£2.00 Society Member, and £3.00 non-members, light refreshments will be served after the talk. A raffle will also take place in support of Society funds.

Pontefract Civic Society and WMDC Street Scene Team coordinated the February public meeting to engage with the local community to test the viability of starting a friends group to develop the Valley Gardens. Peter Cookson, chaired the meeting, and speakers included Jim Heap from the Valley Gardens Bowling Club, Jill Lofthouse from WMDC, and Bob Evison prepared some potential designs for a long term vision connecting the gardens to the town centre with a grand entrance off Southgate, Bob went on to consider a possible expansion of the gardens. Some ideas to stimulate interest for a toddler play area, benches, bins and hanging baskets were shown on display boards by the Civic Society. Cllrs Garbutt and Walsh offered supporting comments at the start of the evening, both referring to greater family use for this heritage jewel in the heart of Pontefract.

“Over twenty names were submitted, which was a great start” said Paul Cartwright, Civic Society Secretary, who went onto say, “The next stage will be a meeting after Easter to formally constitute the group, so than further community consultation can follow in order to get the right ideas for what type of park or gardens the people of Pontefract want to see. This will then help determine which funding opportunities are needed to support the required projects.

If you missed the meeting, and you want to get involved then please contact Pontefract Civic Society by email on pontecivicsociety.secretary@gmail.com or telephone 01977 708658.

As usual, Carleton Grange (or Carleton Community Centre) is the venue for our presentations to businesses and property owners in the Design Awards and Facade of the Year 2011. The presentations will be followed by a refreshment break and our AGM.

Members new and old welcome.

Viewing displays from 6:45pm, with presentations starting promptly at 7pm, and concluding with networking & volunteering between 8pm and 8:30pm.

In the latter part of 2011, the Civic Society started to engage with Wakefield MDC Street Scene Team and local activists in order to discuss initially the flooding in the Valley Gardens and the local authorities proposed solution. These discussions were then extended into the possibility of creating a Friends Group, should the community support that.

More recently, the Valley Gardens Bowling Club has been engaged with meetings, and numerous suggestions have been made to improve the park. This is a jewel in the heart of the town, which is currently being maintained though not developed. Additional external funding could be brought in by a Friends Group, which could if formed as a constituted charity then bid for funding to work in partnership with WMDC.

Please tell you friends, come to Pontefract Town Hall and take your seats by 7pm to hear some suggestions and then offer your support to help start a Friends Group.

Many of you will remember the campaign and dig of St Richards Friary in 2011 organised by Pontefract Friary Action Group, of which Pontefract Civic Society was a key player.

Public meetings took place prior to the dig, and towards the end of dig, though final reporting wasn’t complete. Two on-site community days also took place with exhibits at Churchill House.

A follow up public meeting will now take place at Central Methodist Church led by Simon Tomson on behalf of PDAS, at which Peter Cookson, Chair of Pontefract Civic Society will also speak in relation to Pontefract historic future.

Talk Title:  Two Families One Story – Warde Family (Tanshelf cum Carleton and London) & Saltonstall Family (Pontefract, London & Kent)

Pontefract Civic Society would like to thank our hosts, Richard Metcalfe and the staff of Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel for their hospitality and continued support of the Society.

Councillor Mark Crowther will be holding a public meeting on Fri 3 Feb at 7pm at the Guide Hut on Carleton Park. All welcome.

Tues 17 Jan is a busy day!!
A drop in event has been organised at The Carleton (Hotel) by potential developers of the Hardwick Road site - 3pm – 7:30pm.

A Society Talk on 1950′s rail will take place at Carleton Grange at 7:15pm. Members and Non-Members are welcome.

Our Calendar for February is filling up quite nicely with a Talk at Rogerthorpe Manor, and two public meetings – one about The Friary and the other to seek support to establish a Friends Group for the Valley Gardens – if you’re interested in the latter do get in touch!

Civic Day in June 2011 saw the culmination of a number of activities centred around the launch of a new website and a Facebook page, a blue plaque being presented to the 400 year old Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel, the publication of a Blue Plaque Guide, and a recruitment campaign which has seen Corporate Members increase from 2 to 8 just this spring/summer!

Paul said, “I was pleasantly surprised and honoured to receive the award on behalf of Pontefract Civic Society, which is testament to the hard work and focus in raising the profile of the Society”. He went onto say, “It just goes to show what can achieved when goals are set, and we work together to make a difference”.

The award was presented by Paula Ridley, Chair of Civic Voice – the national umbrella organisation for the civic movement.

Pontefract Civic Society Talk with Guest Speaker – John Thorp MBE, City Architect for Leeds