Barley Parish Council
Parking, Road Improvements, Old Barley...
At the time of writing, it is perishingly cold and the roads and footways are somewhat treacherous. Having just returned from sunny climates in the southern hemisphere it is an extreme re-acclimatisation for me. The snow and sunshine have made for some great pictures but I hope everyone managed to keep on the road and on their feet. I am not a big fan of social media but looking at the information shared about road conditions on the Residents Facebook page it provides a valuable public service in these situations.
The Resident Parking scheme has taken another step forward with road-lining and signing works completed in January. The signs are already in place but these are covered over by bags until the scheme starts. The next step is for the County Council to formally advertise the “Date of Enforcement” in the local press and that will probably take another month. Around that time those residents qualifying for a parking permit will receive a letter inviting them to apply for one. The scheme is expected to be live in March.
The County Council have now completed much needed extensive carriageway patching works on Barley New Road and it does make for a more comfortable drive. We will be pressing for the double yellow lines, that provide vehicle passing places, to be reinstated as soon as possible.
For those on Facebook you will have seen some interesting photographs of old Barley posted by Cheryl Davis. One that caught my attention shows some old military concrete pillboxes, used as anti-invasion defences back in WW1 & 2, opposite the Village Hall. They can be seen in the photograph below with grass roof camouflage and holes through which guns could be fired.
You cannot help but wonder who made up the “Dads Army” in Barley and how prepared they were for an invasion. Also, if the current global turbulence escalated to include the UK, who would be in the pillbox now. There is an item on the agenda for the next Parish Council meeting to discuss reinstalling these as a deterrent to the inconsiderate parking of vehicles in this area.
As the Council moves in to 2024 our early priorities are to upgrade the playground and repair a wall on the Village Green. You might have noticed that a section of the playground fence was blown down in the recent gales. Given the poor condition of the timber posts, all the fence is to be replaced. This is better done after the playground installation works have been completed (anticipated in April) and so the gap in the fence will be there for a while.
It is with sadness that I tell you that Peggy Carpenter has died; she had lived on the Bullion since 2002 before moving in to a home a couple of years ago. A lovely lady who made it to 95 years old; she passed peacefully with Julie, Bradley, and his new wife Hannah, by her side. The funeral is at 1pm on Tuesday 6th February at Burnley crematorium. Our condolences to the family.
Finally, congratulations and best wishes to Jack & Jess Thompson (nee Kirk) on the birth of a baby girl, Lily, in late January, best wishes to them.