UDVET Upper Dearne Valley Environmental Trust Registered Charity 1157514 - Established 2014 Chairman’s Report 2024
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.''
Thus we are working with the local CEWG (Climate Emergency Working Group) in helping local residents work for a sustainable future. As part of this we took part in the local authority “Eco-Festival” at Emley First School this autumn, with our particular focus on wildlife gardening, thereby encouraging local residents to aid biodiversity and combat the extremes of climate change. Previously we had a stand at the 2022 “EcoFest” at Denby Dale Pie \hall, and the 2023 event at Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church We are in the process of creating a “gardening for wildlife” leaflet to be delivered to Denby Dale Ward residents during 2025. CEWG and UDVET are also supporting the development of a reed bed waste water treatment facility outside Clayton West which is anticipated will increase the biodiversity of the area as well as returning cleaner, chemical free water to the River Dearne. A public talk on the project has been arranged for December, 2024.
UDVET welcomes positive support and information from local residents, and cooperates with other local groups and charities including CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England) to which we are a�iliated. UDVET also links in with KORS in its activity supporting local wildlife and the habitats that are essential for the needs of wild creatures.
UDVET’s community work 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.
Monitoring the various developments in Scissett, Skelmanthorpe, Denby Dale and so on also take up some time and energy. Some of these projects are not providing for the actual needs of local residents, ie, a�ordable housing suitable for young families and also for a growing elderly population. Unfortunately some of these developments were passed by the local authority before stronger quality conditions to be found in the 2021 House Builders Guide came into law.
Far too many undischarged planning conditions, as found in Kirklees Planning websites, exist despite building going ahead on many sites. It is possible that developers are trying to save money, in the knowledge that an understa�ed planning team will not check that conditions are fulfilled. Since, due to a lack of sta�, when Kirklees has put conditions on building consent, they do not then always follow up the application of those conditions.
As far as possible UDVET does inform the local authority of contraventions of planning condition permissions. Thus, eg, UDVET has given support to local councillors and residents in their concerns about inadequate drainage on the Cumberworth Road building site in Skelmanthorpe; the potential destruction of mature trees in Wood Street, Skelmanthorpe; and various other developments in the Denby Dale Ward.
UDVET continues to be particularly concerned with the proposal to build housing on a site in Denby Dale, not only because of the e�ect on biodiversity, schools, doctors, roads, sewage and drainage, but because this particular development would extraction of coal in the centre of Denby Dale. We supported local residents in their concerns, and have supplied Kirklees with a detailed critical analysis of the application, and kept some statutory consultees informed of matters that they did not seem cognisant of.
Many other on-going issues included, but re not limited to: the future of the former Chartist Pub in Skelmanthorpe; waste tipping; protection of trees on Wood Street, Skelmanthorpe; Place Standard for Skelmanthorpe; Bromley Farm quarry extension proposal, Upper Cumberworth; land adjacent to Inkerman Court, Denby Dale; remaining issues at the Pilling Lane development, Scissett; problems with Cumberworth Road development, Skelmanthorpe; Greenside mills development (aka Dawsons site); air pollution; future Local Plan and national NPPF revision; Kirklees draft statement including community involvement; tree preservation orders; proposed Calder Grove development a�ecting tra�ic from our area; etc.
We anticipate the revision of the Kirklees Local Plan will take up a fair proportion of our e�orts in 2025.
expenses, thus we recently held a successful Pie & Peas and Quiz evening in Scissett Working Men’s Club. Providing such events helps enhance community cohesion, which is perhaps even more important than fundraising for our charity. We thank all who supported our Quiz Evening including those who kindly brought ra�le prizes.
Philip Reynolds Chairman of UDVET
UDVET FINANCE RECORD
MONEY HELD IN CASH/BANK
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DATE DESCRIPTION IN OUT BALANCE
BALANCE BROUGH FORWARD 988.31
16/04/2023 PRINTING - BANNER 92.00 896.31
21/05/2024 CPRE DIRECT DEBIT 60.00 836.31
18/10/2024 QUIZ NIGHT COSTS 460.00 376.31
21/10/2024 QUIZ NIGHT TICKET SALES/RAFFLE 630.00 1,006.31
1,006.31
1,006.31
1,006.31
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