WHAT'S ON: Thurcroft

KIVETON PARK INDEPENDENT ADVICE CENTRE: A drop-in session, with no appointment necessary, will be held on Thursday 2-4pm at the Welfare Hall in Thurcroft. To contact (office hours) 01909 773966.

THURCROFT CRIME AND COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM MEETING: Held on February 16 in the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall when the minutes of the last meeting on June 8 were approved. Complaints: Regarding quad bykes speeding over the Pit Top on New Orchard Lane and on the Mineral line causing damage to wildlife, cyclists and pedestrians, after contact with Environmental Health and the Wildlife Trust, who stated that unfortunately there are currently no laws in place that can be used in regards to protecting the above, all issues around anti-social behaviour should be referred to the police. Due to cutbacks at RMBC a percentage of staff will be losing their jobs. A team meeting was held last Friday so the staff should now have more information. Staff have now also been informed they should only be working with council tenants due to monies coming from the Housing Revenue account. Peter/John/Charles Street: Following the walkabout, and seeing the condition of the area, Cllr Hughes has looked into getting the area into selective licensing, and will be put forward to be considered next time. Environmental Health: Are looking into the issue around the caravan parked in the garden of a property on Katherine Road being a safety hazard, but there was certain legislation they needed to look into before any action could be taken. Green Bins: Five or six have been reported to Streetpride but as yet, have not been removed. Residents have tried to empty one, but it was far too heavy. The meeting was informed that the Streetpride cannot take bins out of gardens. Streetpride to be contacted regarding the bins being moved. PCSOs: will be losing 65 officers by April 2016. The new local policing teams have started this week which means there will be no more community policing, as it has been known in the past. Brinsworth Police Station will eventually close and officers will relocate to Maltby.  Alan Concannon of SYP stated that 225 PCSOs will be ring-fenced until 2020, with local numbers staying the same, covering Thurcroft, Brampton en le Morthen, Ulley and Slade Hooton. It was reported that a review had taken place around the 101 number, as stated in an article in a newspaper. Chair to the council stated he was not aware if a review had taken place. Bank Account: A letter has been received from the bank who are planning to close the account due to lack of usage. A decision was made that the closing of the bank account would be put on hold until the New Year as a discussion would need to take place as to where the monies would be placed. It was reported South Yorkshire Police were cutting resources of staff and there was to be no more neighbourhood community policing. If crime does increase, where does the  information go to and what outcomes will the forum get? It was suggested waiting to see what happens in the staff and police review and asked in the meantime if Thurcroft Parish Council could hold the money in its bank account until the future of the group has been decided. If the group decide to continue then they can look at opening another bank account. Shed Alarms: have now been given out on the allotment following recent break-ins and were well received. Enquiries were made if there are other alarms available for allotments. Environmental Health: Will Wernham from Environment Health has been contacted regarding the history of land of Katherine Road, and will send letters out in order to have the land cleared. Thurcroft Play Area: Some comments were made on Facebook regarding the proposed play area sited at the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall. These were read out to the group. Big Local is committed to being involved in the play area project, and at a previous meeting had discussed the possibilities of installing a higher fence and would like the future steering group to consider this option whilst overseeing the project. As a consultation will be carried out on the play area at the next parish council meeting, it was thought unnecessary to do it at this meeting. The group was happy to agree with this. Four Big Local representatives have put themselves forward to sit on a sub-group with parish council regarding moving the play area forward and working in partnership. It was noted that the Section 106 monies were currently in RMBC’s bank account. Various meetings with groups in Thurcroft will be arranged to carry out consultation.

BIG LOCAL MEETING: As Queen Elizabeth II will be having her 90th birthday on July 21, it was decided to celebrate this occasion with a gala over the weekend of July 30-31. Suggestions included floats driving through Thurcroft, holding a tea dance with a singer on the Saturday and on Sunday to hold a family fun day on the cricket field with five-a-side football, wellie wanging, plus more, finishing with a barbeque, also having events happening each day of the week. Local family Easter event on March 28 noon-3pm in the Bottom Club with a children’s disco. The next meeting is on March 7 6.30pm.

THURCROFT WELFARE COMMUNITY HALL BOWLING CLUB: The club is  looking for new members. The club has qualified bowling coaches and provides all equipment along with free training sessions on Saturdays from May through to the end of August 10.30am-noon. The club has 12 teams and also 12 club trophies to play for over the season, usually on a Sunday. Once someone has registered with the British Crown Green Association and the South Yorkshire Crown Green Bowling Association (£32.10) for the first year, after that they only pay club fees, currently £45 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Contact club secretary Alan Bucknall 01709 542050.

CRAFT GROUP: 47 members attended. Six were sewing, two knitting, two crocheting, two making jewellery, two putting card kits together, two quilling, seven using die cutting machines, two quilling, three working on parchment, 10 on decoupage, seven putting general cards together and two stamping verses.

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA MEMORY CAFÉ: Meet on Tuesdays at the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, Green Arbour Road 1.30-3.30pm.

ROTHER VALE COMMUNITY BAND: A brass band set up to provide an opportunity for anyone who wishes to play or learn a brass instrument. The band practises every Saturday at Thurcroft Parish Church 9.30-11am. The band will provide newcomers with a brass instrument and expert tuition for a weekly subscription of £2. Contact Pam 07759 496810. If people need a brass band to come and play at an event, contact Pam 07759 496810. www.rothervalecommunityband.com or follow Facebook Rother Vale Community Band.

THURCROFT FRIDAY CIRCLE: The next meeting is on March 11 in the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, Green Arbour Road 2pm.

THURCROFT LIBRARY: Chatterbooks Monday 3.30-4.30pm, School Road.

THURCROFT COLLIERY AND VILLAGE WEBSITE: Tony Greaves has sent a report of growing up in Thurcroft during the 1950s and 60s. He now lives in the USA. He remembers with fondness living at 16 Limetree Avenue with his parents Bill and Flo Greaves, and mentions friends from that era including Brian Slack, Mick Hill, Andy Keeting, Sailor Bill, Brian Juggins, Eddie Page and more. His full report is on Thurcroft Village photos page 12. Photographs and newspaper cuttings are always wanted. Contact Fred Gething 01709 542461, [email protected], thurcroftcolliery.weebly.com. All material sent in will be returned to the sender.

THURCROFT WALK AND TALK: The next walk is on March 9, approximately five miles from Thurcroft to Brampton, Morthern and back to Thurcroft, led by Jo Woodham.

ST SIMON AND ST JUDE’S PARISH CHURCH: The Lent Group is held on Wednesday 11am after the service and coffee, and will run for five weeks. Coffee morning will start today in church 10am. The car boot/table top sales start in March.

THURCROFT WELFARE BAND: Will be attending the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships in Bradford on March 5-6. The band practices each Tuesday and Thursday 7.15pm.