Voters living in the Armley ward have a chance to put their questions to local election candidates at a special hustings event next week.
Leeds City Council elections are being held on Thursday, 2 May 2024 where residents can vote for the person they want to represent them on the council.
The hustings is being held at Denison Hall on Tuesday, 16 April. Doors open at 6.30pm and proceedings will start at 7.30pm.
One of the organisers, Cat Hyde, said: “We are a group of Armley residents conscious of the local election coming quickly. Armley is a very mixed and active community but as a deprived inner city area we face lots of issues and therefore leadership and representation are extremely important to us.
“We are keen to hear from all of the candidates in order to make an informed decision of who is the best person to help lead and shape our community. So far Lou Cunningham (Green Party) and Richard Banks (Labour) have confirmed their attendance.”
Questions can be submitted in advance via e-mail – armleyparkfriends@gmail.com – or on the night.
The hustings chair is impartial.
Full list of Armley ward candidates:
Banks, Richard Denis: Labour Party
Bettney, Warwick Charles: Social Democratic Party
Cunningham, Lou: Green Party
Martins, Rachel: Yorkshire Party
Walker, Dan: Liberal Democrats
Westwood, Adam Vincent James: Conservative Party
People need to register by midnight on Tuesday (April 16), including those who have moved home and need to register at their new address.They can do so here.
People are also being reminded that voter identification is needed to vote in person at a polling station in the election on Thursday, May 2.
If needed, a photo ID can be obtained by applying for a Voter Authority Certificate and the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, April 24. People can apply here. Help can also be found by asking at community hubs across the city.
Last Saturday Bramley parkrun witnessed something pretty special – the celebration of a 500th volunteer milestone.
Jean Hollings, who is the current event director for Bramley parkrun, has now volunteered at parkrun on 500 separate occasions, which is quite impressive when you think that parkrun is a weekly activity.
In total Jean has volunteered at Bramley parkrun 325 times, Bramley junior parkrun 157 and volunteered at various other parkrun locations across the UK and Ireland including Temple Newsam, Catterick, Fulham Palace, Vogrie in Scotland and Queens in Ireland.
Jean has been managing parkrun at Bramley almost seven years, and with the exception of shutting down for Covid-19 and closure while the park facilities were renovated Jean has lead the Bramley parkrun team since 2017.
In that time there have been some memorable experiences such as hosting ‘Cowfest’. Due to another Leeds parkrun having to cancel Bramley had two weeks’ notice for Cowfest North 2022 – May. (This is where many parkrun tourists visit a specific venue.) It was a tight deadline but the Bramley team rose to the challenge and loved having the tourists and a life size yellow cow.
And there was St Gemma’s Santa dash December 2023 which saw a huge crowd of Santas (volunteers and participants dress in Santa suits) running around the park – whilst having fun and raising money.
But that’s not it. Jean is involved in a number of other local groups and causes such as Bramley Elderly Action and BrAmazon deliveries (she’s also. community reporter for WLD). And she has been privileged to receive a few awards, including the WLD Good Egg winner for January 2018, Parkrun UK volunteer of the Month June 2018 and Morrisons (Horsforth) nominated Jean for being an inspirational woman at Bramley parkrun and Bramley Junior parkrun March 2022.
Jean makes sure that she also gets involves in parkrun as a participant having completed 53 parkruns at 21 different locations; she really is the Queen of Parkrun.
Parkrun has made a big difference to Jean’s life and she says that Saturday mornings are not the same when she’s not at Bramley.
She said: “The runners and volunteers make such a difference and make the whole experience so enjoyable. Seeing people arrive quiet and reserved and in a few weeks we help them celebrate their achievements as one of our own. I love to hear stories of how parkrun has changed their lives, giving them confidence to try different things or supporting them through difficult times.”
In fact there’s a saying at Bramley parkrun – that ‘Bramley is family’ and Jean says that is often echoed by visitors who regularly mention how friendly Bramley parkrun is.
Jean adds that she feels lucky that Bramley has such a dedicated group of regular volunteers who make up the parkrun team: “The parkrun team (volunteers and runners) are like an extended family, if truth be told I see them more than my own family.”
Thank you Queen Jean – from all your loyal parkrun subjects – long may she reign!
Council highways officers say plans for a new Burger King drive-thru restaurant won’t result in severe impact on an already congested road network in Kirkstall – subject to traffic signal improvements being implemented in the area.
Developers say the new restaurant, off Savins Mill Way, would create 40 new jobs, but there are currently 19 objections to the proposals, mainly expressing concerns over it exacerbating existing traffic problems in the area.
One local objector said: “The road that provides main access to the whole site … is swamped by traffic on most days and gridlocked during rush-hour traffic. This development, if allowed, would further burden the collapsing local road network bringing further misery to Kirkstall residents.”
And civic watchdog Leeds Civic Trust says: “The proposal exemplifies everything the city is trying to discourage through its various strategies: reducing unnecessary vehicle traffic and encouraging active travel; reducing vehicle emissions which contribute to climate change; reducing air pollution; and improving health and well-being.”
WLDreported last week on a spate of crashes at the nearby four-way junction that connects Kirkstall Road, Abbey Road and Kirkstall Lane. There are going-stanidbning concerns over traffic congestion in the area.
A highways engineer’s report published on 4 April says: “It is considered that the development would not result in a severe impact, subject to mitigation being implemented to improve the junction’s signal timings / operation and technology.”
The report says a contribution of £30,000 is required by the developer for the signal improvements off Savins Mill Way.
“There are two lanes that would be over-saturated as a result of the development,” the report adds. “However these would not result in gridlock or exacerbating the conditions on the A65. The queues / delays would be concentrated on Savins Mill Way and the development access at Morrisons signalised junction. The future model includes altered timings, with the aim of tipping the balance of capacity towards maintaining service on the highway network.”
It also lists a number of other highways issues which are still to be resolved.
A planning statement submitted by the developers with the application states: “The scale of the building is able to facilitate take away customers, both an indoor and outdoor seating area for visitors as well as an adequately sized back of house area for staff to enable efficient service.
“The proportions of the facades have been designed to provide a contemporary style building with more glazing, and therefore light, into the newly created spaces to create a modern and pleasant environment.”
Sami Lovett, working with young people as part of a recent PIECES Project programme at a school in Leeds
A programme of activities and courses that will give young people in West Leeds and beyond many more opportunities to develop their creative and entrepreneurial skills has been launched.
The not-for-profit PIECES Project, which stands for ‘Positively Inspiring and Empowering Creative Enterprises with Sustainability’, has been developed by Sami Lovett, the founder of Just Lovett Design – which will be moving from Farsley to Rodley – and the woman behind the Creative Enterprise Challenge.
This school holidays-based programme has, for the past two years, given young people between the ages of 11-18 the opportunity to work as a team to conceive a new sustainable product idea, learn the skills to make it, and create a business plan for it in the space of just five days.
Now, Sami is hoping to build on the success of this challenge with the PIECES Project by providing an expanded range of activities and programme format. She believes the new model will remove many of the practical barriers to children taking part in the extra-curricular initiative, giving parents and carers greater flexibility, and increasing inclusivity.
The concept of the Creative Enterprise Challenge, whereby young people work in small teams to create a start-up business and a product, will continue. But Sami will now be providing the programme in the community, rather than at her workshop in Farsley, and at various times throughout the year.
Sami said: “In the space of two years we have helped nearly 400 young people develop and helped to inspire the creation of 38 businesses! But we know we can do much more, and this is why I wanted to develop the Creative Enterprise Challenge in line with feedback from those who have taken part, as well as those who wanted to but couldn’t.
“The key to being able to take the project to the next level has been the support of our sponsors and the schools and businesses who have agreed to let us use their premises across the Leeds area. This means we are taking the programme into the community, making it more convenient for young people to take part.”
In addition to new locations for the programmes, Sami has developed a number of different courses and formats, and linked up with local Scouting groups to create a special programme for their members.
The new structure means young people will be able to develop their creative and entrepreneurial skills in after school clubs and through six-week introductory courses, which will run over the first or second half of a school term. Courses that are accessible for younger children and SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) children will also be planned into the calendar to ensure the barriers for taking part are removed.
Sami added: “I’m passionate about entrepreneurship having set up my own business at a relatively young age, but I don’t believe the regular school curriculum can support those young people who may want to start their own businesses. That’s why we’re working hard, supported by our generous sponsors, to provide extra-curricular activities to inspire young people, help them develop as individuals and thrive in their adult life.”
A variety of local businesses has been instrumental in providing funding and hands-on support to help the Creative Enterprise Challenge succeed, and they will continue to do so as it evolves into The PIECES Project.
One major supporter is Morley Glass, a manufacturer of integral blinds for windows and doors. The company has funded free and subsidised places on the programmes for children from disadvantaged communities, and it donates hundreds of wooden boxes every month that would otherwise go to waste, which the children use as the main raw material to make their new products.
Under threat: Pudsey Civic Hall. Photo: Ivor Hughes
By John Baron
No final decision has been taken over the future of Pudsey Civic Hall, Leeds City Council has said today.
As previously reported, the council is proposing to close the facility as it seeks to slash £60m from its overall budget this financial year. The proposals have been met with local opposition.
The venue, which was used by over 49,000 people in 2022-23, makes a ‘modest surplus’ but the council says it is consistently failing to meet income targets and is a “financial strain”.
The local authority’s statement follows a post widely viewed on social media which wrongly suggested that a decision taken at February’s full council meeting to approve the authority’s budget for the 2024-25 financial year meant that the facility would definitely close. The post has since been slightly amended.
In a statement issued to WLD, a Leeds City Council spokesperson said the council is still to study the findings of a public consultation into the future of the building, together with any additional correspondence with users and stakeholders of the building.
The spokesperson said: “The council first published initial budget proposals for the 2024/2025 financial year in December 2023 and agreed to start a series of consultations including on the proposed closure of Pudsey Civic Hall.
“The vote in full council on Wednesday 21 February gave approval to proceed with the various reviews and consultations that are currently under way. No amenities or services will immediately close following the budget vote.
“The decision to close a service or amenity will be taken in accordance with the council’s constitution via delegated decisions by chief officers, directors, or through a decision report presented to the executive board.
“Pudsey Civic Hall will continue to remain open and honour all existing and any new bookings made until the end of December 2024, which is the earliest point it could close. Before a final decision is taken, the council will study the findings of the public consultation, together with any additional correspondence with users and stakeholders of the building.
“If the final decision to close is taken Leeds City Council staff will work with booking holders and service users to ensure there is a plan in place well before the building closes.”
WLD covered a lengthy debate on the future of Pudsey Civic Hall from the Outer West Community committee in February here, highlighting both criticism and concerns over the proposal as well as the council’s position.
Armley based alcohol and drug support service Forward Leeds is embarking on a campaign to raise awareness about cannabis, with a particular focus on cannabis edibles.
The campaign aims to help people understand what edibles are, the risks and to offer some advice around staying safe.
Hannah Trevisani, Team Manager at Forward Leeds said: “Cannabis edibles are increasingly in the news and there is a lot of information and misinformation out there.
“Cannabis edibles can present challenges due to their discreet nature and potentially unpredictable potency. Some people may be wondering what they are, what the risks are and how can people keep themselves safe. We’re hoping to bust some of the myths, allay some concerns and increase people’s understanding.”
The campaign running this month employs online messaging and a series of in-person events held at various locations across Leeds. The major event will be a stall on Lands Lane in the city centre on the 20 April.
Through these Forward Leeds seeks to reach individuals of all ages and backgrounds, fostering open dialogue and promoting harm reduction strategies.
Hannah continued: “We hope people from across the city Forward Leeds will participate in the campaign, whether by attending our events or joining the conversation on social media using the hashtag #RespectTHC. By working together, we can promote informed decision-making and safeguard the well-being of our community.
For more information about the campaign and upcoming events, please visit the Forward Leeds website.
After having the first two matches of the season postponed the Bramley Buffaloes are looking forward to finally getting their season under way.
With training sessions hitting new peaks of fitness and skill levels, the home match on Saturday, 13 April against New Earswick All Blacks should be a good guide to the progress the players have made during pre-season training. Kick-off is at 2pm at the West Leeds Rugby Union ground on Blue Hill Lane.
The visitors run junior teams from U7’s to U18’s playing in the Yorkshire Junior & Youth League and an Open Age team playing in the Premiership of the Yorkshire Men’s League at their impressive home ground of New Earswick Sports & Social Club.
Buffs going green!
Saturday’s match will see the “Buffs” playing in their new and impressive looking green kit for the first time. It is believed to be the first time Bramley have turned out in a green first team kit since the late 1970s, early 80s when they played a number of matches ina plain green shirt.
Elliot powers his way to the title
Congratulations to the Buffaloes forward Elliot Carter won his first “Strongman” competition recently. Elliot has been at the club for two seasons and has featured in the first team on five occasions.
The “Buffs” and Elliot are both looking for a strong 2024 season as they both go from strength to strength!
Co-chair of the Friends of Burley Park, Mike Winter, at last year's event. Photo: Connor Briggs
Burley Park is set to inspire local residents to get creative as special Blossom celebrations return to bring a splash of colour – a year on after a special patch was created in the park.
Love Leeds Parks, in collaboration with Friends of Burley Park and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), planted 10 blossom trees last year to create a space that could be appreciated by all visitors to the park. They were accompanied by a new path and benches, making this section of the park a welcoming sight that shows spring is in full bloom and ready to be enjoyed.
This year’s celebration event is set to be held in the park tomorrow (Friday 12 April). Guests from various organisations will join members of the community to enjoy live music performed by local artists Sam Thornton & Andy Morgan and Joseph Moore, poetry readings from Christopher R. Moore, a cyanotype workshop with Jenny Wright, and refreshments. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic.
Chloe Sykes, CEO of Love Leeds Parks, in Burley Park. Photo: Connor Briggs
Chloe Sykes, CEO of Love Leeds Parks, said: “This event is a fantastic continuation of our work in Burley Park, celebrating the legacy of the Blossom space we created in partnership with the National Trust last year.
“With an amazing line-up of artists, we’re ready to showcase how Blossom can inspire in urban areas like Burley. This event is part of a wider programme of activity we are funding in Burley Park and we’re delighted to be supporting local partners in providing residents with opportunities to come together and access the many benefits this well-loved public green space has to offer.”
Last year, Love Leeds Parks worked with over 30 local organisations and 449 individuals to discover their vision for their local park in Burley and Harehills. Since then, the charity has awarded almost £10,000 in grants to community groups to host engaging activity in both parks, showing off the natural beauty in the middle of the city.
Members of the public could post ideas about what they’d like to see in parks. Photo: Connor Briggs
Now, working in collaboration with the National Trust, this annual event complements the Blossomise programme of events created with Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate, and his band LYR. The band – comprised of Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Richard Walters and instrumentalist Patrick Pearson – have produced five new blossom songs inspired by the season. Simon has also created a body of blossom-inspired poems and haikus, also titled Blossomise. The music and poetry work together to celebrate the power of blossom.
Last year Simon Armitage attended the Blossom event in Burley Park to help inspire the music and poetry he wrote in the Blossomise works, meeting local residents and recording new elements of the works in Burley.
Burley Park sits in one of the most densely populated areas of the city, and Friends of the Earth say Burley is ranked in the second most deprived category for greenspace in the country.
Some of the faded markings on the roundels at Stanningley Bottom. Photo: Darren Bullough
A £100,000 scheme to resurface notorious Stanningley Bottom will begin on Monday 15 April, Leeds City Council has today confirmed.
Work at the junction, which has been labelled ‘the worst in Leeds‘, was due to begin earlier this month but a late notice from Northern Powergrid for emergency works delayed the start date.
Highways chiefs hope the changes will make the junction at Stanningley Bottom safer to use, with proposals including restoring the deteriorating road surface, and changing the two continental-style ’roundels’ into mini-roundabouts, as well as adding relevant signage and markings to make them clearer to motorists. There are also plans to improve the two existing pedestrian crossings.
Work will commence from Monday, with the following arrangements:
Weekdays: Monday 15 April to Friday 26 April between 9.30am–3.30pm, under temporary traffic signal control. Works to the kerbing, footways and drainage shall be carried out during these hours.
Evenings: Monday 29 April to Friday 3 May between 7pm-12am with a full road closure. Carriageway resurfacing works, fixing loose ironworks in the carriageway and provision of new road markings shall be carried out during these hours. Signed diversion routes shall be in place using local A and B-classified routes to avoid the works area.
A letter has been sent this week to residents and businesses in the area, updating them of these proposals and signs will be placed on site shortly to provide advanced notice of the road closures.
The scheme was originally planned to be completed last year, after being given the go ahead in March 2023. It follows calls in 2022 from Conservative, Green and Labour councillors on both the inner and outer west community committees for an urgent package of improvements in the area, which has been subject to complaints by motorists about its safety and deteriorating road surface.
The road layout was first introduced as part of the CityConnect cycle superhighway project back in 2016 and has already been subject to revision since then following a local petition and a campaign by local businesses and road users.
Senior councillors are set to approve a £12.99m scheme to make 350 older back-to-back homes in Armley and Holbeck easier to heat and help reduce fuel poverty among householders.
Members of the decision-making executive board will next Wednesday hear that the fund will be used in the Cedars area of Armley to address disrepair in 100 properties before undertaking extensive improvements. These include external wall and attic room insulation and replacement doors and windows where required.
250 properties in the Rydalls/ Shaftons/ Crosbys/ Runswicks and Pleasants areas of Holbeck have also been selected.
The council will also carry out a feasibility study into installing low carbon heating to reduce heating bills for householders in the Cedars, which would take the form of networked ground source heat pumps to be based in green space at nearby Armley Leisure Centre.
A report to be considered by councillors says the Cedars is in the 10% most deprived areas in the country, has a higher proportion of private rented properties than the Leeds average and almost 20% of residents living there are living in fuel poverty.
The report says the project will help reduce carbon emissions as the council strives for the city to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and improve the health of tenants by providing warmer homes. It adds: “The council is focusing on these areas as older solid walled properties have traditionally been difficult to improve due to the high cost of solid wall and attic room insulation.”
Members of the council’s decision-making executive board are set to take the decision on whether to approve the scheme at their meeting at Leeds Civic Hall next Wednesday, 17 April, at 1pm.
Much of the finance for the project is coming from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the government’s levelling up fund. The scheme would start on site in June 2024, following a tenant engagement programme.
Farsley Celtic lost 1-0 at Peterborough Sports last night. Photo: John Baron
By John Baron
Injury hit Farsley Celtic fell to a 1-0 defeat at Peterborough Sports, despite another super show from their loanee keeper Zan Luk Leban.
Dan Jarvis’ goal early on in the second half was the difference between the sides in a game that the hosts created much the better of the chances, with Farsley stopper Leban – surely The Celts’ player of the season by a country mile – making a series of fine saves in the first half hour alone.
The defeat leaves The Celts in the fourth relegation spot, level on 50 points with Blyth Spartans and two behind Saturday’s opponents Darlington, with just two games remaining. Peterborough are now five points clear of the dreaded drop zone and look to be safe.
Farsley were fresh from a dramatic 1-0 win at home against the same opponents on Saturday but missing five defenders through injury or suspension. And they struggled to get a foothold in the first half, with Everton loanee Leban saving well on at least five occasions from Josh McCammon and Mark Jones, including a smart double save. Without Leban this season, Farsley would surely have been relegated weeks ago.
The visitors’ best chance of a goalless first half came 22 minutes in when Ben Atkinson flashed an effort just over the bar from inside the box.
The start of the second half saw Farsley’s best spell of the game, with Sports’ keeper Crook making two diving saves to deny Ryan Watson and Connor Branson in the opening minutes.
Just as Farsley looked to be asserting themselves, the deadlock was broken on 53 minutes when the ball was squared to Jarvis, who found himself in space and hammered the ball home from just inside the area to give the home side the lead.
Nine minutes later Leban saved brilliantly again, this time holding a great Brandon Njoku chance.
Farsley enjoyed spells of possession in the second half and looked more of a threat when Joao Silva was introduced for the final ten minutes, but despite huffing and puffing they failed to create little more than half chances as the referee’s final whistle sparked celebrations from there home players and fans.
Aside from Leban, veteran defender and coach Danny Ellis marked his first start of the season with a commanding display in a makeshift defensive line.
Another crucial relegation six-pointer faces The Celts on Saturday when they travel to fellow strugglers Darlington, before a home game against mid-table Buxton at The Citadel concludes the season.
Traffic lights on two Pudsey roads are set to be upgraded after Leeds City Council announced a £2.3 million package of citywide maintenance.
The Leeds-wide programme includes traffic signal renewal, telecoms infrastructure upgrades, traffic signal control upgrades and the introduction of bus priority at various sites across the network during the 2024-25 financial year.
A council report published this week said traffic signal refurbishment would be carried out on:
Galloway Lane/Ederoyd Rise, Pudsey
B6154/Waterloo Road, Pudsey
The report says traffic signal equipment is that it has an expected lifespan of approximately 15 years. It adds: “Older equipment can also be more unreliable, leading to longer ‘down time’ in the event of failure.
“An ongoing programme of refurbishment is necessary to modernise the controller stock and replace any on-street equipment that has been identified as in poor condition following periodic inspections.”
