Local news: Mayors New Year Message
Published: 15 Dec 09
MAYOR’S CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR MESSAGE
Since being appointed Mayor of Pocklington in May I have attended many functions throughout the region. My wife and I have been particularly impressed by the diversification of the East Riding and the hospitality shown to us. We have actively promoted Pocklington which we have found easy to do. Burnby Hall Gardens, the Wolds Gliding Club, Kilnwick Percy Golf Club and of course our own Arts Centre are examples of the fine facilities the town offers. The charity show at Pocklington Arts Centre attracted complimentary remarks from visitors and raised a worthwhile amount for my charity Yorkshire East Riding Volunteer Accident & Emergency Service.
I intend to hold a Civic Parade and Service in the spring and would very much like to mark St Georges Day by organising an event. I wonder if any groups or individuals have any ideas about the form this should take? I would be interested to hear from them.
In May I accompanied a group from Pocklington to our French twinning area of Pays de Racan and was proud to sign a renewed twinning document to mark the 20th anniversary of the original agreement. We were given a marvellous and interesting weekend during which we received generous hospitality. In August we are to host a return visit and will be involved in the planning of this early in the New Year. Anyone interested in being involved in the planning of the visit are asked to contact the council office on 304851.
Notable achievements during the year include the presentation of a Sport & Play Recognition award to the Pocklington Play Area Group for its refurbishment of Victoria Road Playpark. We obtained a grant from the Breathing Spaces fund which has enabled us to further develop West Green as an open space and we continue to negotiate to take over Primrose Wood for the benefit of the town. Pocklington Fair Trade and Local Produce Group were granted fair-trade status for the town after much hard work. The Promote Pocklington Group has been resurrected and will try to fill the gaps created by the demise of the Chamber of Trade. Pocklington in Bloom were again awarded a Silver Gilt in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition for their floral displays in the town. This council is pleased with the appointment of a part-time street cleaner and has plans to make sure the new toilets at the library are cleaned to a high standard. We are exploring the possibility of forming a Youth Council which will enable us to represent the younger residents better. We are hoping to provide a skate park for youngsters in the town but plans for this are still at the planning stage. Of course we anxiously await a decision on the car parking charges but feel we have represented the views of residents as robustly as possible.
It is traditional at this time of year to look forward to the New Year which I do with some confidence. Recently this council decided to hold the rates at this year’s level. It was not an easy decision because of all the things we would like to do but felt that it was important at this economically challenging time. Work continues on the new library for the town which is due for completion in early summer and we continue to develop plans for the refurbishment of the first floor of Oak House. We are also looking at the possible digitization of the cinema at the Pocklington Arts Centre.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to wish you, on behalf of myself, my wife and the council, a Happy New Year.
Councillor David Sykes
Mayor of Pocklington
