ARTHINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

NEW YEAR 2012 NEWSLETTER

Safe – for Now Protection from Sand & Gravel extraction until 2026. November’s public inquiry style examination of Leeds City council’s Natural Resources and Waste Development Plan heard a plea from a North Yorkshire CC officer for a much more flexible approach to the supply of sand and gravel.  He told the inquiry Leeds should not rule out using the resources of the Wharfe Valley east of Pool which includes Arthington to meet the needs of the city within the 15 year plan period.  This was important he claimed because there was the danger of a shortfall of sand and gravel sourced from North Yorkshire towards the end of the plan period. Leeds city council officers countered by telling the inspector that there were sufficient sites remaining in Leeds without any need to work east of Pool. This includes the already earmarked site at Midgley Farm, east of Otley off Pool Road where would-be mineral extractors had yet to seek a planning consent. Although the inspector’s final report is still awaited the expectation is that he will endorse the city council’s approach.  That would leave the Wharfe Valley protected at least until 2026.  However it was clear from the discussions that given the pressures on supplies from North Yorkshire all options would be open in 15 years time.

Signals at Red Recent calls by railway buffs, Harrogate Chamber of Commerce and others to electrify the Harrogate to Leeds railway line using a third (electric supply) line and cast-off rolling stock from the London tube system have predictably hit the buffers.  Part of the package would have included the re-opening of Arthington station but the uncosted third rail scheme was never going to be a realistic option. The government’s recent go-ahead for the (overhead) electrification of the trans- Pennine Liverpool-Hull route has encouraged speculation that the Harrogate-Leeds line might similarly benefit from such an electrification scheme.  However even if it proves feasible given today’s financial climate that could be years away.  Whether or not that happens the chances of Arthington station being reopened look as remote as ever.

Arthington Quarry Responsibility for monitoring Nutramulch’s activities at Arthington quarry is shared between Leeds city council and the Environment Agency. Following further complaints about the intermittent odour issue Joanne Kay of the Environment Agency came along to a recent meeting to brief parish council members about the Agency’s involvement with the Quarry and the wider ramifications of the composting activities. She said it was accepted that there was a need for better odour management which was something they were working on.  She pointed out that some types of waste permitted some years ago wouldn’t necessarily be licensed nowadays but the historical rights remain.  When it comes to stockpiling compost on local fields before it is spread she confirmed that such piles should be at least 10m away from any watercourses to minimise pollution. Over the past few months the parish council has continued to hold discussions with the city council officers over other issues including the quarry related  traffic.  One positive thing is that vehicle movements remain well within the currently permitted 100 a day (50 in 50 out), something possibly not unrelated to the current economic conditions.

Diamond Jubilee Plans are now in place to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June Friday 1^st June sees a Jubilee concert in the village hall with The Chippendale Singers from Otley who will be making their first visit to Arthington. Two days later on the Sunday afternoon ‘Party on the Green’ (from 2.00pm) will take the form of a street party held on the village green (off Station Road) with plenty of traditional activities for everyone. There’s even talk of an egg and spoon race.  More details of both events will emerge closer to the time. 

Creskeld Crescent/ Drive resurfacing It took a while for it to happen but the long awaited resurfacing finally got under way.  Though it was never clear why some of the footpaths which looked in reasonable condition in the first place also got resurfaced  who are we to argue? It’s a case of being thankful for small mercies because budget pressures are such that there are no plans for any other local estate roads to be resurfaced over the next three years.

Between the Lines The long promised new white lining road markings on the A659 Pool- Harewood road are now in place with a few new signs yet to come.  They are part of a package of measures to improve road safety from Arthington to Harewood where the incidence of accidents is higher than the national average for the type of road and the volume of traffic.  The new markings weren’t without their problems.  At one stage the double white lines were omitted from the bend east of the village hall.  After some discussion we finally succeeded in getting them back from the middle of the bend to approximately 50 yards beyond the Blackhill road junction.  Definitely an improvement.

Putting  the Spark into Arthington We are so accustomed to flicking a switch and on come the lights that it’s easy to forget that most people had no electricity supply until well after the war.  A glimpse at the minutes of the parish council for March 1936 reveals that parish councillors were much exercised over the lack of an electricity supply in the village. Having spent five years  getting nowhere with the Yorkshire Electric Power Co Ltd (YEP) they eventually resolved to visit their MP Mr C G Gibson to seek his assistance.The issue was finally resolved the following year thanks to Colonel Sheepshanks who undertook to indemnify YEP against any losses incurred supplying electricity to local farms and houses from the foot of Creskeld Lane to Ingfield farm.  The colonel told the parish council that  ‘since he had enjoyed the convenience and advantages of electricity at his own residence Arthington Hall the tenants on his estate ought to enjoy an equal privilege’. The parish council duly recorded  ‘it’s great gratification at his action and thanked him whole-heartedly. His generosity and kindness would be very thankfully acknowledged by the people.’

Arthington Women’s Institute The chance discovery of an old Arthington WI minute book when the late Mrs Gunningham’s Jasmine Cottage was being cleared provides a fascinating glimpse into the way the ladies of Arthington went about supporting the war effort. The inaugural meeting in 1932 saw some 40 members enrolled where, we are told, there was a ready sale of copies of ‘Jerusalem’ and Home & County magazine.

By 1937 early signs of war had come with a talk on Air Raid Precautions. Though raising money for charities and good causes had long been a major WI activity the outbreak of war saw Arthington WI going into wartime mode.  The regular talks continued including of course the making of sauces and chutneys but now the themes changed to include things like ‘wartime cooking’, ‘Our American Ally’, and ‘Renovating Clothes’.

The minutes record that they soon established a Comforts Fund for local men now in the armed forces and at Christmas 1940 they despatched no less than 28 parcels to ‘the boys’ each containing three woollies, a 2/6d book of stamps, shaving soap and half a dozen razor blades, a writing pad with envelopes and five shillings in cash for good measure. Nor were members of the local Home Guard forgotten for they each received a knitted garment.

Other causes to benefit from the WI’s activities included the Red Cross, Adopt a Prisoner (of war) and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Toys were made for children in Leeds and Harrogate hospitals and as might be expected the WI were at the forefront of the various wartime Warships and Wings for Victory weeks.

Their efforts did not cease with the end of the war in sight. In 1945 fifty garments were knitted for children in liberated Europe and parcels of food and clothing were sent to France and Holland.

What emerges from reading the minutes of the Arthington WI is that they were a group of patriotic ladies dedicated to helping the war effort. The aftermath of war with its continuing austerity and rationing presented no problem for these ladies though perhaps it’s as well they never thought to extend their money raising activities to the production of one of those notorious WI calendars.

And finally for your information………Your parish councillors are; Chairman Basil Thompson, Jim Hemingway, Ian Lister, Clive Fox and Shirley Beardsworth.  Val Butcher is clerk to the council ( tel 2842065 ) , email address: arthingtonparish@live.co.uk . The parish council meets in the parish rooms (village hall) on Arthington Lane.   The next meeting is March 7^th 2012 at 7.30pm.

Arthington parish covers an area east of Pool to the Harewood side of Arthington village in one direction and from the river Wharfe up the escarpment to the northern edge of Bramhope village on the other. The parish includes parts of Breary Lane East, Creskeld Drive, Creskeld Lane, Creskeld Garth, Creskeld Park and Creskeld Crescent

Arthington parish council has made its best endeavour to ensure their accuracy and currency of all information contained within this newsletter.  However it can accept no responsibility whatsoever for any loss, inconvenience, injury of damage of any nature allegedly sustained by any reader or person as a result arising out of the content of this newsletter or ant part thereof.