Old traffic lights and signal equipment are set to be replaced at key junctions in Kirkstall and Bramley, a council report has said.
The new equipment is part of a £2.1 million city-wide package of improvements the council is about to consult on and approve. It hopes the new systems will reduce traffic waiting times and improve traffic flow.
General refurbishments will be carried out on signal equipment on Bridge Road, Leeds Bradford Road, Broad Lane and Wyther Lane in Bramley.
An in-depth review of signal operation will be undertaken in the vicinity of the Savins Mill Way retail park, between Wyther Lane and A65.
Telecommunications infrastructure upgrades will also be largely focused on the Savins Mill section of network between Wyther Lane and the A65.
Imagine you ordered an expensive watch from Amazon. You rush to open the parcel – only to find it contains a large packet of contraceptives. Well, that’s exactly what happened to Armley resident Annabell Kesby.
Annabell, who has a medical condition which can cause loss of consciousness, chose the £379 watch because of its built-in heart rate monitor and fall detector that would trigger an alert and call their partner’s phone.
“We were over in Manchester when the Amazon driver called,” says Annabell. “Because it is a high-value item, I had been given a code and told to only give it on receipt of the item – not over the phone. The driver kept asking for the code over the phone. I refused to give it to him.”
A ring doorbell clearly showed the first delivery attempt, with the driver holding the parcel containing the watch, along with two other packets. The following day, the item was delivered. Annabell signed for it assuming it was the watch… however the labels had been swapped and instead of the watch, the parcels contained garden lights their partner had ordered – and a giant box of condoms.
“It’s been really stressful,” Annabell told West Leeds Dispatch. “I’ve spent about eight hours on the phone to Amazon. I ended up having to buy another watch from the official site because I don’t trust Amazon anymore. I have autism and this has also caused autistic meltdowns whilst on the phone to Amazon customer services. They hung up on me twice. They have no awareness training.”
This is not an isolated case. There have been other reports about Amazon customers who have ordered an expensive item such as a laptop and received dog food or some other low value item that weighs the same. The onus is on the customer to prove they didn’t receive their item.
Annabell’s Bank, Halifax, refunded the money and charged it back to Amazon.
Amazon said the customers identified by the BBC have since received or been offered refunds.
“We work hard to protect customers, selling partners and Amazon from abuse and we have systems in place to detect suspicious behaviour,” a spokesperson added.
SCENE-SETTER:Possibly the most intriguing result will be Armley ward, where sitting Green Party councillor Lou Cunningham is seeking re-election in what is traditionally a Labour safe seat.
What makes it interesting is that Cunningham left Labour for the Greens in December, while the Labour candidate standing against her is Andy Parnham, who was a Green Party councillor in Farnley and Wortley between September 2008 and May 2010.
The Greens are confident of making gains in Leeds this year, while Labour have comfortably held Armley since seeing off the old Liberal/SDP Alliance back in 1990.
It’ll be interesting to see which way this one goes in 2023 – apparently there have been a large number of postal vote requests in the ward so looks like there could be a good turnout.
SCENE-SETTER: Bramley & Stanningley will see a new councillor elected no matter what happens. Labour’s Jools Heselwood is this time standing in Weetwood, creating a vacancy for someone new to step in. But will anyone be strong enough to challenge Labour’s dominance since 2003?
SCENE SETTER: Calverley & Farsley is currently split, with two Tories and one Labour councillor. This year, Labour’s sitting councillor Peter Carlill will be hoping to hold off the challenge of Conservative Jas Singh to maintain the status quo in the ward.
Full list of candidates:
Peter John Carlill – Labour and Co-operative Party
Another interesting one will be in Farnley & Wortley ward. There’s an interesting array of candidates here, including an independent.
Like Armley, we’re likely to again see Green fighting it out at the ballot box with Labour. Mark Rollinson is the Green Party candidate, taking over from sitting councillor Ann Forsaith. Labour’s challenger is Adrian McCluskey. Green Party stalwart Ann Blackburn lost out to Labour’s Mark Sewards last May, and 2023 promises to be a fascinating tussle too.
SCENE-SETTER: Kirkstall will also see a fresh face elected, no matter which way the voting goes. Sitting Councillor John Illingworth (Labour) is retiring after representing the ward since 1979. The ward has been exclusively red since 1979 – but the Green’s Victoria Smith has finished runner up in the last three elections and will be hopeful of mounting a challenge to Labour’s new candidate Andy Rontree.
Full list of candidates:
Adam James Belcher – Liberal Democrats
Reiss Lewis Capitano – Conservative Party
Stuart William Long – no party listed on Leeds City Council website
SCENE-SETTER: Pudsey as been interesting in the past few years. Labour’s Mick Coulson, Josie Jarosz and Richard Lewis had dominated the ward since 1996, when Independent Peter Kersting stepped down in the old Pudsey South Ward.
But the Conservatives took two seats in 2018 to end a quarter of a century of Labour rule, and took the third seat a year later. The seat has been comfortably Tory since then.
Last year the Tories secured a 1,320-majority, but this was down 7.6% on 2020. Sitting Pudsey Conservative candidate Trish Smith will be hoping to hold off the challenge of Labour’s Riaz Ahmed at the ballot box this year.
Full list of candidates
Riaz Ahmed – Labour Party
Christine Amy Glover – Liberal Democrats
Alaric Timothy Peter Hall – Green Party
Tom Kelly – Reform UK
Trish Smith – Conservative Party
Current political make up of Leeds City Council
More information
The full list of candidates standing for election to Leeds City Council in West Leeds can be found here.
Voters in Leeds are being reminded to take their identification with them for the local elections which take place on Thursday.
Polling stations across Leeds will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday (May 4) for everyone registered who has not already voted by post to support their candidates for Leeds City Council. Anyone unsure of where their polling station is can find out here.
A new requirement for this year is the need for everyone who wishes to vote in person to remember to take their accepted form of photo ID with them to the polling station, which will be checked on arrival. To see the list of accepted forms of ID visit Voter photo ID. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
The need to have Voter ID only applies to those who wish to vote in person at a polling station or through a proxy in person, it does not affect those who vote by post.
Polling stations will also be able to accept completed postal ballots up to 10pm. Anyone who has not yet received their postal ballot pack should inform the elections team on 0113 222 4411 or email electors@leeds.gov.uk to arrange a replacement, which can be issued up to 5pm on polling day.
The election count itself will take place at the first direct arena during the day on Friday. West Leeds Dispatch editor John Baron will be there and reporting live from the count – follow us on Twitter – @wldispatch – for the latest.
Elections Returning Officer and chief executive of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan said: “We would encourage as many people as possible to make the most of their right to vote and take part in this week’s local elections.
“An important new element this year introduced by the government is everyone wanting to vote in person needs to take their photo ID with them to the polling station, so please don’t forget to take it with you.
“The process will take slightly longer than before as every ID will need to be checked by polling officials, so we ask for patience and understanding around this from everyone please.
“Thanks to all those people who have applied for a new free Voter ID and we look forward to another exciting election week in Leeds.”
The list of candidates standing for election to Leeds City Council in West Leeds can be found here. WLD has compiled ward-by-ward guides of candidate profiles. Follow the following links for more:
Information about the new Voter ID requirement and guiding around voting options can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website atVoter ID | Electoral Commission.
Passion: Some of the Friends of Western Flatts Park. Photo: Katherine Turner
By Debbie Binnersley
At the recent AGM and public meeting for the Friends of Western Flatts Cliff Park, the committee issued a request for more support from the local community.
The group, which was set up in October 2021 with guidance from Cllr Ann Forsaith, put out a call for anyone who would be willing to help with litter picking, painting or gardening/planting around the park.
At the meeting the committee discussed the lofty goals they set over the previous months, not all of which have been achieved as yet.
However, there have been plenty of successes along the way including several litter picks, cutting back fallen branches, wall repairs, planting of various bulbs, roses and plants.
Western Flatts Park in Wortley. Photo: John Baron
Grant funding was secured for a jubilee memorial bench and the committee have worked with LCC to undertake repairs to the existing playground until the new one can be implemented.
Two bands in the park events have been successful and a further two are scheduled for later this year along with a carol concert in December which raised £100 for the Trussell Trust.
The committee have a full calendar of events planned over the next 12 months and details will be added to their Facebook page.
At the meeting, which was attended by 29 people including the committee, a further two new members, Richard Stringer and Jenny Hudson, joined the board.
Committee member and local resident, Emma Rushton said: “We find it very encouraging that so many people attended our AGM. It’s pleasing that there are clearly a lot of people who care about and want the best for WFCP.”
Western Flatts Cliff Park community orchard. Photo: Katherine Turner
Following the AGM the room was opened up for discussion about the playground improvements with Councillors Ann Forsaith (Green, Farnley & Wortley) and Mark Sewards (Labour, Farnley & Wortley) reporting back on the latest news in terms of funding.
They said the £20m levelling up bid to government was unsuccessful but the park does have access to Section 106 money from the completion of the local housing development which is expected to be in the region of £200k and has been ring fenced for playground renovations.
Aside from the potential locations for the playground, one of the main issues focussed on communication and expectations with local residents and the wider community, and this was something that the committee will be taking into consideration in the coming months as they progress their discussions with the council.
Building Futures together is making a difference to young people in West Leeds. Photo: Josie Armitage
Pudsey-based Building Futures Together helps pupils who are not engaged in the school curriculum and steer them away from crime, anti-social behaviour, exploitation and becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) by pointing them towards a positive alternative future.
Community reporter JOSIE ARMITAGE attended the Building Futures Together (BFT) launch.
It was great to see how far BFT have travelled since January 2020 when they set up.
It was lovely to talk to people from schools and construction/services businesses who couldn’t speak highly enough of the impact that the support from John and Jack has had on their students.
BFT was created by John Thornton, Darren Hamer and Graham Kelly to engage, encourage and support young people aged 13-18 to consider the construction industry as a career.
They collaborate with G&H Group and have a facility in a real business setting where young people can take part in vocational mechanical, electrical and plumbing sessions in a positive and enjoyable learning environment.
The setting offers a place for young people to learn and socialise with people of similar ages, create long-lasting friendships and reduce the fear of social anxiety.
BFT work with schools and partners in Leeds and Bradford including Crawshaw Academy, Oastler Academy, Aspire Park Primary PRU, Springfield Community Centre in Bradford and recently with HMP YOI Wetherby.
Their sessions give young people the confidence to learn by taking part in Plumbing and Electrical activities, learning about teamwork and taking individual responsibility, which develops their confidence and self-esteem. They have directly engaged and offered 336 sessions between March 2021 and February 2022.
John Thornton, managing director said: “Recently we were delighted to hold the first event at our purpose-built facility in Pudsey.
“It gave us an opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us and showcase our programme, collaborating with others to offer vocational learning opportunities for young people. The event has since received great feedback and we will certainly do it again in the future.
“More recently we received feedback from a member of staff at Leeds Building College. They have received an influx of applications to join their plumbing and electrical programmes whilst referencing Building Futures Together in the application process.
“Our partners G&H Group regularly show clients around the facility and feedback again is excellent. Our aim is to create a pathway in employment for young people. After our support, we are confident that a college or employer will gain a young person who is eager, dedicated and ready to take the opportunity.”
If you work at a school where your students could benefit from Building Futures Together support or are a business that wants to be part of this exciting journey, contact John Thornton at john@buildingfuturestogether.me to find out more.
Keef Williamson tries out his own Coronation Quiche recipe.
Bramley-based You-Tuber cook and food lover Keef Williamson cooks up his own variation of the Coronation Quiche. Here’s how it came out…
When Queen Elizabeth was crowned 70 years ago, a special dish was created for the occasion. The mildly curry-flavoured Coronation Chicken salad has endured as a light lunch or sandwich filler ever since.
With the coronation of King Charles III only a few days away, Buckingham Palace posted a recipe for Coronation Quiche – a vegetarian flan that has stirred up controversy for a number of reasons. This quiche not a new invention – it’s a dish that is enjoyed by the royal couple and it is hoped people will make it for themselves to celebrate the crowning.
The spinach, broad bean and tarragon recipe is not without problems, however. The posted recipe is for quite a small quiche – 20 centimetres (just under eight inches) diameter. We have scaled up the recipe for a 23 cm (nine inch) tin.
Keef has rustled up his own Coronation Quiche. Photo: Keef Williamson
Oddly for a basically vegetarian recipe, the pastry calls for half butter and half lard. In our recipe we ditch the lard and double up the butter.
The Palace recipe says 2 tablespoons of milk for the pastry. We were somewhat baffled by the milk. Pastry is almost always hydrated with water, so that’s what we used. As for the quantity, 2 tablespoons is nowhere near enough. You would really struggle to get a cohesive dough with so little moisture. In the end we used a whopping 11 tablespoons of water.
Of course, you always have the option of buying ready-made pastry, in which case we highly recommend shortcrust, not flaky or puff.
The final issue with the pastry is ‘blind-baking’. This is a technique for part-baking the pastry in its tin using dried beans or rice to hold its shape. Blind-baking is important when you have a filling that would cook more quickly than the pastry, but in this case the filling takes at least half an hour to cook and blind-baking was just an extra level of faff for inexperienced cooks.
Just to be sure, we made one quiche using blind-baked pastry and a second one without blind-baking. The difference was negligible.
Another trap for newbies is the requirement for 180 grams of cooked spinach. Firstly, that is a lot of spinach even for the larger-sized quiche. Secondly, no instructions are given for how to cook it – spinach is notorious for its ability to transform itself from a wheelbarrow full of dry leaves into a thimbleful of cooked spinach mush.
All ovens are different and commercial ovens are very different from domestic ones. So when the Palace says this will cook in 20-25 minutes, they are probably not lying. But your domestic oven will need 35-40 minutes to get the job done.
Keef tries out the herbs at Whiteley’s, off Hough Side Road, Pudsey.
And finally, you need fresh tarragon. This is not a mainstream herb that many supermarkets sell and they weren’t given any time to organise supplies. We did manage to track some down at Whiteley’s Farm Shop, Pudsey – call ahead (07981 211 016) if you plan to visit as their opening hours are a bit fluid at the moment. But if you can’t find fresh tarragon, 1 teaspoon of dried tarragon will do just fine.
Is it a keeper? Only time will tell if this has the enduring appeal of Coronation Chicken, but it certainly is tasty and tarragon is our new favourite herb.
Here’sthe recipe:
SHORTCRUST PASTRY
• 200 grams (7 ounce) plain white (all-purpose) flour • 75 grams (2½ ounce) unsalted butter • half a tsp salt • 125 ml cold water
FILLING • 175 ml (¾ cup) double (heavy) cream • 125 ml (half a cup) semi-skimmed milk • 200 grams (7 ounce) uncooked spinach • 150 grams (5⅓ ounce) mature cheddar • 100 grams frozen broad beans or soy beans • 3 medium eggs • 1 tbsp fresh tarragon • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp ground white pepper
Notes The quantities given here are for a 23cm (9 inch) diameter quiche so you’ll need a metal quiche tin that size, preferably with a removable bottom. Ceramic dishes look nicer but they don’t transmit the heat as well as metal.
Spinach releases a lot of water when it’s cooked. I’ve suggested starting with 200 grams uncooked, but really you want to have 130 grams (4½ ounces) cooked weight.
Fresh tarragon might be hard to find. If you can’t get it, use a teaspoon of dried tarragon instead.
Pastry If you don’t want to make your own pastry you can use ready-made – just be sure you buy shortcrust, not puff or flaky.
If you are making your own pastry, mix together the flour and salt, cut the butter into small cubes and rub it into the flour with your fingertips – keep going until all of the butter is broken down and the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
If you have a stand mixer, fit the paddle attachment and whizz it for a couple of minutes. Add about half of the water and mix it in with a knife. Keep adding more water until you have a ball of dough that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. You might not need to use all of the water. Wrap the dough in plastic film and place in the fridge to rest for 30 minutes.
Prep the veggies Wash your spinach. Melt a knob of butter in a large frying pan or wok. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and stir frequently. When the spinach has stopped releasing water, remove it from the pan and squeeze it as dry as you can either with your hands or a potato masher.
Place the frozen broad beans in a bowl and cover with boiling water – they’ll be cooked already and just need to defrost for a few minutes.
Finely chop the fresh tarragon.
Make the pastry case Butter the inside of your quiche tin. Sprinkle some flour on your worktop and rolling pin and roll out the pastry into a disc that’s 5mm (quarter inch) thick. Drape it over your rolling pin and unroll it over the quiche tin.
Take a blob of spare pastry and use that to press the pastry up against the edge of the tin – the blob of dough stops you from damaging the pastry case. Trim off any excess pastry around the rim.
The palace recipe now tells you to blind-bake the pastry case. I made one quiche where I did that another where I didn’t and honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference. So skipping that stage will save you half an hour.
Finish the quiche and bake it Heat your oven to 170°C (338°F) for a fan/convection oven or airfryer, 190°C (374°F) conventional, gas 5. Grate the cheese and sprinkle half of it in an even layer on the bottom of the pastry case.
Drain the broad beans and space them evenly over the cheese. Chop the spinach and spread it out over the broad beans. Mix together the milk and cream, eggs, tarragon and salt and pepper. Pour this mixture into the pastry case. Don’t overfill the case. Sprinkle the remaining cheese all over and bake for 35 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool a little before removing the quiche from the tin. Place it on a wire rack to cool some more. This quiche is best eaten warm, not hot. You can also eat it cold. The Palace recipe recommends serving it with new potatoes and a green salad.
Keef Williamson is a West Leeds Dispatch community reporter and runs the popular YouTube cooking channel Keef Cooks. He has made a video of how to make this recipe here or watch it below:
Owzat: John Baldwin (New Farnley Cricket Club), Mark Holt (New Farnley Cricket Club), Jane Adams (Stonebridge Beck New Homes Advisor), and Georgina Maud (Rushbond Plc)
Owzat! Developers behind the new Stonebridge Beck residential development in Wortley have agreed a major sponsorship deal with a West Leeds sports club.
Rushbond Plc and Advent Developments have teamed up with New Farnley Cricket Club for the 2023 cricket season, as part of their joint community support programme.
Georgina Maud, speaking on behalf of the developers, said: “The club is located very close to Stonebridge Beck and I am sure it will prove a popular social destination for residents. Not only do they run a number of cricket teams for both adults and juniors, they also have a lovely club house which is open during the week, serving delicious food.”
John Baldwin, Chairman of New Farnley Cricket Club, commented: “I cannot thank Georgina and her colleagues enough for their most generous support. Hopefully the residents will take advantage of all the club has to offer which includes a fully equipped gym.
“As someone who has spent a lifetime in the building industry I have watched the work being carried at Stonebridge Beck with interest. I have to say the whole scheme looks absolutely superb.”
On completion Stonebridge Beck will consist of 112 properties within a unique mill village location offering a choice of mill townhouses, cottages and new build homes. Prices start from £265,000.
The scheme is located on the former Stonebridge Mills site off Stonebridge Lane, next to the ring road.
The most important thing to remember is that by cultivating even the smallest inside windowsill, will lift your mood and add lovely scents and lots of greenery to your home.
So, if you’re looking for a new hobby that will help calm your mind and lift your spirits, give windowsill gardening a go: you’ll soon see, and feel, a real difference.
The other great thing about windowsill gardening is that it costs very little to get started. A used butter tub makes an ideal growing container.
Packets of seeds can be bought in supermarkets for £1 / £1-50 per packet, some even do special offers of three packets for the price of two, a gardening bargain!
If you have a friend or friends who intend to start windowsill gardening then why not share packets of seeds and compost with them to cut costs further.
You could even create your own little gardening club with neighbours or friends. Each person could put a £1 a week in to a “gardening” fund, just three people would generate £12 by the end of the month which enables you to buy compost/pots in bigger packs to save each of you some money.
So after choosing your windowsill, preferably one which gets plenty of sun, decide what you want to grow. Six super and easy to grow herbs are;
Sweet Basil: Basil brings a taste of the Mediterranean to your food! This popular annual herb is fast-growing so will last just one season. Young foliage can be picked as required, avoiding whole stems as this weakens the plant.
Chives: This onion flavoured herb is an easy to grow perennial herb – great for salads! They can be harvested from spring to autumn and will then die down over winter. Shoots will emerge again the following spring.
Rosemary: This woody-stemmed evergreen herb produces tasty leaves that can be harvested year after year. Rosemary can be added to soups, stews and casseroles; whole sprigs can be roasted with root vegetables or sprinkled over Italian breads such as focaccia to add flavour.
Parsley: Parsley is a biennial herb with a two-year life cycle. It is a hungry plant so ensure it is kept well fed and watered. Of the two varieties available, the curly-leaved parsley is commonly used as a garnish or in parsley sauce. Flat-leaved parsley has a stronger taste as is used more widely in Mediterranean recipes.
Thyme: This small leaved evergreen herb will form mounds of edible foliage all year round but it is best to ‘rest’ the plant in winter when it isn’t actively growing. There are many varieties of thyme available with different aromas and uses ranging from soups, sauces and adding to fish and meat dishes.
Lemon Balm: This herb is used in traditional medicine as both a sleep aid and digestive tonic. It can be consumed as a tea, taken as a supplement or extract, or applied to the skin in balms and lotion. Lemon balm essential oil is also popular in aromatherapy, where it is believed to promote calmness and ease stress.
If you decide to use butter tubs to grow your seeds in, then make some drainage holes in the bottom of the tub and place on a saucer or something similar to avoid marking and wetting you sill.
Seed packets now give really clear instructions on how to sow your seeds and watering advice. One thing to always remember is not to fill your tub or pot full to the top, always leave a few centre meters from compost to the top to make watering your plants a lot easier.
To speed seed germination, a great little tip is to place the tub/pot in a clear plastic bag which increases the humidity and encourages your seeds to wake up and get growing. Inside a plastic bag, your seeds will be able to survive as plantsprovide all the “air” they need for their own survival.
Once your plants are growing and you decide to use some of your fresh herbs then remember to never trim more than 1/3 of the plants foliage. Pruning more than that can stress the plant.
If your herbs are flourishing and you want to preserve some for future use then it is really easy. All you need is an ice cube tray:
Always choose the freshest and healthiest looking shoots and wash well before chopping.
If you want to freeze whole leaves place them in the freezer on a baking tray and then put into bags once they have frozen individually
You can replace fresh herbs in recipes with the same amount of frozen herbs.
So there you have the basics of windowsill gardening, hopefully it will inspire you to give it a try and have fun and remember, talking to then helps them grow due to the carbon dioxide we exhale as we speak and if it’s good enough for King Charles to do then it’s good enough for us! Happy gardening.
