Pudsey Grammar headteacher looks to future after sixth form block funding blow

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February 7, 2025

pudsey grammar sixth form — An artist's impression of the Pudsey Grammar sixth form block.

By John Baron

The headteacher of Pudsey Grammar School has admitted that having £4 million funding for a new post 16 centre withdrawn by the Government was ‘disappointing’.

The school received planning permission to build a state-of-the-art sixth form block last June.

The scheme received the backing of the previous Government in 2023 and would have created 134 additional sixth form learning places, along with classrooms, breakout spaces, additional staff offices and a dedicated sixth form learning space with IT facilities.

But a financial review by the Government decided the development would not proceed.

Pudsey Grammar School headteacher Mark McKelvie said: “We were disappointed to receive notice from the Department for Education in December that they were withdrawing the funding for our proposed new Sixth Form building.

“I met with Rachel Reeves MP in mid-January to discuss this. Ms Reeves explained that the programme was part of a series of unfunded spending commitments made by the previous Government and as a result could not proceed.

“This was extremely disappointing as it means we cannot expand our popular and oversubscribed Sixth Form to around 350-400 students from across the wider area at this point. However, our future plans and financial modelling were not dependent on the additional number of students the building would have provided.

“In addition, this does not affect any of our recruitment plans for Sixth Form students as our existing excellent facilities can easily accommodate around 280 students. We are welcoming more and more students from across the area to our Sixth Form as they appreciate what we offer and how supportive our students and staff are towards new year 12 students who attended other schools.”

Mr McKelvie said there was ‘much to be proud of’ in the school, which remains one of the most popular in Leeds with around 900 applications for 215 year 7 places.

He added: “We have good exam results, we already have an excellent building and our Sixth Form is easily the best in the west of the city with high quality support beyond the classroom combined with excellent personal development opportunities and extra-curricular activities which are second to none, as our recent separate trips to Paris and New York demonstrate.

“As we had set aside funding for the new building we are now working on future plans to further develop our Sixth Form facilities by providing additional social and study areas.”

An artist’s impression of the new Pudsey Grammar School sixth form building.

Pudsey Conservative councillors Simon and Dawn Seary have written to Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves to express their concerns.

In a statement they said: “Local students will suffer the consequences of Rachel Reeves’ choice to halt funding for Pudsey Grammar School’s Sixth Form expansion.

“The school is already oversubscribed and in urgent need of more space. Yet, while other Sixth Form projects continue to receive funding, Pudsey is being left behind.

“She may cite an alleged financial ‘black hole,’ but … Mauritius is set to receive £9bn – potentially £18bn – in negotiations over the Chagos Islands. We have written to Rachel Reeves and will continue to voice our deep disappointment and will continue urging her to reconsider her choice.”

The Government has said the Mauritius figures are “inaccurate and misleading”.

Responding to the Searys, a Government source told WLD: “Conservative politicians have an incredible brass neck to try and grandstand over this issue when they left behind a £22bn black hole in the public finances, crumbling schools, falling standards and a ‘lose, lose, lose,’ SEND system in their own words.

“It has fallen again to Labour to clean up the mess and we make no bones about the fact we’ve had to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of our economy.

“Our focus is now on pushing for growth to put money in the pockets of working people and driving high and rising school standards, delivering on our Plan for Change.”

An artist’s impression of the new Pudsey Grammar sixth form block.

And Pudsey’s independent councillor Trish Smith said: “It’s a huge shame this project hasn’t gone ahead as planned. Our young people deserve the very best start in life and every opportunity we can offer them.

“For years now, the young people in the west of the city have had to travel – often long distances – for the correct provision for them and their future aspirations. Whilst we have the new sixth form facility currently being built off Kent Road, the Grammar School project would have complimented that provision and offered our young people more choice locally.

“Hopefully this is just a delay though, and the project will go forward once new funding can be identified.”

Rachel Reeves MP was approached for comment.

Construction work on the new Pudsey Sixth Form College, off Kent Road, is continuing and on track to open in September. It will cater for 600 higher education students studying A-Levels, vocational courses and GCSEs.
More Pudsey news can be found here.

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Funding secured for £42.6m Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass upgrade – updated

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February 7, 2025

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Dawsons Corner junction aerial_cropped — Finding has been secured for a scheme to tackle congestion at Dawsons Corner.

The Government has given the green light for major improvements to the Dawsons Corner junction and to complete joint replacement work on the Stanningley Bypass.

The Department of Transport has agreed to provide £35.709 million funding towards the scheme which Leeds City Council hopes will reduce congestion and delays helping to support economic growth across Leeds and Bradford.

Improvements will see better traffic flow, with bus journey times also reduced and improved safer crossing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. Road users have seen congestion worsen over the years, particularly slowing down buses between Leeds and Bradford.

Today’s funding forms part of a £42.679 million package, with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority contributing £6.97m and a contribution from the council.

Subject to contractor approvals the main works are planned to start later this year and will take up to 15 months to complete.

The scheme will:

Provide pedestrian and cycling facilities at the Dawsons Corner junction, linking in with the Leeds Bradford Cycle Superhighway
Improved bus facilities with dedicated bus lanes on the A647 Bradford Road
Widen the carriageway on the A6120 Ring Road to improve the junction and accommodate a shared pedestrian and cycle route
Widen the A647 Stanningley Bypass to accommodate additional traffic lanes
Replace joints on the A647 Stanningley Bypass to mitigate potential road traffic collisions thereby enabling the current 50mph speed limit to be kept; and
Provide landscaping for the enlarged site at Dawsons Corner.

Rachel Reeves, Chancellor and MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, said: “The improvements announced today will have a transformational impact for people across Leeds and Bradford. For too long, local residents have had to endure high levels of congestion on this key route between the two cities.

“This Labour Government is taking action to boost economic growth across the region, and this scheme is just one of many that will help unlock Yorkshire’s potential.”

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “The need to improve Dawsons Corner junction has been a major priority for some time.

“It’s important not only to improve traffic flow and air quality, but also support essential links to future housing growth and developments and for people to be able to access jobs more easily with consistent travel times.”

The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Road users in Leeds and Bradford have experienced slow speeds on the A647 for too long, discouraging people from using local buses on the road.

“We’re giving this vital scheme the green light, and providing £35m, which will improve local journeys and boost the economy beyond.”

Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley), Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “It’s great to support this scheme and see it secure further funding to help improve transport so that people can get around more easily.

“This will help us create a greener, better-connected region through improved walking and cycling routes, cleaner air, safer roads, and reduced traffic congestion.”

The scheme was granted planning permission in October 2022 and business case was submitted in March 2024 with preparatory ground investigation work under way and the safety critical repair works to Stanningley Bypass have been on-going since May 2021.

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Shop plan approved at ‘feared’ Wortley junction

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February 6, 2025

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Five lane ends — A new convenience store at Five Lane Ends has applied for an off licence to sell alcohol. Photo: Google

By John Baron

A former car showroom in Wortley will be turned into a grocery store – despite concerns it would add to road safety problems.

Councillors on the south and west plans panel approved plans to convert the site on Oldfield Lane.

Leeds City Council received 12 letters of objection after a planning application was submitted for a change of use of the site off the Five Lanes End junction.

One objector said: “The proposed use will exacerbate the existing highway safety issues within this location.”

Cllr Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley) told the south and west plans panel that Five Lane Ends was one of the ‘most feared junctions in the whole of Leeds’.

“The plans effectively turn Five Lane Ends into Six Lane Ends,” Cllr McCluskey added, saying there had been a number of accidents at the junction, often as a result of driver error and speed, which had seen cars mounting pedestrian footpaths.

He pointed to one incident where a car had been driven into the front of a local fish and chip takeaway. “We are potentially adding another distraction for drivers,” he warned.

Cllr McCluskey also raised concerns over parking and its impact on a notorious junction which people in Wortley “really really fear”.

The council received 21 objections from people living nearby, mainly on the grounds of public nuisance.

Cllr Andy Parnham (Lab, Armley) lives 50 yards away from the junction opposed the application. He said “It’s just not worth the risk because of all the points Cllr McCluskey raised. There is a school nearby and no safe crossing points. Seriously, it’s a no-brainer.”

Cllr Sam Firth (Cons, Harewood) said it would be difficult to turn the application down on planning grounds. Cllr Penny Stables (Green, Wetherby) added: “This is clearly a dangerous roundabout, it must be terrible to travel over regularly. But given that highways has said there will be no increase in traffic as a result of this, I can’t see how we can turn it down.”

Cllr Andy Rontree (Lab, Kirkstall) said it was a ‘really bad and problematic junction’ but highways’ conclusions are that allowing this would not make it demonstrably worse’.

Planning permission would be subject to opening hours being restricted to 8am-10pm.

The plans were approved, subject to conditions.

In June last year an application to sell alcohol from the new shop was granted.

Green light for Stanningley scrap metal plant homes plan

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February 6, 2025

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Screenshot 2025-02-06 at 16.21.30 — The site off Stanningley Town Street. Photo: Google

A former scrap metal plant in Stanningley has moved a step closer to being transformed into 40 homes after initial outline plans were unanimously approved by councillors.

Members of the south and west planning committee approved the principle of building houses and a block of four flats at the vacant site off Town Street in Stanningley.

Developer Redstart Robinson had applied to Leeds City Council for outline planning permission. More detailed plans, including the design of the properties, will be brought forward for final approval at a future date.

A council planning report said more than 30 objections were received by people living nearby. Concerns included the size and appearance of the development, and potential loss of privacy for nearby homes.

But the project had been reduced from 79 homes to 40 after plans were first drawn up.

Concerns over the project also included a lack of affordable housing being provided by the developer. Councillors heard a financial assessment found that a requirement for 15 per cent of the homes being classed as affordable would not be viable. Their claims were backed up by the independent district valuer.

Cllr Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) said the three ward councillors support the principle of housing on the site but said the lack of affordable housing was ‘a huge disappointment’.

He welcomed an off-site contribution to improve nearby Stanningley Park but called for an extra £24,000 to support off-site greenspace. He urged deferral of the application on those points.

Helen Rogers, planning agent for the developer, described the current use of the site as ‘unneighbourly, unsightly and a nuisance’ and a source of conflict for local residents.

She said it was in a sustainable location and would bring a variety of one, two, three and four bedroom properties to the area.

The site has been subject to noise complaints and enforcement action when it was a scrap yard.

Armley Labour councillor Andy Parnham welcomed the proposals. He said: “I like it. I think it’s good. It is a brownfield site.”

Councillor Penny Stables (Green, Wetherby) said: “I think it is a really good development. We have been to see the site and it is awful and it will make a massive improvement.”

Part of the site which previously housed the North Sea Chinese Restaurant, was subject to a public consultation over plans to build a McDonald’s drive thru restaurant late last year. The parcel of land is not part of the housing application and WLD understands a full planning application for the restaurant is likely to be submitted later this year.

Hollybush celebrates role of rhubarb – and wants your memories and recipes

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February 6, 2025

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TCV Hollybush are asking the public to submit their favourite rhubarb recipes and recollections of rhubarb growing in the Kirkstall and Bramley areas of Leeds.

Contributions will be collected for a recipe book and exhibition, supported by Historic England Everyday Heritage Grants, celebrating the role of rhubarb growing in Leeds’ community heritage.

TCV Hollybush would love to hear from the local community about their memories of rhubarb farming in the area for an exhibition that will take place at the Hollybush Rhubarb Fayre and Plant Sale on Sunday, 25 May. Hollybush will also be producing a booklet of favourite rhubarb recipes, so would love to know how you eat yours.

While most people now associate rhubarb with Wakefield, in 1914 Leeds was described by the Yorkshire Evening Post as ‘the greatest rhubarb-growing centre in the world’. With land for housebuilding at a premium after the Second World War, rhubarb farming in Leeds declined in the second half of the 20^th century but continued on a reduced scale in the Bramley and Kirkstall areas up until the 1970s.

Hollybush Conservation Centre in Kirkstall is located at the former home and farm of Joseph Whitwell, gentleman rhubarb farmer, reported by the Royal Agricultural Society in the 1870s to be the largest grower of forced rhubarb in any single location.

The centre’s history was commemorated in 2024 with a Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque celebrating Whitwell, and Hollybush received Leeds Civic Trust funding for the Rhubarb Roots project to restore the front gardens to reflect the site’s heritage.

Building on this through a programme of workshops, talks, research and events, the Historic England-funded, community-led project at Hollybush will celebrate the working-class heritage of the Bramley and Kirkstall area, particularly its forgotten rhubarb farming history and the role of food and growing in community history and identity.

TCV Leeds Operations Leader Lucy Wheeler said: “This project, supported by Historic England Everyday Heritage Grants, provides an opportunity to reflect on the rich heritage of the local area, and celebrates the community in West Leeds that TCV Hollybush are proud to be a part of.”

Rhubarb recipes and memories of the local area can be sent by e-mail to hollybush@tcv.org.uk or visitors can fill in a ‘Talk to us about rhubarb’ postcard when visiting the centre.

The next public event at TCV Hollybush will be a Potato Day and Seed Swap on 16 February 2025.

New Farnley Post Office closes for four weeks

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February 6, 2025

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New Farnley Post Office has closed for four weeks to allow for building work to be carried out.

The facility is based in the Co-Op Foodstore on Low Moorside and is due to reopen before the end of the month.

Post Office partner account manager Damien Haydock said: “The safety of our customers is of paramount importance to us, therefore, to allow for the building work to take place, it was necessary for the service to close, temporarily on Monday, 3 February 2025.

“It is envisaged that the work will take approximately four weeks to complete, following which the service will re-open on Wednesday 26 February 2025 at 9am, offering the same range of products and services and same operating hours.

“We would like to apologise for the inconvenience the temporary closure may cause.”

Alternative provision can be found at Greenthorpe Estate Post Office on Pudsey Road and Lower Wortley Post Office on Whitehall Road.

More information can be found here.

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Horsforth: High-class speakers announced for Forum 2000

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February 6, 2025

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Forum 2000 Photo 2025 — A recent Forum 2000 meeting in Horsforth.

By Nigel Birch

Forum 2000 is a local, non-profit community group based in Horsforth, where people with enquiring minds can come and listen to, and discuss, a programme of presentations delivered by high-class speakers on a wide variety of topics.

It started life as the Featherbank Forum in 1978 and was initially established as part of the Airedale and Wharfedale College further education programme by Edwin Barlow, head of the centre in Featherbank Avenue.

The aim was to provide a current affairs class for retired people covering major issues of the day – social, political, economic and local affairs, with occasional lighter topics.

In 1983 it transferred to Leeds Adult Education and then in 1989 became part of the Workers’ Education Association programmes. 1997 marked the start of an independent existence with the Forum having its own management committee.

Edwin died prematurely in 1993 and Marjorie Hal, Brian Ormondroyd and Hilary Taylor have served as chairs of the Forum, which is currently run by an elected committee. Michael McGowan, a former Member of the European Parliament, was elected President of the Forum in 1998, a position he continues to hold today.

To mark the millennium, the name was changed to Forum 2000, and it now meets regularly on Wednesday mornings at the Grove Centre in Horsforth, and draws a large membership from across the city.

The forum has held over 1,300 talks since its inception, covering a very wide range of topics. The current programme has seen topics on the Leeds Library, the Brontes, and the Jewish community in Leeds.

Notable among annual speakers is Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies, Bradford University, who, from very early days, has visited the Forum to give an annual review of World Affairs.

Designated the Edwin Barlow Memorial Lecture, this meeting often attracts an audience of well over 100. Some of the diverse upcoming topics this spring are on Calverley Old Hall, the Golden age of Piracy and the adventures of a Mary Quant dress!

Michael McGowan said: “The Forum has a proud record of providing quality community education for almost half a century and helping to fill the gap of the sad decline of adult education by our universities and local authorities.”

Forum 2000 meet 30 times a year on Wednesday mornings between 10am and noon at the Grove Centre, New Street, Horsforth. Entrance is £3 including refreshments. All are welcome to attend.

For more local events, check out WLD‘s what’s on section here.

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New Armley Community Diagnostic Centre offers care closer to home

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February 6, 2025

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Armley CDC visit — Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, meeting staff at Armley CDC.

Patients are now being offered a wide range of health services at a new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Armley Moor Health Centre.

The CDC, operated by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, offers tests including ultrasounds, ECGs, blood tests, blood pressure checks, sleep studies and spirometry testing.

This new centre means local people don’t have to travel into the city’s larger hospitals for these tests.

Armley Moor Health Centre. Photo: Google

Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: “I was delighted to visit Armley Community Diagnostic Centre and meet the committed and caring team working there. It was really interesting to hear about the impact this new centre is already having in its first few months.

“Our CDCs play a key role in providing fairer access to healthcare services and bringing care closer to home for patients, while also reducing the pressure on our larger hospitals.”

More than 4,150 tests have been carried out at Armley CDC since it opened at the end of September.

Rhina Pagarigan, Junior Sister at Armley CDC, said: “Patients have told us they are pleased to be able to get their health tests closer to home, so they don’t have to travel so far to our major hospitals.

“We’re also reducing waiting times by seeing more people at CDCs, which is better for all our patients. These centres make it easier for people to access healthcare – it’s more convenient and efficient for them.”

The centre opened late last year and is one of three CDCs in Leeds, joining Seacroft and Beeston. So far over 78,674 tests have been delivered across the three CDCs, with an aim of delivering over 107,000 per year once fully operational.

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Private apartment plans could transform Kirkstall Brewery residences

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February 5, 2025

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By John Baron

Five buildings at the former Kirkstall Brewery student residences could become private residential dwellings, if plans to change their use are approved by Leeds City Council.

Proposals by student accommodation specialists Cloverco Ltd would see empty student flats turned into 151 private residences at Monkwood House, Oak House, Graham House, Polar/Spring House and Grove Olive Elsworth House residences.

The development would be served with 63 car parking spaces, with access via the existing gated site entrance off Broad Lane.

A planning statement submitted with the application stated: “The development is not considered to be harmful to the character and appearance of the area, nor would it have a harmful impact on highway safety, subject to the aforementioned conditions/mitigation.

“The development provides additional housing, thus contributing to wider housing delivery in general which weighs heavily in the balance of considerations.

“The scheme therefore provides much-needed housing within an established residential area whilst ensuring a viable, long term use for a number of large buildings.”

The plans can viewed in full here.

Leeds City Council’s Children and Families department and student accommodation providers Cloverco Limited last year received planning permission to turn empty student accommodation at the site into accommodation for care leavers and homeless families.

Those plans affect Abbey House, Walker House, Musgrave House, Canal House and The Maltings residences.

WLD reported last month that council chiefs made a temporary tree preservation order permanent to prevent further tree felling at the site.

Background

The brewery complex was originally closed in 1983, bringing to an end a 150-year tradition of brewing in the buildings.

The site stood empty and unused until it the late 1990s when it became Kirkstall Brewery Student Village, part of Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Beckett University, as it’s now known).

The complex had been put up for sale in 2021. It features 828 student beds across 16 buildings, but its occupancy has steadily decreased as more students make use of city centre accommodation.

Read WLD’s previous coverage of the Broad Lane site here.

Would you like to run Pudsey Park kiosk?

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February 5, 2025

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Pudsey Park kiosk — Pudsey Park's popular kiosk. Photo: LCC

Tenders have opened to take on Pudsey Park’s popular kiosk, which reopened last year.

The kiosk had been closed since 2018 but was reopened following refurbishment last August and operated by the council after being a favourite with Pudsey families since the late 1920s. It had been used for storage in recent years by volunteers from the Pudsey in Bloom group.

The tender is open to local businesses or community groups and is open until 25 February 2025.

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Bramley Amigos boosted by donation towards new football kit

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February 5, 2025

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Youngsters from the Bramley Amigos Junior Football Team have been boosted by a new football kit.

Bramley and Stanningley’s three councillors contributed £300 of funding towards the new kit for the upcoming season and beyond.

The councillors visited the team at Leeds West Academy, where they train and presented the kits to the young people.

Previously, Bramley Amigos hasn’t had an official kit so the young people and parents were thrilled with their new teamwear. The funding was allocated from the councillors’ Members Improvements in the Community and the Environment (MICE) scheme budgets.

Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe said: “As someone who grew up playing football from junior to adult level, I’m delighted that we have been able to fund these kits.

“Football is such an important source of exercise for our young people and we will continue to support all our junior, adult and senior football teams across our community.”

Councillor Kevin Ritchie said: “It was fantastic to present the kits to Bramley Amigos players and parents at Leeds West Academy.

“We have a group of thriving football teams across Bramley and Stanningley and, contributions to other community projects and teams, we will continue to prioritise the physical and mental wellbeing that sport can bring to our young people.”

Councillor Adele Rae said: “We are pleased to have found the funding in our local budgets to support Bramley Amigos.

“It was great to meet the young footballers who are committed to their team and their community. It was particularly good to meet the young girls who are playing in the Bramley Amigos team.”