Ongoing campaigns supported by Jason McCartney:
Keep New Mill Library Open
In March 2009, Kirklees Council announced that New Mill library would be closed in order to save money, despite figures showing that more and more people are using its services.
Jason joined local residents on 18th April to campaign against the threatened closure, stating: “This part of the Colne Valley constituency will miss this library if it was to close.
“It’s not easy for people to just go to the nearest library – there is a big hill to go up and come back down so walking there isn’t easy.
“While parking isn’t great in Holmfirth either and we shouldn’t be encouraging people to use their cars to visit a library.
“I know money is tight but closing down a facility that is well used is the wrong decision.
“I am hoping we can have an affect and the council can look again at the decision, look at the figures and listen to the needs of the community here.”
-
MOMS – Move Our Maternity Services back to Huddersfield
MOMs was set up by Alanna Delahaye and Glynn Bates in memory of their daughter Maisie, who died at just 2 days old due to their being transferred to Calderdale for emergency delivery. The delay meant that when Maisie suffered a lack of oxygen to her brain, severe irreparable brain damage was caused, leading to her death.
Huddersfield’s consultant led & specialist maternity services closed in August 2008. New mothers now have to be transferred to Halifax if there are complications during birth; a delay which can mean the difference between life or death in some cases.
Jason joined Alanna and Glynn at the end of last year to launch the MOMS campaign outside the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. He has also submitted a Number 10 petition to move services back to Huddersfield, which may be signed here:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HRIMums/
For news and updates about the campaign, join the Facebook group MOMS – Move Our Maternity Services back to Huddersfield.
-
Thornton Lodge Project
Last year, Jason joined Lockwood Imam Qari M Abbas and Thornton Lodge residents to tidy up overgrown grassland near their homes. Up to 30 members of Springdale Street were out in force at the only green space on their busy road.
There are plans to build five houses on the site but residents are eager to retain the land as green space for local children to play on and for elderly residents to sit out on.
Jason said: “I was delighted to help Rauf and his neighbours tidy up this green space on Springdale Street. I really hope we can stop the planned building of five houses on a very rare bit of inner town green space. We had about 30 people helping us clear the waste away and it was great to see the community come out and work together. Hopefully the children and community will be able to enjoy the area now.”
-
Save Holmbridge Post Office
Holmbridge Post Office is one of nine branches in south Kirklees facing the axe. The original Holmbridge Post Office closed in 2001 but Kath and Trevor Bellamy opened the current branch in the shop adjoining the Corn Loft Guest House, Woodhead Road, two years later. The catchment area covers the upper Holme Valley meaning a long walk to the next nearest Post Office.
Jason says, “I’ve spent many hours in Holmbridge Post Office getting reaction from the customers. It’s a real hub of the community offering teas, coffees, bacon butties and dry cleaning along with regular postal services.
“We’re launching a petition at the Holmbridge branch to keep it open and would urge all customers to pop in and sign it.”
Four other branches in the Colne Valley constituency are on the Post Office’s hit list: Halifax Road, Birchencliffe; Acre Street, Oakes; Quarmby Road, Quarmby and Wooldale Road, Wooldale. Jason had pledged to fight Post Office closures “wherever the local community wants to keep their local branch open.”
View Jason’s report on the issue, below:
