Had another Town Council leaflet and noticed the comment that plans to move to the library are well advanced and I have been charged an extra 14% on this year’s council tax for the privilege?
Forgive me if I am wrong but not long after Lister Baths was stolen from the people of Featherstone and sold off for a huge profit that Featherstone never got a penny of.
The next on the list was the original Town Hall in Purston Park. Again putting public opinion aside the property was sold off for a huge profit that Featherstone never got a penny of. Meanwhile Featherstone did finally have some money spent on it with the Old Clock Cafe or Town Hall as you see it today being highly renovated as it was to be the new town hall. But it was not a Town hall in the old sense or like most other Town Halls. Featherstone Town Hall is a room rented in a building owned by WMDC. At the time I believe there was a council tax increase to cover this rent.
So now the plan is to move Featherstone Town Council to a room in the library which will be rented from WMDC. One assumes that the property will be sold off for a huge profit that Featherstone will never get a penny of.
Why is it costing me 14%?
The deal appears to not include the library. As libraries are being shut at an alarming rate is this move the beginning of the end of a Featherstone Town Council?

Just when you wrongly begin to think that every youth in Station Lane is a wrong one because of the few, an event happens that gives heart in the knowledge that some good values still exist. Recently a store was robbed and youths gave chase, retrieved the items stolen and then returned them. Imagine if it became cool to stop crime by the people we assume commit crime and the respect and age gap understanding that could be achieved. 

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. 

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. 



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. 

Are we having a laugh with Tony Blair’s new campaign? The fat cats must be really worried if they have brought Tony out of the woodwork to change Britain’s mind. Let the majority see what life is like after the change first please. June the 23rd 2017 gets ever nearer!

A bit more unusual this time. A white male drives across the junction and appears to forget he is driving. His car drifts on to the curb and takes out the large BT box. Many homes and business now have no phones or internet and the fix will not be a quick one. Meanwhile the driver locks his car and walks of up the street and possibly catches a taxi. Last week a similar accident happened at the top of the street. Is it the same guy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CpQobYk4dQ

There must have been a fate genie working in Featherstone over the last 24 hours or the Labour Party who doesn’t read this forum panicked. Out of the blue less than 24 hours after a forum post Yorkshire Water are calling and asking questions. Apparently they are not happy that the passed planning application for the Pop Factory site now rests with them to cure any problems. And problems there are!

Fate is a funny old thing. With no forward planning Castleford swimming pool is almost ready to be demolished resulting in the nearest pool to Castleford being the next destination. One guess which Pool?  Yep the already overcrowded (due to wrong build) Featherstone pool. And it’s going to get worse very quick. Looks like the Labour party are keeping to their word to those in Featherstone who voted against them over a Baths.

260/16 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The meeting was opened for members of the public to address the Council on matters relevant to its business. Mr W Field and Mr A Thompson of 182 and 184 Priory Road spoke to express their concern that the Beck to the rear of their property and Aldi’s was full of rubbish. Flood water was also coming off the Aldi site which was resulting in their gardens being affected with a rise in water levels.

Have to say I told you so as well as all the WMDC departments that commented on the 1st planning application that then disappeared for 10 days and re-appeared without the concerned reports after investigation of inevitable flooding to the Priory Road estate.
Yorkshire Water as usual have copped for the flack and have been investigating for the last month. There is no cure unless the original correct plan is now built.

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF FEATHERSTONE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBER, OLD TOWN HALL, FEATHERSTONE ON WEDNESDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2016
COMMENCING AT 7.00 PM.
307/16 MAYORS ALLOWANCE
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor left the meeting and Councillor Tennant was elected to take this agenda item.
Members were asked to consider an increase in the Mayor’s allowance to £1,500 in order that the Mayor receives £1,000, as at present and the Deputy Mayor receives £500 to assist with their costs for each Civic year when deputising for the Mayor. It was proposed by Councillor Wright and seconded by Councillor Taylor and it was
RESOLVED: That the Mayors allowance is increased to £1,500 of which £500 is given to the Deputy Mayor each year.

An interesting increase backed by interesting people. No mention of the expense account. Shame that the good people of Featherstone who get of their bum to apply for grants now can only have £500 and not £1000.