Cllr Ian Lyons, John Cole and John Briggs
Liberal Democrat School Governors in Baildon

Baildon Schools have received £425,000 in Pupil Premium.

A recent report from school governor John Cole reveals that £425,000 of additional funding has been delivered through the ‘Pupil Premium’ scheme, a flagship Liberal Democrat education policy which has been delivered via the coalition government.

Click Here to Read John Cole’s Report

What is it for?

Cllr Ian Lyons
Glenaire School Governor

The pupil premium aims to give every child an equal chance in life, whatever their background. It specifically supports children who receive free school meals, are in the care of the local authority, and the children of armed forces who are vulnerable to underachievement.

Pupil Premium Funding by School – Set to rise again this year!

John Cole
Titus Salt Governor

Baildon Schools have made really good use of the extra money. It’s been spent imaginatively and for the purpose it was intended. As a result the school and pupils are far better off than before.

John Briggs
Hoyle Court Governor

This is a making a real difference to children and families everywhere, and it wouldn’t have happened without Liberal Democrats in government.

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Town Crier Auditions in Liverpool

Baildon Could Become a Town Again as Early As May.

An initial discussion over Baildon’s civil status will begin at Baildon Parish Council on Monday 8th April. If Councillors agree to the proposal, a report will be prepared considering the implications for a decision at the next meeting in May. This could include the return of civic regalia from the former Baildon Urban District Council, currently held by Bradford Council, and the appointment of a Town Crier to compliment Baildon’s newly established Farmers Market.

Civic status 

Currently, Baildon is a civil parish and a ‘village’, with a large population of more than 15,000 people. This is considerably more than nearby towns like Ilkley, and almost ten times larger than the City of St Davids in South Wales. However, despite enormous growth, many residents still identify Baildon with a much smaller past. In future, we could become a Town again with a ‘village’.

What will it cost?

A common complaint is that resources are not distributed equally in Baildon, and favour the ‘village’ centre. Proponents of this idea believe that the costs will be minimal, and a small change of identity will bring together communities on the periphery that currently feel marginalised. A Town crier and civic events could also have economic benefits through an increase in tourism to the area.

But What Do You Think?

Cllr Ian Lyons

As always, I believe that people should have their say in decision making. So, please let us know your view by taking part in our short survey, or come along to the Council meeting.

Should Baildon Become a Town Again? Click Here to Take Part In Our Survey

Or why not come along to the decision meeting and have your say in person:

1930 Monday 10th June 2013 – Baildon Community Link, 35 Cliffe Avenue, BD17 6NX.

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Mike Whitehouse

Baildon Parish  Councillor – Mike Whitehouse – Has Stood Down.

Last month Councillor Mike Whitehouse gave his resignation. Mike, who was co-opted to the Parish Council in April 2012, is now the third person to leave the Council in the last 12 months. The Council has 12 seats, 2 in each of six wards. It has now seen 25 people occupy the role since its formation in 2007. More information can be found on the Parish Council Website. 

What Next?

A ‘casual vacancy’ now exists on the Parish Council, and an election will now be held to fill the vacancy:

Timetable – Click to Enlarge

Click here to download an application pack, or request a paper copy from the returning officer. The address for returning documents is: Returning Officer, City Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 1HY.

Recent Election

The last time this happened, only last month, an election was called but only 1 candidate stood. Mr Peter Joseph Ashton was elected unopposed, at no cost to the Parish Council.

Councillor Ian Lyons said:

Cllr Ian Lyons

I look forward to working with a new Councillor, and I wish every candidate the best of luck.

Could you be a Councillor? 

Why not get in touch or chat with  Ian Lyons on Facebook. 

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Here is your advanced copy of the Baildon Focus – Spring Edition – Click Here

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre at Shipley Glen

LABOUR COUNCIL AT CITY HALL CUTS FUNDING FOR BRACKEN HALL COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE IN THE LATEST BUDGET – SUPPORTED BY THE GREEN PARTY.

The historic Bracken Hall museum at Shipley Glen, built ca.1890 from Yorkshire Gritstone, displays the natural history and archaeology of the area through interactive wildlife exhibits. Until recently, the museum also delivered wildlife walks for the public and school groups. However, the resident curator has already been made redundant, and the whole centre now faces closure.

Labour can’t win in Baildon, and a good job too! Only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservatives next year.

Baildon Parish Council is now working on a rescue plan but needs local support to keep it open.

Ian Lyons, Liberal Democrat Parish Councillor (Baildon East), said:

Cllr Ian Lyons

Baildon Parish Council has recently entered into negotiations with City Hall to save it. This is an important facility that provides a valuable service but these are difficult financial times, and public resources are stretched.

I have put together a short survey on this issue, and I would appreciate a minute of your time to give me your view.

Please click here for the survey. 

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” Albert Einstein

Measles Anyone? 

It should not surprise anyone that I am an advocate for internationalism and peace. Those who have witnessed conflict themselves often fight the hardest to prevent it.

As a soldier, I was fortunate enough to work alongside many different cultures, all over the world, and I saw the value of international development. I also learned that strength lies in diversity, and I am proud to live in a society that still welcomes it.

Nations of people, and the countries they live in, are wrapped up closer than ever before, thanks to the explosion in communications, a key driver of globalisation. We now live in a supranational society where a crisis anywhere can affect everyone else, regardless of geography and almost instantly. The credit crunch and terrorism are just two examples.

So, the proponents of nationalism calling for us to abandon the European Union, and human rights, must understand that the consequences are a divided, and unstable, society which is ineffective at addressing global problems. Our long term survival and human development will require cooperation on an ever-increasing scale to succeed.

‘United we stand, divided we fall’, a vote to leave Europe is a very bad call.

Ian Lyons

Parish Councillor (Baildon East)

Op Agricola – Kosovo

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Exposed Area of the Beck Nr Butler Lane

Barnsley Beck in Baildon is Being Used as a Sewer Without Warning Residents.

Parish Councillor Ian Lyons has spoken out after health concerns were raised about Barnsley Beck in Baildon, and authorities failed to warn the public of the danger passing by residents homes.

He said:

Cllr Ian Lyons

The first duty of anyone in authority is to protect the people they serve. My first concern was the safety of people that live in my Ward. So, I’ve spoken to every household I could over the last two days, who were totally unaware, and everyone was very grateful to be warned, especially the families with young children that have been playing there.

Without Warning

In a letter to the Conservative MP for Shipley, in January, the Environment Agency confirmed that Barnsley Beck is being used as a sewer overflow by Yorkshire Water with their consent. A copy of the letter can be read here.

In the letter, Mark Scott, Yorkshire Area Manager for the Environmental Health Agency, admits that his officers have advised one resident not to continue entering the Beck, but it now appears that no attempt was made by anyone to contact other households that are affected. Mr Scott also states that Yorkshire Water should be contacted to clear debris in future.

Shifting the Blame

However, Richard Flint, Yorkshire Water’s chief executive, said:

The cleaning and maintenance of this watercourse is the responsibility of the local Council or the riparian owner (the owner of the land it passes through).

The full letter can be read here. 

Exposed area of Barnsley Beck, Nr Whitelands Road

Taking Action, Taking Responsibility

Cllr Ian Lyons called for an investigation, to discover the facts, after residents complained of health problems, and a reduced flow in the Beck. A meeting was held in private at the Parish Council on the 11th March, where he asked for the public to be warned about the sewer with a press release. However, the request fell on deaf ears.

Cllr Lyons said:

Cllr Ian Lyons

In my view, this adds weight to the argument for only elected Parish and Town Councillors. I felt a duty to warn people, regardless of the consequences, because I am a representative of the people on the Council, and not the other way round. Unaccountable politicians should have no place in taxation or representation.

The next step in this matter is unclear because no-one appears to be taking responsibility. Some residents have suggested that, if the Beck is going to continue being used as a sewer, it must be covered up, like the rest of it. This would allow their gardens to be extended, the health risk removed, and the value of their homes to be maintained.

Watch the Telegraph and Argus Video Here.

Let us know what you think!

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Parish Council funded playday at Southcliffe Drive in Baildon over half term.

Baildon Parish Council has gained funding of £78,000 for the playground at Southcliffe Drive. 

Thanks to the hard work of Baildon Parish Councillors a desperately needed rejuvenation project at Southcliffe drive can now get underway. Earlier in the year, the whole project was thrown into doubt when the three Conservative Councillors prioritised plans for a playground at Shipley Glen , playing politics with playgrounds. However, Parish Councillors have now secured the remaining funds to fill the gap from a grant scheme (WREN) ”Landfill Tax”.

Chris Flecknoe, Chair of the Parish Council’s Health and Youth Committee, who has coordinated the project, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled that, thanks to the support of residents, and a partnership of several organisations working together,  we have just received the excellent news that WREN has awarded a grant of £52,000 to allow for new play equipment to be installed at Southcliffe Drive……We identified that the current play equipment at Southcliffe Drive is in the worst state of repair of all our village playgrounds.”

Parish Council swings into action at Dewhirst Road too!

The Parish Council has also been able to undertake a smaller project at Dewhirst Road, where Parish Council funding of £6,000 paid for the installation of a new double swing unit this year.

Cllr Ian Lyons, a member of the Health and Youth Committee, and a former resident of Southcliffe Drive, said:

Cllr Ian Lyons

I want to do everything I can to make sure this area is rejuvanted. In 1986 my family lived in the flats opposite that park on Southcliffe Drive, the area was in a poor condition even then, so I have a personal interest in this, it’s where I grew up!

Over the last eight months I have been consulting with a number of residents down there about improvements, so I am glad we’re now delivering real change. We have also managed to secure an agreement from in communities to knock the garages down, which will make a huge difference, and I am glad they are still committed to that.

I would still like to see a further commitment to making improvements to the flats, which are in a terrible state. Everyone seems to be working together at the moment, and I hope that momentum continues.

Before…..

 

 

 

 

 

….and after

Cllr Joe Ashton, Chair of the Parish Council said:

The Parish Council will now turn its attention to considering other playground improvements which can be achieved in other parts of Baildon.”

Anyone wishing to know more, or to make any additional suggestions, can contact the Parish Council’s Deputy Clerk, Gary Stevenson, on 01274 593169.

Watch the Telegraph and Argus Video about this Here.

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

Tailbacks at Otley Road Junction with Buck Lane

LABOUR CONTROLLED COUNCIL PUSH AHEAD AT BUCK LANE

Despite overwhelming local opposition, the Labour controlled council has begun the enabling works for development of the green fields at Buck Lane, which many believe will be a ‘road to nowhere’.

Local activists from the organisation BRAiD (Baildon Residents Against inappropriate Development), the Parish Council, and Ward Councillors all warned the planned junction would be inadequate, causing long tailbacks that would block Roundwood Road. However, Council Officers told the Shipley Area Committee that there would be no disruption to traffic on Otley Road.

Queues look set to continue

LABOUR HAVE GOT IT WRONG

The Labour Council are wrong. The Buck Lane industrial estate will generate significantly more congestion than expected in an already saturated area. The traffic assessments for this development are clearly inaccurate, and the situation is likely to get far worse. Unless immediate action is taken to reverse this decision, millions more of taxpayers money could be wasted.

Cllr Ian Lyons, Liberal Democrat (Baildon East) said:

The Labour group are so entrenched in their position they have become blind to alternatives. A u-turn is widely interpreted as a sign of weakness or failure, so we cannot assume that anyone in the Council is interested in resolving the inevitable chaos this development will cause. It’s just not in their interest, no matter how bad the situation gets.

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!

The Democratic Deficit 

Isn’t it about time we seriously re-examined our democracy in the UK, which has become a camouflaged regime, before it causes serious structural violence to society?

At the local level we have Parish and Town Councils where large numbers of Councillors are unelected, despite several candidates for the position. In City Councils, we find that a small handful of people make decisions, despite a huge bill for Councillors, and even they are puppets to the Council officers really pulling the strings. Even at a national level, we see that huge proportions of society are still not represented in Parliament, despite having widespread support.

The strength of democracy is incredibly important to peaceful society, international and domestic, no two democracies have ever been to war. However, a regime disguised as a democracy is simply not good enough, we should be leading by example in the UK. Would we prefer people to fight elections or civil wars? Shall we work together, to meet global challenges, or fall apart?

Votes should be fair, we need a more proportional voting system, giving people a real choice between people and parties. At the next election, I’ll be campaigning for a real change at every level, and to put power in the hands of voters at all times, and not just election time. I hope you will join me.

by Ian Lyons

Parish Councillor (Baildon East).

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable”. John F Kennedy

Please Click Here To Help us Win The Next Election!