West Leeds residents are being warned that overnight closures will be in place on a major connecting route between Horsforth and Rodley roundabouts.
The A6120 Outer Ring Road will be closed for five nights between 8pm and 6am from Monday, February 24 to allow for resurfacing and new road markings. Diversions will be in place.
The work is part of the project to reduce congestion to improve journey times and provide new cycling and walking routes. It is expected to continue periodically until June this year.
Leeds Wood Recycling’s van was stolen on Christmas Eve, de-stabilising income, pausing its environmental mission for reuse. An appeal has been launched ro set them back on track but only has six days to run. Armley resident Charlotte Stanley, who is also manager at Leeds Wood Recycling, details how you can help:
Leeds Wood Recycling is a social enterprise with an environmental and social mission. We have been running for six years, working hard collecting and repurposing waste timber otherwise destined for landfill across Yorkshire, “Doing social good, using your waste wood”.
We employ 13 staff, and work with over 20 volunteers many of whom have been marginalised and had challenges in getting employment. On Christmas Eve one of our vans was stolen from a locked compound, it was a targeted and planned robbery.
The van was a key part of our livelihood, and purchased with a loan for £21000 two years ago. We are awaiting our insurance to payout for the loss of the van. But we know it will not cover the cost of getting a replacement caged van, and certainly won’t cover the lost revenue and staff costs in this period. We need help!
Timber collected by us is reused to change lives, empower, and up-skill volunteers by reducing waste and benefiting the community. Any profits we generate directly benefit the people in West Yorkshire by enabling them to receive free training and employability opportunities, to date we have:
Run specialised work experience programs for adults with learning difficulties and disabilities
Worked with people suffering from isolation and loneliness offering free woodwork training classes
Helped many young people get the much-needed work experience to get them into employment by offering free training, practical skills and work experience.
We have diverted over 43’965 cubic yards from landfill, changing and challenging the “norms” on how industries view waste wood in their industries. We work with construction sites, manufacturing, packaging and domestic customers. Educating businesses and the public in circular economy and reuse.
We have worked with 100’s of amazing volunteers, helping people upskill, connect and thrive into employment, or improve their well being through the empowerment of community.
Pirate Bonnie is a new, music-filled play for young children which is coming to Armley this spring.
The Fidget Theatre production, written and directed by Ruth Cooper and Andrea Heaton, is aimed at would-be pirates aged between four to eight years old and their families.
Pirate Bonnie is looking for treasure – but no ordinary treasure, for she is no ordinary pirate. The treasures she seeks are stories, the long-lost stories of swashbuckling pirates.
Bonnie invites the audience on board her ship to join the crew, set sail and discover treasures. Each treasure recovered is a forgotten legend of a real female pirate.
In typical Fidget Theatre style, the show is warm and witty with original songs and friendly interaction for children and their grown-ups who all become Bonnie’s ship-shape crew.
Pirate Bonnie is on at St Bartholomew’s Church, Armley, Leeds (2pm) on April 5, The Cluntergate Centre, Horbury, (2pm), on April 6, and The Gate at Belle Isle TMO, Leeds, on April 7.
Bramley Mermaids make a splash at Bramley Baths. Photo: Noelle Williamson
Community led Bramley Baths has issued a final appeal for people to support its community shares issue as it seeks to futureproofits Edwardian building.
A ‘raise the roof’ crowdfunder set up to support Bramley Baths in Leeds has enabled the community to own shares of the Grade-II listed facility in Broad Lane.
So far 408 people have become community shareholders as the Grade II Listed Baths hopes to break the 500 shareholders mark as it seeks to raise £350,000.
With only a week left for supporters to donate, people have so far pledged more than £225,000.
A series of improvements have been identified for the building over the next five years, including a full repair of the roof structure.
The building dates back to 1904 and people have just one week left to make a donation to the crowdfunder, with CEO David Wilford appealing for one last push.
He said: “This is the last chance to invest. We thank all our generous shareholders for their kind support and we’d urge people to back our last push to get the £350,000 over the line.
“We have moved from community led to part community owned.”
Built in 1904 in response to a cholera outbreak, Bramley Baths is the last remaining facility of its type in Leeds. The pool was threatened with closure in 2011 as part of cuts at Leeds City Council, but a community organisation took over its running in 2013 and they have successfully run the Baths as a social enterprise over since.
Pioneering paint re-use social enterprise Seagulls is celebrating 20 years helping people to access recycled low-cost paint to redecorate their homes and upcycle their furniture.
The social enterprise started as an idea thought up between two friends around a kitchen table in Burley, about how to support the environment and make a positive difference to the local community.
Fast forward 20 years and the social enterprise has helped provide countless people with work-based training and volunteering opportunities alongside transforming several community spaces in to bright, positive and welcoming places.
These include its current home on Water Lane, The Rainbow of Hope at Leeds City Market and thousands of homes across the city.
Working in partnership with Leeds City Council from the very beginning, the first paint collection container went on to Pudsey Grangefield Waste Recycling Centre in 2005. Since then, Seagulls has:
Recycled over 2,085,889 litres of paint, enough to fill six swimming pools or the weight of 750 elephants!
Provided 4,325 volunteer hours in 2024
Provided over £1million of social impact to Leeds residents in 2024 through volunteering, environmental benefits and cheap paint
Cat Hyde (Seagulls Founder) won the 2023 Social Entrepreneur of the year Award, Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber (SEYH) Awards
Won PWC (National) Social Impact Award 2024
To help reduce the millions of litres of paint that are wasted in the UK each year, Leeds residents can drop off their unused paint in the bright pink Seagulls containers at any of the eight recycling centres around Leeds.
The paint is recycled and can be purchased at a low-price from Seagulls Paint Store at 129 Water Lane.
Cat Hyde, co-founder at Seagulls said: “The last 20 years has been a rollercoaster of a ride, navigating boxing day floods on Kirkstall Road, Covid and the cost of living crisis but we are still here and thriving which is an amazing achievement for Seagulls and worth every moment of celebration.
“I feel extremely proud that we run Seagulls with people and planet at our heart and continue to grow and thrive.’’
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “I’m incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with Seagulls where they’re transforming waste paint into a community resource.
“Seagulls provides a unique service for local people, not only helping to prevent paint being wasted, but also providing important social benefits like training, upcycling workshops and volunteering opportunities.”
If you live in West Leeds, try and get a ticket for Red Riding Hood this weekend.
And if you live in West Leeds and want to get involved in amateur theatre this year, BPTP is a wonderfully welcoming community theatre group full of dedicated, talented, skillful actors, dancers, singers, backstage crew and directing team. And they come back year on year.
Some of the adult cast and crew started when they were children. There are parents and children onstage together!
The co-ordination is incredible and the atmosphere at rehearsals has been so warm – literally, when 40+ people have been working on dance routines! – even if the basement workshop has been a tad nippy this winter… I know about the basement because I transferred from adult ensemble to crew once I realised that I still can’t learn dance routines!
It’s been really satisfying to work on set-painting and some prop-making, and be part of the collective buzz since we moved into Leeds West Academy (half-term!) this week.
Monday: 10am-10.30pm for director, stage and tech crew: lighting and sound rigged, costumes ironed and sorted, set assembled and tested, props placed and character make-up applied, first technical rehearsal at 7.30pm.
Tuesday: A later start for more of the same, checking scene changes, fine-tuning lighting and sound cues, more ironing, adult-only tech.
Wednesday: Final dress and – oh my goodness – you see something develop in church hall rehearsals and discussions and the making and gathering of set, costumes and props on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings from September to February, and then to see it all come together in the final week, with everyone confident, committed and enjoying themselves on stage, backstage and out front – and it works! – it’s marvellous!
Richardshaw Lane in Pudsey crosses Stanningley Bypass. Photo: Google
By John Baron
Councillors in outer West Leeds have praised a report detailing ways to improve travel in the area – and have urged highways officers to ‘get on with it’!
The Leeds Streets for All public consultation last year gathered ideas for improving transport and travel in Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey wards.
It saw people suggest improvements including improved crossings at Stanningley Bypass, safer access at Farsley Farfield School, improved crossings on Whitehall Road, better management of rat running in Calverley and improved cycle routes.
Members of the Outer West Community Committee yesterday heard highways officers detail the findings of the consultation on themes including vehicles and parking, walking and wheeling, cycling, accessing bus stops and rail stations and the street environment.
Most responses were related to vehicles and parking, followed by cycling.
A council report says a local plan with a list of potential interventions can only be developed as funding opportunities from external sources become available.
Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said the ‘comprehensive’ report was ‘spot on’ in terms of issues in Calverley & Farsley.
“It is high time these issues are dealt with where they can be,” he told council highways officers. “Sometimes it’s residents who don’t help themselves.”
He said he was ‘gobsmacked’ by over 200 speeding tickets being recently issued along Farsley Town Street, and pointed to parking issues in other parts of the ward.
“It has taken too ling for police and parking services to start ticketing, but they’ve started now,” Cllr Carter added. “I heard from residents of a big blitz on Peckover Drive and Daleside Road, people were perhaps parked from a certain establishment blocking people’s driveways – it’s not acceptable. It shows no courtesy whatsoever.”
He pointed to an increase in rat running in Calverley. “We need you to come back with resolutions to deal with these issues. Constituents are getting fed up. This is a great report, but what we want is action.”
Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said there was a clear cluster of responses around rat running in Calverley. He suggested some issues could be done quite cheaply, for instance parking issues connected to Farsley Fairfield Primary School ‘could be done with a bit of re-lining’.
He added: “Just a bit of money could sort some of these issues out. What funding is available to start some of these?”
A highways officer said there was no specific funding allocated to many of the issues flagged in the consultation, but information was being fed into the highways department’s forward plan for action.
Cllr Trish Smith (Ind, Pudsey) raised issues with the recent changes to Pudsey town centre traffic lights which – as reported by WLD – had caused ‘chaos’ for motorists, public transport, pedestrians and shopkeepers, and had led to rat running elsewhere.
She said: “It’s all very well doing things, but where’s the ripple? It’s important to remember this when we are doing things.”
And Cllr Smith also raised concerns with parking outside schools.
Cllr David Blackburn (Green, Farnley & Wortley) said he was happy to see the lack of cycling on the Ring Road being flagged. He added: “People are getting fed up with being asked to come up with suggestions and then nothing happening. We need to get on with it.”
He also called on the council to enforce existing yellow lines and parking regulations.
Cllr Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley) raised concerns that his ward had no cycling infrastructure at all, along with Pudsey.
And Cllr Simon Seary (Cons, Pudsey) wanted the consultation run throughout the year to allow people to report ongoing problems.
A total of 1,164 relevant comments from the consultation were analysed in the report.
A potential list of improvement schemes drawn up by officers includes:
Some, such as the Pudsey town centre traffic lights, had already seen action taken.
The Outer West Community Committee is made up of nine councillors from three wards: Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey. It has four Labour, three Conservative, one independent and one Green councillor.
The agenda and council officer reports can be read in full here. The meeting was held at Leeds Civic Hall.
Councillors have welcomed a reduction in the number of residential burglaries in Calverley and Farsley, with one member saying: “It’s good to see figures are going in the right direction”.
The number of residential burglaries in both Calverley & Farsley and Pudsey wards have gone down, although there was a rise reported in Farnley & Wortley ward.
But councillors at yesterday’s Outer West Community Committee heard Calverley and Farsley had 13 reported burglaries in the past six weeks, which was down five on the previous six-week period.
Councillor Craig Timmins (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) was encouraged to see a fall in residential burglaries both in the past six weeks and year on year.
He said: “It’s good to see some of the police initiatives around awareness coming through. Although it is early days, it is good to see progress on this.”
Cllr Timmins raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and asked for police to name specific hotspots, which would enable targeted work to take place.
Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said: “It is good to see a number of crime indicators moving back in the right direction – as we discussed last time, the figures were completely unacceptable in terms of residential burglaries.”
He said anti-social behaviour was a concern, particularly later in the evening in Farsley.
“I know police are feeling somewhat pressurised in terms of their ability to move quickly on anti-social behaviour,” Cllr Carter added. “But it’s something we will watching very carefully.
“We’ve made huge strides over the years in improving the experience for shoppers, diners, drinkers and young people and we don’t want to see this jeopardised by – and I don’t want to overstate this – a few incidents which leave me slightly concerned. I’d like to see action taken.”
Business burglaries in Calverley & Farsley included four offences occurred just off Rodley Town Street, near to the Aire Valley Tow Path.
Meeting chair Cllr Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley) also raised concerns about robberies across the outer west area.
Cllr McCluskey also mentioned concerns over the 15 additional burglaries in Farnley and Wortley ward.
In Pudsey residential burglaries had deceased by eight on the previous six weeks, although there had been an increase in commercial burglaries including three offences targeting pubs.
The Outer West Community Committee is made up of nine councillors from three wards: Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey. It has four Labour, three Conservative, one independent and one Green councillor.
The agenda and council officer reports can be read in full here. The meeting was held at Leeds Civic Hall.
Junction of Peckover Drive and Bradford Road. Google image
By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
Concerns have been raised over the proposed location of an “intrusive” mobile phone mast.
Telecoms firm Cornerstone is seeking permission from the council for a 20m pole in Pudsey.
The firm, which provides equipment for mobile companies including Vodafone, proposed a new mast at the junction of Peckover Drive and Bradford Road.
The 5G mast, along with antennas, a transmission dish and equipment cabinets, would be fitted on the pavement near a Morrisons store and Lala’s restaurant.
A planning report by Cornerstone said Calverley and Farsley councillors were consulted on the proposal.
Conservative member Andrew Carter responded, saying he was not happy with the position of the mast.
He said: “It is, in my view, too near the private residences and as such is highly visually intrusive. I would prefer that you look for a more appropriate location.”
Cornerstone said a thorough search of the area found the site was away from the view of residential properties.
The report said: “We strongly believe this is the best siting option in a very limited search area.”
The company said an upgrade was needed of an existing telecoms mast on the corner of Sunnybank Lane and Bradford Road.
The report said: “On that basis, a second streetworks pole is required to meet Vodafone’s 4G and 5G coverage requirements in this area.”
Leeds City Council is considering Cornestone’s application, which can be viewed in full here.
A public consultation into a proposed mass transit system has shown a line running via Armley and Stanningley is the marginally preferred option to link Leeds and Bradford.
A report from West Yorkshire Combined Authority shows more than two thirds of people surveyed last year are supportive of plans to create a tram system between Leeds and Bradford.
All three Leeds to Bradford Line options would run through West Leeds.
Line B1 (running from Leeds city centre via Armley, Stanningley, Thornbury and Laisterdyke, before arriving in Bradford city centre) had 55% of respondents supporting or tending to support it.
B2 (via Laisterdyke, Pudsey and Wortley) had 52%.
and B3, (via Laisterdyke, Pudsey and Armley) had 48%.
Feedback on the Armley, Stanningley and Thornbury route included some saying the route suits them personally, with others saying the route was not needed as there are already adequate public transport options. Concerns were raised over traffic congestion.
In terms of opposition, all three West Leeds options saw similar proportions of respondents opposing, or tending to oppose (B1 – 30%, B2 – 33%, B3 – 31%).
These are the findings of the consultation:
The feedback will help the Combined Authority select its preferred scheme later this year, before consulting on a detailed version of the preferred route early next year.
The findings from the consultation will be considered alongside several other factors including the findings on environmental surveys, further engagement with stakeholders and feasibility analysis.
The route options consultation for phase one of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit scheme took place in during summer and autumn 2024, and saw 4,845 individuals and organisations have their say on plans for the region’s biggest proposed infrastructure project in decades.
Respondents said improving connections with residential areas, reducing traffic congestion and providing quick journey times were the most important outcomes for a mass transit network.
Mayor Tracy Brabin
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “The public has emphatically told us: ‘we want mass transit!’ This is our region’s biggest infrastructure project in decades and will help us deliver on the growth mission to put more money in people’s pockets.
“It is time to deliver a tram for the people of West Yorkshire and get spades in the ground by 2028.”
The University of Bradford has also given its backing to the Leeds-Bradford line. Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon said: “We wholeheartedly support plans for a clean, quick, reliable mass transit system, particularly one that connects Leeds and Bradford.
“Such a scheme will benefit students, workers, businesses and residents. It will help reduce carbon emissions and congestions, it will kickstart growth and entrepreneurialism and ultimately boost local, regional and national economies.” The report follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s recent growth speech, during which she spoke of government’s commitment to support the West Yorkshire Mass Transit scheme.
More than three quarters surveyed in last year’s consultation also supported a proposed line from St James’s Hospital to the White Rose Centre.
Over the coming months, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will continue to undertake environmental and technical assessments, while continuing to engage with:
Landowners affected by proposals.
Communities, including targeted engagement with underrepresented groups.
Leeds and Bradford councils, the Department for Transport and other statutory organisations.
Wortley Football Club is among the community organisations in Outer West Leeds to have received council funding.
Councillors on the Outer West Community Committee agreed to provide £10,000 towards building a clubhouse on the top plateau of the grounds off Blue Hill Lane.
The club – where Premier League midfielder Kalvin Phllips started out – is putting £80,000 of its own money in and aims to become more financially sustainable through hosting its teams with matchday hospitality and end of season presentations.
Work on the new facilities is due to start in March.
Meeting chair Cllr Adrian McCluskey said the facility would be a ‘bonus’ to the people of Farnley and Wortley and paid tribute to the club as a ‘long-established local resource’.
Cllr Kate Haigh (Lab, Farnley & Wortley) also added her support, with Cllr David Blackburn (Green, Farnley & Wortley) adding: “They have come a long way since taking on the management of that land.”
The money was originally granted last year, but has been resubmitted.
Farsley Farfield.
Farsley Fairfield parking
The committee also supported an application to buy eight ‘parking buddies’ safety signs for Farsley Farfield Primary School to deter dangerous parking outside the school.
Calverley & Farsley councillors Peter Carlill (Lab) and Andrew Carter (Cons) both spoke in favour of the £1,688 funding from the council’s communities team.
The outer west community committee is made up of nine councillors from three wards: Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey. It has four Labour, three Conservative, one independent and one Green councillor.
The meeting was moved from original venue Farnley Hall to Leeds Civic Hall earlier today.
West Leeds residents are being urged to have their say on a scheme to improve safety on busy Leeds and Bradford Road in Bramley.
The scheme follows safety concerns from motorists and residents about speeding and safety on the road.
A package of proposed improvements includes:
30mph speed limit on Leeds and Bradford Road, Eric Street through to Intake Lane/Swinnow Lane junction.
Proposed central hatching to reduce vehicle speeds.
Widening of footways and reduction of carriageway width at the existing zebra crossing adjacent to the junction with Broadlea Hill.
New pedestrian islands adjacent at either side of the junction with Fall Park Court, in between existing bus stops adjacent to the junction with Eric Street, and at the junction with Calverley Lane to provide safe crossing facilities to access bus stops.
Upgrading the Belisha Beacons to full local lighting system with mid-mount beacons.
Widening of existing pedestrian islands, to improve access to local amenities particularly for wheelchair/pushchair users.
Widening of footway at the junction of Newlay Lane to reduce crossing distances for pedestrians.
Proposed on-street parking bays in key locations where parking currently occurs, often partially on the footway.
The extension of double yellow lines from Rock Lane to bus stop at junction with Whitecote Lane/Rodley Lane.
Installation of a right turn lane on approach to junction with Intake Lane / Swinnow Lane.
A council spokesperson said: “These proposals have been prepared to improve road safety along the route, and to address local concerns that have been raised about the length of road.”
No locations scored highly enough for consideration of formal pedestrian crossings.
Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley ward)
Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) has called on highways officers to extend the 30mph speed limit to the full length of the road.
He said: “For consistency it is better to have one speed limit on the road, so little point in switching to 40mph for the section after Bramley Falls park.”
He said officers should ensure there are functioning dropped kerbs at all junctions along the road, and added: “Are there any interventions possible to stop the forbidden right turn from Leeds and Bradford Road into the one way section of Rock Lane?
“I witnessed such an action this week, it is people trying to avoid the traffic lights at Whitecote Hill and occurs too often for my comfort. My feeling from feedback and personal observations little has changed, apart from the day a camera survey was installed.
He also urged them to look at opportunities for a pedestrian island near Whitecote Lane/Coppy Lane, and does not support the extension of double yellow lines towards the bus stop near Upper Rodley Lane
Cllr Ritchie has urged people to submit their thoughts and feedback on the scheme to Jonas.Nassau@leeds.gov.uk.
