Jean Reeve

Thornes Park play area was officially reopened last week, when councillors, parents and local school children cut the ribbon and tested the new equipment.

So many people made this investment possible so thank you to Cllr Michael Graham, Cllr Denise Jeffery, Cllr Jack Hemingway, Friends of CHaT Parks, Helen Antcliff and all council staff and contractors for their work. And thank you to all the parents and local children who took part in the process and helped to deliver a play area that can be enjoyed for many years to come. The space is bigger now with lots of new equipment to enjoy, plenty of benches for parents and carers to semi-relax and the play area has much more of a wow factor.

Wakefield Music Collective and the Friends of CHaT Parks held a Christmas Brass concert at the Bandstand in Clarence Park on Sunday 4th December from 1-3pm.  Phoenix Brass provided Christmas music and there was mulled wine and mince pies. It was a lovely event despite the weather and enjoyed by everyone who came.

Thornes Park Community Fireworks returned on Saturday 5 November 2022 with a full evening of entertainment including a live stage and street food. The evening  featured a low-impact firework display first, for those that didn’t enjoy loud noises, before the spectacular main event a little later. There was a fairground, food stalls, Rhubarb Radio hosting on the main stage, Glowbots/LED Robots, fire performers and musician Daisy Dorothy – a free family event!

Gates opened at 6.00pm. The low-impact firework display started at 6.30pm and the main firework display started at approximately 8pm.

* Please note, that the display did not feature a bonfire.

• On Saturday 6th August, there’s a special open day at the miniature railway in Thornes Park. The Wakefield Society of Model and Experimental Engineers (SMEE) are holding the visiting locomotives day and there’ll be the chance to ride on the visiting engines as well as Wakefield’s own locomotives. from between 11.30am to 6pm with the usual fare system. There will also be a brand new, half size Burrell traction engine and a white 1930 Jowett car restored to its former glory. What a great opportunity to see all these amazing engines – it promises to be a wonderful day. As well as this, the usual Sunday afternoon session will be running on the 7th August from 1pm onwards.

Wakefield School of Tennis will be resuming their free coaching in Thornes Park on Saturday 9th September 2023.

These sessions are funded by WCC Active and Inspired. Sessions are FREE to players under the age of 13 years. Sign up is required for each week you intend to attend to confirm numbers. All equipment provided and coaches are fully qualified. See you on court!

Please be aware – parent assistance / participation  may be required. These sessions are aimed at beginner levels of play. Should you require anything further please ask the coach, Dwight Brown

More information can be found:

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Summary/44dcedec-afa5-455d-ad4f-6151c5cfb30a

Email: info@wakefieldschooloftennis.com

Tel: 07715 627159

The planning application by Penny Appeal to change the use of the Thornes House Complex in Thornes Park from educational to primarily a Call Centre and business uses, has provoked very many (hundreds) of letters of objection. The Friends of CHaT Parks and many others believe that this proposal will be damaging to Thornes Park. Prior to their consideration of the planning application on Thursday, the members of Planning committee will be visiting the site at 10 am on Tuesday 5 July.

If you are able, please be there to show your opposition to these proposals. Meet at 10 am Tuesday morning at the entrance to the former College car park, off the Horbury Road.

Here is more information about the planning application that is going to be considered this week.

Proposal: Full planning permission for change of use from a F1 (Non-residential
institution) to a flexible Class E (offices/ café), F2 (local community use) and Sui Generis Use (Theatre)

The above planning application will be considered at the Planning and Highways Committee on 7th July 2022 commencing at 10:30am at the County
Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield, WF1 2QW.

Members of the public and applicants (or their agents), are able to speak at Planning andvHighways Committee Meetings. Normally one person representing objectors will be allowed to speak for three minutes. The applicant, agent, or one person supporting the application, will also be able to speak for three minutes, and an elected councillor for the applicable ward area. The time limits and number of individuals allowed to speak will be varied only in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Chair.

Please note that, in the case of petitions, the petition organiser (if known) or the first petition signatory will be notified by
this letter and not those people signing the petition.

The public may attend the meeting physically if they so wish or it can be viewed online.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the internet. A link to the meetings stream will be
available on the meeting agenda and through the Council’s website;
(http://citizen.wakefield.gov.uk/cabinet-and-council-meeting/).
Or you can search YouTube for ‘Wakefield Council’ on the day of the meeting. The below
is a direct link to the Councils YouTube channel;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2lAadXZOOWweCGV_Dflqbg/videos

The flower beds in the Park are now all planted up. Staff from Council together with volunteers from the Friends Group worked really hard over the last four days in June to achieve another stunning display, including our tribute to the Platinum Jubilee in the form of a Jubilee crown This summer promises to see another beautiful display for us to enjoy strolling round the Park.

On Sunday 20th June 2022 in Thornes Park, Cancer Research UK will be holding their Race for Life and Pretty Muddy events. They are currently looking for volunteers to help marshal these events between 08.30 – 15.30. If you can’t help all day 11.00 – 15.30 would be really helpful. Just turn up and head to the grey marquee near the children’s playground at the Horbury Road end of Thornes Park. If you require further information, please email Abigail.malcolm@cancer.org.uk.

For more information and to join these events go to the Cancer Research UK website and search for Wakefield in the Find an Event section:

https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/

Good luck to everyone taking part!

It’s a busy Sunday in the Park tomorrow (April 3rd). It’s the Wakefield School of Tennis Fun Day at the tennis courts from 9am to 1.30pm for everyone to have a go. All the equipment will be provided, so just turn up and have a go! The RSPCA are holding a Paws 4 a Walk round the park, starting from the car park by the duck pond. This is a dog walk around the park, about 4km, organised by the RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield & District Branch, starting at 12am. Registration from 10.30am or register online:
https://www.rspcaleedsandwakefield.org.uk/dog-walk-thornes-park/https://www.rspcaleedsandwakefield.org.uk/dog-walk-thornes-park/
Lots to enjoy as always in the Park!

The Spring sunshine is really bringing out the lovely flowers in the Park, especially by the Bandstand and along the edge of the Park by the Denby Dale Road. Well worth a nice walk around while the sun is shining!