Opinion: Mayor of Mirfield

I would like to thank the Royal British Legion for organising this event - and what an event.

It was wonderful to see so many residents and community groups on the day come to support our armed forces.

Mirfield has the second largest attendance for the Remembrance parade outside of Whitehall to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living. We will remember them.

Matters discussed at the first meeting of the town council for this month included three very important consultations that Kirklees are running.

I would encourage as many residents as possible to respond to these consultations about shaping our local plan.

This is the Kirklees local plan and was previously known as the Local Development Framework. It will shape the area where we live and work for the next 15 years.

It is vital that as many people as possible are able to submit their views especially as planning applications will be judged against what the local plan says.

We need to ensure that all aspects of the infrastructure are improved, the highway network, school capacity, local jobs and better air quality. Infrastructure before housing!