By John Baron
Former Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew has revisited the town to check out new sports facilities.
Mr Andrew was Pudsey MP from 2010 until the constituency was abolished before the July 2024 election.
The Conservative now represents Daventry, but was revisiting Pudsey as part of a trip to West Yorkshire campaigning ahead of Thursday’s local elections.
The visit was also part of the Conservative Party’s drive to highlight the importance of investment in grassroots sport and community infrastructure – Mr Andrew is currently shadow health minister.
Firstly he visited Pudsey Juniors’ new facilities at Queens Park, which includes a new pitch and modular clubhouse with a kitchen area and toilet, a storage container and a new fence mainly financed by Football Foundation funding. He was joined Conservative candidate Simon Seary and Councillor Dawn Seary.
The facilities cater for more than 300 young players and their families.
He then went on to visit the long awaited Parklife sports facility in Woodhall, where he saw progress on building work and met Conservative candidate Andrew Carter.
Mr Andrew, a former sports minister, told WLD: “It’s fantastic to return to Pudsey and see the real difference that investment in local sport can make.
“Projects like this not only improve facilities but strengthen the community and create opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in football and stay active.
“These facilities have been a game changer for Pudsey Juniors, and they could not have done this on their own, without the support of the Football Foundation or the local councillors.
“The volunteers here have worked their socks off. They are working with around 300 children and their families, and for them to have a facility like this it just phenomenal.”
As shadow health secretary, Mr Andrew said the Conservatives nationally were looking at preventing health issues and improving health and held up the wider improvements in facilities at Queens Park as an example of what could be achieved.
Pudsey Juniors’ chairman Ian Dent thanked local companies for helping to refurbish the new facilities. “It was badly needed in West Leeds,” Mr Dent added. “These facilities are a victory for perseverance.”
- Pudsey Juniors has teams available from soccer tots to U17s. More information on 07957 110392 and pudseyjuniors@hotmail.co.uk.
Work started on the £9.6m Parklife facilities on Woodhall Playing fields last October.
The development will include three full-size third-generation artificial pitches and one natural grass pitch to help meet demand for playing space in the area. The hub will also feature a pavilion with café and meeting facilities, play areas, parking and a Changing Places toilet.
The project is being delivered in partnership with the Football Foundation and has been part-funded by a grant from the Premier League, The FA and the government’s Football Foundation. Additional funding is coming from the council, developer contributions and through the private sector.
- The full list of candidates in the Calverley & Farsley ward for the council elections on Thursday, 7 May is: Andrew Carter (Cons), Ellen Graham (Green), Stuart McLeod (Liberal Democrats), Andy North (Reform UK), and Kathryn Penny (Labour and Co-operative Society). Candidate profiles can be read here.
- The full list of candidates in the Pudsey ward for the council elections on 7 May is: Arlan Jones (Green), Stephen McBarron (Labour), Richard Robinson (Reform UK), Simon Seary (Conservative), Jennifer Wilson (Liberal Democrats). Candidate profiles can be read here.