. They agreed on Monday that they would only pay for a matching shelter; the new one must go. Any reader wondering what would replace the Great Scholes Street Light saga need look no further. We now have ‘The Shelter,’ a moving story of one parish council’s battle with ‘The Executive.’ See it now, at a bus stop near you…
Musical Afternoon: Barwick Methodist Church will host the latest in their series of concerts entitled ‘Music for a Winter’s Afternoon’ on Tuesday, February 12, from 2.30pm to 3.45pm. Bernard Davisworth, on piano and George Wright, organist, will perform a programme of light music likely to appeal to most people’s musical taste. Admission is free, though a retiring collection will be taken.
The Vikings are coming!: Thankfully, they’ll be in a coach this time. A group of history enthusiasts will visit Barwick’s parish church of All Saints, which dates back 800 years to Norman times, next Sunday, February 17, as part of York’s 23rd Jorvik Viking Festival. More information about this ‘Viking invasion’ in next week’s Wetherby News.
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Friday, February 01, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick in Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
New Bus Service: Details of a proposed new bus service linking Barwick with Scholes and with the shopping centre and bus station at Seacroft Green have been provided to the Wetherby News by Mr Terry Geldard, proprietor of the operating company. Leeds-based Geldard Coaches have applied for a licence to operate a ‘69 circular’ service, using double deck buses, from mid-March – the earliest they would be permitted to start. Free travel will be offered to entitled Metro card holders. Buses will operate during off peak times, Monday to Friday, starting at Aberford and calling at Barwick, Scholes, Seacroft Green, Cross Gates, Colton and Garforth before returning to Aberford. A second bus will operate a service in the opposite direction. Although the new service will go some way towards meeting local residents’ needs, especially for a link between our villages and Seacroft Green, it will not resolve the problems associated with the current bus service to and from Leeds city centre, provided by First Leeds.
Barwick Traffic Problems: Traffic came to a halt in Barwick during the morning rush hour as a result of temporary traffic lights at the junction of Leeds Road and Flats Lane. At the busiest times, frustrated drivers found themselves having to queue all the way back to the New Inn and down Long Lane, almost to the village boundary. This provided clear evidence that many drivers living in the Garforth area choose to travel to and from the city via Barwick. Yet according to a Leeds City Council highways engineer, traffic levels - and the number of of road accidents in the village - do not justify further traffic calming measures designed to protect local people, especially children and older residents, from the risk of injury. The engineer advised the Parish Council that they should take up with the Police the issue of speeding drivers who treat existing speed humps with disdain – unless they slow down momentarily to avoid damaging their cars’ low-slung exhaust systems. Meanwhile, villagers can only hope that the eventual opening of the East Leeds radial link road from the M1 to the city centre will cut substantially the numbers of vehicles going through Barwick simply to avoid congestion at Colton.
Scholes Plans Discussed: A public meeting was being held at St.Philip’s Church, Scholes, on Wednesday evening to discuss plans to relocate the doctors’ surgery to a purpose-designed health centre which may be built on land adjacent to the church. Also proposed is the provision of a children’s nursery and a community café. The development may also include a complex of apartments to the rear of the site. Before submitting outline plans to the City Council, the doctors’ practice and the Parochial Church Council were keen to ask local residents for their views on the proposals; this week’s meeting was called as part of that consultation process.
Barwick Hall Plea: ‘Your village hall needs you!’ That is the message which two Barwick residents, Elaine Reason and Anne Thompson, are keen to impress upon villagers. They certainly deserve support in their determined bid to raise funds to repair and improve the village hall and thus avert its possible closure. Imagine the village without a village hall and, possibly, without a post office. Both provide public services which are vital to our community but which are, without doubt, under threat. Anne and Elaine are working hard to keep the village hall going and urgently need support. The Community Coffee Morning and Table Top sale will be held at the hall on Saturday, February 16, from 10am to 12noon.
Post Office Petition: Also taking place on Saturday, February 16, are petition signing sessions at both Barwick and Scholes post offices, protesting against their possible closure. Royal Mail, which is facing strong competition from other mail handling companies, needs to reduce its operating costs and may have to close 2,500 rural post offices, even though they provide essential services to their communities. If you object to the possible closure of your local post office you can sign a petition of protest at Scholes Post Office at 10.30am on February 16 and at Barwick Post Office at 11.40am the same day.
Women’s Institute: Members of Barwick Women’s Institute will meet on Monday, February 4, for a ‘chocolate evening.’ Visiting speaker Liz Micklethwaite will give a cookery demonstration featuring recipes containing chocolate. The meeting in the village hall will begin at 7.30pm; new members are always welcome. Anyone counting the calories might prefer to join at the March meeting, when the topic of ‘hanging baskets and early planting’ will pose less of a threat to the waistline!
Musical Afternoon: Barwick Methodist Church will host the latest in their series of concerts entitled ‘Music for a Winter’s Afternoon’ on Tuesday, February 12 from 2.30pm to 3.45pm. Bernard Davisworth, on piano and George Wright, organist, will perform a programme of light music likely to appeal to most people’s musical taste. Admission is free, though a retiring collection will be taken.
Councillor’s Surgery: Councillor Ann Castle, one of three Harewood ward councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, holds regular local surgeries to enable people to raise any issues they may have. The Scholes surgery is held on the first Saturday of each month at the Manor House from 10am to 11am while the Barwick surgery is held at John Rylie House, also from 10am to 11am, on the second Saturday of the month.
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Friday, January 18, 2008
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717150625
‘In Bloom’ Coffee Morning: Good news for lovers of the home-baked cakes and scones which are a popular feature of Barwick In Bloom coffee mornings. The next one is tomorrow, Saturday, January 19 and not January 29 as stated in this column last week and in the parish magazine. The doors of the village hall will open at 10am and a ‘good as new’ stall will be among the attractions. Admission costing £1 will include a first cup of tea or coffee. All proceeds will help Barwick in Bloom meet the substantial cost of plants for the village’s award-winning flower beds, Jubilee Garden and other planted areas in Maypole year.
Opera at All Saints: Singers from West Riding Opera will give a concert at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Sunday, January 20, beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5 will include a coffee or a glass of wine. All proceeds will be shared between the church and the opera company. Call Sue Cole on 0113 2812255 for tickets or further information.
Threat to our Post Offices: Despite fears that Royal Mail will take little notice of residents’ views, the battle lines to save Barwick and Scholes post offices from the threat of closure are already being drawn. A petition of protest has been started by the parish council even before it is known for certain that one, or both post offices are under threat. The Wetherby News has learned it will be next month before Royal Mail confirms which rural post offices in West and North Yorkshire face closure under a national scheme to withdraw vital postal services from 2,500 branches around the country. If the threat becomes a reality in Barwick and Scholes then a period of what Royal Mail describes as ‘public consultation’ will then begin. However, the harsh experience of people in other locations has been that their protests fall upon deaf ears. Even busy city centre post offices in Bradford and Leeds have been closed, in the face of widespread protests by councillors, local people and businesses who depended on those post offices for generations. To add your name to the ‘save our post office’ petition, visit your local post office! It may not be there for much longer.
Bus Services: Councillors representing Barwick and Scholes residents have warned the Chairman of Metro they will call for a public enquiry into the shortcomings of local bus services if no improvement is seen. The Wetherby News also learned this week that unless bus operator First improves the reliability of services on routes 64 and 68 then councillors will take their complaints to a full meeting of Leeds City Council. This latest development comes in a week when a Barwick resident witnessed at first hand the failure of the bus operator to meet customers’ expectations. Just after 1pm on Monday she watched in disbelief as the driver of a bus operating service 64 sailed straight past the bus stop in Boar Lane, heading out of the city centre. This despite the fact that two other people were both holding their arms out as a signal to the driver to stop. Both said they intended to complain to the bus operator. The aggrieved resident added: “The driver seemed oblivious to the fact that he had driven past us; he didn’t even look in our direction, leaving us with another half hour to wait for the next bus. I have lost count of how many times the 64 has failed to turn up; the service has become unreliable.” In a firmly-worded letter to Coun Rik Downes, Chairman of Metro, Coun George Hall, a Scholes parish councillor who has been trying for three years to secure improved bus services for Scholes and Barwick residents, said the parish council and Scholes Community Forum were “very disappointed” at the lack of progress by First and Metro in improving bus services. Public meetings in both villages last summer prompted a request that alternate buses on route 64 travelled between Barwick and Leeds via Scholes and Seacroft bus station. This would provide a bus link between the two villages as well as improving services from Scholes to Leeds. Coun Hall told the Chairman: “Metro are perceived to have led this community to believe that the new service could be in place by late 2007 and, at the very latest, early this year.” First and Metro now appeared to be reneging on that commitment, he said. And he warned: “My colleagues and I are minded to seek a public inquiry, through the Traffic Commissioner, into service failures. This is clearly a separate issue to the revised routing of service 64,” he said, adding that he will raise the issue at next month’s meeting of the West Yorkshire Rural Transport Partnership.
Scholes Sewage Problems: Residents in Main Street, Scholes, watched nervously this week as torrential rain raised fears that more raw sewage could be forced out of manholes. An indignant resident told the January meeting of the parish council that raw sewage had flowed into her driveway and garden, as well as into parts of Main Street, on the first Friday of the year. Initially, Yorkshire Water claimed it was not their problem but were persuaded by an independent drainage engineer that it most certainly was. Parish councillors have been badgering Yorkshire Water for months to address recurrent flooding problems in the village and to clean out the main sewage pipes, many of which date back over 70 years. Some debris has been removed but this clearly was not enough to prevent the latest, appalling situation. This incident led to more than a ton of debris being dragged out of the main sewer by a Yorkshire Water emergency team. The parish council is now pressing the utility for urgent and more thorough action to be taken to resolve this problem and has pledged to raise the issue with their Chief Executive if necessary.
Councillor’s Surgery: Councillor Ann Castle, one of three Harewood ward councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, holds regular local surgeries to enable people to raise any issues they may have. The Scholes surgery is held on the first Saturday of each month at the Manor House from 10am to 11am while the Barwick surgery is held at John Rylie House, also from 10am to 11am, on the second Saturday of the month.
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Friday, January 11, 2008
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Post Office Closure Threat?: Fears that post offices in Barwick and Scholes are among those threatened with closure by Royal Mail – removing vital services valued by local people - were expressed by members of the parish council at their meeting in Scholes on Monday. Coun George Hall said he understood that both postmasters had been asked by Royal Mail to sign “a confidentiality agreement.” He was aware that they had been called to meetings with Royal Mail, who plan to close around 2,500 post offices across the country. They insist that they are no longer commercially viable. Coun Alec Shelbrooke, one of three ward councillors representing Barwick and Scholes on Leeds City Council, is leading a campaign to save several rural post offices in the Leeds district from closure. Parish councillors agreed that as a first step they should seek advice from the association which represents Yorkshire’s rural councils. A petition enabling residents to protest at the proposed closure may then be started.
Scholes Sewage Incident: An indignant resident of Main Street, Scholes, attended the parish forum which preceded Monday’s parish council meeting to complain about Yorkshire Water’s response – or lack of it – to a leakage of raw sewage in the village last Friday. Torrential rain forced the sewage through a manhole cover in the drive and on to her garden, while more foul sewage escaped through a manhole in Main Street. The resident told the parish council that when she first called Yorkshire Water they insisted that the problem was her responsibility as the manhole was in her drive. Only when a drainage engineer, called in at the resident’s expense, told Yorkshire Water that it most definitely was their responsibility did they send an emergency repair team. “They removed more than a ton of debris from the sewer,” the resident told councillors. She added: “My concern is that every time it rains this will happen again. We cannot go on like this; it’s ridiculous. The sewers in Scholes date back to 1935 and are just not big enough.” Councillors agreed to take up the issue with Yorkshire Water as a matter of urgency.
Phone Mast Protests: More than 350 Barwick residents have put in objections to the Planning Inspectorate, urging that an appeal by mobile phone company O2 should not be upheld. Leeds City Council rejected the company’s planning application to replace an existing phone mast at the Transco depot on Highfield Lane with a much more powerful and unsightly version but O2 appealed against that decision. Objections had to be at the Inspectorate’s office in Bristol no later than Monday this week, giving rise to concern that the Christmas and New Year holiday would lead to some villagers missing the deadline. To assist local people the Clerk to Barwick and Scholes Parish Council, Chris Hassell, circulated information about the issue and co-ordinated the submission of objections with resident Martin Fox. Some Barwick residents are convinced there is a link between phone masts and ‘clusters’ of people, particularly those living on the southern side of the village, suffering from three different types of cancer. The mobile phone operating companies deny any linkage between phone masts and health. O2 have made it clear that even if their appeal is turned down they will continue to look for a location in the village for a phone mast more powerful than the one now in use. Local objectors question the need for a more powerful mast to serve mobile phone users on the O2 network, especially as the installation of a powerful phone mast in Lotherton Way, Garforth, has been approved. In a letter to Colin Burgon MP and to Coun Ann Castle, who represents Barwick residents on Leeds City Council, Mr Fox commented that the number of objections demonstrated the strength of local feeling on the issue. “It sends a clear message that any proposal to locate a mobile phone mast in or near the village is totally unacceptable,” he declared.
Crime Increase in Scholes: Eight burglaries of homes in Scholes were reported to West Yorkshire Police in the run up to Christmas, PC Andy Katowski told the Parish Council. Flat screen TV sets were taken from several victims’ houses. However, the officer reported that four people had been arrested, one of whom had been charged. A man had also been charged after he was found in Scholes carrying equipment used to break open PVC doors. He urged local residents to lock their doors even when they are at home, to guard against opportunist thieves who will sneak in to take whatever they can quickly find and carry away. They will also take car keys left in hallways or pockets then steal the car from outside the victim’s home. Free home security checks carried out by the police are available to residents in both Barwick and Scholes.
Most Pews to Stay: A proposal to replace with chairs all the pews in Barwick’s 800-year-old parish church of All Saints may have been only one aspect of plans to reburbish the church interior but it was probably the most controversial. So the decision of the Parochial Church Council to retain most of the pews, those to each side of the centre aisle, while removing those at the sides of the church is a compromise which most ‘save the pews’ supporters will welcome. And it demonstrates that PCC members were willing not only to consult parishioners about the far-reaching proposals but also to take opposing views into consideration. Also dropped from the original plan is the proposal to create a ‘mezzanine level’ meeting room within the bell tower, linked to the ground floor by a spiral staircase. Instead, the old organ pipes will be removed and glazing installed. Other proposed improvements will see the Norman church open to parishioners and visitors for two hours every morning and the creation of a small café.
Scholes Bus Services: Attempts to give Scholes residents better bus services, including a link with Barwick, will be renewed this month by Scholes Community Forum, in association with the parish council, Leeds City Council and Metro. Coun George Hall, Lead Member of the Forum, has been battling for three years to improve bus services linking the village to Leeds city centre and other points, including the bus station and shopping centre at Seacroft Green. At public meetings held in both Scholes and Barwick last summer, villagers voted in favour of asking bus operator First to change the route and timetable of bus service 64 to provide a link between the villagers and to Seacroft Green. However, in December the operator said they had looked at this proposal and concluded it could only be achieved if the service was reduced from half hourly to hourly. This is considered unacceptable by Scholes residents, especially those using the service to commute to and from work, school or further education. Also, of course, it would certainly be opposed by Barwick and Aberford residents, many of whom depend on having a half hourly bus service to and from Leeds.
It’s Maypole year!: The triennial lowering and raising of Barwick’s ancient Maypole will again be carried out this year, thanks to volunteer members of the Barwick Maypole Trust. At 96 feet high, Barwick’s Maypole is the tallest in Britain to be lowered and raised at regular intervals. Now we are in a Maypole year members of the Trust will intensify their fundraising efforts to pay for the celebrations on Spring Bank Holiday Monday. More than 5,000 residents and visitors enjoyed the Maypole raising in 2005, held in glorious weather. The Trust has already booked a sun-filled day for this year’s event!
Scholes Playground Criticised: A Scholes mother complained to the parish council about the state of the children’s playground. “The thought of taking my son there for the next seven years fills me with dread,” she declared, adding: “For a village of this size it is not good enough.” The playground was covered in grafitti and was a meeting place for local young people. “I have spoken to the young people – they are not bad kids,” she added. Councillors sympathised, saying they would like to enlarge and improve the playground but faced objections from its owners, the village primary school and the local education authority.
In praise of the potato!: Barwick in Elmet Horticultural Society will meet on Monday, January 14, when Penny Meadmore will speak on the theme of ‘Potatoes for Everyone.’ The meeting, at the village hall, will begin at 7.45pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Opera at All Saints: Singers from West Riding Opera will give a concert at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Sunday, January 20, beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets costing £5 will include a coffee or a glass of wine. All proceeds will be shared between the church and the opera company. Call Sue Cole on 0113 2812255 for tickets or further information.
Bloomin’ Lovely: The first coffee morning of 2008 to be hosted by Barwick in Bloom volunteers will be on Saturday, January 29, from 10am in the village hall. Admission costing just £1 will include a cup of tea or coffee. A ‘good as new’ stall and delicious cakes will be among the attractions. |
Friday, December 28, 2007
Barwick-in-Elmet Village News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Barwick Phone Mast: Health concerns are growing among Barwick residents, especially those living close to Highfield Lane, over plans by mobile phone company O2 to replace their existing phone mast with a bigger, more powerful one. Some people firmly believe there are links between the location of mobile phone masts and ‘clusters’ of people who suffer from cancer, though mobile phone companies strongly deny this. Leeds City Council has already turned down the company’s planning application to erect a 15 metre high ‘monopole’ near Highfield Lane, replacing the existing, much smaller one, but O2 have appealed against that decision. Their appeal will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate, in Bristol, and the deadline for the submission of objections is Monday, January 7. The phone company have made it clear that even if their appeal is not successful they will look for another site in the Barwick area to enable them to improve their service to local customers. Many people using the O2 network have poor reception and transmission problems in Barwick. Coun Ann Castle, who represents Barwick on Leeds City Council, has urged people who objected to the initial application to send a renewed protest. The address to which objections should be sent, in writing, is: Planning Inspectorate, Room 3, 18A, Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, Bristol, BS1 6PN.
Local Bus Services: Will the New Year bring some improvement in bus services between Barwick, Scholes and Leeds city centre? Coun George Hall, a member of the parish council and Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum, certainly hopes so. He has been working for more than three years, along with Coun Alec Shelbrooke, of Leeds City Council, to persuade bus operators First to give Scholes residents a bus link to Barwick and improved, half hourly services to Leeds. Despite the synergies between our two villages, neighbours within the same parish, it is surprising that the nearest Barwick residents can get to Scholes by bus is the Coronation Tree.
Christmas wedding: The bells of All Saints’ Church, Barwick, were due to ring out yesterday, Thursday, to celebrate a Christmas wedding. Samantha Miller, youngest daughter of your Wetherby News correspondent and his wife Vanda, and Gareth Wells, an orthopaedic surgeon at Leeds General Informary, were being married by the Rector of Barwick and Scholes, Rev Brunel James. Samantha was formerly a chorister at the church so members of the choir kindly interrupted their Christmas holiday to sing at her wedding.
New Year’s Eve: Still wondering where to celebrate the start of the New Year? Scholes Sports Association will host its 2007 New Year’s Eve disco dance at Scholes Village Hall, starting at 8pm and finishing the following year! A licensed bar will be available. Tickets, costing £5 for adults and young people aged over 12, are available from Scott Wood, tel: 0113 2733253. Children aged under 12 will be admitted free of charge as long as they are accompanied by an adult. All proceeds will go towards improving facilities and equipment for the Sports Association and other local sports groups.
Musical Afternoon: Barwick Methodist Church will host another light musical recital on Tuesday, January 8, in their series entitled ‘Music for a Winter’s Afternoon.’ This will feature Bernard Davisworth on piano and George Wright, playing the organ. The recital will begin at 2.30pm and end at 3.45pm. Admission is free, though a retiring collection will be taken. Refreshments will be available.
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Friday, December 21, 2007
Barwick Area News
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Barwick and Scholes- Ron Miller 07717 150625:
Bus Services: Scholes Councillor George Hall this week expressed his “dismay and disappointment” following a statement from bus operator First Leeds casting doubt on whether bus services to and from the village can be improved. At public meetings in both Barwick and Scholes during the summer, villagers voted firmly in favour of proposed changes to bus service 64. These would re-route alternate buses from Barwick to Leeds via Scholes and Seacroft Green, instead of going via Penda’s Fields. However, First Bus have now advised Metro, the West Yorkshire Public Transport Authority, that re-routing the 64 in the manner suggested simply would not work unless Scholes services were cut back to an hourly frequency, with an additional hourly service from the Coronation Tree. “An hourly service to and from the village would be totally unacceptable to the people of Scholes,” Coun Hall, Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum and a member of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council, told the Wetherby News this week. He added: “After three years of talks with First Bus and Metro we are still not a great deal further forward.” Coun Hall said it was one of his greatest wishes that agreement could be reached to provide a satisfactory bus service to both Barwick and Scholes communities, which currently do not have public transport linking the two parts of the parish. He declared that in view of the bus operator’s response, coupled with increasing numbers of complaints from local residents that buses on both the 64 and 68 services fail to operate to their timetable, a formal complaint may now be made to the Traffic Commission requesting that a public enquiry be held into whether First are providing an adequate service under the terms of their operating licence. Initially, however, the Chairman of Metro, Coun Ryk Downes, has offered to raise the issue of Scholes bus services at his next meeting with First. The bus operator’s Marketing and PR Manager, Charles Donnelly, responded to questions put by the Wetherby News with a statement that “we are waiting for Metro to give their response to our proposals; we can then seek the views of our passengers.” In response to villagers’ growing concerns about the increasing unreliability of buses operating services to and from Barwick and Scholes, especially travelling out of the city centre, the spokesman blamed ‘seasonal difficulties causing extra congestion which results in buses being unable to keep to their timetable.’ This comment fails to recognise that local people have been complaining about bus services being unreliabe for months, long before ‘seasonable difficulties’ began to arise. Mr Donnelly added: “We take complaints about unreliability very seriously and all are investigated.” Cold comfort to passengers, especially the elderly, as they wait in freezing conditions for buses which are not just delayed by traffic congestion but simply don’t turn up at all, leaving First customers waiting for a further half hour or sometimes more, with no information to advise them when their bus might eventually arrive.
Barwick Phone Mast: Mobile phone operator O2 has appealed against Leeds City Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for a larger, more powerful phone mast to be installed on land close to Long Lane, Barwick. Objectors to the proposal only have until January 7 to lodge their views, in writing, to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol. Many Barwick residents believe mobile phone masts are linked with cancer clusters and say the replacement mast in Highfield Lane should, if approved, be sited further away from housing, at least 800 metres beyond the edge of the village. Objectors also point out that the proposed new mast is taller and much wider than the present mast and carries far more antenna. They doubt that the more powerful mast will be needed at all as O2 have already been given permission to site a 22.5 metre high mast in Lotherton Way, Garforth, which should improve reception for O2 customers in Barwick.
Scholes Forum: An open invitation to attend meetings of Scholes Community Forum has been extended to all Scholes residents. “We are here to listen and make sure that your views are known,” says Coun George Hall, the Forum’s Lead Member. Writing in the Forum’s community newsletter, he added: “The forum continues to inform all who are interested in what is happening in the village. It is also one of our prime objectives to ensure consultation on any important subject takes place. Anyone attending a forum meeting is encouraged to voice their concerns and participate in the discussions; we are not just a ‘talking shop.” Every forum meeting is attended by elected members of the Parish Council and, very often, by one of the three councillors who represent Scholes on Leeds City Council. Mike Weaver, the Community Warden and Police Community Support Officer Dan Sillars also attend.
Christmas Worship: Services at churches in both Barwick and Scholes will celebrate the real message of Christmas. A carol service will be held at St.Philip’s, Scholes, on Sunday (December 23), at 6.30pm. Crib services will be held at both All Saints, Barwick and St.Philip’s Scholes, also at Scholes Methodist Church, all at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Family Holy Communion will be celebrated at Scholes Methodist Church at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, while Midnight Mass will be celebrated at All Saints, Barwick, also at 11.30pm. A Christmas morning service will be held at Barwick Methodist Church at 9.30am while Holy Communion will be celebrated on Christmas Day at 10am at St.Philip’s,Scholes and at 10.30am at All Saints, Barwick.
New Year’s Eve: Still wondering where to celebrate the start of the New Year? Scholes Sports Association will host its 2007 New Year’s Eve disco dance at Scholes Village Hall, starting at 8pm and finishing the following year! A licensed bar will be available. Tickets, costing £5 for adults and young people aged over 12, are available from Scott Wood, tel: 0113 2733253. Children aged under 12 will be admitted free of charge as long as they are accompanied by an adult. All proceeds will go towards improving facilities and equipment for the Sports Association and other local sports groups.
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Friday, December 14, 2007
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick and Scholes- Ron Miller 07717 150625
ronaldmiller@hotmail.co.uk
Bus Services: What villagers say is the increasing unreliability of First Bus services between Barwick, Scholes and Leeds city centre was recently brought home to Coun George Hall, a member of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council and Lead Member of Scholes Community Forum. Travelling home on service 68, after meeting the Chairman of Metro, Coun Ryk Downes, to discuss the concerns of local residents, Coun Hall met other Scholes residents who complained that the two previous services, a 68 and a 68a, had failed to arrive. This prompted Coun Hall to write the same day to a senior Metro official, commenting: “Given the coldness of the weather, elderly people experienced considerable discomfort and have every right to complain. I have to say that the reliability of the services operating into our village is unquestionably failing to meet the standards for a licence issued by the Traffic Commissioner.” This latest report of failing services comes only a short time after a serious incident in which an 84-year-old Scholes woman had to endure a nightmare, three hour journey from Cross Gates to Scholes after two 68 buses failed to turn up, causing her considerable distress. Coun Hall met the Chairman of Metro with Coun Alec Shelbrooke, one of three councillors representing the people of Barwick and Scholes on Leeds City Council. In his letter to Metro, which is West Yorkshire’s Passenger Transport Authority, Coun Hall expressed his concern that Metro’s Director “appears to accept the explanations, arguably excuses, of the bus operator and does not feel a responsibility to take the reports further.” He added: “There is considerable pressure on me to take these complaints to the Traffic Commissioner.” Coun Hall told the Wetherby News that no progress appeared to have been made by First Bus in implementing the route and timetable changes on bus service 64 which villagers voted for at public meetings held in both Barwick and Scholes during the summer. These changes, if approved, would see alternate 64 buses linking Barwick and Scholes by travelling between Barwick and the city centre via Scholes, Seacroft Green bus station and Cross Gates roundabout. On Tuesday the Wetherby News asked First Bus to respond to residents’ concerns about unreliability and to provide an update on the progress of the route and timetable change proposal. We will be pleased to publish their reply but, at the time of writing, no response had been received.
Pews Compromise? A revised plan for the refurbishment of Barwick’s historic All Saints’ Church, one which would not involve replacing all the pews with chairs, has been put forward for public consultation. It was drawn up in response to comments from some local people that pews should be retained in a Norman church dating back more than 800 years. The new plan allows the pews in the centre of the church to remain while those at the sides would be removed and replaced with chairs. Many villagers took the opportunity to examine the first and second stage plans when they were displayed during the community coffee morning at the Village Hall earlier this month. The Rector of Barwick and Scholes, Rev.Brunel James and the architect responsible for the plans, Richard Crooks, both attended to explain the proposals and respond to visitors’ questions. “The compromise of removing only some of the pews has successfully been used at Thorner parish church,” the Rector commented. He added that the Parochial Church Council would decide which plan to put forward for consideration by the Diocese and by English Heritage; the latter must be consulted about changes to Listed buildings such as All Saints’ Church. With approval being required from several organisations the Rector believes it could be another year before work could begin. Other aspects of the proposed refurbishment would see the organ pipes within the church being removed to create space for a new, first floor meeting room in the bell tower. Access would be provided by a spiral staircase. The church’s mediaeval altar slab and Saxon Stones would be used to create a focus for prayer, while space to exhibit the work of local children would be provided. Also, the church would be open for two hours every weekday morning for the benefit of local people and visitors.
Scholes Fair: A Winter Fair is to be held at Scholes Primary School tomorrow, Saturday, by members of the Parent Teachers’ Association.Proceeds will go towards meeting the cost of installing a new security system to monitor the school grounds.
Candlelight Carols: A service including carol singing by candlelight will be held at Scholes Methodist Church on Sunday (December 16), at 4pm. Later the same day, at 6.30pm, ‘carols by candlelight’ will be sung at All Saints’ Church, Barwick. A similar service will be held at St.Philip’s, Scholes, on the following Sunday (December 23), at 6.30pm. Crib services will be held at both Anglican churches and at Scholes Methodist Church at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Family Holy Communion will be celebrated at Scholes Methodist Church at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, while Midnight Mass will be celebrated at All Saints, Barwick, also at 11.30pm. A Christmas morning service will be held at Barwick Methodist Church at 9.30am while Holy Communion will be celebrated on Christmas Day at 10am at St.Philip’s, Scholes and at 10.30am at All Saints, Barwick.
Probus Club: The December meeting of Barwick and Scholes Probus Club, whose members are professional and business men who have fully or partially retired, will be held on Tuesday (December 18) at the John Rylie Centre, Barwick, starting with coffee at 10.15am. Guest speaker Neil Dowlan will describe ‘Leeds war work and munitions.’ Further details about the club can be obtained from Harvey Metcalfe, tel: O113 2812441.
New Year’s Eve: Still wondering where to celebrate the start of the New Year? Scholes Sports Association will host its 2007 New Year’s Eve disco dance at Scholes Village Hall, starting at 8pm and finishing the following year! A licensed bar will be available. Tickets, costing £5 for adults and young people aged over 12, are available from Scott Wood, tel: 0113 2733253. Children aged under 12 will be admitted free of charge as long as they are accompanied by an adult. All proceeds will go towards improving facilities and equipment for the Sports Association and other local sports groups.
Diary Date: Here’s a useful date for anyone who can’t wait to start using next year’s diary! Barwick in Bloom’s open gardens event in 2008 will be on Sunday, June 29 and the group is already looking for new gardens to feature. Any green fingered local resident interested in opening their garden to the public for the afternoon should contact John Tinker, tel: 0113 2812254. |
Friday, November 23, 2007
Barwick in Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Coffee Morning: Members of Barwick Methodist Church will host a pre-Christmas coffee morning tomorrow, Saturday, to raise funds for the Salvation Army. Light refreshments will be served from 10am and a cake stall and raffle will also boost the fund raising. Everyone is welcome.
Scholes Panto: There’s still time – oh yes there is - to buy tickets for Scholes Village Players’ pantomime, ‘Bluebeard,’ which is being presented this week at Scholes Village Hall. There will be a performance this evening (Friday), starting at 7.30pm, a matinee tomorrow afternoon at 2pm and a final performance tomorrow evening at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £4 for concessions. This is a new panto, written only four years ago, but it has all the familiar features which families, especially children, enjoy. It’s the latest Scholes panto to be directed for the Village Players by local resident Joan Fox, who is well known as one of the organisers of Scholes Gala. She thinks it might be her ninth or tenth production – but she’s begun to lose count!
“This is a traditional panto which is full of fun for all the family,” says Joan. Tickets are available at both Barwick and Scholes post offices or can be bought at the village hall door before each performance, subject to availability. A licensed bar will be available, along with soft drinks and ice creams.
Carol Singing: The Wendel Singers will lead carol singing at a concert to be held at All Saints’ Church, Barwick, on Friday, November 30, starting at 7.30pm. Admission costing £5 will include a glass of wine and a mince pie.
Barwick Village Hall: A community coffee morning with stalls and displays is to be held at Barwick’s crisis-threatened village hall on Saturday, December 1, between 10am and 12noon. As the Wetherby News recently reported, the village hall faces a major challenge in raising the money needed to make urgent repairs to the building and to improve its facilities. Organised by local residents Elaine Reason and Anne Thompson, who run the hall voluntarily and are determined to keep it open, the coffee morning will hopefully ease the financial strain. It costs around £15,000 a year to keep the hall going and this has to come from booking fees and fundraising events. To show their support, some of the groups which use the hall for their meetings or activities will mount displays during the coffee morning. They will include Barwick Art Club, Barwick in Bloom, Barwick Brownies, China Painting, Rythym Time and the newly-formed Barwick Women’s Institute. There will also be a chance to study plans for the refurbishment of Barwick’s ancient Norman parish church of All Saints and to talk to the surveyor who has produced them. The plans include a controversial proposal to replace the old pews with modern chairs. Displays will also be given by Guide Dogs for the Blind and Macmillan Nurses. A stall selling home made cakes, a bottle tombola, bric-a-brac stall and raffle will also be features of the event. Admission will cost £1 but this will include a cup of coffee or tea and biscuits. Elaine and Anne are also appealing for help on the day and for donations of bottles for the tombola. Please call Elaine on 0113 2813167 or Anne on 0113 2812145 to volunteer or to ask for further information.
Christmas Cakes: Barwick resident Ann Fowler has kindly offered to bake home made Christmas cakes to raise funds for the refurbishment of the 800-year-old All Saints’ parish church. Cakes are available in a range of sizes and are priced between £1.50 and £8. Larger cakes can also be provided on request. To discuss your Christmas cake requirements, call Ann on 0113 2812789.
Councillor’s Surgery: Coun Ann Castle, one of three councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, holds regular local surgeries to enable people to discuss any issues they may have. However, there will be no surgery in Scholes on Saturday, December 1. Any Scholes resident who wishes to discuss a local issue with Coun Castle can call her on (0113) 3951948. There will, however, be a Barwick surgery on Saturday, December 8, between 10am and 11am, at the John Rylie Centre.
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Friday, November 16, 2007
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes News
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Barwick in Elmet
Remembrance Day: Parades and special services were held in both Barwick and Scholes on Sunday to remember all those who have lost their lives in the service of their country, in wars past and present. The names of local men who fell during the Great War and the Second World War were read out and poppy wreaths laid at war memorials in both villages. Members of the Royal British Legion, proudly wearing medals recognising their courage and service, took part in both acts of remembrance. Coun Ben Hogan, Chairman of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council, and Armed Forces representatives laid wreaths and many local people placed individual crosses to remember family members or friends. At All Saints’ Church, Barwick, the former Archdeacon of Leeds, the Ven.John Oliver, who lives in retirement in the village, delivered a thought-provoking sermon during a service conducted by Alan Stanley, Reader, who also led the act of remembrance in Scholes.
Licensing Meeting: Following complaints by Barwick residents living close to the Gascoigne Arms, primarily about late night noise, bad language and alleged intimidation caused by customers near the smokers’ shelter behind the pub, a meeting has been called by Leeds City Council’s Licensing Department to discuss the issue. This will take place on November 26.The licensees of all three pubs in the village have been asked to attend, along with aggrieved residents, environmental health officers and the police. Coun Ann Castle, who represents the interests of Barwick and Scholes on Leeds City Council, will also attend. She recently offered to mediate in the dispute surrounding the Gascoigne Arms in a bid to resolve problems which have arisen since the national smoking ban was imposed. The pub’s proprietors have welcomed talks and are keen to find solutions.
Barwick Safety Concerns: Officers from Leeds City Council’s Highways Department have been invited to attend a meeting in Barwick to discuss how local people, especially children, can be given more protection on the village’s roads. Safety concerns on Aberford Road and Long Lane – also, it is to be hoped, Leeds Road – will be the subject of particular discussion at the meeting, which is being organised by the Parish Council. Following disappointment that the need for improved road safety measures in Barwick had not been discussed at the November meeting of the Parish Council, Coun George Hall, who leads on transport and highways issues, told the Wetherby News: “I wish to reassure Barwick people that the concerns which they have regarding speed issues are by no means secondary to those being raised in Scholes.” He added that local volunteers are needed to assist the Parish Council in operating a Speed Indication Device (SID) at various locations in Barwick, with support from the police. The device displays to drivers their speed on approach to the location and encourages them to observe the 30mph speed limit. Following the use of the device in Scholes recently the police sent letters to 59 drivers, many of them local residents, reminding them of their legal duty to drive within the speed limit. One Barwick resident has called for a blanket 20mph speed limit throughout the village to combat the threat to safety caused by speeding drivers - and by those using Barwick as a ‘rat run’ to avoid traffic congestion at Colton.
Children in Need: A coffee morning to support the BBC Children in Need appeal will be held at Barwick Church of England Primary School today, Friday, from 10am to 11am. All are welcome.
It’s panto time again….oh yes it is! Families who find the cost of seats for professional pantomimes expensive need not deny their children some panto fun. The energetic cast of Scholes Village Players’ panto ‘Bluebeard,’ including young people making their stage debut, are rehearsing hard for the production at Scholes Village Hall from Tuesday, November 20 to Saturday, November 24. Performances will begin at 7.30pm and there will be a Saturday matinee at 2pm. A licensed bar will be available at all evening performances. Tickets costing £5 for adults and £4 for concessions are now available from both Barwick and Scholes post offices. Scholes Village Players, the longest-established amateur theatre group in Leeds, often perform their popular pantomimes to full houses so it’s best to buy tickets in advance, though remaining tickets are sold at the door. Oh yes they are…
Coffee Morning: Members of Barwick Methodist Church will host a Christmas coffee morning on Saturday, November 24, to raise funds for the Salvation Army. A cake stall will be among the attractions of this event, supporting a very worthy cause.
All Saints’ Carols: If hearty carol singing is one of the things you like about Christmas then All Saints’ Church, Barwick, will be the place to be on Friday, November 30, when a carol concert will be led by the Wendel Singers. Admission will be £5, to include mince pies and a glass of wine. The concert begins at 7.30pm.
Councillor’s Surgery: Coun Ann Castle, one of three Councillors who represent the interests of Barwick and Scholes residents on Leeds City Council, holds regular local surgeries to enable people to discuss any issues they may have. However, there will be no councillor’s surgery in Scholes on Saturday, December 1. Any Scholes resident who wishes to discuss a local issue with Coun Castle can call her on (0113) 395-1948. There will, however, be a Barwick surgery on Saturday, December 8, between 10am and 11am, at the John Rylie Centre. |
Friday, November 02, 2007
Barwick In Elmet Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes
Speed Concerns: Members of Scholes Community Forum have expressed serious concern about the speed at which some drivers, including local residents, travel through the village. Their comments follow the use in Scholes last week of a Speed Indication Device, operated by Forum volunteers twice a day at six locations in the village. On two days the volunteers were joined by Police Community Support Officer Dan Sillers. Speeds of up to 50mph were recorded opposite the village primary school, despite a speed limit of 30mph being in place. “Arguably the worst I have ever experienced while operating the device,” says Coun George Hall, Lead Member of the Forum and a Parish Councillor. He added that he invited seven drivers to stop. “In all cases the drivers apologised and gave varying excuses.” He said he believed the police would send letters to those drivers who were significantly exceeding the speed limit. Coun Hall told the Wetherby News that 15 Forum members have been trained to operate the device by road safety staff at Leeds City Council and had been checking vehicle speeds in Main Street regularly for almost two years. There had been almost no improvement in driver behaviour over that period. He added that most residents gave overwhelming support to the volunteers; only one resident had expressed dissent. “We will continue to make our voice heard and seek measures that will be effective all day and every day,” he said. The issue of road safety and the threat posed by speeding and ‘rat running’ drivers in Barwick and Scholes is to be discussed at the next meeting of the parish council on Monday, commencing at 7.30pm in Scholes Village Hall.
The meeting will be open to the public and a Parish Forum at 7.15pm will enable local people to voice any concerns they may have.
Bus Routes: A further meeting to discuss proposed improvements to bus services in Scholes is to be held on Monday (November 5) between Councillors and representatives of First Bus and Metro. Following public meetings in both Barwick and Scholes, First Bus are looking at the possibility of re-routing alternate buses on route 64 to provide improved links to the city centre, via the bus station at Seacroft Green. However, meeting the wishes of local people is proving a timetable challenge, which is delaying the introduction of revised routes and schedules.
Remembrance Sunday: Services of Remembrance for those who lost their lives while serving their country, in wars past and present, will be held in both Barwick and Scholes on Sunday (November 11). In Scholes, a parade and ceremony at the War Memorial at 10am will be followed by a service at St.Philip’s Church. In Barwick a service will begin at All Saints’ Church at 10.30am, to be followed by the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial at 11.45am. Please support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
Fund Raising Cakes: Beki James, whose husband Brunel is Rector of Barwick and Scholes, has devised a very tasteful way of raising funds for All Saints’ Church, Barwick and St.Philip’s, Scholes. She is offering for sale the Barwick and Scholes Christmas Cake mix, complete with pre-weighed ingredients, all sourced from Fairtrade or organic suppliers, plus an easy-to-follow recipe. A six inch round cake costs £6, while an eight inch cake – also available with dairy free ingredients – will be £8. To order, call the Rectory on 0113 2812218.
Charity Cards: Avoid the rush and crush of the High Street stores by buying your charity Christmas cards and small gifts in the peaceful surroundings of All Saints’ Church, Barwick, tomorrow (Saturday, November 3). Cards supporting many national and local charities, including the church’s own appeal fund, will be among those on sale. Admission will be free and refreshments will be available.
Women’s Institute: Members of the newly-formed Barwick in Elmet Women’s Institute will hold their second meeting on Monday, November 5, at Barwick Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. A warm welcome is assured for any prospective new member.
Wildlife Group: Following the wildlife walks held earlier in the year, the Barwick and Scholes Wildlife Group will meet on Tuesday, November 6, at 7.30pm. For details of meeting point and activities, call Stephen Meays, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, on (01904) 659570 or, more locally, Lesley Tomkins on 0113 2811279.
Coffee Morning: Scholes Mother’s Union will host a coffee morning on Saturday, November 10, at St Philip’s church hall, from 10am to 12noon. Stalls will include cakes and bric-a-brac; admission will cost just 50 pence.
Barwick Arts Club: The annual exhibition and sale of paintings by club members will take place at Barwick Miners’ Institute on Saturday, November 10, from 10am to 4pm and on Sunday, November 11, from 12noon until 4pm. As usual, a percentage of the money raised through sales of paintings will be donated to good causes. Admission is free; tea and coffee will be available.
Listen to the Band: The renowned Gawthorpe Brass Band will give a concert at Scholes Village Hall on Saturday, November 10, beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets, costing £5 or £3 for concessions, can be obtained by calling (0113) 273-5343.
Autumn Show: Barwick in Elmet Horticultural Society will hold its Autumn Show and annual general meeting on Monday, November 12 at Barwick Village Hall, beginning at 7.45pm. For details, call Geoff Thornton on 0113 2812171.
‘It’s behind you!’ - It’s panto time again….oh yes it is!: Families who find the cost of professional pantomimes prohibitive need not deny their children some pantomime fun. The energetic cast of Scholes Village Players’ panto ‘Bluebeard,’ including young people making their stage debut, are rehearsing hard for the production at Scholes Village Hall from Tuesday, November 20 to Saturday, November 24. Performances will begin at 7.30pm and there will also be a Saturday matinee at 2pm. A licensed bar will be available at all evening performances. Tickets are now available for both Barwick and Scholes post offices. Scholes Village Players, the longest-established amateur theatre group in Leeds, often perform their popular pantomimes to full houses so it’s best to buy tickets in advance, though remaining tickets are sold at the door.
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Monday, October 29, 2007
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Area News
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Barwick-in-Elmet and Scholes - Ron Miller 07717 150625
Village Hall Facing Crisis: A Table Top Sale is to be held at Barwick Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am until 1pm to raise funds urgently needed to help in the hall’s upkeep. Admission will be free. A wide range of crafts and products will be available, plus face painting, china painting and a Christmas stall. Built as a result of public subscription around 40 years ago, the village hall now faces an uncertain future, according to Elaine Reason, of Leeds Road, Barwick, who with colleague Anne Thompson is working hard to increase the hall’s income. A number of new activities introduced within the past few months have failed to attract the numbers of people needed to make them viable, so have been discontinued by their organisers. Some of the remaining groups using the hall are struggling to maintain attendance levels. And against a background of declining income the hall needs repairs to its leaking roof, heating system and toilets. “If we don’t succeed in obtaining some grant aid from somewhere then the village hall is sunk,” Elaine told the Wetherby News. She added: “Barwick has become a dormitory village for many people. They don’t support community events in the way older people do. The hall is owned by the people of Barwick, though the land and the car park belong to the parish council. It costs £15,000 a year to run the hall and the current income is simply not enough to maintain it and improve its facilities. Also, unlike smaller villages where the village hall is the only meeting venue, Barwick has several places where meetings or classes can be held.” In a last ditch attempt to revive the hall’s fortunes, a renewed approach is now to be made to the parish council and to Leeds City Council seeking advice and, if possible, financial support to keep the village hall open as a community resource.
Scholes Lighting: Contractors Southern Electric were this week completing the long job to replace street lighting in Main Street, Scholes and at the Coronation Street junction. Old concrete lighting columns have been removed and eight metre high, heritage-style columns installed along the entire length of Main Street. To meet new regulations the lights near the Coronation Tree are even higher, at ten metres. Although the project has been running six months behind schedule, prompting widespread criticism from the parish council and local residents, positive outcomes can now be welcomed. Night time visibility is now much improved for both drivers and pedestrians, which should improve road safety. Also, the new columns have been fitted with brackets for hanging baskets, which will enable Scholes in Bloom volunteers to improve still further the village’s floral displays next year.
Christian Aid: A record collection is being celebrated by Scholes volunteers who collect from house to house during Christian Aid Week. This year’s proceeds topped £1,900 and, once Gift Aid is added, will probably exceed £2,000. “This fantastic total is more than we have ever achieved in the past,” says co-ordinator Susan Saxton, writing in the parish magazine. Susan has been the Scholes co-ordinator of Christian Aid for over ten years and now wishes to find a successor, though she has offered to help the new
co-ordinator in their first year. Anyone wishing to volunteer should call (0113) 2645289.
Charity Card Sale: The popular annual sale of charity Christmas cards and small gifts organised by members of All Saints’ Church, Barwick, will be held on Saturday, November 3, from 10am to 12noon. This will be an opportunity for local people to support well known local and national charities, as well as the church’s own appeal fund. Refreshments will be available.
Women’s Institute: Members of the newly-formed Barwick Women’s Institute will meet on Monday, November 5 at Barwick Village Hall, co | | |
