Villagers vote to join initiative to have greater say

New framework ‘gives democratic voice’

VILLAGERS IN a small Kirklees community have moved to take greater control of its future to influence funding and decision making powers.

Place Standard is a tool used to shape conversations over change, adopted by Kirklees Council and with the power to outline priorities over things like planning and spending. It is used to assess physical elements as well as the social aspects of an area.

Now, following a public meeting in Marsden, villagers have backed plans for a community trust giving it a greater say over its corner of the Colne Valley.

Without a parish or town council, the Marsden Community Trust (MCT) is the closest thing this small village has to have a “truly democratic voice”, villagers were told.

Set up by volunteers initially to save the area’s Mechanics Institute in 2014, the MCT will now coordinate the exercise, launching Place Standard as a planning framework.

A vote was backed unanimously for the MCT to oversee and lead the process, looking to begin in October and with more than a dozen people already volunteering to help.

Tom Lonsdale is chairman of the MCT. He said around 50 people attended Thursday’s public meeting, representing local groups, and this was encouraging as a “first toe in the water”.

He said: “I was personally thrilled by the positive response to the proposal and delighted that MCT has been given a mandate to lead and coordinate the process.

“There will be a heavy workload involved, so the healthy number of groups and individuals who came forward to help will not only spread that load but also ensure that it is recognised as a village-wide initiative rather than only the community trust.

“Participation of key groups such as Positively Marsden and Marsden Community Association will further validate the exercise.”

The public meeting was attended by Kirklees Council representatives and officers, including Coun Harry McCarthy for Colne Valley West.

Luc Bride, who is the active citizens and places officer for the authority, shared guidance on funding from Kirklees Council and support available for the community to manage the process.

Liz Quinn, chairman of Pride in Linthwaite, also spoke of how the process has worked so far in the neighbouring areas, combining Linthwaite and Cowlersley in the first round.

While not directly making decisions, it is hoped the Place Standard can prove a valuable tool in lobbying over decisions about future planning and spending.

Gathering opinions and with a particular focus on hard-to-reach voices, its results will feed into decision-making briefs, proving greater evidence for what people within this community might want to see happen in the future and its priorities.

The Place Standard will cover Marsden and the surrounding area, including West Slaithwaite, it was agreed.

I was thrilled by the positive response to the proposal. Tom Lonsdale, Marsden Community Trust.