Police have issued a new appeal for witnesses after a baby involved in a collision near Rodley died in hospital.
The four-month-old boy died yesterday (Wednesday) following the collision on the A1620 Horsforth Road near Rodley, which happened at about 4.55pm on Monday (12 February).
The incident involved a Vauxhall Vivaro van which was travelling northbound when it was in a head-on collision with a Toyota Auris.
Two women from the Toyota and a man from the Vivaro were also taken to hospital for treatment.
The 54-year-old male driver of the Vivaro was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was released on bail yesterday for enquiries to continue.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has footage that will assist this investigation is asked to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101, or by using the livechat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website. The reference to quote is 13240081077.
A proposal to close Pudsey Civic Hall has been debated by councillors in outer West Leeds today – with calls made for the council to ‘think again’ over the plan.
Members of the outer west community committee had asked senior councillors and council officers to the meeting to answer questions on the proposed closure as the council wrestles with a budget overspend of £39m. Almost £60m must be slashed from the overall budget this financial year.
Chief Officer, Culture and Economy,Eve Roodhouse, told the meeting that the venue, which was used by over 49,000 people in the last financial year, makes a ‘modest surplus’ but is consistently failing to meet income targets and is a “financial strain” on the council. She said revenue from the 300-capacity car park has also decreased due to the closure of Green Flag at Dawsons Corner in 2015 and changing working patterns following the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said finding an alternative operator to the Council would ‘not necessarily solve the issues because of the Government’s position in law is that to lease a building commercially it would need to meet EPC standards with a large investment needed to get the windows up to standard.’
Ms Roodhouse said the site needed short and long-term investment, with a short term investment of around £328,000 including work to the windows and the heating system.
“There has not been a decision taken at this stage,” Ms Roodhouse said. “The council’s budget is due to be decided on 21 February 2024. Any decision will be taken through a formal report which will include all the views from the public consultation and extra meetings like we are having today.”
The 300 space car park was being used at less than 5% capacity on Friday afternoon. Photo: Ivor Hughes
Members of Outer West Community Committee – made up of nine councillors in Calcverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey wards – had requested a report to allow for a debate on the closure proposal.
Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said the report was ‘riddled with errors’ and cast doubt over the £7.25m refurbishment cost earmarked for the Civic Hall in 2029.
He said: “It seems to me that you have taken a decision and then tried to make what’s in the report to fit the decision you have already taken.
“It is pretty plain to everyone who has read the report and seen the coverage in the media. And that’s not acceptable because we are talking about a building here which has 50,000 users a year, that actually washes its face as a building.
“If you were to extrapolate that across the council you would be shutting everything we’ve got! You’ve moved from things that are costing an arm and a leg to things which aren’t costing anything at all. I accept that, in time, capital investment will be required. How many other buildings owned by Leeds City Council will need millions of pounds spending – you say by 2029? You know that’s not right. You know those buildings will have that addressed over a longer period.
“It draws me to the inevitable conclusion that you’ve made your mind up, you then produced a report when more people kicked off than you thought, you didn’t consult the ward members and now it seems it’s virtually a fait accompli. All you’re trying to do is make the narrative fit the decision.
“You have known the car park issue was going to arise for a number of years. I would suggest your department has done nothing about it. It needs looking at completely separately to Pudsey Civic Hall.
“I query the figures you are suggesting (£7.25m) if you applied that to every building in the city we would be in a hell of a state.
“This whole argument is full of holes. Lift the axe, take it away and having some meaningful discussions. You can talk to people who don’t want to take the whole building over but would generate events that would generate one heck of a lot of income. Come back with a straight and factual report of how we can move things forward.”
Deputy Leader of Council and Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education, Cllr Jonathan Pryor (Lab) responded to Cllr Carter and said: “You are wrong to say the decision has already been made. It hasn’t. You’re trying to frame this as the council is eager to sell it when it operates as a small surplus, but you know full well that things have been forced upon us.
“We have to make a lot of these unpalatable decisions around selling assets because of the financial situation we are in. If there was a budget to do a full ‘invest to save’ budget here as you suggest I would take it, but there isn’t. It’s not the reality we are facing. The £328,000 investment it needs now is the absolute minimum, it wouldn’t touch the sides of addressing all of the issues Pudsey Civic Hall has if that building is to have a long-term future.
“Conversations are ongoing with local groups and I am more than willing to meet with them and to meet any councillor on an individual basis to discuss this. This is still a proposal. No-one comes into politics to close public buildings down.”
Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said the report needed more details about how the council has come up with the costs. He questioned what the minimum works needed to keep it operational, and running as it is. He also asked what the costs of it meeting its EPC rating would be and how have the council got it costed up. He also said the council should look at external funding schemes to help improve the building’s EPC rating.
Ms Woodhouse confirmed that the costs quoted in the report were only indicative.
Cllr Trish Smith (Cons, Pudsey) questioned what she claimed was a lack of marketing strategy and said: “Many residents of our residents have come to me and said: ‘I would have gone if I had known about it.’ Better marketing would have created more footfall and bookings. Closing it is very shortsighted.” She called for alternative uses for the car park to be identified.
Cllr Pryor said he was happy to meet anyone who might have a potential solution. He concluded: “There is no disagreement from us about how much people use it and enjoy using the facility, but the bottom line is about where the council’s finances are at the minute.
“We are having to make unpalatable decisions. We are having to make decisions we would never ever want to make, but that’s where we are. Which is why if there is any other way through I will bite anyone’s hand off who can offer a solution. I will happily guarantee that we will continue to look at options, but with a caveat of what a horrific situation council finances are in at the moment.”
WLD approached Leeds City Council form comment on how they reached the indicative £7.25 refubishment costs. They said the couldn’t give any further breakdown than what is already in the report, which says:
“A full refurbishment will be needed by 2029 when the current systems within the building will all require replacement / refurbishment. Asset Management have estimated that a comprehensive refurbishment cost would be in the region of £7.25m. This has been calculated as a budget estimate using the Building Cost Information Service Construction Data calculator with inflation applied for delivery in 2029. Delivery in an earlier year would reduce this figure, as would options for a less comprehensive refurbishment proposal.“
A PROPOSED mass transit system for West Yorkshire will provide transport links not possible with the existing “Victorian rail network”.
Routes between Bradford and Leeds (through West Leeds) and to Dewsbury will be among the first lines built on the mass transit route linking all West Yorkshire’s major cities and towns.
Bradford councillors were given an update on the planned transport system – which will be delivered by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) at a recent meeting of the Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee.
The network could eventually cost around £2 billion, and WYCA has so far been granted £200m in Government funding.
Members were told the system would create jobs and bring economic regeneration to areas where the stops will be based, as well as improving public transport.
Different forms of transport, from light rail to advanced buses were being looked at.
Stacey White, head of mass transit at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “West Yorkshire has a Victorian rail network that lags behind the pace the region is evolving.
“We really need to improve connectivity. Current connectivity hinders our opportunities as a region. It needs to be an active alternative to private cars.
“There will be active travel routes connecting to the mass transit scheme, so people can cycle or walk for part of their journey.
“Mass transit can be a stimulus to regenerate areas that most need it, as well as celebrating what is special about these different places. There is a commitment to spades in the ground starting in 2028.”
Simon Warburton, executive director of transport at WYCA, said the first routes were chosen as these were the main centres of retail, leisure, employment and housing.
Referring to the current rail link between Bradford and Leeds – which would cut through West Leeds – he said: “The rail line aims to move people swiftly between the two city centres, while also servicing the areas in between. It isn’t really doing either of these things effectively.”
The new mass transit route would complement rail services, stopping in areas where there are no current rail links.
Mr Warburton said: “Every mass transit system has to start somewhere, and it has to start where you have the most confidence there will be the demand. If it is well used from the start, that will help keep fares low.”
He told members the mass transit route would link in with the new rail station planned for Bradford city centre, as well as Forster Square station.
Further consultation on the system, including potential routes and stops, will take place later this year.
After the demise of the professional club in 1999 the loyal “Villagers” fans were shocked but mobilised to form their own “fans owned and run” club, Bramley Rugby League Community Club.
Applications to rejoin the League playing at Farsley Celtic and Morley Rugby were rejected by the RFL but the new supporters’ owned club, constituted on co-operative lines as an Industrial and Provident Society, successfully applied to join the then National League Three.
The famous amber and black shirts returned to competitive rugby league when the Bramley Buffaloes hosted Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks in the inaugural NL3 game on Saturday, 1 May 2004.
In front of over 1,200 emotional and proud fans the Buffaloes dominated the match and looked set to celebrate the new era with a memorable win, sadly it was not to be as a triple try blitz from Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks in the last five minutes denied Bramley Buffaloes a deserved first victory in an entertaining 14-14 draw.
The historic line-up that day at the Arthur Miller Stadium at Stanningley was, Beggs, Wilson, Spurr, Smith, Flynn, Pendlebiury, Collins, Greenwood, Bowker, Marks, O’Connor, Gardener, Wilcock. SUBS Bew, Sellers, Gratton, Summers.
The following week saw the “Buffs” travel to eventual league champions Coventry Bears and suffered a 48-18 defeat. The next three matches resulted in two brilliant away wins at Gateshead Storm (32-16) and Bradford Dudley Hill (28-14) with a home defeat to Warrington Woolston Rovers by 8-32 sandwiched in between. A crowd of over 600 saw Bramley defeat Huddersfield Underbank Rangers16-12 in a titanic tussle in the next game with the Buffaloes assistant coach Richard Harrison calling it “a performance of character.”
Two nail-biting away matches followed with a 20-26 loss to London Storm and an impressive 34-28 victory at Manchester Knights. Bramley turned on the style in their following home match as they destroyed Carlisle Centurions 72-0 with 500 diehard supporters witnessing a brace of tries each for Neil Foulds, Scott Pendlebury, Simon Bowker and Ross Gratton with full-back Mark McManus kicking eight goals in torrential conditions.
A 24-16 home win against another team of Centurions, this time from St Albans was followed by defeats at Birmingham Bulldogs (20-30) and a home loss by 14-20 to Hemel Stags. The Bramley faithful were back to cheering on a winning team as the Buffaloes won their next three matches, firstly a 44-4 win at Essex Eels followed by the 68-6 hammering of Gateshead Storm in sweltering conditions with Ryan Taylor leading the scoring with two tries and three goals, while prop-forward Tim Orr crashed over for two tries. This was followed by a tough 26-20 victory at Warrington Woolston Rovers and after the match Buffaloes coach Phil Hellewell was ecstatic: “I was a very relieved man when the full-time whistle went, and this really was a victory to savour.”
A crowd of 900 attended the next home game but sadly most of them going home disappointed as the “Buffs” went down to a 20-30 loss to Bradford Dudley Hill.
The Buffaloes regrouped and then went on a four-match winning run starting with an away victory at Huddersfield Underbank Rangers by 44-16 with Chris Gardener scoring a try and kicking five goals. The Buffaloes then triumphed 32-18 against South London Storm with half-backs Scott Pendlebury and Marc Gibson grabbing two tries each. As Manchester Knights had dropped out of the league Bramley were handed a 24-0 “victory” before a trip to Carlisle Centurions being their last league match of the season and brought a decisive 38-18 victory with full-back Shaun Flynn leading the way with a try and seven goals.
The Play-offs took Bramley to Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks and despite taking an impressive and vocal travelling support the Buffaloes produced a poor performance and went down by 8 to 38. Buffaloes coach Phil Hellewell was angry with his side’s display: “We never clicked today. We never looked positive with the ball in hand and paid the price. Sheffield attacked with a lot more belief and I am disappointed that we’ve slipped up in this fashion.”
However, Hellewell was full of praise for the Bramley supporters: “Once again we had some fantastic travelling support that made their feelings known on more than one occasion. We need that kind of backing again next week if we are to extend our season and keep our play-off dreams alive.”
The Buffaloes responded in brilliant fashion as they travelled to St Albans and won a thrilling see-saw battle by 26-18 to set up a Play-off semi-final at Coventry Bears. In a pulsating match the Buffaloes gave everything before going down 18-32 which flattered the Bears, as with the score standing at 16-20, the Buffaloes suffered a cruel blow as playmaker Marc Gibson was led from the field with what looked like a serious leg injury, after intensive treatment on the side lines he was able to return to the field, but not before the Coventry side increased their led to 26-16 with a converted try in the 52nd minute.
From this point the Bramley side were chasing the game, and with their play maker reduced to a hobble, the task was made harder. But the Buffaloes never gave in with some strong running from Second Rower Jon Beanland and Prop Tim Orr. With the only points of the half coming from a Forster Penalty, with a try being disallowed and coming close on several occasions.
Coventry rounded off the scoring on the 71st minutes with a converted try to make the scores 32-18.
So, the Black and Amber of Bramley was back in competitive rugby league and can be incredibly proud of their efforts in a first demanding season. Twenty years later and the Buffaloes go into the new season in confident mood after a championship winning 2023.
An information session to highlight how the community can help prevent knife crime is being held in West Leeds this month.
Safer Leeds partnership, in conjunction CrimeStoppers, will be providing information for parents and guardians and the opportunity to find out what you can do to make the community safer. The meeting will give parents the confidence to have conversations with their children about carrying knives.
It’s being run at New Wortley Community Centre, Tong Road,on Monday 19 February, 6-8pm.
The Armley Gyratory improvement scheme has led to 350 new trees being planted in the area this winter, the council has said.
This is in addition to the 206 trees planted last year, making a total of 556 trees. Council chiefs aim to plant 660 new trees in total.
Last week at Armley Park, 10 Walnut trees were planted by volunteers, councillors, project team and organised by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside rangers. This follows 139 trees planted in close proximity to the Armley Gyratory and also 18 trees planted across the Clyde Estate in this planting season.
In January 2022, as part of the wider Armley Gyratory scheme, approximately 220 trees were removed to accommodate the new gyratory alignment, road and footpath widening. Tree removal will also provide greater visibility for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the area.
In autumn last year the highways construction work completed to remodel the Armley Gyratory. The changes to the gyratory have improved vehicle throughput at the junction and are a component of transformative highways works to remove through traffic’ across the city centre, mitigate environmental issues, better connect neighbourhoods, and encourage people to travel on foot or by bike.
More recent activity on the phase two structures work to three Armley Gyratory footbridges is well under way. Last month the council removed and replaced Gelderd Road footbridge.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: “I am delighted to see progress on the tree planting this season and to have been involved in planting more trees at Armley Park in connection to this major scheme.
“The 556 trees in total mark a major milestone contributing to the total number of trees we need to plant. We have planted trees across Armley, Beeston, Holbeck, Chapel Allerton, Temple Newsam, Hunslet, Calverley and Farsley, including 196 next to the gyratory itself aiming to have a lasting impact. They will help to reduce carbon, encourage wildlife and act as habitats for many species.
“The gyratory’s location constrain planting many more trees there and so we have worked with the communities to identify more suitable locations, such as Beggars Hill, Clyde Estate and Armley Park.
“I would like to thank people for their patience while the ongoing footbridge works are carried out on the Armley Gyratory. I can’t wait to see the completion of this scheme later this year.”
Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious collision on Horsforth New Road near Rodley.
Officers would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision between a Vauxhall Vivaro van and a Toyota Auris on the A6120 Ring Road between Calverley and Rodley at about 4.55pm on Monday, February 12.
It took place after the Vivaro, which was travelling northbound, was in a head-on collision with the Toyota travelling in the opposite direction.
A four-month-old baby in the Toyota suffered life threatening injuries in the incident and was taken to hospital, where he remains today.
Two women from the Toyota and a man from the Vivaro were also taken to hospital.
The male driver the Vivaro has now been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
A full road closure was put in place at the location while emergency services managed the incident.
Anyone who saw or has footage of the collision is asked to contact the Eastern Area Roads Policing Unit on 101 referencing police number 13240081077. Information can also be given online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat.
Aire Place Studio (APS) – a disabled and queer artist-led community interest company – are losing their studio spaces and gallery!
Their buildings on Kirkstall Road have been sold to developers, leaving APS and its studio members with nowhere to go.
APS provides affordable and accessible creative spaces for all artists, freelancers, and small businesses, addressing barriers to access and promoting a sense of community in Leeds. They have made significant contributions to the city’s creative landscape, supporting over 1,500 artists, and providing a home for small businesses for around 340 individuals since 2015. Now they are looking for your support!
The money raised through this fundraiser will enable APS to secure new premises, retain its staff, support its studio members, and plan for the future. Your contribution will help APS continue to provide a platform for emerging artists and creatives and nurture collaborative communities. With your help, they hope to raise enough funding to support APS’s future programme and sustain their vision to remain a key cultural agent for change.
APS Director Sarah Francis said: “APS is a disabled-led space, which presents its own set of challenges due to varying symptoms and unique access requirements that affect day-to-day tasks.
“The board of directors at APS includes people with protected characteristics who have all experienced barriers to access. The studio was built to bridge the gap that they had fallen into.
“The primary goal was to create a supportive and affordable space that I did not have in my younger years, which often left me feeling isolated and impacted my ability to work as a freelancer. I did not want to fail, nor did I want others to fail. I built this space based on passion and drive to be the change I needed. My lived experiences of being queer and disabled inspired me to create a space that was different from what was already available.
“APS is a testament to the power of community and the ability to create something remarkable with limited resources.”
APS Studio Member Myles Garstang, of RuneFable Ltd, said: “The closure of APS would leave me unable to work and have devastating consequences for my company and my income.
“This would have serious implications for my household income and mortgage and bills payments. I would not be able to find an equivalent space in Leeds where I would be able to work with resin safely without huge expense. Having the studio at APS has allowed me to take on bigger projects with game creators in the UK and US and these projects would be in jeopardy.”
APS Studio Member James Grimshaw, Freelance musician, producer and writer, added: “Aire Place is an accessible and supportive environment for creative practice, and one of few such places that welcomes musical endeavours with open arms. To be able to build a fully functioning studio environment within walking distance of one’s home, without inciting noise complaints or restrictive time constraints, is unheard of in today’s climate – as evidenced by the inevitable sale of land from under our feet. Aire Place enabled us to set up our first proper writing and recording environment, thanks to a low barrier to entry, a nurturing team and a tonne of pastoral support.
W”ithout Aire Place, there would be no studio – and my career would not be what it is today. Without Aire Place I would not have landed soundtrack composition clients, Arts Council-funded projects, session musician slots with live bands or production clients from our local scene; my career in Leeds music would have been severely stunted before it could even grow.”
In return for your contribution, APS are offering a whole bunch of physical rewards including APS merch, event tickets to a live music event by Junk It, or by splattering paint all over the building! To top it all off they will be creating a commemorative art piece that you can put your name on to remember their building.
A community charity supporting local people in need is interested in managing a community centre facing an uncertain future.
As reported by WLD last week, community stalwart Yvonne Allman who has run Swinnow Community Centre for eight years, has announced she is to stand down next month.
The centre, which is used by a host of community organisations and services, is currently earmarked for temporary closure on March 21.
But Pudsey Community Project, which has its base in a former church in Fartown, has thrown its hat into the ring.
Posting on social media and its website, the charity – which hosts a food bank, food pantry and a raft of community services for young and old, said: “We will do whatever we can to ensure the continued operation of Swinnow Community Centre and are in conversation with the council about a future opportunity to take on the management of the building and its groups and use.
“We are a grassroots community charity, committed to transforming our area – Pudsey, Swinnow, Farsley, Calverley and more – with and for the local community, especially those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
“We are saddened by the idea this valued and important community centre might close, especially in an area with so many underlying financial struggles.
“So we have already started working on how we might continue its important work, planning the possibility of taking on the management of the centre and running it for the local community (not a simple task, given that the council had been paying for utilities and maintenance, and probably won’t in the future).
“We’d love it if you could help us make our case to the council by registering your support through this quick link and helping us show that the local community want this important resource to stay serving its locality.:”
More than 400 names have already signed their support and the project is hoping to make it over 1,000 in the next week.
WLD understands at least one other community organisation has expressed an interest in running the council-owned facility.
A senior West Leeds councillor has called on council chiefs to reconsider the proposed closure of Pudsey Civic Hall – and called into question claims that the building needs a £7m refurbishment.
The local authority has just finished a public consultation into the proposed closure of Pudsey Civic Hall, as it looks to balance its books ahead of the new financial year in April.
Leeds council says the Civic Hall operates at a modest profit but has a maintenance backlog and needs a full refurbishment which would cost around £7.25m, according to a report to the council’s Outer West Community Committee on Wednesday. It is looking to close the building and sell the land to raise much-needed funds.
The 300 space car park was being used at less than 5% capacity on Friday afternoon. Photo: Ivor Hughes
Members of the Outer West Community Committee will debate and scrutinise the proposed closure, ahead of the council’s budget being finalised later this month.
Ahead of the meeting, Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley and Farsley) said: “A facility used by 50,000 people a year and making, in the council’s own words – “a modest surplus” – must be worth saving. Given the extremely poor marketing the council has engaged in for Pudsey Civic Hall, a lot more could be done to increase the usage and make the building sustainable.
“The council administration clearly took a decision to close it, and now are building a pretty threadbare case around this decision to justify it. To pretend that it needs a £7 million refurbishment now is simply not a true reflection of the situation.
“Councillor Amanda Carter and I have been inundated with emails and contacts from far and wide, but particularly local people, protesting at what the council is proposing. They must reconsider.”
A report to be considered by councillors sitting on the outer west community committee next Wednesday says the building, which dates back to 1972, does not meet its annual budget targets and because it has large investment needs to ensure that it remains attractive to event organisers.
The council says it is not in a position to continue to fund these needs in the context of its broader financial challenges. The potential sale of the site could also deliver a capital receipt for the council.
The report states that the venue, which was used by over 49,000 people in the last financial year, makes a ‘modest surplus’ but is consistently failing to meet income targets and is a “financial strain” on the council.
Revenue from the 300-capacity car park has also decreased due to the closure of Green Flag at Dawsons Corner in 2015 and changing working patterns following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report goes on to say that the 52-year-old building is in need of substantial investment. The report states: “…Taking account of the age of the mechanical and electrical installations of the building, the energy certificate that would need to be achieved and applying a m2 rate to the full refurbishment of the facility, Asset Management have estimated that a comprehensive refurbishment cost would be in the region of £7.25m.”
The council allocates £20,000 per year towards maintenance costs.
“Notably, although there were fewer events in 2022/23 compared to 2019/20 (412 as opposed to 569), there were more people attending activities in the hall.”
Last financial year some 38,587 people visited the hall for events including 178 conferences. The report said: “If you add to this the 10,800 children attending for music rehearsals, 49,387 took part in some sort of activity in Pudsey Civic Hall during 2022/23.”
The report added: “While Pudsey Civic Hall delivers a modest surplus each year, overall it does not meet its budget target and the council’s ability to continue to operate the venue successfully will worsen, alongside the need to commit to backlog maintenance needs in the near future.”
The council last week admitted a multi-million pound overspend continues to grow as decisions loom over spending cuts to balance the council’s budget. Much of the financial shortfall is being caused by the rising cost of caring for vulnerable children in the city. Almost £60m must be slashed from the overall budget this financial year.
Cllr Debra Coupar, (Lab) executive member for resources, said: “We are not unique in the country in terms of the pressure for funding around children’s services and the inadequacy of funding from the government to allow us to do that job.”
The hall is the home of ArtForms, a council music and arts service for young people.
WLD has contacted the council for a breakdown of the proposed costs.
The full agenda and report can be found here. The committee meets at Farnley Hall Park on Wednesday, 14 February at 1pm. Members of the public can attend.
A public consultation into the future of Pudsey Civic Hall closed last month. Its future will be considered as part of the council’s city-wide budget proposals at a meeting of all 99 councillors at Leeds Civic Hall on 21 February 2024.
The outer west community committee is made up of nine councillors from Calverley & Farsley ward, Farnley & Wortley ward and Pudsey ward. There are five Conservative councillors, three Labour and one Green.
Post Office bosses have confirmed the closure of Calverley’s branch – and have this week opened applications for an alternative provider.
As previously reported by WLD, Waheeda and Asaf Hussain are quitting Calverley Stores – potentially leaving the village without a lifeline Post Office branch.
They have sold the shop, which will become a general store, leaving it to the Post Office to either find someone to run the sub Post Office or leave Calverley folk having to travel to Woodhall, Farsley or further away for services.
A consultation into the future of Post Office provision in the village says the service ‘will be closing temporarily’ on Monday, 11 March 2024 at 5pm.
Tajinder Khehra, Post Office network provision lead, said: “The provision of a Post Office service to our customers in the local community is important to us, and we will continue to work hard to restore services in the area as soon as possible. We would welcome any applications from potential retail partners interested in running a branch locally on our behalf.
“We would like to assure you that we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community. In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited.
“Future provision will reflect customer numbers and usage and we may take the opportunity to establish an alternative type of service. This may be a local style branch which runs alongside an established retail shop in newly refurbished premises and creates a more modern and convenient experience for customers.”
The announcement by Waheeda and Asaf Hussain comes as hundreds of sub postmasters pursue claims for compensation following prosecutions and losses due to the flawed Horizon computer system.
A community fundraiserto thank the family for their contributions to the village has received 125 donations, raising more than £2,000.
