The Conservative Councillors for Birstall and Birkenshaw, Robert Light, Liz Smaje and Andrew Palfreeman today launched a campaign to save Birstall from the cuts threatened by the Labour Cabinet in Kirklees. They were joined in the market place by the Conservative PPC Imtiaz Ameen and representatives of the Birstall Chamber of Trade as they began to gather signatures on a petition that calls on the Council to retain Birstall Library and Information Centre, Birstall Market, Birstall Children’s Centre and Oakwell Hall.
The campaign follows the support the Councillors gave when the Council threatened to close the public toilets. A partnership between the Chamber of Trade and the Councillors through the, now abolished Area Committee, has ensured that the toilets still remain open as one of the last unmanned toilets in Kirklees.
Robert Light said:“Birstall Library is much more than a place where you go to borrow books. It a vital community hub, used by people of all ages for a wide variety of purposes. It is the heart of the village and to close it would have the same effect as ripping the heart out of anywhere.
Birstall market is one of the few successful outdoor markets in the borough. It is popular and brings people into the village. It is handicapped by what appears to be a poorly planned contract to outsource the erection and dismantling of the stalls behind which Labour want to hide to say that it is not viable.
The Children’s Centre on Fieldhead provides a wide range of essential support to people of all ages from right around the Ward. To lose it would leave many people isolated, disabled residents without support and young families without the essential guidance that the Centre provides. It is a focus point for the Fieldhead community and we cannot afford to lose the support and opportunities given to so many people.
Finally, do we need to say anything to defend Oakwell Hall and the Country Park? It is a jewel in the Kirklees crown, enjoyed by thousands from all over West Yorkshire. It has achieved national support and a large number of outside grants because of its significance, popularity and the hard work of the staff and volunteers.”
Meanwhile PPC Imtiaz Ameen said: “I was so impressed by the popularity of the Birstall market and the support expressed by everyone to whom I spoke. It’s not only Birstall residents who visit the market. I spoke to people from all parts of north Kirklees and they were more than willing to support the market and all the other vital facilities that are under threat from David Sheard and his Labour Cabinet.
I know that the shop traders are still finding it hard and we want to do all we can to support them. The £1m+ refurbishment, led by local Conservative Councillors, is beginning to have an encouraging effect on Birstall when you compare it to similar centres. I would ask David Sheard and his Labour Cabinet to explain why he wants to throw away all the past investment into Birstall and kill the village by closing all its facilities.”
The petition, which will ultimately be presented to Kirklees Council, is still available for signature in shops around Birstall.