Gilberdyke Parish Council to invest in leisure facilities

Gilberdyke Parish Council has been offered approx. 35 acres of land surrounding the Ings View sports field. The existing site, on which the present sports facilities and Scout group are located was purchased by the Parish Council through the council precept in 1992, and is let to the Gilberdyke & District Leisure Assn (GDLA) and the Scouts for a peppercorn rent of £1 per year.

The Parish Council decided to proceed with the purchase of the land for further community leisure facilities (subject to conditions) and is due to enter negotiations with the landowner in the near future. Due to the relatively short timeframe it was agreed that the initial option be to purchase the additional land using the same method as the original site, by obtaining a mortgage and repaying through the precept, but at the same time looking for matched funding from external agencies.

It was a difficult decision for the Parish Council as it was a ‘one off opportunity’, but many members of the community have indicated that they would like more facilities for leisure especially for young people. Once the purchase of the land has gone through it will be up to the community to decide what facilities are required, but there is already an identified need for additional football pitches, but it may be that specific youth projects such as a BMX track or off road motorcycling can be accommodated.

In the short term this means an increase in the Council Tax for Gilberdyke residents, but the result will be an investment in something tangible for the community, and long lasting for future generations.

Gilberdyke Groups take CONCRETE ACTION!

With Carl Walton & the Gilberdyke Volunteers

with 'yet another load' of concrete

A great example of cooperation in Gilberdyke has produced a result of which the community can be very proud. At last the road to Ings View Sports Field has been resurfaced, which will make access throughout the year much easier for the public, local sports teams and visitors.

The work has been thanks to a partnership between local agencies, business and groups who committed many hours to get the work done in the shortest time possible. Gilberdyke Parish Council's new funding advisor Charlotte Hursey worked to obtain £3000 from Howdenshire Forward's Rural Target Fund which was then matched by the Parish Council to fund the project. The Parish Council then worked with Gilberdyke and District Leisure Association (GDLA) and its member groups to ensure that the project was completed before the end of the financial year.

Pat Colley, Chairperson of the GDLA said, "Sincere thanks go to all those who helped over the last couple of weeks, and for the generosity of local businesses including; Evans Timber who donated wood for shuttering, 1-2Clear who loaned part of their workforce for 4 days, Poplar Gardens who provided a truck and dumper with drivers, and Viking Builders who orchestrated the final delivery and pouring of concrete".

Parish Council Chairman, Paul Robinson, "It has been a real privilege to witness the progress from start to finish, and the end result proves just what can be achieved when members of a community work together. It has been hard work but really worth it. A particular mention should be made of Carl Walton of Homecare who took a week off work to lead the teams of volunteers and has been present and working hard over the entire project."

Special thanks are also due for the effort of volunteers from the football club, other groups who use the Ings View facilities and the members of the local workforce who performed so many tasks: from preparing the road to providing drinks.

Gilberdyke residents are invited to pay Ings View a visit, especially if they have never been before. They can now reach the sports field from the main road in comfort and will now find it easier to take part in activities there including: outdoor bowls, cricket, football and Scouts.

For further details of GDLA, its long term plans and how to help with future community projects, please contact Pat Colley on 01430 441449 or Paul Robinson on 01430 440659.

Increased HGV fears for Howdenshire villages

With fellow Conservative candidate Doreen Engall on the A163 into Bubwith

The ERYC proposed weight limit from Breighton Airfield Northwards would have a detrimental impact on our Howdenshire communities with HGVs that are prevented from travelling from Howden being re-routed through the villages of Bubwith, Foggathorpe, HOSM and Spaldington. It seems crazy to pass on the problems of heavy lorries passing through Howden onto other communities with little thought for the consequences. It is folly to even consider this when the Police, who have more experience than most, don’t even support this proposal.

The problem with HGVs in Howden appears to consist of those vehicles travelling to the industrial estate at Breighton Airfield and those using the B1228 as a short cut to York.

The option (which is also on the table) is to surely construct a Northern Link around Howden to take the traffic either directly from Selby Road to the West or from the HOSM Road from the East. This would not only take HGVs out of the town but would also allow a direct route to the proposed Press Association car park planned for the North of Howden, removing even more traffic from Howden’s Flatgate. If a link is constructed to join Selby Road to Howden’s Station Road a further advantage would be in the road actually shielding Howden from the flooding we have seen coming from the North in the recent past, and which is predicted to become worse.

To reroute HGVs through rural villages not only passes the problem from one community onto others but has a detrimental effect on both the businesses who have to foot the cost of extra fuel costs and increased travelling times, and the wider community with the increased emissions associated with lorries travelling the extra distances.

Puddled Painters on Gilberdyke's Broad Lane

Gilberdyke Parish Council consulted the inhabitants of Wades Cottages and other properties along Broad Lane and developed the proposal to include double yellow lines marked along both sides of Broad Lane from the bottom of the Railway Bridge to the far entrance to the industrial estate, with a large parking bay running the full length of Wades Cottages. The parking bay being solely for the use of inhabitants and visitors to the cottages. The Parish Council also requested that the verge on the west side of the road be made good. Consultation was also carried out with GB industries, the owners of Britspace and Gateway Fabrications, who committed a sum of money to East Riding of Yorkshire Council to pay for the yellow lines and hopefully speed up the process.

“Last week, all seemed to be well when neat, straight yellow lines appeared on the East side of the road and the residents happy. A few days later disaster struck, the lines on the West side of the road were laid after a period of sustained rainfall, unfortunately it appears in their wisdom the contractors tried to lay the yellow lines through the resulting puddles. Now the yellow lines are broken with sections missing were the puddles were, and flecks of yellow paint decorate the roadside. Coupled with this, the verge on the West side of the road has not been reinstated and a number of potholes still exist”.

“This is clearly not acceptable and we will be pushing ERYC Highways to ensure that the yellow lines are redone correctly, and every effort is made to repair the potholes and reinstate the verge”.

Damage, Vandalism & Intimidation at Gilberdyke's disused Railway Hotel

Picture courtesy of the Goole Times

The issue of the Railway Hotel in Gilberdyke has been a concern for local residents as well as Gilberdyke Parish Council since the pub closed a number of years ago. The building was repeatedly vandalised until being boarded up with secure steel sheeting about a year ago which has reduced this. We are told that the building is alarmed and inspected internally and externally on a weekly basis. Needless to say this has not stopped a small minority of the village youth congregating around the building causing a nuisance and engaging in anti social behaviour. These young people are perceived as a threat to many, especially rail users, householders, and older people who feel intimidated.

“For the very few individuals who persist with these acts of wanton damage, vandalism, and intimidation that we have seen occasionally around this building, the only answer is the full force of the law, with the community supporting the Police in their actions”.

“I feel the time is rapidly approaching where the owners need to make a decision regarding the future of this building, to either refurbish and reopen as a public house or find an alternative use”.