WY POLICE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH – ACKWORTH NORTH ELMSALL AND UPTON WARD
Alan Draper
The future of Ramsden Hall
Ramsden Hall is situated on Darning Lane. It is Thorpe Audlin’s village hall and has been for decades. The hall is held in trust by the Church of England in Badsworth and has for many years been leased to Thorpe Audlin Community Association (TACA).
Unfortunately, TACA is not in a position to be able to renew its lease for the hall so there is a risk that the hall will be lost for residents to use.
The parish council has agreed in principle to take on the lease of the hall to save it for residents (both current and future). To do this, the parish council may have to slightly increase the precept.
The parish council would appreciate your views on this matter. You can either email to council@thorpeaudlinpc.org.uk or write to the parish council (c/o Ramsden Hall, Darning Lane, Thorpe Audlin, WF8 3HB) or you can attend a parish council meeting – the meetings are held at 7.15pm in Ramsden Hall with the next few meeting dates being 9 October, 30 October and 27 November 2025.
New dog bin – Darning Lane
The parish council has bought a new dog bin for Darning Lane.
South Kirkby cemetery fees – information
A resident of Thorpe Audlin has raised the issue that those persons who do not live in South Kirkby and Moorthorpe have to pay double the burial fee that residents of South Kirkby and Moorthorpe are charged.
Further information below.
South Kirkby & Moorthorpe, Upton & North Elmsall & South Elmsall
Joint Burial Committee
Fees & Charges April 2025
Interment Fees
| Exclusive rights of burial for new grave | £ 1295.00 |
| Interment Per Adult | £ 1180.00 |
| Interment Per Child from 5 years to 15 years inclusive | £ 260.00 |
| Interment Per infant under 5 years or stillborn | £ 180.00 |
| Exclusive rights of burial of cremated remains in Memorial Garden | £ 380.00 |
| Burial of Cremated Remains | £ 320.00 |
| Dual Interment of Cremated Remains | £ 510.00 |
| Exhumation [price on application] | £ P.O. A |
| Additional burial depth in excess of 6ft | £ 450.00 |
| Additional given width above standard size of 6’ 6” by 26” | £ 120.00
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| Double exclusive rights and interment fees will apply for those considered to be non-residents.
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| For those interments covered by the Children’s Funeral Fund for England the charges will be claimed direct from the fund.
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Rights to erect a memorial
| Headstone with single inscription | £ 300.00 |
| Additional inscription | £ 110.00 |
| Cremation flag with single inscription | £ 300.00 |
| Replacement of existing memorial | £ 100.00 |
| Kerb set (or addition of kerb set to existing memorial) | £ 290.00 |
Miscellaneous Items
| Searching the Burial Registers (per person) for 5 years search | £ 60.00 |
| Marking grave in cemetery | £ 60.00 |
| Transfer of the exclusive Right of Burial/ Statutory Declarations | £ 60.00 |
Important police alert – suspicious incident in Thorpe Audlin
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Precept 2025-26
The parish council has taken the difficult decision to increase the precept for 2025-26.
The annual charge for the average ‘band D’ household will increase to £67.95 which is an increase of 30p per week.
The parish council has not taken this decision lightly but it has to ensure there are sufficent funds to cover its expenditure. There are several reasons why the parish council has had to increase the precept:
- The overall inflationary increase in costs across the board, including the increased cost to use Ramsden Hall and an increased charge from Wakefield Council to mow the sports field, play area and picnic area.
- The subsidence at the sports field which has resulted in an increase in the insurance premium.
- New fascia boards for the sports pavilion.
- Remedial work is needed for the beck and the bridge along the lane to the sports field.
- To ensure an adequate level of reserves for contingencies.
- The parish council has recently taken responsibility for, and become the sole corporate trustee of, the Swains Acre.
- The parish council has to set aside an amount each year in the event of a contested election (as there was in May 2023, which cost almost £2,500).
In view of the above, the parish council hopes that residents will understand that the increase is necessary and sensible.
A1 Wentbridge Viaduct and Wentedge Road Bridge – update
A1 Wentbridge Viaduct and Wentedge Road Bridge – keeping you updated
We’re getting in touch with an update on National Highways’ A1 Wentbridge Viaduct and Wentedge Road Bridge scheme.
In December we wrote to you to advise of our proposed overnight closures on the A1 between Ferrybridge and Barnsdale Bar as we complete the pier demolition at Wentedge Road Bridge and continue with the final phase of the works at Wentbridge Viaduct.
This month (February), we will begin installing the foundations to prop the deck of Wentedge Road Bridge. This will allow the deck to be supported, before we begin to demolish and reconstruct the central pier of the bridge.
Closure of Wentedge Road to vehicles
We will need to close Wentedge Road over the bridge deck to all motor vehicles from 21 February until late June 2025. Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders can continue to use the bridge.
Overnight closures
We had planned overnight closures from 10 February. However, we have uncovered some further issues with the ground conditions adjacent to the piers. These are affecting our temporary works ahead of the concrete pours of the propping foundations. We have therefore had to adapt the design to suit the ground.
On the night of 17 February, Amey will carry out routine maintenance in the area. Please note, previously advertised overnight closures for maintenance for 18 and 19 February are no longer needed and will not go ahead.
Then, from 23 February, we will begin our works on the bridge.
Our revised timetable for overnight closures is now as follows:
| Date | Closure Direction |
| 17 February | Northbound (Amey) |
| 23 February | Northbound |
| 24 February | Northbound |
| 25 February | Southbound |
| 26 February | Southbound |
| 27 February | Southbound |
| 28 February | Southbound |
| 1 March | Northbound & Southbound |
| 2 March | Northbound Contingency |
| 3 March | Southbound Contingency |
| 8 March | Northbound & Southbound Contingency |
We will only need to use the contingency shifts if there is an issue with the shifts booked in, for example bad weather.
All overnight closures are scheduled between 8pm and 6am.
As before, we have in place plans to escort residents safely to and from their property if required.
Diversions
We will have clearly signed local diversion routes throughout the closures. To encourage drivers to use these routes, instead of self-diverting through local villages, we continue to use an unprecedented amount of signage on the local authority network.
Working together
Further updates will be shared on our project page at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/yorkshire-and-north-east/a1-wentbridge-viaduct-and-wentedge-road-bridge/
This is in addition to our X feed @HighwaysYORKS and Highways Yorkshire Facebook page.
If you have any concerns or questions about this work, our project team are happy to answer them. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and answer any questions you may have.
You are also welcome to contact our Yorkshire Customer Support team on odynecustomersupport@nationalhighways.co.uk.
Thanks
Ruth Peterson Communications Manager (Yorkshire and the North East)
Corporate Affairs and Communications
National Highways | 2 City Walk | Leeds | LS11 9AT
Web: www.nationalhighways.co.uk
