Featherstone Make a Difference Forum

Featherstone Town => Improve the Town => Topic started by: yetion1 on February 28, 2014, 09:08:12 pm



Title: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on February 28, 2014, 09:08:12 pm
Yet another poorly (well worded!) labour party news report. Page 4 this week “regeneration plans to look at bypass”. Interesting that on only this occasion the internet version is edited from the printed version.
After reading this article you could be forgiven for thinking that plans are underway to build a Featherstone bypass. The facts state other.
The topic has raised its head for the last 20 years, ironically usually just after Christmas and before an election.
After contacting WMDC it can be confirmed that there is “NO” bypass plan. The story printed is a 3 year old idea that is unusually going to WMDC cabinet for approval so it can be discussed for the next 3 years? Toilet roll use could receive the same discussion. Why go to cabinet unless a political publicity stunt yet again at the cost of Featherstone. Let’s not forget all roads all ready lead to Featherstone and stop. There is all ready far more than enough development in Featherstone producing UDf money to re-generate itself. So far 600 new houses shows as an agreed investment to get bus stops painted. Shocking!
Cllr Graham Isherwood comments “traffic in Featherstone is awful”. That’s one thing we all agree on. Sadly Cllrs could have made the situation much easier if they had a voice and not a party line to toe.
The immediate future for Featherstone is an ability to film road rage for the next year and make £200 a video followed by further congestion due to bad design followed by increased flooding to existing flooding property. But hey, we are not called “classey Cas or Wakefield” and the majority still vote for the yellow skip.

http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/featherstone-improvements-a-step-nearer-1-6459815


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 10, 2014, 09:47:37 pm
It must be election time again.
The usual kind of well worded Labour party news report this week, with not quite the actual picture portrayed.
The politicians who not so long ago accused others of media hype now appear guilty of far worse with far less improvements actually created by them. The improvements the politicians should be pursuing appear to be missing from the list.
You would be forgiven to believe that plans are underway to start. The actual 3 year plan is to discuss the idea, the same discussion that has been going on for the last 12 years.
Reading some words as Featherstone has come to interpret one can assume that;
1.   The Stacks is to become a housing estate
2.   A Stacks development is creating UDP money. Looks like someone has applied for the first time in years for the cash to stay in Featherstone. Who could that be?
3.   The new cycle routes that exist and stop and start will be joined. Obviously any funding would not be spent elsewhere.
Regeneration! What about the many other problems and the town centre that could be fixed so easily with the development cash flying about in town at present.

http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/featherstone-delivery-plan-regneration-project-moving-forward-1-6484276


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 19, 2014, 08:16:24 pm
Have the public regeneration meetings stopped? ???


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 28, 2014, 09:11:38 pm
According to Denise Jeffery in the local news rag Knottingly is having a £225000.00 revamp.
Where is the money coming from?
Can Featherstone have the same? Considering is a bigger town centre and with the right management it could be revamped for a lot less!

http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/town-centre-revamp-1-6526706


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on June 09, 2014, 08:51:50 pm
The weather yet again revealed the old and new cracks in Featherstone’s aging infrastructure today. Blocked drains everywhere. My favourite new problem that sprung up was in the middle of the road at the Junction traffic lights. A jet of water burst through the sewer pipe that could not cope. This is the new up-graded pipe that will take all the new water from Girnhill estate, Pontefract Road Estate and a host of new developments including 2 hand car wash’s. But hey ho it’s only Featherstone.


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on June 23, 2014, 08:10:09 pm
“Congratulations Richard Taylor, I like many strayed away from the party that actually helped me and S****a with the shop frontage. I like many thought the grass was greener on the other side? Please accept my sincere apologies for being tot...ally wrong, The Labour party have made a MASSIVE difference in our proud town since gaining control once more, and let’s hope that people like myself have learned past lessons and keep voting for the party that works for our town, not individualism”.

Been passed this interesting quote from what appears to be the ex-owner of yet another closed down business in a Featherstone rented property. Interesting there is no record of any financial shop front help. More interesting to ask would be what is the “massive” difference apart from larger expenses for much less for Featherstone?


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on August 12, 2014, 09:08:16 pm
As the flood water is almost past in Featherstone again it appears for once it could have been more useful than a room full of politicians saying they will solve the problem. The usual places flooded along with many new areas that were predicted and recorded to do so. The results of an investigation started yesterday are going to be very, very interesting................... ;)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on September 02, 2014, 10:18:24 pm
Yorkshire Water has today begun a 28 day investigation to determine the liability of flooding properties in Featherstone. I bet there are some phone calls flying about by morning as the liability is either Yorkshire Water or WMDC planning. Remind me how many Featherstone cllrs are on the WMDC planning board? ;D ;)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on September 09, 2014, 08:21:28 pm
An interesting development early today, 8.15 am this morning Police officers were knocking at doors on Clayton Court. There reason for calling was to ask if anyone knew who owned the old KwikSave site as it was looking a little rough and the police were looking to take action. The only Police interest should surly be an attempt to force Wakefield Council to enforce the demolition application that was breached. The site was not down to be stripped as far as it was. It was nothing to do with a political planning blind eye in the sad interest of reducing the venue for the popular Featherstone Halloween Festival. :(

Looks like although the Police have given up on crime they have a new role as WMDC officers. ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on November 12, 2014, 08:34:00 pm
At last after 10 years of pointing it out thanks to various circumstances the drain and services issues in Featherstone are now making some people grow very concerned.
If you were not aware recently the council handed control of drains to Yorkshire Water. I’m Not quite sure how they managed to palm such a mess off nor are the staff at Yorkshire Water who now have ironically been left in the S**T.
Three months ago what started out as basic investigation in to flooding problems in and around Station Lane has now developed in to a panic full investigation fix that is still running. The plans supplied to Yorkshire Water appear to be about 50 years out of date. In fact the plans they have been provided with appear to show only drains from 1800 to early 1900. Many of the manholes in the area simply no longer exist on the plans or the drains they connect not to mention about half a mile of beck.
Conclusions so far confirm that Station lane is operating on 1800s 9” pipe. This is going to get messy and expensive given the options for Yorkshire Waters pledge to mend all faults in record times. Considering that the New Girnhill Estates new drainage sump for its entire estate has already failed will Yorkshire Water now take a new step and not allow further development to be connected OR approach WMDC planning for costs?
I’m gonna love this answer!
The best public service our local council could offer is to move the elderly from the bungalows at Purston and demolish the lot as they can only guarantee they will flood..... :o


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: Honest Pudding on November 15, 2014, 08:14:50 pm

If you were not aware recently the council handed control of drains to Yorkshire Water. I’m Not quite sure how they managed to palm such a mess off nor are the staff at Yorkshire Water who now have ironically been left in the S**T.

We weren't aware of it and we live on Station Lane, so I'm glad to find this here so I can at least be prepared for the eventual s**tstorm.  My partner and I were discussing how poorly the drains seem to be maintained/functioning after a recent rainstorm, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the suspected age.  YW will not be pleased.
Quote
I’m gonna love this answer!

Me too... me too.


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on November 21, 2014, 08:47:10 pm
Almost 4 months into a 1 month investigation of Station Lane and still no conclusion. Ironically the more staff at Yorkshire Water dig the bigger the problem becomes.
Over the past 2 weeks Yorkshire Water have been re-mapping their plans which currently show 1900 era drains and not many new. I wonder what planning has been looking at for the past 20 years.
It appears a number of problems have been found resulting in holes being dug and cameras investigating. Initial results confirm a drainage disaster with an expensive cure. The next steps will be interesting.

If this were not bad enough it appears that like a disease the problem of flood water is now spreading across Featherstone. Another problem some paid to serve would wish buried. Around Featherstone there are several areas that suddenly have lost all their homes floor timbers and floor boards to dry / wet rot. Some homes are dry. Some have un-explained puddles under their homes. Decaying timber on this scale does not happen overnight. When a drainage fault occurs as is evident it would take about 3 to 6 years for the decay. Ironically in most cases when a new housing project was previously added to the pipe work. To give you just one scale the houses on Half Penny Lane are 100 years old. They are mostly original. Is it a coincidence that in the last 2 years over 12 houses have had to replace all their floors? Yes a known faulty drain has a new housing estate coupled to it on their pipe work. And boy no one wants to know because it’s not commercial. One slip of a tongue discovered a part answer. The water table level is above the clay. This is a fault of bad drainage. I hope the residents keep pushing.


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on December 29, 2014, 07:23:55 pm
After 5 months in to a 28 day investigation the problem has still not been resolved nor addressed correctly. Yorkshire Water and associated contractors have visited the site and surrounding area many times. A complete lack of communication, ability to record findings and what I suspect to be a cover-up quite clearly shows a circle of events that has so far rotated twice.
So far:
1.   Yorkshire Water and contractors have visited the area and agree that not all the drains are shown on plans and those that are shown have incorrectness including flow, pipe bore and a missing stream.
2.   Several faults have been found ranging from collapsed drains, blockages and poor original design. All investigators agree they can see man holes and pipes that do not exist on plans.
3.   Yorkshire Water instructed a person to re-map the drains twice as the first person and his report disappeared.
4.   The original faulty pipe reported still to this day has not been inspected at all. Four months ago I was informed that there would need to be traffic lighted early morning road closure to view the reported pipe. On 4 occasions I have been called to say Yorkshire Water is on site to investigate. I always ask first if they have a road closure permit and traffic lights. The answer is always no. On at least 3 occasions the wrong man hole has been investigated and reported as ok. I have even had one report that suggested a mid day investigation had taken place in the middle of a 4 way traffic light cross roads with heavy traffic. Obviously this was false.
5.   Most recent was the investigation of my reported drain which took place in the wrong street next door. This is the main feed from the Victoria housing estate. A 6” pipe over approximately 100m was found to be 95% blocked. 1.5 tonne of silt was extracted. Although not the right pipe it shows the problem well. The back pressure from input created by new development is causing silt to settle as water cannot flow.

Everyone who has been on site appears to agree that the drainage system is inadequate and undersized for the input it receives now. Any further addition to the drainage system on Station Lane will cause significant flooding. Either the issue is resolved immediately or Yorkshire Water should contact Wakefield District Council and request no further additions to the system. If either option is not taken I believe it fair that all subsequent flood victims can now consider the C.E.O. of Yorkshire Water Liable for all legal, repair and loss of earnings claims.


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on January 02, 2015, 06:40:14 pm
The election bull has begun, nothing like a good coffee morning for false promise. The latest is (according to the local Cllrs) the Old KwiKsave site is going to be cleaned up. Hope it’s not at my expense considering the final landscape we were all left with is not as per the demolition planning application on file. This was reported at the time. Nothing to do of course with removing the venue for the “Featherstone October Festival” for political gain!  ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on January 04, 2015, 11:09:45 am
Looks like someone at Yorkshire Water took a reality check towards personal liability being shoved up them. The results for today’s emergency investigations significantly add to the jigsaw that should finally reveal that “YES” the drains in Station Lane are useless and are causing un-told damage.  A predicted disaster OR a significant opening to regenerate Featherstone if you’re not wearing Political blinkers.
You’re going to love this. Investigations on George and Fearnly Street confirm 85% silt blockage probably caused from back pressure off Wakefield Road. Just over a tonne of silt has been removed from George Street. A camera inspection then revealed that the drain was running towards St Thomas School and ended in a pile of rubble. It appears the drain at least on George Street many years ago was bodged on to Station Lanes main drain. See if you can follow this plot. At least 2 side street drains appear to have been cut off from where they were originally meant to feed too. Why would this be? Would it have anything to do with a missing street and a new school built? It appears someone cheated and didn’t re-lay the drains. This explains many things like puddles behind the precinct and flooding cellars.

It gets worse. After clearing George Street a camera was able to be placed in to Station Lanes main drain. Again the main drain is undersize and about 85% blocked. Remarkably it appears the only reason the drain is not 100% blocked is because of help from rats using the drain as their own road and food source. Estimates predict that at least the first 50 metres of Station lane will contain about 10 tonnes of silt. As usual not a word from local cllrs! ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on January 06, 2015, 07:54:07 pm
Yorkshire Water confirmed today that Wilson Street drains are also blocked and Station Lane is blocked at least up to Dransfields shop. Next week probably late and in to early morning traffic lights will be placed on Station Lane so that the drains can be cleared and further investigation continued. The evidence just keep piling up just like the sewage.


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on January 15, 2015, 08:31:44 pm
It is almost day 5 of Yorkshire Waters week of investigations. One small problem! They have not turned up yet!  ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on January 25, 2015, 09:53:15 pm
Oh dear. It appears Yorkshire Water have put their head in the sand just after confirming that Station Lane is a disaster.
See if you can follow this week’s plot..... We each pay Yorkshire Water a lot of money each year in the belief that our services are maintained. However when there is a problem Yorkshire Water have to apply for funding to carry out works. My question is where has all the money gone? Didn’t Yorkshire Water get sold off as a company?


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 15, 2015, 08:04:26 pm
And then there was silence. After months of investigations Yorkshire Water are still waiting for funding from OFWAT. OFWAT however do not give out money and are now looking in to Yorkshire Waters handling of Featherstone’s drains. ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 15, 2015, 08:05:50 pm
I have been passed a very interesting / shocking document and correspondence. It appears a member of the public has made a freedom of information request to WMDC. The request was for information regards how much money was available for Featherstone. Amazingly the member of the public has received a reply which WMDC so far are tagging with a questionable restriction to publish clause. :-X :o
What can be said is that so far out of money made available for Featherstone from two new housing estates over £370000.00 has been given out.  :o
One guess for how much Featherstone got and a second guess how many Featherstone Labour Party Cllrs have applied for money for Featherstone? ::)
It would be interesting if the press made the same information request. The details of items bought so far is just as shocking. ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 27, 2015, 08:59:38 pm
After a little legal intervention some information can now be published.
Apparently so far section 106 money available from Colliers Court has been spent on

1.   13 affordable dwellings
2.   £20,000 has been index linked towards maintaining 2 bus stops on Pontefract Road
3.   £5,000 has been index linked to improve bicycle parking at WMDC schools and railway station
4.   £115,498 to improve public open spaces in the Pontefract district with a provision of £213,452 index linked as building continues
5.   £2,000 contribution for setting up walking bus stops for local primary schools
6.   Up to £150 in travel vouchers for the 1st buyer

Apparently so far section 106 money available from the new Girnhill Estate has been spent on
1.   £92,192 index linked towards 8 childcare places
2.   £136,325 contribution to Metro towards a display sign on Wakefield Road, information signs and cycle lockers at the railway station and a residents metro scheme
3.   Affordable housing has apparently received funding for 16 affordable homes but the total donation has not been released for some reason.

Wonder if anyone can guess where the PONTEFRACT money is going and which Cllr applied?
Featherstone Labour Cllrs should hold their heads in shame! Where are their applications?


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 27, 2015, 09:01:51 pm
Oh dear, it appears yet again a Featherstone District Cllr has made yet another false report / Complaint about a business in Featherstone. Just for once it’s a good job WMDC have some honest staff who wish to have nothing to do with party politics.  :o ;D


Shame time was not better spent. Here is an easy one. Apply for some money for Featherstone for your election campaign. If you cannot see what is wrong here are some clues,
The town centre is and will increase to be a 1st view of what Featherstone is for many new people looking to move to town.
1.   Street name signs are either missing or so faded you cannot read them. Replace all £2000
2.   Footpaths have been dug up so much they need a full re-ferb. A pleasant looking and underfoot experience could simply do so much. £50,000

Sure you can think of some more ???


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on July 26, 2015, 03:28:58 pm
So over 2 months ago CCTV recorded youths spray painting Station Lane shops and a car. The culprits were named on Facebook. Considering our Cllrs are so keen to make Featherstone look good I wonder how many years we will have to look at the new landmarks?

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/lane1.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/lane1.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on August 03, 2015, 08:09:59 pm
The Editor must have been on holiday. Hat off to Lester for causing a kerfuffle.  ;D

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/one%20horse%20town%20letter%20July%202015.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/one%20horse%20town%20letter%20July%202015.jpg.html)

And in response BOTH District Cllrs are allowed a long and boring pre-written response that as usual answers nor improves anything for Featherstone.
Looks like there is a blanket ban for further replies.......... ::)

My hat off to Lester Young for his bold letter highlighting problems in Featherstone. I see telling the truth has brought out the local negative politicians. The correct facts are with you Lester.
There are still people in Featherstone who try to help to improve the town. Sadly in Featherstone Party Politics plays a huge negative roll. Featherstone has more to offer than all the Five Towns including its history and layout possibilities.
Yes all new regeneration roads lead to Featherstone and stop. Perhaps it’s because of the highest U.K. readings for lead pollution or because Featherstone Cllrs opted out of a bypass scheme?
Glad you pointed out Normanton’s 3rd Town Regeneration. Recently Featherstone asked WMDC for the same funding but was informed Normanton is NOT being regenerated and there are NO such funds. A further WMDC response would be interesting if they replied! Letter provided.
Almost 3000 new homes are proposed so far. People don’t realise the money this opens to regenerate Featherstone. There is presently about £3 million available to spend on Featherstone under section 106. When asked how to apply for this money for Featherstone the WMDC response was YOU CAN NOT. The list of money given so far is an interesting read. Will our Cllrs be applying for this money or leaving it for friends in Wakefield to grab? Letter provided.
And yes there are evicted rats everywhere. Thankfully for Station Lane they have been the only the thing keeping the drains from being totally blocked. Yorkshire Water is now 11 months in to a £150k plus clean-up after pressure from Traders not Cllrs. There is a huge problem that bizarrely all concerned are now waiting to see what happens next as drainage use increases. Perhaps an ARK and a huge flood is the regeneration plan? Letter provided.
There has never been a better time to improve Featherstone and be able to fund it. If it doesn’t happen NOW it has to be the politicians fault!   ::) ;D


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on August 31, 2015, 08:14:07 pm
P & C report this week £9 million plus for Wakefield regeneration and still Featherstone cannot / will not apply for the £3 million plus available!


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on February 14, 2016, 08:24:27 pm
Two new bus stops have appeared on Pontefract road that many will have not noticed. Probably no one cares how much they cost or who paid for them. Perhaps you would care now that you can see how far almost £100k of Featherstone’s regeneration money has been spent to maintain a LTD company’s assets.  ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on February 14, 2016, 08:39:59 pm
It had to be to good to be true!
This is a link to the latest Featherstone regeneration plan. As usual we get noting new and no new help put forward. ::)

http://consult.wakefield.gov.uk/portal/spatial_policy/rtc/rtcsub/rtcsub?pointId=s1426588411192#section-s1426588411192


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on February 22, 2016, 09:36:36 pm
Let’s take a look at yet another bizarrely poor example of the Featherstone and WMDC Labour Party approach to regenerate Featherstone.
Work was supposed to start today ripping up the paths and widening them in to Station Lane, subject of course to the Weather. Instead the road sweeper spent more time than ever sweeping the paths followed by a team of yellow line men re-painting Station Lane and surrounding roads.
If WMDC were considering climbing the scale of wasting public money they have made a great start. Most of the lines painted are due to be dug up the same day. On the other hand if WMDC were trying to keep the present look they have done a great job. By the time works are finished there will be yellow lines all over the road or scars where they burn bits off.
So you think that’s bad............ Wait till you read what is next........ but hey nobody cares!!!
 ::)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/yellow%20lines%202.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/yellow%20lines%202.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on February 28, 2016, 02:37:44 pm
A second letter has gone out again portraying a different picture to the works seen so far.
What an interesting 1st week.
Since loosing the argument of ownership of the Yorkshire Stone flags running along the property boundaries on Station Lane WMDC have been determined for some bizarre reason to get the land. It looks like WMDC thought they had pulled a fast one this time by using "highway law", (highway robbery). This has now back fired as ownership has again been questioned. But best of all is what is under the stone flags. Without thinking WMDC have by removing the stones confirmed the ownership of the land as they have exposed many brick built coal shoots and cellar windows. All will now have to be dealt with or just put the stones back. Getting the stones back could be a problem as they have apparently been taken to Pontefract to repair the town centre. Should be some interesting insurance claims for flooding, damp and burglary via cellars to follow. Discussion is definitely required.
A usual quality job so far. No hard-core and tarmac laid on mud. The finish up to properties will be awful. As the path is being widened it is sure to become a bigger car park. The paths will sink quicker than the bricks taken.
But hey, who cares!!! ::)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/WMDC%20notice%202A.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/WMDC%20notice%202A.jpg.html)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/WMDC%20notice%202B.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/WMDC%20notice%202B.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 10, 2016, 08:33:16 pm
Some interesting footpath developments. It appears that the poor quality job has had a re-think! Instead of a Mr Bean approach a new trainee practising Laurel & Hardy style has been adopted along with a new design. Just love the priority over tools for the job...... A JCB to carefully take away the Yorkshire stone on pallets whilst tarmac is hit with a hammer to lay. Just love the cutting into the roads edge surface to change odd kerb stones. The road should pot hole along the edge very quickly making another hazard to get over. ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 14, 2016, 09:24:53 pm
A positive note on the footpaths. The re-think on splitting the path with a centre stone joint is a lot better. If WMDC could see a little further perhaps they could make a planning regulation that if you dog a hole you have to recover that section. NO more bumps at a little cost.

However back to the real world WMDC were informed that the water gas and electric services were still old in many parts under the paths and needed renewing before re-surfacing. Not lame words. Before the path was completed outside the library it has been dug up as a gas leak has occurred sink work started.

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/footpath%20dug%20up%20before%20finished.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/footpath%20dug%20up%20before%20finished.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 17, 2016, 09:56:38 pm
Oh dear
looks like the old plans are back out for footpath number 2. If this is the finished surface it is atrocious.
Looks like the underground services are fighting back. The ones WMDC were told are knackered. Wednesday evening saw services being dug up but repairs were not possible due to the age and condition. This has resulted today in Fearnley Street being closed for more digging up. Meanwhile WMDC workers continue with their blinkers on. Just like the local Labour cllrs who obviously don't give a dam and are just pocketing our council tax as an income.  ::)
Who knows this should end up saving some money as different contactors end up sharing the same hole. What a bloody shambles. :P


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 03, 2016, 09:38:10 pm
You have to love the latest angle to improve services to combat flooding.
Instead of fixing the drains to properties that continually flood the latest plan is to knock the houses down ::)
Unless this is the new travellers site? :o

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/DSC00761.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/DSC00761.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 03, 2016, 09:49:47 pm
Regardless of the road signs saying 3 weeks the notified time of 2 weeks to complete the Station Lane road closure is now up. After a walk around the site today it appears the shops side of Station Lane is complete and the war memorial side just needs tarmac. So why when work is so near completion has work stopped? No one on site today to complete the works whilst the worst day of traffic congestion begins in the morning.
As usual not a Cllr in sight ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 09, 2016, 08:21:01 pm
So lets imagine that someone does care about the look of their property in Station Lane and spends hard earned money doing so.
Less than a month after several thousands were spent on this property by its owner, without permission their property has been attacked by workmen vandals. The Yorkshire stone flags owned by the property have been lifted and lent against the property. Then the soil from a hole has been lent against them. The damage will be revealed shortly.
As usual not a Cllr in sight although they drive past more than once a day? ::)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/DSC00772.jpg) (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/yetion1/media/DSC00772.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 11, 2016, 08:32:35 pm
Was it something that was said? ;D
7.50am this morning contractors arrive and removed the soil. They lifted the stones from the wall and swept up. Bizarrely they then lent the stones back on the wall that a complaint had been made about. Half a job as usual and as usual not a Cllr complaining..... ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 21, 2016, 08:43:29 pm
For almost 3 months business's in Station Lane have had a lot to put up with. Amongst the problems is power cuts. WMDC were informed of the problem s and a host of others before they began the new footpaths that were due to be ready for "election time". After 16 power cuts at last WMDC has had to allowed repairs. So half way in to the footpath farce they have now been dug up twice with more holes to come. An our Featherstone Cllrs do know so it appears they have their head in the political sand...... :o

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Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 30, 2016, 06:44:27 pm
No expense spared on a quality job,  ::)

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Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on June 19, 2016, 05:21:41 pm
Well its 6 weeks in to replacing the foot path outside of the Deli and its nearly finished (we hope!).
The 6 weeks have been interesting as shop keepers have been able to record progress. The record for the longest tea break now stands at 4 hours, plus a host of other absurd practices.
It is now quite clear that there is something very wrong with the job. The repairs are being made up and time made to be long. I wonder if the money paying for this is on an hourly rate.
Best of all the workmen are not happy as they are getting the flack for a poor job. Try this one for a WMDC leak. All the Yorkshire stone that has been removed from Featherstone has ended up in a yard where no one knows anything about it? Which Cllr has booked a new patio is my guess!

As usual 2 power cuts this week and 2 new holes dug in the paths. More to come but the local politicians still keep their heads in the sand.

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Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on June 21, 2016, 09:37:41 pm
Nothing to do with a post on a forum but by good luck workmen turned up this week and did some work. It couldn't be that easy as it appears the doorway levelling issues have just been skipped in order to get a surface down on the path after complaints from above. Not surprising was the workmen looking to dig up another path well before they have finished the one they are on.
Not a Cllr in sight as usual ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on July 01, 2016, 09:56:27 pm
Just keep shaking your head, no one cares. Let’s take a look at just the last 2 weeks of footpath history without being touched. 2 power cuts and 3 holes dug in to the paths on Station Lane. 
The path repair team managed water cut off and on over 2 days as WMDC workmen excavated a water main stop tap with a JCB and not a spade. WMDC still refuse to talk to residents and shopkeepers as works are still in progress. As ever not a Cllr in sight. ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on July 11, 2016, 09:20:48 pm
If WMDC really think that no one is noticing the continued lack of interest and skill being used to refurbish our high street paths here are a couple of picture for the record when everything sinks.
What a complete bodge. I guess outside Onestop the hole was so big that workmen have back filled it with rubbish and not compacted hard-core. So after digging a hole that was water logged the repair is to infill with spoil without compacting followed by sharp sand with out compacting and laying the same old bricks on top. Everyone else knows you need concrete under block paving especially as our footpaths are a car park.
I assume this manhole will sink as it has had it foundations removed for a skim of post fix.
And still every day our Cllrs drive past and say NOTHING?   ::)
Just a point, shouldn't the bus stop curb have a raised disabled speck?

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Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on July 24, 2016, 04:48:55 pm
No surprises with this week’s regeneration attempts. The Station Lane weight limit scheme incorporating a residents only zone on Post Office Road and the new Green Lane link road is now a month behind starting and looks 6 to 8 months away.
Meanwhile due to the new path a new water pipe burst has begun on the corner of the cross roads. Works look due to start just as traffic lights go up for a month from 1st August outside the Junction Pub.
Then the week got a little more interesting. Works finished outside OneStop and immediately cars began to park the tar is all ready pulling up and showing tyre marks and sinking. Sadly how are people to learn any better when our local Cllrs do the same and park on double yellows? Workmen moved on to Fearnley Street corner and have informed one shop owner that they are not doing any more. Best of all it appears that the ownership of the land and the Yorkshire stone flags taken by WMDC has been subject to a re-think. Apparently the Yorkshire Stone did belong to the many properties and will now be returned upon request. How much is that going to cost to put right?

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Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on January 22, 2017, 04:18:21 pm
Just keep shaking your head, it’s all you can do living in Labour Featherstone. Here is an unusual one. At 7.45pm on Friday night a road sweeper and trailer arrived at the corner of Fulton’s and Betfred. For the next hour the most unusual road repair began. Around both corners the tarmac was cut at about 2ft from the curb. A scrape was then made of the surface. Then tarmac was shovelled on to the un-compacted surface and then was finally rolled by using the wheels of the road sweeper and not a road roller. The finished job is an uneven surface lower than the original and has not been sealed at the joint with tar. The surface is all ready breaking up as it sticks to vehicle tyres. The big dint in the path caused by the JCB renovating the path is still there for all to fall in.
The road was better before?

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Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 07, 2017, 08:49:56 pm
So tens of thousands of pounds later I think a fair job has been done to keep some originality. The puddles are just the same but now neater around the edges.  ::)

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And then the suits arrived in Station Lane today pointing and planning the next footpath fiasco. This will be the bottom of Station Lane and huge traffic problems if done in the same way. The ownership of land will be a very interesting battle.  ;)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on March 07, 2017, 08:59:38 pm
You would have thought by now that local Labour Party Cllrs would have learnt they cannot railroad everyone in Featherstone. Without talking to any owners involved WMDC has paid for a survey of the canopies around the precinct with a view to taking them off. As they do not own any of them and have no idea of the structure you can only shake your head regard this regeneration attempt by the committee that excludes everyone except them.  ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 01, 2017, 09:59:09 pm
Not that it helps anyone in Featherstone but at least now we know where Featherstone’s regeneration money is being spent. It appears Labour Cllr Peter Box is not happy with the colour of the tarmac in Wakefield town centre and has ordered a re-fit at a cost of over 6 million pounds. Meanwhile our Cllrs remain with their heads in the sand. ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on July 23, 2017, 02:48:14 pm
Two weeks in to the late start of trying to fix the paths on Station Lane and a whole can of worms has been opened. So far WMDC still continues to refuse to talk to any business on Station Lane regards issues of damage caused or land stolen.
Looks like WMDC have bulldozed a little too far this week. The Yorkshire stone strip of flags marking property boundaries has again been ripped up. But instead of taking away the stolen goods it appears WMDC have adopted a new policy. WMDC has donated the stolen Yorkshire stone flags to the local smack head community. Smack heads all week have been appearing with wheel barrows and taking the stone. It gets better as they are now trying to find a buyer and asking about how much it is worth. They have a few stock piles now in interesting places.
The local labour council who do not read this site will not be concerned about this nor the breach of recycling policy. Good job it’s easy to sort out with one simple freedom of information request for paperwork that obviously does not exist!


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on October 09, 2017, 09:18:24 pm
Almost 2 years in and the Station Lane footpaths are nowhere near finished yet there is more plant machines on site than workers. Yorkshire Bank don’t sound to happy just as they close a sale on the old bank as someone has used a still saw to cut stone on their £8k front door and filled the building with dust. Must be a record for the slowest job in the UK? Meanwhile until the work is finished the other issues like Green bad parking are on hold. But hey who cares?


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 13, 2018, 09:19:52 pm
Its been interesting to sit back, watch and take notes for the last year as the **** of Featherstone continues.

It was never going to be long before someone over steped the mark. It will be interesting to see how communicative the Labour party will be very shortly.  ::) :)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 30, 2018, 08:22:32 pm
You would be right to ask why has Station Lane had traffic lights at the cross roads for over a week and only 3 hours of work has taken place?
WMDC still refuse to talk to any traders on Station Lane about the way the job is being done and it appears WMDC are all powerfull as they handle their own complaints. Oversized excavators sinking in the road are just a hazard for later. There appears a deathly silence from our cllrs. Sorry not total silence as one senior lady made clear. Apparently local labour party cllrs have told some people at the coffee morning that the bottom of Station Lane can not be re-surfaced due to the number of heavy goods vehicles one small shop gets each day! Seriously! Possibly the cllr got mixed up when they repeatedly parked on double yellows and hindered a supermarket delivery each time (pictures available). 


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on April 30, 2018, 08:23:27 pm
Monday 23rd April. WMDC workmen turn up and again begins another day of bizarre circumstances that sadly now appear to have contributed to 2 road traffic accidents that have injured 4  plus. Workmen turned up about 8 am and sat waiting in a car park. About 10am another person turned up and the fun began. The workmen stood well up the street as if they dare not approach the area they were to work on. Some workmen stood well away and looked embarressed by the situation. A wagon with temporary traffic lights loaded was pointed to park awkwardly at the junction and was then trying to read instruction from someone about 200 meters away. The situation continued and finally workmen came to the wagon to get the traffic lights. The workmen were the same very nice men and they asked if anyone had talked to any traders. They were surprised and shook their head when told WMDC still refuse to talk to anyone. 


The workmen had been told to do the next path after last week when they could not work as their plan needed traffic lights. The workmen continued to fit the temporary traffic lights. By the time they had finished at dinner time and switched on there had been a number of cars stopping at the temporary lights as directed by signs but they were not working yet.  It was clear that the sighting of the lights had been made up that morning from a distance and was causing chaos to all traffic in Featherstone.

At the risk of getting a WMDC communication ban a call to the department at WMDC who refused to talk was made informing of the of the DANGEROUS situation and the last lady who had been informed called Mrs D**** who had since moved on. The responce was Mrs D**** had not moved on but was doing a different job and was in his room. When asked why Mrs D**** would not reply the information was Featherstone is just trying to cause trouble as it hates WMDC. There was plenty more said.

Very sadly while the lights were on there was a serious accident resulting in 2 injured. This was followed  very shorty with at least 2 injured in another accident just off the same road. Both accidents appear to be reported as due to the congestion. The road in question all ready has an high accident rate as they pass through a crossroads that was altered yet condemend by WMDC own highways department at planning yet still passed. At least 1 insurence company is looking in to the traffic lights.

By 3.30pm the temporary traffic lights had gone and no work had been done.
It would appear fair to say that it possibly looks like WMDC may have caused suffering to many people without a need to do so.
A week later and the suffering continues........

And then out of the blue a whole new possible reason why Featherstone is being subjected to a traffic jam nightmare! Why would anyone cause traffic jams? Perhaps someone who cares will talk about Featherstone this week? ::) :)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 02, 2018, 07:43:00 pm
Friday 27th.  No work all day. That is except for one man doing a 12 hour shift sat parked in the Lidle carpark facing the road in his truck with all the lights flashing away. Why the flashing lights.

Tuesday 1st May. 2 men spend 4 hours with lunch to fit 7 curb stones. I hope the plant machinery isnt on hire.

Wednesday 2nd May. A new truck appears without flashing lights parked blocking the path on George St facing the hole with one man sat all day? At least this guy was in the right place to see a stolen car being anbandoned in front of him, but then back to keeping the seat warm.
 ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 03, 2018, 07:51:20 pm
Thursday 3rd May. Another unusual day. The truck with single male again sits for a 12 hour shift blocking the path on double yellows at the entrance to a school. It has been suggested he is the H&S man?
And then action, mid morning with more barriers going up and more traffic lights further up the street outside the vape shop. The over sized JCB arrives. The 7.5t tipper arrives. All set up and ready to go. The polite workmen again ask if WMDC has contacted anyone and again the reply was no. The workmen had been told now to leave the Yorkshire stone and lift any parts straight. Then the sun came out and the workmen enjoyed the sun sat on a step until dinner time. With lunch over it appeared that someone else had been trying to fill pot holes locally and had some tarmac left. This ended up in the existing hole outside the dentist which is supposed to be block paving? With no work started on the newly set up area the equipment was then packed up.
End of week 2 on Friday and it has to have cost over £20k so far. You could fix every pot hole in Featherstone for less than that? ::)


Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on May 07, 2018, 08:18:57 pm
Friday 4th May. No man in a van and no works at all apart from taking down signs and tempory lights and re-stating the original traffic lights. Large vehicles still struggle to get past the barriers. Still WMDC refuse to talk to anyone. ::)



Title: Re: Featherstone Regeneration
Post by: yetion1 on July 29, 2018, 06:15:39 pm
Diary update for July 27th
After considering the events of today it appears that WMDC do not have to talk to anyone if they choose and because of this the Local Government Ombudsman is now overwhelmed with similar complaints. As the Local Government Ombudsman cannot reply in its designated time period then it now looks like the next department is Central Government to ask for help?

WMDC visit today: The missing WMDC man called Jim appeared at my shop about 11am today to deliver the letter you see below. Jim would not talk in the shop and asked to stand outside in the street covered by CCTV. An un-official conversation was held.  Again, I now have 2 different versions of a conversation written and now write what is fact and not withheld as a gentleman’s agreement.

He informed me that our agreement had been broken by people at WMDC and that WMDC had now changed their mind. There would be no Yorkshire stone brought to make repairs.

WMDC on Monday 30.07.18 are now going install temporary traffic lights for as long as it takes to do the work. This could be for up to 4 weeks. The temporary traffic lights will be left up all day so that the night work can continue. I pointed out that previous work was only 2.5 hours per night for 2 days and 5 days of traffic lights at a huge local financial cost to locals. No confirmation could be given of how many weeks the temporary traffic lights would operate for.

When it was pointed out that the notice letter he was giving to me from WMDC was only giving 1.5 days working notice and was un-reasonable notice the reply was that this is what he had been told to do. In fact, WMDC had intended to post the letters so they would arrive on Monday 30th but Jim had taken the job on as it was apparently him who was going to get it in the neck to try and sort the mess out.

The explanation of the proposed works was beyond belief! Apparently WMDC have now changed their minds again and they are now going to remove all the Yorkshire Stone except for one small area. This will require disrupting what has all ready been done and then laying tarmac on soft ground. Not only has WMDC changed it mind about the Yorkshire stone but Jim had been given the job of asking each shop to leave its shutter up until 11.30pm each night so workmen could steel their property, land and rights. When some shops asked to talk to who was in charge they got the same answer which was call WMDC if you have a complaint. As WMDC refuse to talk who will cover insurance considering you cannot hang a St George flag in the street without it getting ripped down? What was definitely clear was that 4 weeks ago when the traffic lights were last in action and many complaints were made yet again something hit a nerve with one of the new contacts copied on to emails.

Bizarrely also the new plan is to dig up the good side of the street first before fixing the mess that has all ready been made. They are not going to finish the path they have started and are going to continue to leave it in a dangerous condition. When questioned why a 6-month project that should take 3 months and started 3 years ago was still not finished a gentleman’s answer was agreed.

Ok so man to man can I or anyone meet with who is in charge? The reply was I have been told do this job. Jim pointed out the back of the letter and the 2 names and phone numbers printed. One name was Jim’s. As he could not reply he suggested calling the other. This had been called and message left with no reply. Jim told me that if I had a concern I should contact the council. I informed him again that I had but had been informed if I tried to communicate on the subject again I would get a 12 month ban from communication to WMDC. Jim asked who had informed me of such and I replied again that the contact was Mr Dickenson at WMDC. Jim could not understand why Mr Dickenson and not WMDC highways had been dealing with this. In the last 3 years there had been a number of people loosing / being moved from jobs while on this job.

Interestingly due to our conversation fly tipping was mentioned on the street. I pointed out this was no longer a criminal offence and the police no longer give out crime numbers for it when reported. Jim disagreed strongly. I informed him of the Post Office Road fly tippers dumping 7.5 tonne per load for months and the police response. Jim made a call to persons I do not know who said WMDC would prosecute whatever.

To end the conversation, I pointed out that our conversation did not match the information on leaflet. No comment could be given. I asked if it was true that WMDC are creating traffic Chaos in Featherstone in order to create a false picture to enable a funding application for the new bypass? Again, no comment was given. I asked why the date of the letter was the 23rd and not today the 27th. No reply could be given.


Featherstone Traffic Chaos for Another 4 Weeks
In Brief next week

1.   Traffic chaos with big delays and at peak times and up to 2 hours to travel through Featherstone.
2.   Bus services will be cancelled or will run with delays.
3.   There are other road works around Featherstone that will have traffic lights as well.
4.   Shop keepers have not officially been told but apparently some have been asked to keep stutters up on a night for the next few weeks.
5.   The work that had all ready been done is now to be re-done for the umpteenth time.
6.   The 110 plus year old Historical Yorkshire stone is now going again which will be classed as theft.
7.   WMDC still refuse to listen to reports with video of dangerous and disruptive practices which are now set to continue.

What the public can do?
Not a lot really unless many have a go.
1.   You can call WMDC and your complaint will be logged.  This is usually a 20 to 50-minute wait. A reply will be given in 28 days. However, if Featherstone folk do complain in mass like last time WMDC switchboard will block up and create some questions.
2.   Below are the contacts given by WMDC. Jim is obviously no good as he is not allowed to talk and Derrick so far only has an answer machine that does not call back leaving the contact centre and a long wait.
3.   It is now clear that the past and present problems have been ignored by local Cllrs. One district Cllr was questioned on Friday via a blog and replied with a totally different answer. As a district and town Cllr you would be aware of issues not to mention having to drive by them each day. It will be interesting to see the replies from ALL our Cllrs when they start getting bulk emails this week. In defence of our local Cllrs so far allegedly WMDC is not telling them everything either. Someone is not telling the truth?
4.   WMDC has changed a lot and so has how to report issues others should deal with. The last time this happened MP Jon Tricket was contacted. His first response was he could not act on one complaint. This was put right within hours as the MP then received many complaints from many people. The MP the received details. Still awaiting a response from the last disaster so don’t hold your hopes up.
5.   The police have been made fully aware of these traffic problems all the 3 years especially with the amount of accidents recently in traffic. If you see something that is not right report it. The more that do the better.
6.   If you decide to call HSE Leeds, The Ombudsman or the Transport Agency save your time. After 28 days you will be told you have to contact WMDC.

Contacts to complain
01924 306028 Derick
01924 302017 Jim
0345 8 506 506 WMDC contact centre customerservices@wakefield.gov.uk
01924 305100 WMDC Chief Executive Merran McRae
01924 655695 MP Jon Trickett  jtrickett@jontrickett.org.uk
03003303000 Department of transport pocorrespondence@dft.gsi.gov.uk