Polic eand housing updates will be discussed at the next Bramley & Stanningley Forum meeting.
The public meeting gives local people a chance to discuss local issues which are important to them and is chaired by Councillor Caroline Gruen (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley).
The next meeting is being held on Thursday, 24 January, 2024 at the Eric Atkinson Centre, in Wellington Gardens. It starts any 7pm and anyone living in Bramley & Stannignley ward is welcome to attend.
Last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Scarborough Athletic was a ‘result that had been coming’, according to head coach Clayton Donaldson, as he looks ahead to The Celts’ next challenge against Rushall Olympic tomorrow.
An eight-match unbeaten league run was only brought to an end by narrow back to back defeats against Scunthorpe over the festive period.
Since then, the Celts were unfortunate to only draw 0-0 against playoff hopefuls Curzon and last week’s win against our Yorkshire rivals continued our fine run of form. The Celts enter the game in good spirits.
“It was very frustrating that Tuesday’s game against Peterborough Sports was postponed. The lads were on a high after the Scarborough game and we’d have loved to get back out there and build on that momentum,” Clayton said.
“But that’s the British weather for you! At least it gave us more time to focus on tomorrow’s game with Rushall. The lads have been training hard.”
Farsley beat Rushall on the opening day of the season with two second-half goals from Ben Atkinson and Darren Stephenson.
“Rushall have picked up of late and are coming off back-to-back wins,” said Clayton. “We picked up a good result at their place on their artificial pitch but the game on Saturday will be much different as they’re coming to play on our pitch, which will be heavy after the recent weather. We’ll be looking to use that to our advantage.”
The Celts’ recent good form has been built on having solid foundations at the back.
“Someone told me the other day we’d just had out tenth clean sheet of the season in the league. To have that already is a massive achievement, considering where Farsley has been in the past few years,” Clayton said.
“I know we hadn’t scored in three games going in to the Scarborough match, and if you hadn’t seen us play in those three games you might, from the outside, say there was a problem. But we weren’t worried, we knew we were playing well and creating chances.
“The home game against Scunthorpe we were unlucky not to score in that second half, and against Curzon we hit the woodwork twice and their keeper played well. The result against Scarborough last week had been coming.
“It’s nice to hit the back of the net – and we’re aiming to continue that form on Saturday.”
The match kicks off at 3pm.
Admission is by cash or card payment at the turnstile or tickets can also be bought in advance. Full ticket, parking and all the important supporter information can be found here. We ask all fans to park in the club car park where possible, and park with respect for our neighbours.
The Celts will welcome back midfielder Ryan Watson, who returns to the squad for the first time following his red card against Gloucester City before Christmas.
Lewis Turner and Joao Silva went out on loan to Ossett United in a bid to gain extra minutes and the gaffer has long-term absentees Jack Leckie and Harry Sheridan back in training. Darren Stephenson looks like taking a little longer.
For the visitors, leading scorer Danny Waldron has this week moved to Southend.
Volunteers are being urged to help fill Burley Park with flowers at a special planting morning.
Next Sunday volunteers will be gathering in Burley Park to plant woodland bulbs in the park, supported by the Friends of Burley Park group.
A spokesperson said: “We have already planted daffodils in the orchard and would like some help from other local people to plant bluebells, cyclamen, and wild garlic under the trees in other parts of the park.
“Join us and meet other local people as we get together to plant bulbs!(you don’t have to stay for the whole time). We will provide tools and show you what to do. We will have free tea and coffee to share too.”
Meet by the bandstand at 10am on Sunday, 21 January.
The initiative us supported by Love Leeds Parks and is made possible by the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund.
By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
A blueprint for where thousands of new homes will be built around the city has been approved by councillors after years of complications.
Leeds City Council’s Site Allocations Plan (SAP) was subject to a High Court challenge and scrutiny by government planning inspectors.
The original SAP proposal, which allocates land for housing, office, industrial and retail use, was approved by the council in 2019 after six years of public consultation.
It included 37 greenbelt sites around the city, but a legal challenge from Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum over four of the sites led to a High Court ruling that the SAP would be reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate.
The council then decided it did not need to include the 37 greenbelt sites for housing as land was available elsewhere.
But the council eventually opted to include one of the sites, Barrowby Lane in Manston, for development to create employment.
The Planning Inspectorate agreed with the council’s revised SAP in a report delivered on January 2.
Councillors voted to adopt the SAP at a full council meeting where political tensions surfaced over what caused the delay.
Some criticised the council’s handling of the issue, saying too many greenbelt sites were placed in the original plan.
Coun Helen Hayden, executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said delays to the SAP were out of the council’s control:
She said: “We have been driven by the evidence at all times.”
Coun Caroline Gruen (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley), who chairs the council’s Development Plan Panel, said: “It has taken an unreasonable length of time. This was imposed on us by the government inspectorate.”
But Barry Anderson, Conservative councillor for Adel and Wharfedale, said: “The process was far too lengthy and the administration got themselves into all sorts of problems, so much so that the developers plundered us.
“Too many green belt sites were allocated.
“Parts of the city were thrown to the wolves to get the administration out of a problem of their making.”
Coun Alan Lamb, Conservative group leader, said it was no cause for celebration that the SAP had taken 12 years to approve.
He said: “The officers have done all they can with the hand they have been dealt. The decisions that led to this were political decisions.”
The full council meeting was told SAP complications were partly caused by the cancellation of the Leeds section of the HS2 rail link.
Coun James Gibson, Labour member for Cross Gates and Whinmoor, said: “Once again it is councils that have to pick up the pieces and make tough decisions over what land to allocate to promote economic growth.”
Conservative Harewood councillor Sam Firth criticised the inclusion of Barrowby Lane in the SAP.
He said: “The only reason we are voting today to let this report through is to safeguard those other sites.”
Coun Hayden the said council had been working with developers to find brownfield sites for development.
She added: “Over the last ten years 80 per cent of housing has been developed on brownfield land. That actually proves we are brownfield-led.”
Retrospective plans to transform a former school science block into 12 studios and apartments have been refused by Leeds City Council planners.
The Grange development, next to the former Grangefield School building off Richardshaw Lane, already has planning consent and people are living in it. Developer Sandeep Gupta from Riana Developments Ltd says the latest application includes a ‘slight variation in internal layout and slight amendments to windows’.
But a council planning officer’s report refusing the application says planning permission for the change of use of the building, alterations and side extension was approved in 2020. It adds: “…works have been carried out which [are] not in accordance with the original planning consent and as a result this retrospective applications seeks consent for unauthorised works.”
The application also proposed the insertion of new windows together with associated parking and landscaping.
In refusing the application, the planning officer’s report said: “These unauthorised works for which planning permission is being sought are contrary to all the previous design advice and the previously approved drawings.”
It concluded: “The Local Planning Authority consider the retrospective works which have been carried out to be wholly unacceptable as the modernist architecture of the host building has now been detrimentally harmed.
“This is due to significant alteration to the approved fenestration pattern, poor choice of mortar and brickwork to the approved side extension and insufficient landscaping works, which cumulatively are considered to be harmful and unsympathetic to the character and appearance of the host building and the setting of the adjacent listed building.”
The planning application had argued: “The proposals are basically to revert the building and extension to that previously approved, with some minor alterations to the internal layout and windows. The proposed scheme will bring an existing building back into use, and prevent further vandalism and anti-social behaviour within the area.
“The new building will still be subservient to the main building and the materials will provide an unchanged building form with some modern additions which will enhance the overall site as a whole.
“The completion of this scheme will also improve the site as a whole and therefore the outlook and living experience for all the residents of the area. With this in mind we feel that the application should be supported and approved by the council.”
The plans can be viewed in full here.
A Pudsey-based aesthetics clinic has invested over £500,000 in new premises, staff and equipment to become the first CQC-registered practice in the area.
Evolve Medical, at Dawsons Corner, has a team made up of qualified consultants, GPs, nurses and beauty therapists, headed up by registered nurse Rachel Green, who has over 20 years’ experience.
Rachel said a significant area of the aesthetics field is not regulated, for example councils regulate tattooing but not injectables, which performed incorrectly can cause significantly more harm to patients.
She said: “Ultimately, it’s all about the safety of patients. We want to provide an accessible service, but of the highest standard which CQC immediately demonstrates. I strongly believe that injectables should be brought under the regulations of CQC, to ensure the standards of patient safety.
“If the industry was regulated with CQC then standards would be the same across the UK, and so create a safer consumer experience stopping non-medical, non-qualified practitioners which would be a significant turning point for the industry. With no industry standards for aesthetic practitioners as well as clinics, how can safety be guaranteed?”
To achieve its ‘Good’ rating, Evolve Medical invested in equipment and training for staff.
All products that the clinic uses are sourced and prescribed by regulated pharmacies, whereas unregulated practitioners are able to source freely online. Rachel also travelled to Geneva to visit the sites where the products are made, to see the quality and care in production for herself.
She continued: “As a nurse or doctor, to be able to carry out treatments such as thread lifts you must be regulated by CQC. However, if you aren’t medical then you don’t – so in theory you could just practice from your own bedroom which seems insane. By becoming CQC registered we are making a clear commitment to being a safe, responsible and well-led clinic which puts its patients first.”
The only higher standard than ‘Good’ on the CQC rating system is ‘Outstanding’, and Evolve Medical’s current standard is described on the CQC website as ‘The service is performing well and meeting our expectations’.
A retired Kirkstall councillor and a former Pudsey MP have received one of the highest civic honours the city can bestow at a special session of full council.
The group of former councillors, who have 170 years of public service between them and include former Kirkstall councillor John Illingworth (Lab) and former Pudsey MP Paul Truswell (who went on to serve as a councillor in Middleton Park), recognising their exceptional contribution to the council and the city.
John Illingworth was first elected to represent the Kirkstall area of the city in 1979 and served for 44 years. Former journalist Paul Truswell was first elected to the Headingley ward in 1982, and later became Labour’s MP for Pudsey in 1997 – a role he held until 2010. He then returned to Civic Hall as a councillor for Middleton Park in 2012
The ceremonial position of Honorary Alderman/Alderwoman is conferred on past members of the council who, in the eyes of the authority, have given eminent service to Leeds in a public position.
It does not entitle the holders to any special privileges; however, it does enable them to attend ceremonial events as and when they are invited to and actively support the Lord Mayor’s charity.
Speaking after the ceremony the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite, said: “It’s an honour for me to welcome back to the Civic Hall and honour a group of people who over a combined 170 years, have worked tirelessly for Leeds.
“While their new roles are ceremonial, I am sure they will continue to support the city at every available opportunity, and I look forward to working closely with them as they continue to support the civic and charitable work of the Lord Mayor.”
The full list of new Alderman and Alderwoman is as follows:
By John Baron
Scaled-back plans to turn an empty Bramley office block into 18 flats have been turned down by Leeds council planners.
Bradshaw House, on Waterloo Lane, has been vacant for some time, with efforts to find new tenants having failed.
Applicants Bridge-It Enterprises, who bought the property last year, withdrew plans in November to convert the building into 27 residential apartments. They then resubmitted a scaled-down plan for 18 flats last month.
A council’s planning officer’s report says the apartments fail to meet national planning policy over minimum space requitrements. It states: “The proposed change of use includes some single bedrooms with a floor area of less than 7.5 sqm, and some double bedrooms that do not meet the minimum required width of 2.75m in the nationally described space standard (NDSS).”
A planning statement submitted with the application stated: “We are of the view that it has been demonstrated that the development will not give rise to negative impacts in terms of highways, noise, contamination, flooding or natural light.”
The statement added that the development would be in a “sustainable location within easy walking distance of all amenities and excellent transport facilities to the city centre.”
The plans can be viewed in full here.
By John Baron
Council chiefs are set to press ahead with parking restrictions to improve road safety in Armley – despite a local objection.
In a council report published this week, highways officers say they will push ahead with parking restrictions aimed at restoring sight lines for vehicles entering and exiting the junction of Halliday Avenue and Armley Ridge Road, while preventing vehicles from causing obstructions.
The original scheme proposed double yellow lines along the entire length of Halliday Avenue and Armley Ridge Close.
An objector had complained that the proposals will cause problems elsewhere by displacing cars and requested that blue badge parking also be removed as well as the proposed no waiting at any time restrictions.
The council report concluded that the blue badge parking and one length of the no waiting at any time restriction should be removed from the proposal, but other proposed restrictions at the junction to remain to improve visibility.
“The proposals will displace a small number of vehicles throughout the nearby area as parking is removed, but this negative is mitigated by the benefits,” it added.
Armley councillors support the scheme, which is one of eight being proposed across Armley ward.
The council report can be read in full here.
The car park at Pudsey Leisure Centre will be temporarily closed during February half-term holidays to allow important building work to be carried out.
Council chiefs will close the popular town centre car park between Monday, February 12 and Sunday, February 18 to allow the installation of cabling for a planned new substation for an eco-friendly air source heating project at Pudsey Leisure Centre.
A council spokesperson said: “This electrical grid upgrade will take five to seven days and include a dig along part of the one-way system. Following a meeting between Highways & Northern Powergrid on-site, it has been confirmed that there is no means to deliver this upgrade without closure of the car park due to the impact of closure of part of the one-way system. Following discussions with Active Leeds, February half-term (Feb 12-18) has been identified as the optimum time to complete this upgrade.
Pudsey councillor Simon Seary said: “We appreciate it will be a massive inconvenience to shoppers, leisure centre users, workers and residents of Pudsey. The half-term holiday was selected as it was hoped it would have the smallest impact to users.
“While access to the car park will be closed, we are looking at what we can use the site for during the half term holiday.”
As previously reported last month, Leeds City Council has submitted plans for an environmentally friendly ground level air source heat pump, plant room and sub station at the centre. Proposals also include solar panels on the roof and the removal of 10 existing parking bays at the centre. The plans are yet to be decided.
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Over the past two years, Bramley Baths has invested over £100,000 back into its gym facility for its members. Now we have gone even further and introduced state of the art digital technology into our community-led gym.
This January, we are launching two innovative ways in which to enhance your fitness journey and lifestyle. All of our members and users will now have access to the TechnoGym app, which gives them the ability to access fitness programs, track their gym activities and book appointments.
In addition to this, from Monday, 22 January, Bramley Baths will be offering Full Body Composition Analysis with consultation appointments.
Using state of the art equipment, we can provide highly accurate, comprehensive, non-intrusive body composition analysis in just 20 seconds. We will measure:
All of this, plus one of our friendly fitness instructors will be on hand to offer one to one advice and guidance, to accelerate your health and wellbeing journey. They will also provide you with a specific fitness programme to suit your needs.
Your first session is just £10, dropping down to £2 for every appointment thereafter. To book and for more information, please contact our reception team.
For more details on how to become a member at Bramley Baths, from just 97p per day (£28 per month), please visit our website.
By Andy Dalton
A warm space and welcome is now available for people in the Armley area during the cold winter months.
Volunteers at the Leeds City Mission Compassion Centre in Mistress Lane, Armley, have created a haven for people to keep warm during the cold weather. Many people on limited incomes are struggling with heating bills. The ‘Welcome Space’ is a place to go to keep warm as temperatures plunge low.
Every day midweek (except Wednesday) between 10.30am and 2pm visitors are welcome at the Welcome Space facility. It provides comfortable chairs. Board games, jigsaws, free refreshments. There is a also small reading room with an easy chair where anyone can read undisturbed at their leisure. Volunteers are on hand to chat. People are welcome to come and go as they please.
Manager Dagmar Truman said that this winter initiative is reaching out to people who struggle to pay their heating bills at this time of year by providing a place to keep warm and meet other people.
They are also able to signpost visitors to other sources of help.
This initiative is just one of a number of ‘Welcome Spaces’ being run by voluntary and other organisations throughout the city during the cold winter months.
More details on 0113 345 3118. The City Mission Compassion Centre is located at the junction of Town Street and Mistress Lane (next door to Westerly Rise flats) in Armley. It is diagonally opposite Armley Library.
Leeds City Mission is a multi-church Christian agency which has worked with marginalised people since 1837 and seeks to meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of Leeds residents.
