Local Issues

Sensory Garden
The lower part of the churchyard has now been improved by a 'sensory garden' area. The official name was the 'Sensory & Heritage Gardens Project' (although it is still a churchyard by any other name) and they have made a good job of it. It looks halfway decent (Praise indeed!). The archway has been specially made. The plan was:

• Re-laying of “permissive path” using traditional 'York Stone' paving.
• Build two walled seating areas near Shrewsbury Road entrance.
• Create 'Memorial Spiral' at Shrewsbury Road entrance dedicated to Nicholas Saunderson 1682-1739, “The Blind Professor”.
• Signs indicating the significance of the flowers (with braille).
• Position and plant four 'raised beds' along the pathway.
• Design of ten 'Heritage Millstone Lights' with significant dates inscribed.

Chav Magnet
Local people are aware of furtive youths who hang around the lychgate, National School and Spar supermarket. The word on the streets is that they are involved in drugs. These locations are all close to the sensory garden and there is almost no police presence to deter them. The National School has had windows and tiles broken and our fine church had to protect its windows a few years ago.

There is a worry that drug-related materials might be left around in the churchyard area for children to find during daylight hours. The proposed Penistone caretaker should be able to keep an eye on this. Perhaps the time has come for CCTV in the area, especially now that thieves are raiding the church roof for lead. It is not technically difficult to employ CCTV cameras with built-in transmitters (not too expensive from Maplin's), for locals to keep an eye on things from their homes.