News

You may well have noticed that the roads, verges and green spaces around our village have achieved an outstanding level of cleanliness in recent weeks. It is becoming increasingly difficult to spot a single piece of litter anywhere. Not so much as a sweet paper!

The Parish Council usually organises litter picks at this time of year, but this year a new team of local volunteers led by Bev Humphreys has turbocharged the process and achieved outstanding results. Thanks to them most of the roads and verges had already been completely cleared, and the Parish Council has been able to concentrate on high traffic zones and off-highway locations for which there is not always enough time.

Special thanks are due to Bev and all her volunteers, and to litter-picking Councillors, for making Bardsey an even more pleasant environment in which to live.

Let’s all try to keep it that way by taking litter home and disposing of it in the bin where it belongs!

On Friday 9^th April Buckingham Palace announced the passing of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle.

It is with great sadness that Bardsey Parish Council, on behalf of the community of Bardsey cum Rigton, joins the nation in mourning. The Parish Council offers its sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the whole Royal Family at this time of such irreplaceable loss.

His Royal Highness gave a lifetime of exemplary service to Queen, Family, Country and the International Community, and was involved with hundreds of charities and organisations representing a wide variety of good causes including our armed forces, wildlife and environmental conservation, and not least the outstanding Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme from which so many young people have benefitted.

The Royal Family has asked that people wishing to express their condolences do so as safely as possible, and suggest that rather than leaving floral tributes people may wish to donate to a charity of their choice or to one of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Patronages.  Further information is available on the Royal Website via the link below.

In the light of ongoing Covid 19 precautions and requests from the Palace, Bardsey Parish Council will not open a local book of condolences. Those wishing to express sympathy are encouraged to use the online book of condolences, which may also be accessed by clicking on the the following link:

https://www.royal.uk/

This last year has probably been the most difficult and challenging that most, if not all of us, can remember. We have all been affected by the pandemic in different though profound ways, and your Parish Council as a body, and its members individually, have been no exception.

Our 2020 Annual Parish Meeting had to be postponed and subsequently cancelled during the first lockdown, so it is high time we reported back to you, our residents.

We are still unable to hold our usual APM at the Village Hall, however, and so have opted to hold a virtual Zoom meeting instead. All residents of Bardsey cum Rigton are invited. This meeting will take place at 7:00pm on Wednesday 21st April 2021, and all are welcome.

For a copy of the calling notice and an agenda, including the necessary link for the Zoom meeting, please click on the links below or email info@bardseyvillage.org.uk. Bardsey Parish Council encourages as many residents as possible to attend and looks forward to welcoming you.

https://bardseyvillage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Agenda-for-Virtual-APM-and-Council-Meeting-to-be-held-on-April-21st-2021.pdf

https://bardseyvillage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/APM-Calling-Notice-2021-V2.pdf

If you need some fun exercise with like minded enthusiasts, here is some welcome news! Former members of the Fit and Fun club have come together to start a new running club for Bardsey and East Keswick. The club’s season starts on 31st March, and it meets at 7:00pm on Wednesday evenings at Bardsey Sports Club (Covid restrictions permitting).

For further information please click on the link below, and to contact the club visit the Bardsey and East Keswick Running Club page on Facebook.

https://bardseyvillage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bardsey-and-East-Keswick-Running-Club_.pdf

With the outstanding progress being made in vaccinating Yorkshire residents against Covid 19, eligibility for vaccination has just been extended to the over 60s.

If you are 60 years old or older, you can now book a vaccination appointment online by clicking on the following link and following the simple procedure: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

If you go online and find the site is still showing the age limit to be over 65 don’t be put off. The site may not have been updated yet, but Leeds City Council advise that it will still accept over 60s in this area, and there are plenty of appointments available.

So don’t delay! The vital importance of being vaccinated, protecting yourself and others, cannot be overstated.

Brown bin collections were due to recommence on 8th March, but please note that due to continuing staff shortages and the need to prioritise black and green bins, Leeds City Council has advised that this has had to be postponed to 22nd March.

Collections will continue for an extra two weeks at the end of the season, however.

It is unfortunate that a cohort of particularly callous criminals continues to try and take advantage as the vaccination programme accelerates. Please take a few moments to read this post and take careful note:

The vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay, or be asked for your bank account or card details, or your PIN. The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine, or ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge. If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk 

There have been a few reports this week of people receiving scam emails from addresses which initially look plausable, such as NHS Notifications, noreply@nhs.gov.uk and NHS e-Referral Service. Any such emails are best ignored and forwarded as above, or use the advice on the website link above for actionfraud.

Stay safe – from the crooks as well as the virus!

We can all do our bit to counter crime in our locality, and with today’s communications it becomes ever easier.

If you were advised when crimes were committed, perhaps you might have seen something which could help bring the perpetrators to justice. You would also be more aware of latest criminal activity and scams, and be best able to take suitable precautions.

West Yorkshire Police run an on-line scheme to help you do exactly that. It is called the Community Alert Scheme and anyone can join, absolutely free. All you have to do is click on the link below and follow some simple instructions.

The more of us who join the more difficult life becomes for the criminals, so get clicking!

www.wypcommunityalert.co.uk

A vacancy has recently arisen on Bardsey cum Rigton Parish Council, and the Council would be keen to hear from residents interested in serving the local community in this role. The Council is primarily involved in administering and maintaining local facilities, much of which is green space but also includes amenities such as the playground. The Council also takes up the concerns of residents, and liaises with Leeds City Council on issues such as highway maintenance and planning.

The Parish Council meets one evening every month (using Zoom at present, but usually at the Village Hall), and being a Parish Councillor normally entails a modest commitment of approximately 60 hours per year. For more information please click on the link below. Interested residents are asked to contact Mrs June Gallant, Clerk to the Council, using the contact details provided, or email info@bardseyvillage.org.uk, or speak to any serving Councillor.

We look forward to hearing from you.

https://bardseyvillage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Bardsey-Parish-Council-Vacancy.pdf

Following the introduction of a new national lockdown due to the rapid increase in Covid 19 infections, please note an update has been added to the Covid 19 page of this website. To access the page click on the Covid 19 – Latest tab at top left of the screen.

Due to the breadth, complexity and pace of change in current regulations, we have where possible provided links to key Government, NHS and Leeds City Council web sites. This offers the best route to ensure access to the most comprehensive, up to date and accurate information.

In particular, please see the section concerning new scams based on the launch of Covid 19 vaccines, and be warned of the considerable dangers these criminals present. It has been reported that some sound very plausable and even claim to be from the NHS. If approached by anyone claiming to offer vaccination for payment, either on the phone or at your door, never agree and never provide credit card or personal details. All NHS vaccinations are free of charge, and the NHS will never ask for payment or personal information in return for immediate vaccination.