Plan to turn Guard House scrubland into woods

1:00pm Friday 8th February 2013 in Keighley By Keighley News reporter

Seven acres of overgrown scrubland in the Guard House area of Keighley will be transformed into public woodland under ambitious plans by Keighley Town Council.

Although a public right of way passes through the site on the north side of the beck, the land is overgrown and has been a target for fly-tippers for years.

The council’s allotments and landscapes committee agreed on Monday to create a new native woodland containing fruit trees and natural flowers and plants.

The council will plant dozens of trees on the site during coming years in the hope the project will attract more wildlife, as well as giving the people of Keighley a new open space to enjoy. Extra tree planting would also reduce the risk of flooding.

Committee chairman, Councillor Brian Morris, said the council would part-fund the project, and hoped grants from various different organisations would give them a healthy budget. He admits the woodland would take “many years” to complete.

Coun Morris said it was not uncommon to find things like fridges left on the land. He added: “We will need to clear a lot of rubbish that’s been dumped there first, then we can look at sourcing trees.

“We want to get schools involved, get kids down to plant bluebells. If they get involved they will be more likely to go back to the woods.

“It is a big project and it is going to cost some money, but at the end of the day, everyone is going to benefit, including local wildlife.”

Coun Morris said: “There is a public right of way that passes through there, and we want to link that up with areas like Holme House Wood.

“The land is quite steep, so what better way to reduce flooding and stabilise the ground than plant some trees?”

Comments(26)

The Boys says...
1:48pm Fri 8 Feb 13

What a lovely idea. I trust the youth of Keighley will keep it free from litter, syringes, graffiti & used johnnys?

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Stevo54 says...
5:01pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Good comment The Boys.

Back in the day I went to Our Lady Of Victories School and one teacher I think his name was Mr Leadle or perhaps Leedle used to have us traipsing around the area they are talking about admiring the greenery etc. It was a fantastic time and I hope it is restored to it's former glory but I fear you may be correct in your comments re litter and worse.

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nannatyke says...
5:39pm Fri 8 Feb 13

This is what the Keighley Town Council should be doing. However, not long ago it sold the Skipton Road Allotment Site for over £148,000 and gave £110,000 to the Civic Centre to pay its bills. There was 150 on the waiting list at the time,
Yes that is the Civic Centre that is running a massive deficit in the leader article in this paper.
Where were you then Councillor Morris

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jimmy k says...
4:08pm Sun 10 Feb 13

so what are we supposed to do the boys give up and let the scum win?

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Graham Forsyth says...
6:59pm Tue 12 Feb 13

Planting trees and flowers will be a bigger growth project than the civic centre. If it's a big project and will cost lots of money, that rules out K.T.C. On the other hand they have just voted themselves a 72.6 percent precept increase, so if there is anything left after bailing out the civic centre they may be able to contribute. If still short of money they could look at selling some more allotments.

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samuels david says...
7:58pm Tue 12 Feb 13

Nannatyke;

Quite obviously Keighley Town Council should be doing sensible things, but just remember who is running Keighley Town Council.

If providing land for allotments and playing fields was ever a priory then the Skipton Road Allotment site would not have been sold as everybody knows there were 150 on the waiting list at the time for plots.

To be fair to Morris however, he did put up a fight, but in my view was beaten by the hierarchy big powder puff guns, and was forced to retire embarrassingly from the one-sided fight.

That the Civic Centre is running a massive deficit, as stated in the leader article in this Keighley News paper s not relevant to those in charge of KTC, it is ego and arrogance which takes precedence over financial probity.

The financial running sore that is the Civic Centre needs to be tackled now. The building and contents needs to be closed, sold off and the huge loans paid off before more Grit bins are brought.

I’m all for landscaping and trees planted, the more the happier I and many in Keighley would be.

More good news: I’ve heard today that, unofficially, two senior officials from a Bradford Charity have had a sneak look around the Civic Centre with a view to buying or renting the building to house the many Keighley homeless people expected from the economic cuts in the oncoming welfare reforms.

Whilst I am not that happy, at the prospect the idea at least would serve a useful purpose if the Civic Centre was at last put to some logical and worthwhile use.

I am aware a KT Councillor looks at these postings on an hourly basis.

So councillor, why not run back to boss man and give him the good news that there is an emerging situation which could save his long lost reputation

David Samuels

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jimmy k says...
8:13pm Tue 12 Feb 13

oh here we go prepare for another thread to be shut down.

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samuels david says...
10:32pm Tue 12 Feb 13

jimmy k: Its not like you to be so slow;. Fifteen minutes to pounce of a site that is to do with Precepts money and which our business like Keighley Council may wish to sell to prop up the money pit. (Civic Centre.)
Nod if I'm right next time we meet!

David Samuels

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Little Green Man says...
9:57am Wed 13 Feb 13

It would be nice to see more trees around the town, you never have too many trees! Yet still the usual subjects moan... Out here in the far east (yes I'm still here in case you were wondering) there are trees everywhere inside and out. It makes the atmosphere much nicer I think :-)

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samuels david says...
10:15am Wed 13 Feb 13

Mr Forsyth: I have just noticed a 9.57 posting from the Far East.

There seems to be a faint possibility that old some diehard KT Councillor likes the idea of more trees in Keighley rather than wasting the next forty eight years losing ratepayers money on the Civic Centre.

I could be wrong, or you could be right in that the diehards must be heroic and sink with the disaster, (Civic Centre) they constructed.

David Samuels

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Little Green Man says...
1:01pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Very funny Dave, but as you know I have nothing to do with the council nor do I care about KTC. Still its good of you to remember me. Trees are good for everyone, surely you cant deny that?

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Graham Forsyth says...
1:33pm Wed 13 Feb 13

L.G.M, trees are wonderful and help to enrich our lives, on that I am in full agreement with you. That aside, it is the wood running the town council that is the problem for Keighley.

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samuels david says...
4:19pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Mr Forsyth: I have to admit, I’ve 'stolen' one of your poems, 'ditties' if you prefer. I 'wood' wish many more people around the world could see that battles at being fought for the right of free speech and democracy even in beautiful West Yorkshire.

Here it Is
Council chamber within town hall

Order! Order! The mayor's shrill call

Authority from his worship emanates,

Parishioners await to hear their fate.

Second class stamp is held on high,

The precept hike to justify,

The cost of which the gathered are told,

Tis less than stamp asked from Keighley's old,

Self satisfied, his point well
made,

From limelight steps back into shade.

To his right another mannequin,

Arises in support of his councillor kin,

List of figures to read out,

Leaving all there gathered in no doubt,

In his view an increase is needed,

Civic Centre debt, that goes unheeded.

Across the chamber another orates,

To further seal parishioners fate,

The rise we're told has nothing to do,

With the Civic Centre having fallen though,

Government cuts they are to blame,

My god, have these people no shame.

Majority votes are in the Ya,

Council once more has got it's way,

Financial losses will be made good,

There the opposite of Robin Hood.

--------------------
-------------------
Your words echoed the thoughts of those of us who care for others.

The many within Keighley, who, as I am fully aware on a daily basis, count individual pieces of coal placed on old fashioned coal fires because they can’t afford gas or electric fires.

Be aware Mr Forsyth, you may have a visit from the law on behalf of KTC who go to great pains to squash any flowering rise of dissent against the financial policy of KTC which is to be paid for over the next half century.

Whatever is said about Morris, Mr Forsyth, and I don’t like the man, he is the most capable with trees and flowers than all of the other put together.

They have burdened Keighley with huge debt fastened around the necks of our children’s, children.

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nannatyke says...
4:44pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Where's the money coming from Cllr Morris. Because in your January 2013 Finance Minutes all committees, that would include your allotments one, were told to curb spending.

I don't expect to see any more tea and biccies at the next council meeting then, if money is tight!

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Graham Forsyth says...
5:20pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Nannatyke, K.T.C finances have had a reprieve, they have voted to pass on the deficit to the parishioners, therefore I see that tea and biscuits will continue.

Here's the cause of the deficit.

Civic Centre

An idea hatched within addled brain,
Of business skills little to claim,
Within the town halls hallowed bower,
The plan agreed by an inept shower.

The old cop shop was to be used,
As reported on by the Keighley News,
Self-financing it was to be,
Not a penny cost to you or me,

Twill all be done by P.W.B.L,
Alas, that has all gone to hell,
Deficit is now the norm,
Of hard earned money parishioners shorn.

Allotment sale money also used
While 150 made up the queue,
Potential growers left waiting on,
Growing land forever gone.

Of needed partners five were stated,
All have signed up was related,
Of partners five there's ner a sign,
Indication of it's decline,

From far and near all were to come,
Horse and cart adding too the fun,
From times agone a black maria,
Now the situations looking dire.

Once more within that hallowed bower,
The architects squirm and glower,
To pick amongst themselves a group,
Financial losses to recoup.

A special committee they now declare,
Will take the centre into their care,
To stop the fiscal haemorrhaging,
Lest they have to pawn mayoral bling.

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samuels david says...
5:49pm Wed 13 Feb 13

With respect nannatyke, I suggest that you have a lot to learn.

Come what may,tea, biscuits, trips to London, and the seaside, Gold badges, pictures on the walls etc. are De Rigour for many of our honourable Town Councillors.

When as a KT councillor I placed 25p in the plate for my cup of tea, I was spat on by a member of council, in chambers, it got a laugh, by the the hierarchy!

Later on I was reported by another honourable member to the tax authorities for not paying tax. (Six months later, after an extensive investigation of my financial affairs, two cheques, with a value of approx £350 was posted through my letter box, it got a bigger laugh, by members of my family and as my ex Jewish turned devote Catholic sister from Huddersfield had died from Cancer, guess who received the benefit of a dishonourable attempt to disgrace me?)

So nannatyke never forget, some members of council representatives have sacrosanct priorities towards ‘perks’ paid for by the public and will fight you all the way to the cash box.

David Samuels

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samuels david says...
6:00pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Ps nannatyke, even as a pensioner I never took or received a penny for expenses,( I’m miserable and don’t smoke or drink, the stuff makes me sick.)

Nobody has ever quantified the value of these £2000 trips to the Hilton Hotel to precept payers to me.

Maybe I have a different set of morals.

DS

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samuels david says...
6:06pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Amended above note:


Ps nannatyke,

as a Councillor and a pensioner I never took or received a penny for expenses,( I’m miserable and don’t smoke or drink, the stuff makes me sick.)

Nobody has ever quantified the value of these £2000 trips to the Hilton Hotel to me or the Keighley precept payers.

Maybe I have a different set of morals.

DS

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cronk stanley says...
7:33pm Wed 13 Feb 13

The Mayoral bling, does this belong to Bradford M.D.C. ? If so, why is is not on display in Cliff Castle ? How did The Town Council get hold of it ?

As for the trees, exactly what a Parish should be doing. instead of buying redundant police stations.

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Graham Forsyth says...
9:07pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Fairs fair cronk stanley, K.T.C did turn it from a redundant police station into a redundant civic centre.

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samuels david says...
9:53pm Wed 13 Feb 13

cronk stanley:

The Mayoral bling, does belong to Bradford M.D.C;

My analogy is as follows.

With a newly born child you expect some level of intelligenge to develop in that child.

You do not expect the child to degenerate into a retarded piece of expensive silt of no worth except that of laughter for your peers.

Bradford M.D.C loaned the bling as one would give a retarded dog a bone to play with, hoping against hope damage to the furniture, (reputation) would not be badly damaged.

With wild animals, everybody makes mistakes!

David Samuels

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Graham Forsyth says...
7:55am Thu 14 Feb 13

The Town Hall on Bow Street also belongs to Bradford M.D.C. So Bradford have the Town Hall and the mayoral bling, K.T.C have the Civic Centre on North Street and Bella the horse. Don't say much for K.T.C does it.

I am surprised Bradford M.D.C trusted K.T.C with either.

Do we know who has the dominance on grit bin provision? I notice this seems to be an area in which K.T.C have distinguished themselves.

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Little Green Man says...
8:10am Thu 14 Feb 13

And what does that have to do with trees in Guardhouse Graham?

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Graham Forsyth says...
11:22am Thu 14 Feb 13

If you notice L.G.M, the topic of tree and flower provision has moved to a wider perspective of what activities/functions councils engage in, including the provision of mayoral bling and buildings.

I then remarked I was surprised Bradford M.D.C trusted K.T.C with the bling and building, seeing as it did not trust K.T.C to run the Keighley market, but may consider K.T.C taking over the running of the market toilets.

While the topic was discussing provision of trees and flowers, which broadened out to include the provisions of bling and buildings, it was not too far off topic to also ask who between K.T.C and Bradford M.D.C had the priority in the provision grit bins, as Cllr Graham Mitchell made reference to K.T.C having provided a grit bin at the last full town council meeting, and recognition for having done so.

If Cllr Mitchell saw the imperative of mentioning the provision of grit bins at the full council, surely I cannot be held to blame for emulating him while discussing the wider implication of council provision.

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Little Green Man says...
8:11pm Thu 14 Feb 13

So that's nothing to do with it then?

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Stevo54 says...
6:16pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Nothing whatsoever LGM, however that is academic as if the original article was referring to say the TET offensive of 1968 then it would of course be hijacked by the "great I am" and the one or two other experts on economics who love to lecture the rest of us who it has to be said bring it on ourselves by not seeing it coming a mile away.

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