shows Councillor Kevin Ritchie, Caroline Gruen and Tom Hinchcliffe with the new ice cream van in Bramley Park
Bramley councillors have welcomed fresh investment into the playground in Bramley Park.
As previously reported by WLD, the play park’s newest addition is a mini ice-cream van that has been custom-made and installed in memory of Mr Rossi, a very special ice cream seller and well-loved figure in the local community who passed away last year.
He was best known for his kindness and generosity, always finding a way to ensure all the children in the area got an ice cream regardless of their circumstances. Now children will be able to remember Mr Rossi in their own way.
This new addition to the play park – which cost around £10,000 – follows other enhancements including a replacement of the emoji disc roundabout and refurbishment of the soft land play surface.
The improvements to Bramley Park play area have been funded by local ward councillors, the Inner West Community Committee well-being fund, and crowdfunded donations.
Councillor Caroline Gruen, Tom Hinchcliffe and Kevin Ritchie (Labour, Bramley and Stanningley) said: “It is a real pleasure to see local people coming together for such a good cause and to celebrate the memory of someone who really cared.
“We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Ali Arnison, who came up with the amazing idea in the first place. Mr Rossi’s memory will now live on in the park, whilst children enjoy this new experience. We hope they have fun.”
Local resident, Ali Arnison said: “We had to do something in memory of the best and kindest ice cream man ever. I’m so chuffed to see my vision come to life. It looks fantastic. Now Rossi will go on bringing smiles and happiness for a long time. And I’m sure he would’ve loved it!
“The jingle might have gone, but the memories haven’t.”
Demolition: 600 Leeds and Bradford Road. Photo: Google
A former residential home in Bramley will be demolished ahead of the land being redeveloped, council planning officers have said.
The home, at 600 Leeds and Bradford Road, will be taken down brick by brick by hand and the materials to be re-used, although some of it could be retained
The building is a two storey stone-built character property set in its own grounds. The land was cleared of trees prior to submission of the application and is currently cleared of vegetation with the exception of a single tree, which is to be protected under a preservation order.
A council planning officer’s report approving the demolition states: “It is considered that the proposal represents an appropriate act of demolition as set out above; the works would not be unduly harmful to surrounding amenity or be environmentally harmful.”
Council planners have refused retrospective plans for two large industrial units on the site of a demolished Armley pub.
The site, off Armley Road, featured the Golden Lion pub, which was demolished and cleared due to the building falling into significant disrepair.
Planners gavepermission for two new warehouse units in 2021 – but they say the site has been redeveloped to accommodate two larger commercial units, which exceed the size and scale originally granted.
As a result, applicant Adam Maumoniat has had to re-apply for retrospective planning application for the larger units.
A planning officer’s report refusing the lates application concludes: “The proposal is considered to have a significant detrimental impact on the visual appearance of the Armley Conservation Area and wider street scene through the excessive size, scale and bulk of the units along with the erection of palisade fencing and a concrete block retaining wall.
“In addition, the development fails to accord with the previously approved highways technical details and thus is considered harmful to wider highway safety. For the reasons outlined in the above report and taking into account all other material considerations it is concluded that planning permission should be refused.”
The new facility will be based on a Wortley industrial estate. Photo: Google
A light industrial workshop in Wortley could be transformed into a new Electrical Training Centre, if plans submitted to Leeds City Council are approved.
Applicant XS Training provide a range of NVQ level and other qualification courses for electrical professionals in West Yorkshire and want to transform one of the detached workshop units off Wortley Moor Lane into a new facility.
They say the majority of the floor area will be open plan housing practical electrical equipment, as well as a film studio for online courses, an office and toilet area. Five full time and one part time jobs would be created.
A planning statement submitted with the application states: “The property is within an area of industrial and commercial uses and is not located near any residential properties.
“The proposal would not unduly impact upon neighbouring businesses amenity and the proposed use is inherently less noise than any industrial/commercial use which is acceptable and established on the site.”
The plans state existing parking spaces would be used for staff and students.
“While the spaces are not formally marked out at present, more than 10 cars can be accommodated on the site which exceeds the applicant’s needs, on street parking is also unrestricted,” the application states. “Electric vehicle charging points will be installed to the property frontage.”
A community arts collective in Farsley is embarking on an ambitious project to bring a series of public murals to brighten village streets.
Over the next few months Project Farsley is giving residents the opportunity to contribute their thoughts on what should be included in community led murals about Farsley, as well as giving people a say in which artist should create the artworks.
An online consultation document asking people what they would draw on a postcard of Farsley can be found here.
An offline consultation in Farsley Co-op, Town Street, ends today (Sunday), with people urged to draw or write onto the postcards provided near the tills on what they think deserves to be included on a mural/postcard that represents Farsley.
The group posted on Twitter: “We love Farsley, and recognise it’s a hub of creativity with lots of people, organisations, and businesses doing amazing stuff, all the time! We’re currently fundraising and undertaking community consultation to produce a mural that represents those who call Farsley their home.
“We’ve been fizzing with this idea for some time now, and the plans have really started to bubble after we received seed funding from @LEEDS_2023 to conduct community outreach work and commission an artist (more on that very soon!)”
The new Moss Lane Bridge in Rodley leads to the proposed development.
By John Baron
Two West Leeds councillors have issued a formal complaint about the way Leeds City Council has handled a controversial planning application to build 67 houses at a former Rodley mill site.
Detailed plans for housing on the former Airedale Mills site are due to be decided by councillors on the south and west plans panel on Thursday, despite ongoing concerns over the reliability of a newly-installed swing bridge which links to the site.
In a report, council planning officers are recommending councillors approve the plan in principle and defer final approval to the chief planning officer, subject to planning conditions – including affordable housing of 10 units and off-site greenspace enhancements of £50,000 – being signed off with the applicant.
But Councillors Andrew and Amanda Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said in a statement: “There seems to be a determined attempt to bulldoze this detailed application through without the full knowledge that the new canal bridge will work effectively.
“This will pose a continuing problem for Rodley Nature Reserve, Rodley Cricket Club, canal users in general, and the boaters.
“If and when these dwellings are built, should there be no effective access a hundred percent of the time, there could well be a serious incident and heaven forbid, a fatality, for which we can assure you, Leeds City Councill could be held responsible.”
The bridge was part of the outline (in principle) planning permission for housing approved in 2021 and has been dogged by delays and operational problems.
They claim “…it defies human logic” that the bridge access to the site is not being considered as relevant to the application itself and that ‘insufficient regard’ has been given to the implications of the bridge, which is still yet to be signed off as fit for purpose by Leeds City Council’s planning department.
The Carters also say the lack of proper parking on site will severely impact Rodley Cricket Club, Rodley Nature Reserve and those living in the residential streets immediately opposite Moss Bridge Road. They have called for residents’ only parking, particularly along Airedale Gardens and Longfield Drive.
They have now asked that one of them is allowed to speak at Thursday’s planning meeting and that there be a site visit in the morning to see if the bridge is working correctly.
The site where the development will take place, pictured here by Google Maps in 2009.
Background
Detailed proposals for 67 new build to rent homeswere first submitted in December 2021 by Casa By Moda (part of construction giants Caddick).
Council planning officers are recommending that councillors on the south and west plans panel approve the plans in principle and defer planning conditions – including affordable housing of 10 units and off-site greenspace enhancements of £50,000 – to the chief planning officer for final approval.
The principle of the development – called the outline stage – and a new swing bridge to the site were approved two years ago, and the bridge opened in January.
But the plans have been met with 214 objections, with concerns including the visual impact of the development, ‘poor’ deign of the properties and concerns over access and parking.
Other objections include impacts upon highway safety, appearance and design, impact upon the community, ecology considerations and disruption to the access of Rodley Nature Reserve and Rodley Cricket Club.
Council planning chiefs have also said more work needs to be done before they will sign off the delayed new swing bridge which will provide access to the proposed ‘island’ development.
Decision time: Leeds Civic Hall.
February plans panel debate
The proposals were first debated by councillors on February, when a decision was deferred to allow for further discussions between council officers to take place.
Concerns from councillors on the south and west plans panel included the layout and design of the site, off-site parking and the lack of a meaningful green space contribution.
They also said they feared a ‘catastrophe’ if emergency services struggled to cross the bridge.
Thursday’s meeting
A council planning officer’s report to be considered next Thursday concludes that the proposal meets local and national planning policies and adds: “Following negotiations with the agent, the scheme is considered to be policy compliant and will result in the redevelopment of a brownfield site within a sustainable location, contributing a much-needed mix of new housing to the city, including 10 affordable units.
“The design, scale, appearance, and landscaping of the development is considered to represent a complimentary addition to the local environment.”
Plans south and west meets next Thursday, 8 June, at 1.30pm in Leeds Civic Hall. The agenda and reports can be read in full here.
The installation of 25 new bus lane cameras in Leeds is aimed at “maximising funds”, the city council has admitted.
Most of the cameras will be placed at various points across the city centre – and the A647 – to snap drivers who encroach on bus lanes or use any of Leeds’ new car-free bus gates.
The local authority said the cash generated from the £70 fines would be reinvested into the local transport network.
City Square, The Headrow and The Corn Exchange are among the areas where new cameras will be put up.
Drivers also face fines if they use the bus gate on York Street, while four will be put up along the A61, which runs down Leeds’ northern spine into the city centre.
A further two will be installed along the A647, which runs out to the west of the city from Armley Gyratory.
A council document revealing the plans said: “The anticipated benefits of using efficient enforcement cameras will maximise the available funding to create improvements to the Leeds transport network.”
It added: “Success will be measured by the effective enforcement of bus lane restrictions at the relevant locations.”
Bus gates, where cars are banned, have been phased in across the city centre over the last couple of years in a move the council says is geared towards cutting pollution and helping public transport.
But their introduction has proved controversial, with local taxi drivers among those complaining they’ve had the opposite effect.
In March, it was revealed that nearly 2,000 drivers had been slapped with fines for breaching the bus gates on Vicar Lane and City Square, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the council.
The council document revealed the 25 cameras had originally been purchased to enforce Leeds’ clean air zone, which would have seen drivers of some vehicles charged to enter the city centre.
The clean air zone plan was dropped in 2020, however, and so the cameras are now being repurposed at a cost to the taxpayer of more than £200,000.
A former doctors’ surgery and pharmacy in Stanningley could be transformed into apartments if a planning application is approved by Leeds City Council.
Sunfield Medical Centre in Sunfield Place merged with Hillfoot Surgery in Pudsey earlier this year – and applicant Adam Hainsworth, from Rodley Lane, Calverley, wants to convert the stone surgery into flats.
He has applied for outline – ‘in principle’ – permission to build five one-bedroom apartments and four two bedroom apartments in two separate buildings on the site.
The plans say: “We believe this proposal is ideally suited for the site. We are of the opinion that this solution is the only feasible solution once the site becomes vacant.”
After many years of serving the community, Dr Kenneth McGechaen of Sunfield Medical Centre retired at the end of March. He and another retired colleague own the building.
A commemorative blue plaque honouring the achievements of Armley asbestos campaigner June Hancock is set to be unveiled close to where she lived.
June was one of the many victims of mesothelioma (asbestos disease) in Armley.
Living as a child near to the JW Roberts asbestos factory, she was one of many people who were exposed environmentally to asbestos dust even though they never worked at the factory.
It was common for Armley children to create asbestos “snowballs”, as at the time the dangers of the dust were not widely known
Before she died, June successfully sued the company responsible for her exposure. This was the first case brought by a person who had not worked with asbestos, and paved the way for many more asbestos victims like her to obtain justice.
The June Hancock Mesothelioma Fund has since raised more than £1.5m the majority of which being spent on quality research into the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma and the care of people with the disease.
The unveiling takes place in Armley at 11am on 9 June 2023 close to where June lived on Salisbury View. Watchdog group Leeds Civic Trust installs the blue plaques throughout the city of Leeds, commemorating people, events and buildings.
Martin Hamilton, Director of Leeds Civic Trust, said: “I know what a cruel disease mesothelioma is, having lost my father to the condition last year.
“June’s bravery and persistence in standing up for herself and for those who, like her, were affected by the disease is inspirational. It is an honour to recognise her life in this way.”
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who will be speaking at the unveiling, said: “I was honoured to raise the issue of mesothelioma and the Armley asbestos tragedy in my maiden speech to Parliament in 2010. June’s inspirational story shows how this determined woman was able to obtain justice for so many.”
Former Leeds West MP John Battle, who supported the campaign, will also be attending and the plaque will be unveiled by her children.
Plaque wording
The plaque wording is as follows:
June Hancock
As a childhood resident of 30 Salisbury View she was one of countless Armley residents and workers who died of asbestos exposure from the former JW Roberts Factory.
Her landmark legal case helped to bring justice for many other people who were environmentally exposed to asbestos.
“No matter how small you are, you can fight and no matter how big you are, you can lose.”
Volunteers from the Friends of Western Flatts Cliff Park group at work in the rose garden. Photo: Sue Burridge
By Debbie Binnersley
Volunteers from the Friends of Western Flatts Cliff Park have been making the most of the lovely weather by weeding and tidying in the Rose Garden ahead of the Bands in the Park events over summer.
Members of the committee, along with local residents, have been spending their Friday evenings working to restore the walled garden back to its former glory in readiness for the upcoming Bands in the Park event.
There’s still a a lot of work to be done so the Friends have decided to make this a regular event throughout June to ensure the area is looking its best.
If you want to get out in the lovely weather, meet new people and help make a difference in the local community, new volunteers are welcome.
Grab your gloves and tools and head along to the rose garden Friday evenings from 7pm between now and 23 June to help out.
The park will welcome the Friendly Band on Sunday, 25 June and the Friends will be holding a cake and refreshment stand and pay as you feel book stall. We hope to see you there.
You can keep up to date with the upcoming events over on the Friends’ Facebook group.
Breeze is coming to a park near you. Photo: West Leeds Dispatch
By Debbie Binnersley
Over the summer holidays Breeze in the Park will be touring Leeds and will be at six locations in the West Leeds area during July and August.
The events include plenty for the family to do including fun fair, arts zone, interactive play system, and the classic inflatables.
Each event will run in two sessions – Session one will run from 12pm-2.30pm and session two will run from 3pm to 5.30pm.
This year Farnley will also offer a relaxed session which run from 11am-12pm and are designed for young people with special education needs and disabilities.
Many of the events in our area will also be holding a pop up shop for uniform where families can take pick up some bits, free of charge, ready for the kids going back to school. Entry to these is open to everyone and you don’t need a ticket or Breeze Pass to gain entry.
General tickets for the events go on sale soon here.
To book a place on the relaxed session, e-mail your child’s details to breeze@leeds.gov.uk with their additional need, age and siblings attending. You are welcome to stay after the session and no further booking is required.
