People Power Works when we work together.

North Yorkshire County Council has given planning permission for the massive extension to the Yorkshire Water Sewage Works at Hemingbrough.

Without the extraordinary efforts of the local Hemingbrough Sewage Works Action Group (HSWAG) it would have gone ahead without significant safeguards for all residents.

Yorkshire Water’s original plan, supported by Hemingbrough Parish Council, was to route up to 100 lorries a week through the narrow village streets and residential areas, putting children in danger, and with the risk of damaging buildings and disrupting village life. HSWAG suggested, campaigned for and won access through the little used Newhay Lane at Cliffe. HSWAG also won concessions on odour and fly control measures and screening by more than a simple wire fence to hide the unsightly works that the Parish Council failed to do.”

HSWAG was formed to combat Yorkshire Water and the Parish Council in late April after residents found out the Council had had a “Special, closed Meeting” in mid February to comment on the plans at an early stage then both had kept residents in the dark for two months while the time for objections was running out.

The Parish Council later described their closed meeting as a “very constructive public relations meeting” and offered to leaflet the village asking people to keep Main Street clear of cars to allow lorries to pass.” Can you imagine the effect on the General Store, the Bread Bin and the Post Office, all vital local businesses, if the Parish Council had had its way and cares were to be kept off Main Street? Can you imagine the effect if Yorkshire Water’s threat to have ‘no parking’ yellow lines put down Main Street?

The Parish Council got what they wanted at that closed meeting; they asked Yorkshire Water to pay for an extension to a Water Vole survey. Yorkshire Water rushed that survey extension through before Councilors commented on their plans in public.” Who was looking out for the village? The Action Group!

HSWAG gathered more than 80 signatures on a petition calling for the Council Leaders to quit for not briefing them, seeking assurances and safeguards between February and mid-April.” The Parish Council ignored it saying they will continue to do what’s best for the village! 100 lorries a day?

Selby Council has been invited to comment on why our Parish Council should call a “Special, closed Meeting” to do it’s normal business of commenting on plans, then produce no Agenda, no official minutes and no record on the Council’s list that the meeting ever took place! Selby Council has also been asked why two Hemingbrough District Councilors, Kay McSherry and James Deans, also kept quiet for the same two months.

Residents must not let large companies and Councilors come to agreements behind closed doors without feeling the strength of People Power. When they were discovered, we heard Councilors and Yorkshire Water publicly challenging each other about what happened, accusations of lying and general pandemonium. Parish Council Meetings, closed to residents, should be banned unless there is a statutory reason for them!

There is still much work to be done by the Action Group. Somebody has to ensure the Sewage Works are built and managed to the approved planning application. Someone has to take a genuine interest in the future of our village.