Community comes together to save local c-store

Saving a shop, speeding drivers and re-opening a car boot sale have between them gained the support of nearly 3,000 Calderdale people.

Councillors who had received petitions officially presented them to July’s full meeting of Calderdale Council.

The biggest petition was presented by Cllr Megan Swift (Lab, Town), containing more than 1,800 signatures calling from the return of a car boot sale to Calderdale.

Car boot sales had been closed after the Covid-19 pandemic started – the regular big one was at North Bridge, Halifax – and the council decided last autumn not to re-start the sales to save money as part of £15 million worth of savings required to help Calderdale balance its budget.

Cllr Swift said those signing the petition would like to see it back.

Cllr George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe), submitted a petition called Save Our Shop signed by 868 people.

He told councillors a shop in the village was at risk because Together Housing was putting forward a planning application for homes on its Lightcliffe site which would mean Patel’s convenience store would have to go.

This was the family’s livelihood and the shop served the community, he said.

Cllr Robinson said talks were continuing with Together Housing but the situation was “an absolute outrage”, he said.

Cllr Adam Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) submitted a petition signed by 201 people, residents of Pye Nest Road, Halifax, who are frustrated by a lack of action over speeding drivers using the road.

It had gone on for a number of years and although police had taken some action with speeding tickets issued.

Residents hoped for more substantial action such as the installation of speed cameras but had been told this would not be possible unless there was a death or serious incident, said Cllr Wilkinson.

He added dealing with such issues was one of the priorities of West Yorkshire’s new Metro Mayor, Tracy Brabin.

Petitions with 2,000 or more signatures trigger a debate by full council at its next meeting, petitions with 500 or more signatures (but less than 2,000) are referred to the appropriate scrutiny panel to consider, and petitions with less than 500 signatures are referred to the appropriate council service to consider – the service will consider what action can be taken, given current policies and budget availability.