Pontefract Voice - May 2019

PONTEFRACT VOICE MAY 2019

TOUR DE YORKSHIRE COMES TO TOWN

Tour De Yorkshire Over in Five Minutes, but a Legacy for Years

What a fantastic event it was for our town. Most will be aware that the Tour came through our town for the third time and for the second consecutive year, though this time there were a number of firsts for us, and major differences to previous years.

We were pleased to learn after pushing for two years that the caravan would stop on Southgate for the first time, where freebies were given out by the sponsors, and following the caravan and a complete surprise were the TdY Ambassadors – former renowned cyclists who leapt from the blacked out minibus to be eloquently introduced by the on-board commentator.

This in itself was a great achievement for Pontefract as it’s not every town that is honoured with this opportunity, but above that, Pontefract Civic Society was delighted to be asked to host a visit, on the eve of the Stage 1 race, of Christian Prudhomme, the President of Tour De France, and Thomas Voeckler, the 2016 TDY Winner. The Tour de France owns the rights to the Tour de Yorkshire.

It was also extremely unusual for a walk around a town as the official party normally are only driven along the route, however on this occasion they chose to walk around Pontefract and to enjoy what volunteers and businesses had created. Part of the reason was that St Giles CofE Academy School choir had already agreed to sing in the town centre on Wednesday 1st May, aided by John Turner, the Town Crier from Pontefract Heritage Group making announcements. This was a real coup and honour for Pontefract and was arranged in recognition of Registered charity number 513509

the work our community members, community organisations, and businesses in promoting Britain’s biggest bike race. Another first for Pontefract was that the intermediate stage sprint finished at the Barracks, ensuring we would have TV coverage, which the Barracks Community Association took full advantage of by creatively creating their own social and entertainment hub, with decorations and stalls.

Of course other firsts included Michael Hirst’s winning commission from Wakefield MDC as Pontefract’s Land Art entry ‘Key to the North’ at All Saints’ Church just outside the castle, 3 large T-shirts on buildings, the extra large wooden bike, the large Yorkshire ‘Y’ on the Dispensary (from Pontefract Half Marathon), as well as the 80 real and wooden bikes, and the enormous amount of bunting put out amongst the masses of other decorations.

Many have said it’s over in five minutes, but in reality our team of volunteers, businesses, the library, and Wakefield Council worked before, during and afterwards, which will go on making the TDY a fantastic opportunity in promoting Pontefract as a place to visit and to do business.

A massive ‘thanks’ to you all for supporting this event, and please don’t forget, when the public vote opens, please, please, vote for Pontefract as the Best Dressed Town!

Phil Cook Vice Chair and TDY Coordinator www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

2

TDY by Numbers • Thousands of metres of street bunting on

Market Place and Ropergate from WMDC, which will stay up to Aug (at our request), plus significant volume of hand-made bunting from craft groups and individuals

• Thousands of primary school pupils along the route

• 37 blue and yellow painted bikes • 28 wooden bike shapes and 8 plastic bike shapes

• 21 liquorice-themed decorated bike wheels and bunting at Valley Gardens

• 16 focused decoration locations, plus dozens of businesses decorated and residents’ own contributions

• 14 posters in a competition for Carleton Park

J&I School pupils, which were exhibited in Pontefract Library, and the posters went onto a banner on Southgate

• 4 entertainment spots • 3 large t-shirts on buildings (Barracks, Robin Hood, St Giles Church)

• 2 large banners from Tour de Yorkshire organisers Welcome to Yorkshire

• 2 large banners from WMDC • 1 school choir (St Giles CofE Academy) singing for our guests

• 1 Land Art entry • 1 large ‘Y’ (Dispensary thanks to Pontefract Half Marathon)

• 1 Best Dressed Town competition entry • 1 Spirit of the Tour competition entry

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

3

CHAIR’S REPORT In the past six week or so since our last issue of Pontefract Voice, it has been an incredibly busy period for our Executive and Group members in delivering a number of big events, plus numerous internal and external meetings reported in this issue.

I’ll start with our first ever Community Showcase at the Town Hall in April, and it was a success, though with things we can learn for future events. We’d invited 50 organisations over the months ahead of the event and just over 30 local groups and clubs were represented. I’d like to thank Phil Cook for his coordination of the event, which showed a different side of the civic society raising our profile, working with other groups, and allowing them to network with other groups, and for them to promote what they do to the public. It was a great display of how local groups can work together promoting our town and themselves. John Turner, Pontefract Heritage Group’s Town Crier, made numerous proclamations in Market Place at intervals across the day, and we had some musical performances on the stage.

“Another request which has been accepted

by Wakefield MDC is the appointment of a Heritage Champion...”

Claire Secker from WDH said “it was a fantastic day”, and Phil Atkinson from Pontefract Rugby Club said “I learned a lot about Pontefract, and the so many committed and talented people who live here; it was well worth attending and the stage performances by St Giles with St Mary’s Pantomime Society and the Liquorice Singers were amazing”.

I’d urge other community-based organisations to take a look at our Community Group membership category which was added at our AGM, in February, this year. We will be getting in touch with those from Registered charity number 513509

the showcase invitation list. It really will demonstrate the strength of working together on common areas of interet.

A couple of the weeks later, and during our final preparations to dress the town and the route of the Tour de Yorkshire, we then had the surprise call, that the Welcome to Yorkshire team with Christian Prudhomme wanted to have a walkabout in Pontefract on the day before the Tour. This was a very special day for Pontefract and the civic society.

It is also worth noting that it was at my request to Wakefield MDC that we have street bunting in Market Place and Ropergate for the Tour de Yorkshire, though I then added it could stay up for the other summer events, such as Armed Forces Day, Pontefract Liquorice Festival and Yorkshire Day, and they agreed. We hope this brightens up our market town and your day!

Another request which has been accepted by www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

4

Wakefield MDC is the appointment of a Heritage Champion, and we await a formal announcement for who that will be. This initiative was brought to us by Civic Voice, following discussions with other stakeholders in the heritage sector during ‘The Big Conservation Conversation’ as it was clear many local authorities have this focused role. It is recognised by the Council that the role needs a cross-departmental cross-portfolio approach from heritage and conservation to regeneration and economic growth.

My quarterly meeting with Cllr Denise Jeffery and Tom Stannard, Corporate Director – Regeneration & Economic Growth, continues to raise issues and press for action. We were thankful for the Transforming Cities bid to WYCA for Monkhill Station, though other concerns over the proposed closure of the Leisure Hub (once built) on ‘race days’ is unresolved.

We also await consultation on Pontefract Markets, and action following the failure of the precinct bollards allowing vehicles to drive through which is a danger to pedestrians.

Through meetings which I requested with the Major Events team with regard to the Liquorice Festival we have paved the way for the inclusion of a closure on Ropergate and Valley Road – the intention being more local businesses involved in the event, and making more of our visitors aware that Friarwood Valley Gardens exists. I arranged for Colin White and Christine Cartwright to represent the Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens in these discussions.

Our request has been approved which will allow businesses on Ropergate to get out onto the street, and we await details on improving visibility and connectivity to Friarwood Valley Gardens during the event. So we want businesses to get on board, to open up and get out onto the street in Ropergate on Sunday 7th July.

I’ve attended a partner organisation update event from Wakefield Cultural Consortium, which was held at The Hepworth, and we are looking forward to the implementation of projects which will positively impact on Pontefract and the district. Other meetings have included the Pontefract Delivery Group meeting with Council officers, two highways meetings, one on the Pontefract Knottingley Connect cycle route and one on Monkhill Station and environs. A meeting on Rail with a representative from Barnsley Council and Registered charity number 513509

a consultant was also productive.

An event that was briefly mentioned in our last issue, though it was worthy of more information, was that of the Collation and Induction of the Reverend Canon June Margaret Lawson as Vicar of the parishes of All Saints’ and St Giles with St Mary’s by the Right Reverent Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield, on Wednesday 27th February. Mid-way through the service a number of individuals had been invited to offer a ‘Welcome from the community’ to Canon June, and I was one of those alongside Col. Delany for the Yorkshire Rifles, Cllr David Jones, and others.

It was an honour to be invited as Chair of the civic society to represent the very many local charities and community organisations. It was also a pleasure to see our new vicar circulating the representative groups at our Community Showcase; a great way to get to know people and organisations.

Pontefract Delivery Group A few highlights from our discussions to keep readers informed:

• The astute amongst you will notice the title

change from Pontefract Working Group; we are also now meeting every six weeks instead of monthly, and a number of task groups have also been set up to focus on specific issues • The Vision 2028 includes the development of a quality night-time economy, now some people will also be aware of a number of anti-social behaviour incidents, therefore the delivery of change needs to be balanced and well-planned, hence a task group has been established; Paul Cartwright has been invited to this group • The potential for improved connectivity on Horsefair from Bridge Street to the castle is being scoped; WMDC has submitted a strong bid to West Yorkshire Combined Authority for a slice of Department for Transport funding….

• Connectivity between Beechnut Lane, Colonel’s Walk and Sessions House Yard is now being delivered which is part of the wider project known as the Pontefract Knottingley Connect cycle route.

Paul Cartwright Chair with Peter Taylor, Planning Coordinator www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

5

COMMITTEE REPORTS Citizenship Group 50th Anniversary Paul Cartwright in conversation with Allan Blaza on the early days of Pontefract & District Civic Trust will be reported in our Talks Group report later in this issue of Pontefract Voice.

50th Anniversary Celebration with Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra A small number of civic society members joined supporters of various ensembles from Doncaster Youth Jazz Association for our Golden Jubilee, and we were especially pleased that one of our founder members, Allan R Blaza, could join us for a great evening’s entertainment. This was in fact the first public performance for the press cohort of the performing group, the Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra, and they did us proud, playing well known numbers from their jazz and swing catalogue for two hours at Pontefract Town Hall.

The Town Crier, John Turner, made preliminary announcements and introduced Paul Cartwright, and our guest Michelle Grainger in order to promote her fundraising challenges for the Prince of Wales Hospice, with whom we shared the proceeds of the raffle on the night. We are thankful to Wakefield MDC for their support together with raffle prize sponsors, Switalskis Solicitors, artist Isobel Knowles, Jason.Bailey-Amos Travel Counsellors, and Michelle Grainger.

Commemorative Tree To commemorate our 50th Anniversary, we have had a flowering hawthorn tree planted in Friarwood Valley Gardens, to which we will add a plaque to a piece of stone, in the near future. Further details will follow in due course.

Afternoon Tea – Thurs 11 Jul, Farmer Copley’s.

We will shortly be taking bookings for this event, which will include entertainment from Sharp Rose, flower arranging by Michelle’s Flowers, and you’ll have a piece of celebratory cake for you take home, so Registered charity number 513509

please save the date in your diary.

Christmas with the Liquorice Singers – Thurs 12 Dec, King’s Croft Hotel.

Save the date.

Our PR stall Preparation has commenced on how we will manage our PR stall this year with a small team of volunteers prepared to ‘sell’ the civic society, and some who will work on activities for young people – if anyone wished to get involved, please volunteer by contacting us.

Phil Cook Citizenship Group Coordinator www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

6

Junior Civic Society

St Giles Academy

Carleton Park J&I School

Community interaction has always been a big part of what we do at St Giles, but joining the Junior Civic Society has enhanced this further. Pupils have been able to experience things like litter picking, bulb planting and the lucky children in the choir were even able to sing for the president of the Tour de France!

The society also brought Elizabeth Moxon’s Blue Plaque into school, which was amazing.

On Friday 3rd May, the children of Carleton Park School walked in the pouring rain to stand alongside the Friarwood Valley Gardens cheering on the riders in the Tour De Yorkshire women’s race!

It rained non-stop but that did not stop us enjoying ourselves. In class we all made flags to cheer the racers on. As well as this bunting was put up along the fencing.

As well as all of these, the choir and a Y6 pupil, Joseph, competed in the Pontefract Festival of Music, Speech and Drama (in the novice choir and original poem categories respectively) – both gaining first place. We have also had children acting in pantomimes for St Giles with St Mary’s Pantomime Society. Our school works with many local charities (like the Prince of Wales Hospice – which turns 30 this year, so we are supporting them by holding a yellow day, where we will hold a coffee afternoon and wear yellow), raising hundreds of pounds for the vital work they do. We are looking forward to creating and sustaining a positive and productive partnership. The children, staff and our Headteacher, Mr Grace, are all anticipating great things to come – there is definitely a bright future ahead of us.

At 10am the peloton came through town and we were all cheering and waving our flags. It was a really enjoyable experience, especially celebrating it in the heart of our wonderful town, We hope to watch it again next year!

Joseph Groves Class 6

‘I designed a poster with a road and a finish line on it. I felt happy because everyone could see it.’

Alex Y4

Written by Lydia, James, Harry and Grace As part of the celebrations some pupils from Carleton Park had their poster designs put onto a banner which represented our school at the event.

‘I designed a Tour de Yorkshire poster and was really impressed with it. I drew bikes in yellow and blue, I drew a seat on the bike and was really happy to see it displayed.’

Evie Y4

‘My poster had some bikes and a finish flag. I was amazed and shocked when I found out it was on the banner.’

Freya M Y4 Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

7

Planning Group Design Awards 2019 has commenced by logging buildings and projects for further consideration and shortlisting later this year.

We are also exploring options for additional local listing of some buildings of interest, and separately to consider ways of assessing and recording the state of the conservation areas.

Referece

Summary

Location

Stance

19/00694/FUL

Change of Use from Indoor Karting Centre (Sui Generis) to Indoor Football Centre (use class D2) including Indoor Children’s Play Area and Gym Space together with associated ancillary space.

A1 Football Factory WF8 1HG

No Objection

19/00647/FUL

Change of use from car & van hire premises (sui-generis) to a gymnastics club (D2).

Pontefract Car And Van Hire WF8 1RF

Supported

19/00602/NMC

Non material amendment to approved application 17/03072/FUL

Unit 2 Park Road Retail Park WF8 4PR

No Objection

19/00595/OUT

Outline application for up to 52 affordable dwellings.

Land Adjacent Cobblers Lane

Supported

Heritage Group

Talks & Tours Group

Heritage Open Days

TJX Europe Tour In March, we visited TJX Europe processing centre hosted by Donald McClymont, AVP General Manager, and although we included a photograph last month there wasn’t a report, so here goes.

Watch this space and save the dates - 13th - 22nd September 2019.

Philip Henfrey Heritage Group Coordinator

1,000 staff operates over a two-shift system on the 45 acre site, the biggest building (some 1.5 million square feet) alongside the whole M62, which was constructed by local developer, Caddick’s. It is also the biggest site in Europe for the operators of the T K Maxx and HomeSense brands. The site has the capacity to handle 200 million units, though in the initial and current phase of operation processes 75 million units, so plenty of scope for more items and more jobs in the future. 70 miles of sprinkler piping has been installed, plus tanks to hold 1 million litres of water.

The site processes two million units of products, the distribution of which is all managed centrally by the merchandising team, so stores do not order supplies and they don’t know what they are getting.

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

8

T K Maxx sells more ski wear and handbags than any other retailer in the UK. Employees use an on-site restaurant which has 200 covers.

Munich is the largest T K Maxx store, and they are just about to open a store on Oxford Street.

“It was quite an eye opener!! We both enjoyed it very much”.

Peter & Pauline Ferrari “We enjoyed the trip. It was very interesting and good to get a look inside the very large building; very good and impressive, thank you for organising the trip”.

Ken & Ann Nicholls

Kingdom of Alms Our April talk was presented by local historian and public speaker, Eric Jackson, which was very well received by an audience of 32, who listened attentively to the Kingdom of Alms, where 10 or more Pontefract almshouses were referenced.

Eric explained that the terminology can be confusing as in medieval times, ‘alms houses’ were monastic hospitals or hostels to support people, though the word hospital actually meant an infirmary. St Nicholas Almshouse is the oldest c 625 AD and is noted in the Domesday Book. Others included Bede House (Micklegate), Trinity Hospital c1385 (Knowles Hospital complex). Trinity Chapel after the Civil War was built on Horsefair (then Micklegate) Registered charity number 513509

before St Giles was enlarged. The Tanshelf town-ship had many almshouses! Tanshelf Hospital became Ward’s Hospital where the Haribo works entrance is, New Wards Hospital was on Love Lane, Thwaite’s c.1800 (Newgate), New Thwaite’s Hospital (Hartley Park). Micklegate also housed Bede House c.1600’s supported by William Perfect and the Old Perfect Hospital became flats and is now offices. Frank’s Hospital was next to Perfect’s. Cowper’s Hospital was on Cornmarket till 1765, then moved to North Baileygate & the Butts (where a first floor was added).

Watkinson’s Hospital is now demolished though Northgate had nine almshouses. Pontefract had far greater number of almshouses for its size; Wakefield only had two.

The later phase of alms house creation came in the form of industrialist philanthropists who provided a number of properties in recent centuries, namely Robson’s Almshouses around the time of the coronation of King Edward VII, where there remains a private house. Robson’s (Southgate) has four dwellings behind a very grand façade, a new Micklegate complex followed. Nellie Ryder Almshouses (Halfpenny Lane) came via £17k legacy though the building cost £23k. In 2016-17, the John Mercer almshouses (Halfpenny Lane) were added to the estate, which recently received one of our Design Awards.

All in all, it was a very enlightening talk for which we thanked Eric.

Paul Cartwright www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

9

Paul Cartwright in Conversation with Allan Blaza

different times which has the involvement and some financial support from the civic society for internal decoration.

On Tuesday 14 May, the Nelson Room at Pontefract Town Hall was the backdrop for a fascinating hour of tales from Allan Blaza, a founder member and first Secretary at the birth of Pontefract & District Civic Trust in May 1969. With a different room layout to our other talks, Allan & Paul were sat on easy chairs with a coffee table in front of the fireplace, with the audience ‘in the round’, and at Allan’s request, images of events and people from the era together with pop music the late 60’s/early 70’s were played to set the scene.

On a personal note, I was amazed to hear the status of some of the former guests for the annual dinners invited by the then President, Lady Rosse (mother of Lord Snowdon) from Womersley Hall, which included Sir John Betjeman, Nikolaus Pevsner, Patrick Moore, and Princess Margaret who was revealed to be a Lucky Strike chain smoker!

Just before Allan spoke, he’d said he was slightly nervous about having enough interesting material to talk about - he needn’t have worried, It was captivating from start to finish, and Allan had to be ‘reined in’ by his co-host, Paul Cartwright, on several occasions.

“I was amazed to hear the status of some of the former guests for the annual dinners...”

Starting with the wider context in the UK and worldwide, Allan reminded us of events, people and inventions from 1969, he then then went on to describe how the Civic Society (then called the Civic Trust) came about and described some of the early involvements. One of particular interest was the campaign to stop unsympathetic paving and street furniture being used in the refurbishment of Pontefract town centre.

Other reminiscences included the loss of New Hall (a fine Elizabethan House), the Georgian Micklegate House, Great Northern House and the Flying Horse pub. He went on to briefly describe the support and campaigning for the formation of Pontefract’s four conservation areas, a early litter campaign involving schoolchildren, Jubilee Way severing the town, and two refurbishments of Pontefract Town Hall done at

Registered charity number 513509

David Hogg Talks &Tours Coordinator

Highways Group Monkhill Masterplan Civic Society Chair Paul Cartwright and the three members of our Highways Group met Paul Stevenson (WMDC Transportation Planning Manager) on 16 May to exchange ideas and seek common ground on future plans for the Monkhill area, including the station.

The long-promised service frequency improvement of two trains per hour to Leeds was welcomed, though this has led to growth in passenger numbers such that the demand on car parking exceeds capacity (as we predicted in 2010 and again in 2013). Wakefield MDC is now working on a £6 million funding bid to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

by July, in order to deliver a number of significant improvements, once options have been assessed, as below:

• Ownership of the station approach road is likely

to be transferred from Network Rail to WMDC. If the bid is successful then improvements will be made to the road surface and the crumbling margins to the carriageway • A number of options were suggested by us to improve parking, accessibility, safety and security.

These include options on which piece of land could be used for car parking on either side of the approach road and Black Walk (four plots considered), plus north of platforms and rails (currently allotments). Land ownership between www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

10

• •

•

•

WMDC, Network Rail and a property developer around the Railway Inn would need consideration Car parking on two levels with stilts and ramps, whether elevated or sunken Pedestrian and cycle access is already being improved as part of the Pontefract Knottingley Connect project with an option to use the route through to Ferrybridge Road via the Maltings site (at our request), which must be developed with safety in mind over the bridge over Monkhill Lane Access for disabled passengers and those carrying heavy luggage between platforms is not being fully addressed as yet. Much more thought needs to be applied Likewise there is a desire for a proper bus connection, which is only likely to happen if there is local authority provision or grant

After many years, it was obvious that our ideas and those of the local authority were heading in the same direction.

Derek Vaux Highways Group Secretary

Registered charity number 513509

WELCOME to the following new members: • • • • • • • • • • •

Karen Haddock Lynne Hartley Pauline MacDonald Virgo Boutique Jaydn Edwards Michael & Cheryl Scott Patricia Richardson Brian Langley Friends of Pontefract Park Pontefract in Bloom Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens • Pontefract Heritage Partnership www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

11

2019 Events For 2019, our monthly talks will be in the Nelson Room of Pontefract Town Hall.

Tues 4 June

Guided full-day visit to Halifax (Piece Hall, Borough Market and Town Hall) hosted by Halifax Civic Trust

Tues 11 June

Mollie Garbett

Talk: “The History of Methodism in Pontefract – From John Wesley to the present day”

Tues 9 July

Merran McCrae & Ian Harvey

Keynote Speakers: Civic Perspectives from the CEOs

Thurs 11 Jul

Afternoon Tea & Entertainment (Farmer Copleys)

Thur 18 July

Guided half-day visit to Howden hosted by Howden Civic Society

Tues 10 September

Antonino Vella

13-15 & 19-22 September

Heritage Open Days (various venues and events)

Tues 8 October

Eric Houlder

Sat 26 October

Hosting YHACS Regional Meeting

Tues 12 November

Roger Ellis

Thurs 12 December

Christmas with the Liquorice Singers (King’s Croft Hotel)

Talk: “Interpreting Pontefract at the Museum and Castle”

Talk: “Infrared Colour Aerial Photography in War, Local History, and Archaeology” “The Fletcher Rhodes Collaboration - Text by J S Fletcher with local drawings by GP Rhodes”

December (Date TBC) Annual Christmas Dinner Never fear, as our 2020 programme is already being finalised!

Executive Committee Contacts Chair

Paul Cartwright

01977 708658

chairman@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

Vice Chair

Phil Cook

07931700021

vicechair@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

Secretary

Karl Gilbert

07598336027

secretary@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

Treasurer

Ian Wood

07806 916 937

treasurer@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

Planning Group Coordinator

Peter Taylor

01977 703050

p.taylor569@btinternet.com

Rail Group & Talks & Tours Group Coordinator

David Hogg

07910564141

david.hogg1@live.co.uk

Co-opted & Pontefract in Bloom

Colin White

01977 795074

whitedrc@sky.com

Heritage Group Coordinator

Philip Henfrey

01977 798517

henfreyphilip@gmail.com

Highways Group Coordinator

Anthony Dee

01977 701866

anthony.deefamily@gmail.com

Other Contacts

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

12

OTHER SOCIETY REPORTS some of the class winners will be performing alongside special guests Castleford Young Musicians. This is being held at Central Methodist Church at 7pm and tickets are now on sale at £7.

Brenda Adams Secretary Email: admin@pontfest.org.uk Telephone: 07966744929

Pontefract Festival of Music Speech and Drama Pontefract Festival of Music Speech and Drama held its 15th annual festival in March with over 200 entries. The festival provides a performance platform for amateur performers to gain experience in front of any audience and gain useful feedback from an experienced adjudicator on how they may improve. There are music classes for solo voice, duet, choirs and instrumental classes for beginners and for the more experienced and it caters for all age groups. Speech and Drama has poetry reading, bible reading, sight reading, drama and many other classes including an original poem class.

The Young Musician of the Festival is chosen each year and the winner was Joe Knox, a very talented drummer who picked up the prize for the second year in a row.

The festival syllabus outlining all the classes available to enter and all the entry details will be available in September from the website pontfest.org.uk As a registered charity we need to raise funds to keep the festival going each year and on June 28th there is a fundraising concert where Registered charity number 513509

Civic Voice What has Civic Voice been doing since our last issue?

Civic Voice has sought formal evidence to be submitted to the Government’s Building Better Commission. The commission is keen to hear views on how to improve the design of homes and neighbourhoods through the planning and development process. Commissioners will aim to prepare and submit a report to the Ministry of Housing by the end of 2019.

• Civic Voice says we need to talk ‘collaboration’

not ‘confrontation’ • Kit Malthouse MP explained that the government has “massive” ambition to deliver the housing the country needs – 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s is the target. He referred to the schemes and support being led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), including pushing for modern methods of construction; encouraging housing associations in a building programme; and a garden communities prospectus. However, he acknowledged, “We won’t get to 300,000 homes www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

13

a year unless the people out there accept them.”

• The keynote speakers at the APPG for Civic

Societies were: Matthew Carmona: Chair, The Place Alliance Sarah James: Membership & Policy Officer, Civic Voice Craig Mackinlay MP: Chair, APPG for Civic Societies Kit Malthouse MP: Housing Minister Craig McWilliam: CEO, Grosvenor UK and Ireland • Shadow Planning Minister, Roberta BlackmanWoods MP and former Housing and Planning Minister, Nick Raynsford spoke on public participation in the planning system Following on from the Parliamentary meeting, Civic Voice has been approached by the Shadow Planning Minister, Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, to arrange a round-table with Civic Voice members to put ‘Public Participation at the heart of the Planning System’ Civic Voice’s Chair, Joan Humble, met the CEO of Historic England (HE), where she was updated on Historic England’s plans for the next few years with an increased focus on community engagement and conservation areas.

Regional Forum Key messages to the Civic Voice Board 1) The single biggest challenge facing both regional associations and societies in the next three years is our ability to recruit active members, especially officers [We agree in Pontefract; gaining active members is a goal for us] 2) The three issues on planning that we should like to see changed are: • Better staff resourcing of planning, conservation and enforcement teams • We need more proactive community involvement in planning • The planning process needs to more effectively address climate change and environment

Yorkshire & Humber Association of Civic Societies

Regional Meeting - Sheffield The day included a workshop from Civic Voice’s Sarah James on ‘Building for Life 12, which as a process helps grade and validate responses to significant sized new residential planning applications; this is also now written into the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2018).

A brief walk through Sheffield city centre followed, which was led by Paul Bedwell (Sheffield Civic Trust) which took as by the City Hall, Town Hall, Peace Gardens to the Winter Garden.

The afternoon continued with input from Kevin Trickett, who earlier had also welcomed two representatives from Dronfield (which is just outside the traditional Y&H boundary), Ian Harvey (Civic Voice) Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, and finally Rachel Walker, Project Manager, Don Catchment Rivers Trust presented ‘Salmon to Sheffield’.

Future YHACS meetings and Events Summer

Sat 27 July

Selby

Autumn

Sat 26 October

Pontefract

Winter (AGM)

Sat 25 January

Harrogate

Paul Cartwright YHACS Trustee/Regional Forum Representative

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

14

BOOKSHELF We have a number of local heritage and history publications for sale.

Our publications are now available for sale online, via email, phone and at selected shops in Pontefract.

Visit www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/shop to purchase online or contact us via: Phone: 01977 708658 Email: info@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/shop

£11- Pontefract’s Chequered History

by Roger Ellis

£12.99 - Pontefract - Celebrating the Past; Looking to the Future

by Martin Lodge

£7 - The Prince of Wales Colliery

by Sir Bill O’Brien

£7 - Ancient Routes Through Pontefract

by Eric Houlder

Registered charity number 513509

£10 - The Railways of Pontefract in Days of Steam

by Peter Cookson

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

15

MEMBERSHIP 2019 2019 online membership is now open - tell your friends!

For 2019, we are going to trial reduced membership fees for individual members and couples at the same household; all we ask is that you are on email to achieve this special rate. Our plan is to significantly grow our membership, particularly with younger audiences who support strategy, and who will hopefully get involved.

For more information on becoming a member, please visit http://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/ product-category/membership/

Individual Member (with email) Individual Member (without email) Joint Members (same address &

£5 £15 £8

with email) RENOWNED SWING BAND IN CONCERT

MUSIC FROM THE SWING ERA TO PRESENT DAY

CELEBRATING PONTEFRACT IN BLOOM

4TH JULY AT 7.30PM ST GILES’ CHURCH

A GREAT START TO LIQUORICE FESTIVAL

Joint Members (same address &

£20

without email) Bronze Business Member

£45

Silver Business Member

£95

Gold Business Member

£195

Community Group Member

£20

Honorary Membership

No fee

Junior Civic Society Membership

No fee

ALL PROCEEDS TO PONTEFRACT IN BLOOM

Ticket £10 includes refreshments Tickets on sale at St Giles’ Church (Saturdays) Pontefract Library Pomfret Gallery Email: pontefractinbloom@gmail.com

Street Address City, ST ZIP Code Telephone Website Company Name

@pontefractinbl1

www.pontefractinbloom.btck.co.uk

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

16

Find out what’s

Donations & Bequests

happening The Dispensary closed in 2011 and is now derelict

The Grade 1 listed Hermitage has been closed to the

Have you thought of making a donation to Pontefract Civic Society during your lifetime, or leaving us some money in your will?

public for 10 years

THURSDAY 13TH JUNE 7PM

ST GILES’ CENTRE A meeting about Pontefract Dispensary and Hermitage, the problems and solutions.

Presentations by Chris Short, Water Quality Consultant and Colin White, Chair, Pontefract Heritage Partnership

The Hermitage is at risk from flooding

What can be done to save this heritage asset?

WEBSITE:

Pontefractheritage.co.uk

E

Update 2018 - 19 Looking to the future of the

This newsletter and the Annual Reports on our website show the tremendous work the society and our members are doing to make Pontefract a better place. To continue our important work at its present level, or in fact expand it as we plan to do, then we have a pressing need for more resources.

The beneficial position of the society is both it’s independence and non-political stance, and that we do not rely of public sector grants to conduct our core activities. As the town’s watchdog on planning, architecture, heritage and public amenities, we can speak on behalf of those who live and work in Pontefract, without fear or favour.

We would be absolutely delighted if you would make a donation or a bequest. Both the Chair and the Secretary are available if you wish to discuss this in more detail.

Valley Gardens

Plans for improvements 2019 and beyond

Events for 2019

TUESDAY 18TH JUNE

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING & AGM 7pm at Central Methodist Church, Newgate, Pontefract. Free parking.

Tackling antisocial behaviour

Your ideas and input welcome [COMPANY NAME] [Street Address] [City, ST ZIP Code] [Telephone] [Web Address]

E

Everyone welcome

Registered charity number 513509

[Dates and Times] [Dates and Times]

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

17

With thanks to our business members...

- Gold Member -

- Gold Member -

- Gold Member -

- Gold Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Silver Member -

- Bronze Member -

- Bronze Member -

- Bronze Member -

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

18

What’s On in 2019 Thurs 13 Jun

Dispensary & Hermitage Update

St Giles Church

Sun 16 Jun

PoW Pontefract 10k

Pontefract Park

Tues 18 Jun

Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens AGM

Central Methodist Church

Sat 22 Jun

Proms at the Castle

Pontefract Castle

Sat 29 Jun

Darrington Feast & Fayre

Village Field, Darrington

Sun 30 Jun

Farm Festival

Farmer Copleys

Thurs 4 Jul

Syd Allen Big Band (for Pontefract in Bloom)

St Giles Church

Sat 6 Jul

Armed Forces Day

Pontefract Park

Sun 7 Jul

Pontefract Liquorice Festival

Town Centre, Friarwood Valley Gardens & Pontefract Castle

Thurs 1 Aug

Yorkshire Day

Town Centre, Friarwood Valley Gardens & Pontefract Castle

Sat 10 Aug

PoW Pont Dance

Pontefract Town Hall

Sat 17 Aug

Friarwood Festival

Friarwood Valley Gardens

Sun 29 Sept

Pontefract Half Marathon

Sat 19 Oct

Pontefract Lantern Festival

Castle, town centre & Friarwood Valley Gardens

Sun 10 Nov

Remembrance Sunday

War Memorial

Mon 11 Nov

Remembrance Day

War Memorial

Acknowledgements: Photographs courtesy of Christine & Paul Cartwright, Phil Cook, DYJO, Michael Hirst, Chris Pennock and Colin White.

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

19