Councillor Graham Stokes Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

OCTOBER 2003

Hello to you all, this is the first of what is to become a regular feature where I will give you some idea of the events and meetings within Knottingley and Ferrybridge that I have been involved with.

One of my responsibilities as the Cabinet Member for Resources on Wakefield Council is twinning arrangements, which fits in nicely with work I do locally as Knottingley has a strong tradition of twinning.

Knottingley Amateur Swimming Club has twinned for many years with the German town of Duingen, each town visiting the other on alternate years. The arrangement has decreased recently, but many friendships and even marriages have been made and these close relationships are likely to remain as strong as ever.

The Adventure Playground is twinned with Herne in Germany, and visitors arrived in Knottingley during August staying with local people, whilst here they amongst other things went horse riding and visited London, they had a wonderful time and took back many lasting memories of their visit here.  Herne have recently developed electronic twinning between their schools and schools within other countries that they are twinned with in France and Poland, they are looking to extend the scheme to schools within the Wakefield district, so if any local schools are interested in becoming involved please contact me and I will make the appropriate arrangements.

An issue that has been raised with me frequently is the future of the GT Smiths site. It is intended to be developed as a supermarket by Morrisons and hopefully for the environmental and economic good of the area, it will be developed as quickly as possible.  I have been contacted by a number of local people regarding the old GT Smiths offices, which is a building of local interest, and as such we would want to retain it.  Morrisons have agreed to move it brick by brick and rebuild it on another part of the site, where it would still be used as offices.

Another possible exciting development if it comes to fruition is the proposal to create a shopping area for food and non-food retail outlets on the area currently utilised by Tip Trailers adjacent to Knottingley railway station. The amended plans show 4 large retail units and a 12,500 sq ft food retail unit together with associated car parking and landscaping. The success or otherwise of this venture will depend on the interest on the interest shown by retailers wanting to be involved in the redevelopment of this area.

A Knottingley Flood Alleviation Scheme has recently been granted planning permission, a new flood bank and wetland area will be created in the vicinity of Gander Haven Farm, construction should commence in April 2004, taking approximately 6 months to complete.

An inaugural meeting was held on 1st September to form a Ferrybridge Heritage Group, the meeting was not well attended with 5 local residents and the three local councillors attending the meeting, but it is hoped that more people will attend future meetings. The meeting discussed a number of subjects including the future of the diamond jubilee lamppost and Ferrybridge Henge. It was also decided to try and organise some sort of celebration to mark the 200th anniversary of the original A1 Bridge, which will occur in 2004. A further meeting was held in Ferrybridge rent office at 5.30pm on 15 September, Ron Gosney attended, and it was agreed to hold a slide show in Ferrybridge Community Centre about the history of Ferrybridge..

For more information regarding the heritage group contact Cr Glen Burton.

For anyone wishing to attend Ferrybridge Tenants Association please contact Pat Towelll, Secretary 7 Vale Head Grove, Knottingley.  Telephone 01977 675806.

In September Ferrybridge celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Ferrybridge church being moved to its existing location with a weeklong programme commemorating the occasion, this included the St Raphael Singers, a flower festival, a sung eucharist with confirmation by the Bishop of Wakefield, songs of praise, Bingo, Quiche & wine evening, and a golden anniversary dance.

The Ferrybridge Xmas Lights switch on has been organised for 18th November in Ferrybridge Square, I hope to see you all there.

My congratulations go to Knottingley RUFC, who have obtained lottery funding for a new Clubhouse, this follows their promotion to a higher Yorkshire league.

Knottingley Carnival committee meets throughout the year organising the next years Carnival. Anyone interested in joining the committee should contact the secretary, Mrs. Linda Stokes, Telephone 01977 675110.

The three local councillors hold surgeries throughout the year every Saturday morning. If you have a problem call in and talk to us, we will be most pleased to see you.  We are at The Close, Hilltop, Knottingley every Saturday from 10am until 12pm.

Graham Stokes
Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

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