Parish News

Since September 2022 the PC has been designing, consulting, tendering, negotiating, and managing the installation of the new playground and it all came to fruition on a sunny Friday 19th July, the opening ceremony. We had over 30+ children, plus parents and dignitaries including our new MP and three borough councillors, there for the cutting of the ribbon. When people have put so much into this it was great to see so many people there to support the Council, so many excited and enthusiastic children desperate to get on there and a enjoy a “feel good” moment in our village.

It has taken a while for many reasons, not least that we are amateur volunteers and at times Contractors have not responded as quickly as we wanted and sometimes with information which was not wholly reliable. But we got there with what I think is the best playground we could achieve through good consultation and decision-making processes. It was also procured in a professional manner and that led to all parties, the Council and Contractors, being satisfied with the outcome.

For those who contributed so much, too many to list, we owe them gratitude and I will pick out Dan and Jayne, members of the playground committee, for playing a key role. We had great contractors including Kompan Ltd who provided equipment, AJ Bretherton constructing pathways and Johnston Contractors who erected the new fence. Obviously, there were some bumps along the way but it was with relief, and satisfaction, to see how well the playground was received and how popular it has been since the opening.

It is with some disappointment that we did not progress to the finals of the Best Kept Village competition, we have been eliminated. Looking around the village there are areas that can be improved but generally I think Barley has looked pretty tidy. Maybe on the day the judges came we were not, but when I look at other villages that have got to the final, who do not get circa 80,00 plus visitors a year, I wonder where judges were looking. But best wishes to those who got through including Roughlee, West Bradford and Waddington.

At the time of writing Barley New Road is getting a Surface Dressing treatment. This is to make the road watertight and improve skid resistance. We have been lobbying LCC to make sure all the road lines which we fought for are reinstated.

The pub walk seemed to pass through this year without the distress caused last year through inconsiderate and loutish behaviour; let’s hope last year was just a blip.

Members of the Council and of the wider community will have been saddened to hear of the passing of Anne Dinsdale who lived with David at Arch Cottage, Overhouses. For many years a popular member of the community but she suffered poor health in recent times. Our sincere condolences are extended to David and their family.