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Organisations unite to tackle cost-of-living crisis in Kirkstall and Burley

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St Stephen's Church hall
Venue: St Stephen's Church Hall. By Betty Longbottom, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13208702

Third sector organisations in Kirkstall have joined forces to help tackle the provide residents with access to hEAT this winter.

From October 3 hEAT will provide a welcoming and warm space, five times a week, for the community to access a warm meal and drinks, meet other people, play games, watch films and electricity point to charge essential items.

hEAT (Heat & Eat) is a combined project by Kirkstall Valley Development Trust (KVDT), St Andrew’s Food Project and HAVA Big Local (Hawksworth, Abbeydales & Vesper Area Big Local) which will operate from St Stephen’s Church Hall, Norman Street LS5 and St Andrew’s Church, Butcher Hill LS16.

The partners are looking for people willing to volunteer a few of hours their time weekly to deliver this service, which hopes to positively impact possibly hundreds of people in the ward.

CEO of KVDT Adele Rae said: “Our community are right to be worried about the challenges ahead this winter.

“We cannot afford to heat our homes and to buy and cook the food we need to stay well and healthy through the poor winter weather. hEAT takes pressure off individuals and families, who can come enjoy a nutritious meal, get warm and socialise.

“This crisis is affecting many people in the Kirkstall Ward and nationally. We are already finding working people who previously just about managed, as well as those on benefits, who are now being financially squeezed.”

St Andrew’s Food Project, which runs the only local foodbank in the area, have already seen an increase in the number of Food Parcels being requested weekly.

Food project lead Cherie Cartwright said: “We are extremely concerned with the increased numbers of food bank users even before winter hits. We believe everyone has the right to enough to eat and to be warm. hEAT will be one way we can support our community. But we can’t do it without help.”

The organisations have been working in partnership throughout covid and now through the cost of living crisis to provide essential support to the Kirkstall Ward (which includes Burley, Hawksworth Wood and Moor Grange, as well as Kirkstall).

They have established the food support pathway for Kirkstall, available to all residents through the Food Pantry, Food Project and Community Kitchen. Full details are available on KVDT and HAVA’s facebook pages. 

Anyone able to offer time to volunteer with hEAT please contact sarah.hava@outlook.com training will be given as well as the opportunity to complete your Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate. 

They are a warm, welcoming and supportive team and would love to hear from you. 

Housing Secretary must protect the most vulnerable as energy prices double and inflation stays high, says Leeds housing association chief

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cedric Boston unity housing
Calls: Cedric Boston, of Unity Housing.

The chief executive of a Leeds-based housing association has appealed to new Housing Secretary Simon Clarke to be an advocate for extra financial help for those left most exposed by the hike in energy prices.    

Unity Homes and Enterprise owns and manages 1,350 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds across Leeds, including in Armley and Pudsey.

Prime Minister Liz Truss announced an energy bill freeze shortly after entering No 10 this month. The price cap, which was due to rise to £3,549 a year in October, will now remain at £2,500 for two years, and there will also be a £150 disability payment for those eligible.

But Unity chief executive Cedric Boston said more still needed to be done to help the most vulnerable in society. He said: “I welcome the support the Government has pledged to bring forward but the fact remains that average energy bills have doubled in just 12 months.

“This will have a devastating impact on individuals and families on the lowest incomes, including a considerable proportion of housing association tenants.

“Such a major hit on limited household budgets comes in the midst of a spiralling cost of living crisis with inflation seemingly out of control.

“I appeal to Simon Clarke, the new Housing Secretary, to be an advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable at the heart of the Government’s decision-making as we approach an incredibly difficult winter.

“This should include allowing those on housing benefit, who Ministers say they want to help, to retain the additional support received from the proposed social housing rent cap rather than the Treasury clawing it back to central funds.”

My Boston called on a rise in the benefit cap to enable households in receipt to meet inflationary rent increases. He added: “Further, there can be no excuse for annual benefits for individuals and families not to go up in line with inflation. 

“Unity will always do everything we can to safeguard the wellbeing of local communities, but the Government must commit to supporting us and our tenants in the short, medium and long-term.”

Farsley Celtic eliminated from FA Cup following convincing AFC Fylde victory

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Farsley Celtic crashed out of the FA Cup in a replay against AFC Fylde last night. Photo: John McEvoy/Leeds Shots

By Liam O’Sullivan

Photos: John McEvoy/Leeds Shots

AFC Fylde put in a dominant second half display at The Citadel in the FA Cup second qualifying round replay, comfortably winning the game 3-0. 

Farsley Celtic were outplayed by a very well-oiled Fylde team whose attacking threat proved too much to handle for the home side’s defence.

The Celts were without their talisman Jimmy Spencer, who was forced to miss the game through illness. This meant Jacob Gratton was introduced to the side as his replacement. Despite this blow, the rest of the team was unchanged from the hard-fought 1-1 draw at Mill Farm on Saturday. 

The visitors showed early warning signs in the game. The first big chance came inside the second minute, when Nick Haughton found himself one-on-one with Owen Mason. There was a good chance the ball would’ve ended up in the back of the net had it not been for some heroic defending from Andy Butler.

Three minutes later, a similar one-on-one scenario presented itself for the Coasters. This time debutant Siya Leigendza was gifted an opportunity to get off the mark with his new club, finding himself with a simple finish from close range. However, a top save from Owen Mason denied the striker a debut goal.

Leigendza had a wonderful chance to redeem himself not long after, when a menacing cross from Jordan Cranston wasn’t dealt with by Frank Mulhern and gave Leigendza a glorious opportunity inside the six-yard box. However, the new signing somehow fired his effort way over the bar. A let off for the Celts.

Despite the home side escaping some close calls, their luck would run out early in the second half. The talented Nick Haughton got in behind the Farsley defence, and sublimely chipped it over Owen Mason who was off his line.

Owen Mason was kept busy in his goal, making some crucial saves to keep his team in the game. However, he would be left helpless after Leigendza was adjudged to have been tripped in the box. Haughton stepped up and fired it into the top right corner of the net, giving him his second of the match.

Fylde would put the nail in the Farsley coffin less than ten minutes later, when a wicked delivery to the back post from Jordan Cranston was met by the head of Kyle Morrison, who converted from close range to give the visitors a third.

The Celts’ best chance of the game came straight after this goal, when Mulhern thundered an effort towards the top left corner of the net, but Chris Neal was equal to it, tipping it past the post.

The Coasters were denied a fourth when both a brave stop from Mason followed by a goal-line clearance stopped substitutes Walker and Whitehead from getting on the scoresheet.

The Celts will have to put this result behind them and look ahead to the weekend, where league action returns to the Citadel. Farsley take on Spennymoor Town this Saturday at 3pm, in a game which the Celts will hope will get them back to winning ways. 

Line ups

Farsley Celtic: Mason, Turner, Allan, Johnson, Butler, Clayton, Syers © (Malumo 67), Atkinson, Gratton, Mulhern, Parkin. Unused subs: Ingham, Morgan (GK).

AFC Fylde: Neal, Morrison, Bird, Whitmore ©, Weston (Patten 79), Philliskirk, Hatfield (Whitehead 74), Cranston, Barrett, Haughton (Walker 79), Leigendza. Unused subs: McPartlan, Obi, Osbourne, Conlan.

Reaction

Boss Russ Wilcox said he was proud of his players for taking the full-time outfit to a replay, but questioned some of the refereeing decisions last night.

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Bramley: Flats approved at former 19th century foundry building

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These offices off Stanningley Road will become flats. Photo: Google

Offices based on Stanningley Road in Bramley will become six flats, after Leeds City Council planners received the green light.

Applicant Noreen Khan successfully applied to change of use of offices to one-bedroom apartments at 230 Stanningley Road. The former Victoria Foundry is one of the last remaining 19th century industrial mill buildings on Stanningley Road.

The application states: “The proposal introduces carefully considered residential accommodation with minimal impact to the character of Bramley Town Centre Conservation Area.”

Earlier this year Ms Khan gained permission to transform a building at the back of the site into five flats.

The full planning application can be viewed in full here.

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Farsley art gallery explores vessels with three exhibitions

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The acclaimed Sunny Bank Mills Art Gallery at Farsley in West Yorkshire is hosting three exhibitions this autumn exploring the nature of vessels.

Vessel runs until October 30 and incorporates two pop-up exhibitions Art House – Home of Dis/Content and Lullabies in Lockdown.

Jane Kay, the Gallery director and curator of the exhibition, explained: “We are incredibly excited and proud about Vessel, which is an imaginative investigation into the form and function of vessels through 2D and 3D visual art and craft, events and discussion.

“We will be unpacking the notions surrounding these containers; showing a collection of multi-media art works alongside two pop-up exhibitions which invite you to consider ‘vessels’ from a more conceptual viewpoint.”

Art House – Home of Dis/Content, curated by Carole Griffiths, explores themes of domesticity within the architectural vessel which is a doll’s house. Carole utilises the interior of a doll’s house to display miniature artworks reflecting domestic life.

Carole commented: “During the global pandemic, there was a smallness and an enclosed feeling of home and I felt compelled to respond to it. The longer I was confined to my home during the pandemic, the more I thought about my interactions with specific kitchen objects that communicate back to me of body, function, and through the act of making, small.

“Art house is not just an empty cabinet but an opening to the past, nostalgia, part objects, part-sculptures and questions the maternal materiality of domesticity through function and experience. The viewer can enter it and observe the new sculptural representations of the kitchen utensils from doorways and openings and viewpoints,” she said.

This pop-exhibition ends this Sunday (September 25).

The main exhibition Vessel, which runs until October 30, features work by Yorkshire artist; Alice Fox; Carol Douglas Frances Lee; Joe Andrew Helaina Sharpley Loretta Braganza and  Sarah du Feu alongside  ceramic artistst Zoe Preece and Jeremy Nichols and  Spoon artist Ann Povey 

Alice Fox, who works from her studio in nearby Saltaire, explained that sustainability was at the heart of her practice.

“The desire to take an ethical approach has driven a shift within my work from using conventional art and textile materials into exploring found objects, gathered materials and natural processes.

“A hollow container that might have function, but also can contain, enclose and protect other items, has a universal appeal. Even an empty vessel holds space and frames it, suggesting potential. The vessels shown here are made from a variety of gathered, grown and re-purposed materials.”

All of Alice Fox’s work shown in the exhibition also features in her new book Wild Textiles, which was launched at the gallery earlier this month.      

Meanwhile Carol Douglas, who also features prominently in Vessel, is a York based artist. Her life-long affection for art led her to enrol on York College’s Art Foundation Course in her mid-60s, kicking off her career as a painter.

She commented: “My final project at art college was named Domestic Objectivity and this theme has continued throughout my practice. I use acrylic on canvas and paint with small rollers which create the flat surfaces I require.”

Carol won the Art and Design Lifelong Student of the Year Award 2018. Now aged seventy, she has work in galleries in York, online galleries in London and is collected by interior designers and collectors.

Lullabies in Lockdown, curated by Beth Duggleby, uncovers the experience of new parenthood during the pandemic through illustrated stories surrounding the babies who had to stay at home. The pop-up exhibition starts on October 1 and runs throughout the month.

Pudsey: New play park ‘should open for October half-term’

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Installation work on the new playground is continuing. Photo: Simon Seary

A Pudsey councillor has said that the long-awaited play area in Pudsey Park is expected to be open for October 2022 half term.

The playground has been closed since May as part of a a £260,000 package of improvements. This has included the removal of all existing equipment with the exception of the spider web, which is still in good condition.

As WLD reported in January, plans for the historic park include doubling the number of swings, a new roundabout and a climbing tower.

Posting on social media, Cllr Simon Seary (Cons, Pudsey) said: “The council should be finished with the hard tarmac surfacing [this] week and then we have to wait for the contractor to install the rubber soft play surface under the equipment. This could take 10 days to complete and then the play equipment needs to be attached and signed off.

“Unfortunately we are still waiting on the fabrication of the new fencing around the site, but this can be installed after and will not delay the opening. The expectation is that it will be open for October 2022 half term.”

Funding for improvements will come from section 106 funding, which are contributions paid to Leeds City Council by developers when building new homes in the Pudsey ward.

Work was due to start earlier in the year, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving some park users frustrated by the lack of play equipment during the school summer holidays.

Learn how to prune fruit trees at Wortley’s community orchard

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By Jess Bush

Fancy learning how to prune fruit trees? Volunteers from Western Flatts Cliff Park Community Orchard have teamed up with Fruit Works to bring you a pay as you feel winter fruit tree pruning course.

Attendees will learn the theory and practice of winter fruit tree pruning, and participants will each receive a copy of Chloe Ward’s pruning guide “for real people with imperfect trees”.

It’s a suggested donation of £20 and the event will take place on Sunday, 4 December 2022 from 10am-12pm at Western Flatts Cliff Park in The Orchard, which used to be the second bowling green.

Tickets can be bought here.

Fruit Works is a social enterprise helping communities in Leeds and Bradford to plant and maintain fruit trees. Its mission is to empower people to grow their own fruit and build resilient local food systems.

Meanwhile, a new autumn gardening group is meeting every Saturday morning to improve the park.

Volunteers meet from 10am to Midday starting and have been working across both the Rose Garden and the Community Orchard to help prepare for a great display next spring.

Farsley Liberal Club owner ‘wants to keep building alive’ – despite closure

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Graham Kelly is appealing for new people to step in at the former Farsley Liberal Club building.

The owner of the building occupied by Farsley Liberal Club – which has closed after 134 years – says he wants to keep the historic building ‘alive’ and has appealed for potential tenants or new owners to get in touch.

As first reported by WLD, the club, in Old Road, called time on August 29 and now sits empty.

G&H Group, which is a £35 million mechanical, electrical and public health business in South Parade, Pudsey, bought the building in April 2019.

Since taking over, it carried out a general refurbishment and is now looking for interested parties to give the building a new lease of life either by buying it or becoming a tenant.

Managing Director at G&H Group, Graham Kelly, has lived in Farsley all his life. He said: “We bought it three years ago to protect the future of the building and help Farsley Liberal Club to continue operating.

“Our approach has always been about ensuring this community facility remains while retaining a building of such historic and architectural importance to the town. 

“Unfortunately, like many political social clubs across the country, it has not been able to make it work in recent times – but the building itself presents a fantastic opportunity.

Closed: Farsley Liberal Club. Photo: Google

“Aesthetically it has great presence on the high street and the building has a really good infrastructure. At the back there is a large and private southwest-facing garden, which is a fantastic space.

“It has huge potential and could be used in many different ways, from a bar or restaurant to shop premises or as a community based venue – the options are endless really.”

Farsley has been enjoying a renaissance in recent times, being named in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live guide as ‘an up-and-coming creative neighbourhood’.

The decision to close the club followed an extraordinary general meeting attended by club members on Tuesday, 19 July 2022. A statement today on social media said: “It is with sadness we have to announce that Farsley Liberal Club will cease trading. The last day of trading will be Monday, 29 August 2022. 

“We would like to thank all members who have supported the club, especially during the past two difficult years.”

People reacted at the time with sadness to the news. One person on Facebook said: “So sad that such a lovely family club has to close. I am sure everyone appreciates all the hard work you have put in to try and make it work.”

Another added: “It is such a shame had some memorable times there over a lot of years -happy memories with lovely friends, thank you.”

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Farsley TV jeweller Emma White expands business at Sunny Bank Mills

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Sunny Bank Mills Emma Main
Emma White is expanding her business at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley.

By Liam O’Sullivan

Farsley’s Emma White has hit the national spotlight in recent weeks following her appearances on the popular BBC Two series All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star.

The successful contemporary jeweller and jewellery teacher set up her studio and workshop at the Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley nearly ten years ago. She is currently based at Red Lane Mill within the historic complex but is now renovating the area to make a larger workshop.

Emma thanked the landlords of Sunny Bank Mills, John and William Gaunt, for making the expansion possible. She said: “I’m very excited to be expanding into the Twisting Gallery, I have been a tenant at Sunny Bank Mills since 2013 and I love being part of the hub of creativity and energy that landlords John and William Gaunt have nurtured.”

Sunny Bank Mills has been transformed from an historic mill to a modern office and mixed-use retail, arts and leisure complex, creating 400 sustainable new jobs.

Emma White lives in Farsley, as well as working there.

The renovation of Emma’s workshop within the complex will involve the knocking down of the wall which separates the Red Lane Mill and the Twisting Gallery, making a larger space for her. 

The expansion of the workshop is something that benefits not only Emma, but also the landlords. William Gaunt said: “The regeneration of the Twisting Gallery is another piece in the jigsaw in the regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills. Once the renovation is completed in October, it will be a tremendously stimulating space in the heart of our mill complex.”

Emma’s recent rise in popularity at the ever-growing complex epitomises what Sunny Bank Mills is trying to add to the community.

William Gaunt added: “It is also fitting that Emma has made her home here, as she is a true Yorkshire craftsperson and maker, which chimes in with the mill’s rich history. Her decision to expand her business here is a tremendous endorsement of our ever-growing creative community at Sunny Bank Mills.”

You can watch Emma on All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star, which is broadcast every Thursday at 9pm on BBC Two and is also streaming on BBC iPlayer. The BBC Two show, hosted by Katherine Ryan, is searching for UK’s next up-and-coming jewellery star.

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Police call for review of Pudsey off-licence

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Pudsey Local, in Market Place, Pudsey. Photo: Google

By John Baron

A Pudsey shop could be stripped of its licence to sell alcohol amid police concerns it has sold booze to children.

West Yorkshire Police has called for the review of the LOCAL shop based in Market Place, following reports of alcohol and e-cigarettes sales to underage people.

Police say there are wider concerns that under-age purchases could be helping to fuel anti-social behaviour in Pudsey town centre. The review has attracted nine letters of support from concerned Pudsey residents.

Their application to review the licence is made on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.

But a report to be considered by councillors says undercover test purchases made at the premises by both police and West Yorkshire Trading Standards have failed to catch any illegal activity.

Licence holder Syed Ahmed is set to go before councillors sitting on the council’s licensing sub committee next Tuesday, 27 September. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The premises is currently open 8am-11pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 10.30pm on Sunday.

Councillors will next Tuesday have the following options:

  • Leave the licence as it is.
  • to modify or add to the conditions of the licence.
  • to remove the designated premises supervisor.
  • to suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months and/or
  • to revoke the licence.

The documents relating to the meeting can be read here.

Runners rally to support Bramley family on last leg of 43km trek

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Words: Jean Hollings

Photos: Simon Cullingworth

Sunday was run day to help raise money for the family of tragic Grant Chakas. 

Runner Yacine Sahel (Yaz) was joined by Grant Chakas’ work colleagues at Greggs and members of Bramley Breezers to complete a 43km run in memory the dad of three who passed away last month. 

As previously reported, Yaz was so affected by Grant’s death he felt he had to do something to commemorate Grant’s life and to support his young family. 

Yaz provided bibs with the number 43 on for those completing the full run. 

The 43km run started at PureGym at 8am, prompted by Grant’s brother. 

Dean Ward, a friend to them both, was running the support for refreshments and water. There were seven refuelling points in total.

Runners joined at the half way point just outside of the Raddison Hotel (on The Headrow). Runners also joined at different points – 10k The Barge at  Rodley and 8k at Pudsey police station. Many joined at the final 5k around Bramley Park.

Several Breezers completed the Bradford 10km before supporting Yaz. 

At the finish line there was a large crowd, along with Brian, Greggs’ employees and Bramley Breezers, to celebrate their achievement. 

Greggs bakery kindly provided refreshments at the finish line for runners and supporters. 

Yaz has set up a Gofundme page for anyone wishing to donate. As this article was published, more than £1,000 had so far been raised.

Farsley Celtic prepare for FA Cup replay at home to Fylde

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Farsley Celtic's The Citadel ground.

By Thomas Ritchie

Farsley Celtic will be looking to progress to the Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round for just the third time since the club’s reformation when they take on AFC Fylde this evening (Tuesday).

Tom Allan’s second-half effort at the weekend ensured the Celts would earn a second opportunity to topple the Coasters, this time in home comforts.

This will be the third meeting between the two sides already at the early stage of this season, with James Rowe’s side leaving the Citadel with a 2-1 victory in the league in August.

Celts skipper Dave Syers feels Farsley are close to turning in the corner in terms of results, as he said: “Things are definitely moving in the right direction, we are showing what we can do, we just need those little bits, those little things to turn our way and we’re so close really.

“If you look at the fixtures for the next four to six weeks, there’s a lot of games we’d be targeting for points in there, it’s pleasing we’ve got that bit of consistency in performance now, and it’s about now going and backing that up with points on the board.”

Looking ahead to the replay, the skipper continued: “We were unlucky in the game (against Fylde) earlier in the season, I think like a couple of the other games, we nullified their threat and then conceded a goal out of nothing at the wrong time.

“We beat them at home last year, so we’ve got every confidence in that.

“Let’s see whether they want to come and travel to us again, a lot of clubs like this turn their nose up at coming across to Farsley, so we’ll be approaching the game in exactly the same way, and we’ll see what happens.”

TEAM NEWS
Lewis Butroid continues his recovery from the injury sustained in our victory over Brackley Town in August.

Kian Scales and Bobby Pointon have both been made unavailable in this competition, whilst Thabang Dube is cup-tied.

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased at the gate at the Citadel, or in advance online HERE.

You can view our full ticket information HERE.

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