The future of RNB Group in Wortley has been secured. Photo: Google
The future of direct mail, fulfilment and print specialists, RNB Group, has been secured and the jobs of all 30 employees saved by a sale of the business.
The business, which is based in Silver Royd Business Park in Wortley, has been trading for almost 20 years. It handles entire marketing campaigns including providing creative design, digital and inkjet printing and data services.
Facing mounting cash flow issues, the directors of RNB Group turned to Begbies Traynor to market the business. There was substantial interest from potential buyers and a sale was completed to another print and delivery services company, PDMF, just two weeks later.
The jobs of all 30 employees have transferred to the new owner, which will continue to operate the business from its existing site in Leeds.
“RNB Group is a long-established and well-known Leeds business which simply ran into some short-term cash flow problems,” said joint administrator Bob Maxwell, of Begbies Traynor.
“Fortunately, we were able to act swiftly to market the business and conclude a sale for it as a going concern. It’s great news for the staff, suppliers and customers that the business will continue in the hands of new owners.”
The sale was led by Bob Maxwell and Louise Longley of Begbies Traynor Group which completed on 23 August 2024.
LCF Law provided legal advice to the administrators, and Freeths represented the acquirers.
The number 72 bus on Stanningley Road. Photo: John Baron
By Chris Young, local democracy reporter
“We can’t afford to have so many people not feel safe on our buses.” That was the reaction from a Calverley and Farsley councillor after statistics revealed just 41 per cent of women in West Yorkshire feel safe catching a bus at night.
The same data showed that more than half of local women under the age of 35 have decided to drive or get a taxi instead of getting a bus or train because of fears over crime or harassment.
The stark figures come from a recent survey of residents across West Yorkshire, and one bus company boss acknowledged the issue of women’s safety was one the industry needed to address.
The survey of over 1,800 people carried out by West Yorkshire Combined Authority asked a variety of people for their opinions on issues including punctuality of buses, quality or roads and how satisfied they are with the condition of the region’s roads.
The results of the survey were presented to the Authority’s Transport Committee at a meeting on Wednesday.
One question in the survey asked whether people “felt confident in their personal safety while using local buses.” They were asked to respond based on journeys in the day and the night.
While the vast majority felt safe in the day – 87 per cent of women and 88 per cent of men, the responses were very different for catching the bus in the evening.
68 per cent of male respondents said they felt safe travelling by bus in the dark – but just 41 per cent of women felt the same way.
There was also a lack of confidence on travelling at night from people who were over 65 – with just 43 per cent feeling safe, and disabled people (36 per cent).
People were also asked if they had taken measures to avoid anti-social behaviour or crime on public transport.
The survey added: “Results across three years show that: 42 per cent of female respondents had used a car or taxi instead of walking or cycling, and 41 per cent had done so instead of using a bus or train.
“Young people were more likely to change their mode; 50 per cent of women aged 16 to 34 had used a car or taxi instead of walking or cycling and 54 per cent had done so instead of using a bus or train.”
It found that high numbers of people living in the most deprived areas, those who are disabled, and ethnic minorities were avoiding buses travel for safety reasons.
The survey also found that 75 per cent of women felt a good bus service was important – compared to just 65 per cent of men.
And people living in deprived areas relied on bus services more – with 38 per cent in such areas describing themselves as regular bus users compared to just 26 per cent of the people living in more affluent areas.
Concerns: Cllr Peter Carlill
At the meeting Councillor Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley and Farsley) said: “There are a huge number of women and girls choosing not to use our bus network – we can’t afford to have so many people not feel safe on our buses.”
Councillor Caroline Firth (Lab, Keighley East), added: “These stats are horrific. Women need to feel safe using public transport at night.”
Calling for more work to be done on the issue, she added: “We need to find out if this fear is based on perception or fact. What are the Combined Authority and the Police going to do about this?
“We know that women have less choice to access a car than men.”
Simon Warburton, Executive Director of Transport for the Authority, acknowledged that decisions about bus transport were largely made by men.
He said: “Is the transport industry too white and too male? Yes, undoubtedly it is.
“I think where we benefit in West Yorkshire is very strong political leadership that isn’t white and male.”
He said the authority was “very serious” about getting more women into senior transport roles – and this would help give a female perspective to issues effecting public transport.
He pointed out that last year Ms Brabin launched a “Safer Travel Team” – 15 PCSOs, led by a police sergeant, patrolling bus stations and buses across West Yorkshire.
The aim was “To reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, increase the safety of women and girls, and reassure and protect vulnerable travel users.”
Brandon Jones, head of External Relations at First Bus, said safety on buses was a national issue, adding: “I accept that it is something we need to address.”
The number 72 bus service linking Leeds and Bradford, which travels through West Leeds, will become the region’s first 24-hour service from September 1.
A project which supports people in need in Pudsey and beyond is requesting a £34,000 grant to make its building fully accessible for all.
Councillors on the outer west community committee will next Monday consider a number of funding applications, including a request for £34,000 from the Pudsey Community Project which supports the area’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people through a food bank and other schemes.
Money will go towards the installation of a lift at their building in Fartown, which would allow the foodbank and Reduce Reuse Kids’ Clothes to move downstairs to create a dedicated clothes area.
The move will enable one upstairs room to be used as an office, another for storage and a third for small meetings. The move would allow the restart of Pudsey Community Cinema, increase youth work and provide extra capacity at their Seniors’ Lunch Club.
The project covers around 20,000 households in Pudsey, Calverley, Farsley, Swinnow, Tyersal, Rodley and Woodhall.
Calverley United Football Club is also seeking a grant of £3,500 towards replacement machinery to maintain the football pitch in Victoria Park.
Other applications include:
Swinnow Community Cafe –£3,750
Volunteers plan to run the cafe two days per week to begin with, creating a space where local people can come together and build relationships in a welcoming, inclusive space. The funds would be used to enable the café to run professionally
The Music Box Yorkshire CIC – £2,760
Staff will teach, guide and advise on how to play popular songs to the participants on an instrument of their choice such as guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboard or percussion for their adult band project. A second project will provide musical activities and entertainment for people over 55 living with dementia and their carers.
Pudsey Greenside Greenway – £2,112
To provide heritage information display boards at former Railway station sites of Greenside and Lowtown.
The Music Box Youth Music – £4,500
Funding will support two projects – delivering music workshops with young people at Swinnow Community Centre and build on the success of their youth choir at Pudsey House.
The Outer West Community Committee meets next Monday, 2 September 2024, at 1pm in Farnley Hall. It is made up of nine councillors from three wards: Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey and has five Labour, three Conservative and one independent councillor.
The full agenda and reports can be read here embers of the public can attend the meeting in person and can also watch via livestream on the council’s Youtube channel.
Developers say the new restaurant, off Savins Mill Way, would create 40 new jobs, but there have been 26 objections.
Concerns have been raised by Cllr Fiona Venner, Cllr Hannah Bithell, Cllr Andy Rontree (all Kirkstall), and Cllr Adele Rae and Cllr Kevin Ritchie (both Bramley & Stannignley) mainly over fears it will exacerbate existing traffic problems in the area, air pollution and concerns there is a saturation of drive thru restaurants 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 argued: “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.”
The corner plot at Kirkstall Retail Park. Photo: John Baron
But council planning officers are recommending approval, subject to a raft of conditions including highways contributions. These include £30,000 for signal timing improvements on the A65/Savins Mill Way and £42,000 towards red light violation cameras.
A planning officer’s report concludes: “The proposed restaurant and drive-thru is considered acceptable within Kirkstall town centre and would not unduly impact on the residential amenity or create a significant adverse impact upon the highway network, subject to the mitigation measures.”
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 south and west plans panel meets at Leeds Civic Hall on Thursday, 5 September at 1.30pm. The agenda and council reports can be found here.
Bramley Buffaloes are set for a last-day title decider
By Paul Abraham
Bramley Buffaloes’ preparation for this Saturday’s title decider has been completed with the “Buffs” in perfect alignment mentally and physically to take on Dodworth Miners in the final winner-takes-all match of the league season.
The two clubs have been a class apart from the rest of the division and so it’s the perfect scenario for what should be a tight and entertaining tussle which kicks off at 2.30pm.
The club are hoping Bramley fans of old and rugby neutrals of both codes will attend at the home of West Leeds Rugby Union’s Blue Hill Lane ground and give the Buffaloes extra support on what promises to be a memorable day.
Rugby will be the centre piece of the day, but the club are making it a fundraising day with the emphasis on fun, with bouncy castles, face-painting, crossbar challenge, penalty shoot-out, pizza van, raffle and much more to keep young and old entertained throughout the day.
Mark Sewards has formally stepped down as a councillor for Farnley & Wortley ward.
Mr Sewards was elected as a Labour MP for the Leeds South West and Morley parliamentary constituency last month.
The move – which had been expected – means a by-election will be held in the ward later this year to elect a new councillor.
Posting on social media, Mr Sewards said it has been a ‘privilege’ to be a councillor in Farnley & Wortley ward for the last two years.
He said: “During that time, we’ve seen the completion of a brand new play area in Western Flatts, money invested in all of our parks, a traffic regulation order to make our roads safer, progress made to protect the TV Harrison site (more to come on this) and I’ve completed thousands of pieces of casework for residents.
Mark Sewards with Councillors Kate Haigh and Adrian McCluskey at May’s local election count.
“Since my election as your MP on the morning of July 5, I’ve reduced my councillor allowance to £0 and I’ve been wrapping up key pieces of work across the ward. I’ll continue work on others as your MP.
“With Parliament returning next week, it’s now time for me to step down and make way for a new councillor who can give the role everything they have. I made a promise during the general election that I would not take or keep a second job outside Parliament and I’m honouring that commitment.
“I simply can’t thank the people of Farnley and Wortley enough for their support over the past few years, including during the general election. I will of course continue to work for you as your MP for our home, Leeds South West and Morley, which covers the council wards of Ardsley & Robin Hood, Farnley & Worley, Morley North and Morley South.”
Mr Sewards’ resignation leaves Farnley & Wortley with two ward councillors – Labour’s Adrian McCluskey and Kate Haigh. Cllr Haigh was elected in May, displacing long-standing Green Party incumbent David Blackburn.
Mr Sewards won the Leeds South West and Morley seat in May, holding off the challenge of Conservative candidate Andrea Jenkyns.
Civic watchdog group Leeds Civic Trust has objected to plans to transform the former Sunfield Medical Centre into apartments.
The application is for change of use and alteration, which would turn the empty doctors’ surgery into eight apartments.
But Leeds Civic Trust’s planning committee has objected to the scheme on the grounds of overdevelopment.
A Trust spokesperson said: “The [committee] argues that the proposals squeeze too many houses/apartments and car parking spaces into a small area. There is too much tarmac and not enough landscaping. They submit that the whole plan needs a review on this basis.”
As previously reported by WLD, Leeds City Council will consider plans for the Sunfield Place site, which has been empty since the surgery merged with Hillfoot Surgery in Pudsey last year.
An architect’s report on behalf of applicant Adam Hainsworth said residential would be the best use of the site due to a lack of prospective tenants for the four-storey building in its current form.
It said: “We believe the proposal is ideally suited for the site. We are of the opinion that the proposal is the only feasible solution now the site has become vacant.
“The site is ideally suited to a conversion of this type, with good transport links, established parking and amenity space.”
The architect’s report said the current project was designed to be in keeping with its surroundings. It added: “We do not wish any development to be overpowering and dominate the site.”
You can read the full planning application and submit a comment by searching for the reference 24/03204/FU on the council’s Public Access website. The deadline to comment is Tuesday, 3 September.
Part of Kirkstall Abbey Park will be fenced off in a bid to deter joyriders causing damage and anti-social behaviour at the historic setting.
The field next to Vesper Lane will have a low fence installed with work starting on Monday, 9 September, with work taking two weeks. There will be an archaeologist on site to oversee the work, which is a requirement due to the Abbey Park’s historic status.
Councillor Fiona Venner (Lab, Kirkstall) posted on social media: “While we have had occasional traveller encampments we have had a more significant, regular and ongoing problem of joy riders on the field. This causes damage to the field and has endangered people and dogs on the occasions that cars have accessed the field during daylight.
“We did receive suggestions that we use boulders instead of fencing, but there are areas in the city where boulders have been moved by people wanting to access the field so have failed as a means of protecting green space.”
Cllr Venner said low fencing has been used successfully to stop vehicular access to the field on Queenswood Drive.
“There will be gaps in the fencing for pedestrian access, including with buggies and wheelchairs, though the fencing will also be low enough for many people to step over it,” Cllr Venner added. “There will also be a gate to enable the field to be opened, for the gardeners to access and for event parking.
“The reason we are not also fencing in the lower field on the other side of Vesper Lane is that we simply don’t have the funding to do both and the lower field is less at risk as it is challenging to access with a vehicle due to the steep banking.”
The move has been largely welcomed by people commenting on social media.
One person said: “It’s a shame that this needs to be done, but it is better than the area being ruined by joyriding and unauthorised vehicles.”
Armley shoppers Ann Shelley (right) and Ruth Edmundson (left) enjoying a rest and a drink at the Respite Stop outside Leeds City Mission Compassion Centre in Mistress Lane, Armley. Photo: Andy Dalton
By Andy Dalton
Thirsty and weary shoppers are finding rest and refreshment in Armley.
In recent times staff at the Leeds City Mission Compassion Centre in Mistress Lane have been providing a ‘Respite Stop’ outside their premises.
A table and chairs have been provided on their adjoining grassed area under the shade of a tree.
Passers-by making their way to and from shops in Armley Town Street are able to take a short break, rest their legs and shopping bags. Some take up the offer of a free tea/coffee/juice drink before resuming their journey.
City Mission Development Worker Andy Dalton said that the area between Armley Prison and Town Street has a high density of housing and most people walk to the shops.
Mistress Lane is a busy thoroughfare for pedestrians making their way to the shops and offices in Town Street. City Mission staff had observed people often stopping to rest on the wall opposite their premises. The simple idea of providing chairs and refreshments during the warmer days of summer had been taken up to help people on their way.
Older people and those carrying heavy shopping bags have been particularly appreciative of the ‘Respite Stop’.
The ‘Respite Stop’ table and chairs are normally provided (weather permitting) between 10am – 3pm Mondays to Fridays (not Wednesdays).
Leeds City Mission is one of the oldest charities in Leeds being In continuous existence since 1837. It is a multi-church Christian agency which organises a number of projects from its premises in Mistress Lane, contributing to the wellbeing and welfare of the neighbourhood.
It’s your last chance to take part in the annual Farsley Yard Sale Trail, which will take place on Saturday, 7 September from 10am to 3pm.
The event is free to take part in and all money you take from sales is yours to keep.
A map will be published online of all houses participating and printed maps will be available to buy on the day from the Yard Sale Trail hub at the Samuel Marsden Garden.
If you’d like to take part in the Farsley Yard Sale Trail complete this form by Sunday 1 September. You can still take part if you submit after this date but organisers cannot guarantee we’ll be able to add you to the printed map.
The event was held at Swinnow Community Centre. Photo: Dianne Craven
by Dianne Craven
Swinnow Community Centre has hosted its final fun day of 2024. Described as “epic”, these Tuesday family fun days have seen over 750 people attending over the six-week school holidays.
These affordable family days were pack with entertainment for all. The final session had live music, a free bouncy castle and crafts. There was also free face painting, along with free packed lunches for all kids. Previous guest visitors included the Rhinos.
There were also some special visitors in the form of a fire appliance and crew from Stanningley Fire Station.
The centre’s autumn programme will be available soon. This includes the return of the successful youth group – ‘The Den’.
