Gratitude over village's funding

Anne Thompson said she is “very grateful” that members of Kirklees Council’s Batley and Spen District Committee agreed to hand out more than £10,000 for the projects at a meeting last week.

The Birstall, Birkenshaw and East Bierley areas have recently suffered an increase in burgalries and thefts from cars, according to a report drafted for the meeting.

And there has been a rise in reported ASB incidents, in particular those about “nuisance bikes”. There were 81 reports of this between October 11 and December 29 last year.

Now £8,320 has been handed out to fund two police officers, each working an eight-hour shift at £26 per hour for 20 days. The officers will work in pairs.

Mrs Thompson, who co-runs Seaspray on Low Lane, said: “You need to nip these things in the bud.

“If people think a place is under-policed, it becomes an easy target.”

She added: “We’ve got a very large elderly population in Birstall and we don’t want these people being worried or frightened because young thugs are going around causing mischief.”

The committee also approved a request by the Chamber of Trade for £2,000 to buy and install Christmas lights on twelve trees in the Market Place.

A three-year community effort has raised thousands of pounds for new seasonal decorations, and Mrs Thompson said the grant completed their target amount.

She said: “We’re absolutely delighted. This is the final phase. Now the village will be completely lit up.”