## **UDVET Upper Dearne Valley Environmental Trust**
## **Registered Charity 1157514 - Established 2014**
## _**2020 Report**_
UDVET was formed by SOS (Save Our Scissett), SCAN (Skelmanthorpe Community Action Network) and KORS (Keep Our Rural Spaces) in June 2014, for the benefit of our local communities, mainly, but not exclusively, in the Kirklees Denby Dale Ward.
As described on the Charities Commission website UDVET exists ''for the public benefit, conservation and, where possible, the enhancement of the natural and architectural beauty of the area known as the Upper Dearne Valley, and in particular to conserve for the benefit of those who live in, work in, or otherwise derive pleasure from this area, the open green spaces and flora and fauna, for this and future generations.''
A major aim is to help preserve the green belt and green fields around our villages, and to encourage a more sensible approach to development: building what is required in the places that are suitable - rather than allowing more-or-less uncontrolled massive commuter estates and huge warehouses to swamp our green spaces and green belt.
We keep an eye on situations that are unhelpful to the local community; but we also welcome and encourage positive things that enhance our villages.
This year, of course, has been sadly marked by the coronavirus pandemic, with its subsequennt restrictions of meetings and other activities – which have affected the work of Kirklees Council, local charitable and environmental agencies, community and cultural action, among numerous other groups.
Following UDVET's work with a planning lawyer in recent years, we continue to check in detail the outcomes of Kirklees current Local Plan in the Denby Dale ward area; and also, thanks to Helen France, we sent a comprensensive response to the government' ''Draft Response to Planning for the Future v.1'' This took into account the work of CPRE (Campain to Protect Rural England)
As far as possible UDVET continues to respond to such issues such as planning procedures, housing needs and potential sites, industrial and commercial needs and potential sites, quarrying applications (especially those in our area), greenbelt release, and so on. Within the constraints of coronavirus we have worked with and supported other organizations, such as KCAN (Kirklees Community Action Network), CPRE and various other similar groups from Holmfirth, Hade Edge, Mirfield, etc; including advice given to the ''Cumberworth Road Action Group'' (CRAG) in Skelmanthorpe, and the ''Denby Dale Inkerman 100 New Houses - Planning Application'' group in Denby Dale.
UDVET continues to monitor Discharge of Conditions for the proposed 190 house development off Cumberworth Road, Skelmanthorpe. A total of 14 separate conditions have to be met before any work on site will be allowed to commence.
As previously stated Kirklees often appear reluctant to enforce their own planning conditions, which in part (but only in part) may be due to the loss of personnel within the Council over the last few years, and the pandemic problems this year – thus the long term problems of resolving the
'ransom strip' situation with Kirklees Council, as Trustee of the Clayton West Baths Charity (Scissett Baths), lacking some openess and transparentcy, with properly detailed accounts, concerning the sale of a ransom strip to Redrow that they required to allow building on the Pilling Lane site.
We are glad that Kirklees have taken some responsibility for the damaged bridge over the River Dearne in Clayton West (off the A636)..
Our support cooperating with local residents to ensure that local firms do not pollute air, and water courses, has made slow progress with the statutory authorities.
UDVET has also actively opposed further development on Station Road, Skelmanthorpe on both traffic and environmental issues and loss of bird nesting habitat. Major trees on the proposed site have been preserved and are now subject to Tree Presevation Orders (TPOs). Drainage remains a major issue in the area too.
Other issues of importance that UDVET has considered, and/or that UDVET members have been active with, include: litter picking in Scissett hedgerows and green spaces; monitoring heavy good wagons in local villages; also UDVET members have lent support to other local groups in removing weeds from pavements and curbs and clearing Ponker Lane to ensure sufficient space for pedestrians to walk safely; and so on
Since some of our activities concern Kirklees Council and its Cabinet it is important to reiterate that UDVET is non-party political. We welcome good relationships with local politicians across party lines whenever possible; and are delighted to have support from people of all shades of political opinion and none
UDVET has put into place procedures and policies concerning Data Protection and Data Audits in line with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) of May 2018. A copy of our policy may be requested.
Though our remit is not providing finance to those in need, we normally raise money for UDVET expenses through providing some social events which in themselves help enhance community cohesion. However this, for resons of the pandemic, has not been possible this year.
Philip Reynolds Chairman of UDVET
UDVET FINANCE RECORD MONEY HELD IN CASH/BANK
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DATE DESCRIPTION IN OUT BALANCE
01/05/2020 IOP CONSULTING - CHARLOTTE MCKAY 150.00 682.90
08/11/2020 DONATION - CRAG 75.00 757.90
757.90
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