- 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.
News
Tennis coaching in Thornes Park, 2023
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 Secret Garden by Wakefield Art Club
The Wakefield Art Group came into the Secret Garden in June for a painting session. These are some of the results which are really lovely. This year the Secret Garden celebrates ten years since it was opened and it’s thanks to the dedication and hard work of the volunteer gardeners that we can see such lovely results now.
Update on the planning application by the Penny Appeal
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
Flowers in the Park burst into life!
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.
Cancer Research UK Race for Life 2022
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!
Busy Sunday in the Park
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!
Planning proposal
PLANNING PROPOSAL NEWS
UPDATE – 12.02.22
Please continue to have your say about this planning proposal by visiting the Wakefield Council website and go to Planning Applications/ Planning Application No. 21/02235/FUL.
This proposal is likely to be discussed in mid February, and you can continue to comment until then. Thank you for your support.
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10.12.21
We know this is a bad time of year to get people thinking about the Park but, the Penny Appeal Planning Application which has recently been submitted to the Council could cause real damage to Thornes Park. The Friends of ChaT Parks have objected to this, for if it were to be approved it could result in a major 24 hour Call Centre and lots of small businesses located on the former Wakefield College Site and prevent the people of Wakefield from enjoying the Park in the way that they do now. It would not only be visually unsightly, it would create more traffic on a weekend through the Park where children play, it would sever pedestrian routes through the Park and prevent free access to the car park which is required to support major events. Not only would it be unpleasant to have to walk around the perimeter of a business park, businesses operating 24/7 from the site would prevent the Park from being closed at night which would have a devastating effect on the wildlife in the Park. The proximity of these businesses would also prevent the Park from hosting major events such as the recent firework display which was enjoyed by thousands.
Do not let this development destroy our Park, please have your say and object to the Planning Application by going to the Wakefield Council website, clicking on the section concerning Planning Applications and type in your comments on Planning Application No. 21/02235/FUL.
If you have any problems then please contact the Friends of ChaT Parks for assistance. Help us to look after our Park so that it can also be enjoyed by future generations.
Fireworks return to the Park, Nov 2021
This Saturday – 6th November – Thornes Park will be holding a fireworks display in the evening from 6pm to 9pm at the area around the children’s playground in Thornes Park. The evening begins with entertainment on the stage, followed by a short firework display at 6.30pm for young children with no loud noises. After that there will be more dancers, competitions and entertainment on the stage, with the main firework display at 8pm. There will be a funfair and food stalls by the children’s playground and the miniature railway will be running during the evening. Strictly no fireworks, sparklers or alcohol is allowed on the site and do wear appropriate footwear as it can become muddy underfoot. This event is presented by Melvyn Eddy, with support from Wakefield Council and the Friends of CHaT Parks. Come along and enjoy a safe event for all the family!
Working party in the Park 23rd October 2021
The Friends of CHaT Parks have been given hundreds of crocus bulbs to plant in the Park, so on Saturday 23rd October we are holding a working party at the Horbury entrance to Thornes Park, between 10.30am and 1pm. Please bring a trowel or bulb planter and a kneeling pad if you have one and wear stout footwear. We are hoping to bring colour to this end of the Park and your help during any of the time would be really appreciated.
