News

Slaithwaite News Roundup – Week ending 22/01/12

What has been happening in Slaithwaite this week.

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Published January 23, 2012, in News

Our weekly roundup of news stories involving Slaithwaite that for one reason or another won’t be covered in more depth on Slawit.org:

Photo by Jon S. Used under the Creative Commons License.

Slawit.org on Two Valleys Radio

A bit of shameless self promotion about me being interviewed on Two Valleys Radio

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Published January 23, 2012, in News

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m going to be interviewed about this site tonight (23/01/12) on Two Valleys Radio.

If you would like to hear my dulcet tones then I should be on at some point between 6:15pm and 7pm. Or alternatively if you miss it you can hear if via their listen again section.

Two Valley’s Radio is a community radio project for the Holme and Colne valleys. You can listen to it via their website

Slaithwaite’s Public Toilets Under Threat

Kirklees Council planning on shutting village's public toilets.

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Published January 21, 2012, in News

Slaithwaite’s public toilets may be closed due to council budget cutbacks.

The toilets along with other unmanned public toilets throughout Kirklees may be closed in an effort to save the £75,000 spent cleaning and maintaining them. I am unclear at this point if the closure includes the British waterways facilities in the same building.

The cuts, which are part of Kirklees’ 2012/13 budget planning, will be finally decided on in a council meeting on February 22nd.

The council say that they need to reduce the budget by £64 million in total. Staffing will take the majority of the brunt of the cuts, but there will also be reductions in services from waste collection, sports centres, public footpath maintenance, museums, and a number of festivals in the wider Kirklees areaarea.

Full details of the proposed spending plans on the Kirklees council website. It’s a bit of a trawl to get through however. An excellent summery can be found on The Examiner.

Photo by Titiana Vdb. Used under Creative Commons License.

Stewards Wanted for Marsden Imbolic Fire Festival

Volunteers wanted to help steward Marsden's festival of fire.

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Published January 20, 2012, in Events, News

Hey you! Yes you! Do you fancy getting your eyebrows burnt off? Of course you do, who wouldn’t!

Those rather odd folk at the other end of the Colne Valley in Marsden are making preparations for this years Imbolic Fire Festival on the 4th of Febuary. The festival is based on a pagan celebration of the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox. Starting at 7pm a the old goods yard in Marsden a bunch of fire druids wielding flaming torches will make their way through the village on their way to watch the Green Man of spring battle Jack Frost.

They’ve always been a funny lot in Marsden. I don’t know why they don’t stick to fishing moons out of canals like normal folk.

The fire festival is currently looking for volunteer stewards (the last lot they had are still recovering from their third degree burns no doubt). There are openings for both specific jobs on the site and also “walking stewards” who join the parade wearing a yellow jacket.

If you’re interested in becoming a steward then head to the stewards meeting at the Railway Pub, Marsden on Wednesday the 25th of January at 8pm.

All joking aside the Imbolic Fire Festival is a fantastic event and well worth being part of (just wear asbestos underpants).

Here’s a video of the 2010 festival that I dug up from the internet. The cameraman appears to have vertigo, but other than that its ok.

Photo by Paul Stevenson. Used under Creative Commons License.

Have Your Say on Slaithwaite’s Railways

Slaithwaite and Marsden railway campaign group looking for more members

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Published January 20, 2012, in Events, News

Slaithwaite and Marsden Action on Rail Transport (or SMART for short) are calling for more members of the community to join their group.

SMART is a small organisation of local people who advocate and campaign for better rail services for Colne Valley residents using the trains for both work and pleasure.

These are interesting times for the railway in the Colne Valley. There are plans afoot to stop the local train service between Slaithwaite and Marsden, something that would significantly damage the links between the two villages.

SMART are campaigning on this and on other issues, but their relatively small number of members are feeling the strain. If you would like to find out more or get involved with the group then visit their website, email them at info@smart-rail.co.uk or go to one of their meetings. The next one will be held on Wednesday 15th of February at 7:15pm in The Commercial pub.

Photo by Rofanator. Used under the Creative Commons License.

Slaithwaite Vintage and Craft Emporium to Expand

20 more units for Slaithwaite arts business

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Published January 18, 2012, in News

The Slaithwaite Vintage and Craft Emporium is planning to open twenty units for local craft people and businesses at their premises at Upper Mills (by the canal just past the Handmade Bakery).

The Emporium, which sells art and craft by a number of local artisans as well as vintage clothing, also runs regular art and craft courses on everything from textiles to life drawing. It has also recently added VinylSource, a record business, to it’s stable.

The emporium is staffed by the crafters it supports – who are able to put their crafts into the unit free of charge in return for manning the emporium during it’s opening times (10am until 4pm). It also donates 25% of all vintage clothing sales to local charities.

They are hoping to have the 20 additional units up and running by April.

I wonder if they would be interested in selling my pictures of giant dinosaur robots that I made using pencil crayons, milk bottle tops, and bits of spaghetti.

Photo by Anne. Used under Creative Commons License.

Have Your Say on Future of Slaithwaite’s Children’ Services

Kirklees ask for views on reduction in services at Slaithwaite Sure Start Centre.

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Published January 9, 2012, in News

As we reported previously here on slawit.org, Kirklees council have proposed that they will reduce the level of funding and services at Slaithwaite’s Sure Start Children’s Centre – making it into an “associate centre” attached to a separate “lead centre” in another locality.

You can find full details of the council’s proposed changes here.

Kirklees have published an online consultation form regarding the changes. If you have any views on the proposals then make sure your voice is heard by filling it in.

The feedback forms need to be completed by January 20th in order to be considered in the consultation process.

Photo by Dan Foy. Used under Creative Commons License.

Slaithwaite News Roundup – Week Ending 08/01/12

What has been happening in Slaithwaite this week.

By:
Published January 9, 2012, in News

It’s a day late, but here is our regular weekly roundup of stories involving Slaithwaite that for one reason or another won’t be covered in more depth on Slawit.org:

Photo by Jon S. Used under the Creative Commons License.

New Facebook Campaigns to Protest Possible Colne Valley Library Cuts

Two new groups set up to oppose potential changes to the libraries in Slaithwaite and Golcar

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Published January 3, 2012, in News

Two Facebook groups have been set up in response to suggestions thatKirklees Council may hand over Slaithwaite and Golcar’s library’s to volunteers rather than paid staff.

The Save Slaithwaite Library group and the Save Colne Valley Libraries group have been started with a view to informing and mobilising local people to campaign against the possible cuts to the library services.

The Save Slaithwaite Library group states:

Libraries are not simply places where books can borrowed. They are learning resource centres. They provide:

  • IT training
  • Internet access
  • Reference and research facilities
  • Genealogy services
  • Special events
  • Storytelling sessions for children
  • Workspace for the community
  • A meeting point

and much, much more.

In rural areas, like the Colne and Holme Valley, these services are close to vital. Country communities need focal points and meeting places to remain cohesive.

Here’s the rub. Kirklees council has *already* made the cuts required by government to its services – yet it continues this programme of attrition and reduction, targeting a service that we will sorely miss when it has been left to rot.

The most insidious aspect of this is the lack of value placed on the people who make this service possible. Volunteers “helping” to keep the library running may do so with good intent, but they are not trained staff. Furthermore, they have no contractual investment in the service.

Most importantly of all, if you volunteer to work in our local libraries – you are taking someone else’s job. A job that could be paying for childcare, and bills, rent or a mortgage.

The coalition has the sold the idea of the “Big Society” as a philanthropic moment – when it is, in fact, an ideological attack on public services.

The two Facebook groups are open for all to join. And while you’re at it why not join the Salwit.org facebook group too

White House Pub to be Turned into Homes

Historic Grade II listed Slaithwaite Pub to be converted into residential homes

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Published January 1, 2012, in News

An application has been made to Kirklees Council for permission to turn historic Slaithwaite pub, The White House, into three residential homes.

The White House has not been used as a pub for over 12 months and Enterprise Inns who up until recently owned the building felt that it was no longer sustainable as a business.

Parts of The White House date back to the 16th century and has also been named The Dyers Arms in it’s long history.

Silverbond Developments Ltd who have submitted the plans for the pub also want to build three garage blocks on the site. They have said they will also improve road access.

It’s a real shame to lose another proper rural pub. But to be honest it’s not best situated to get much custom and the pub trade is really struggling at the moment anyway. I know that I’d not be in a rush to take on the business. I personally feel that it’s better that it’s turned into homes rather than left to deteriorate into a ruin.

Do you disagree. Do you think The White House should be preserved as a pub? Feel free to leave your views below.

Photo by Brenda Clark, used with permission.

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