Kirkstall Village Action Group is kick-starting a year of activities with a community spring fare later this month.
The event will run on Saturday, 26 March from 11am to 2pm at St Stephen’s Church Hall on Norman Street and will feature refreshments, brac-a-brac and gifts, toys, clothes, books, healthy and beauty and plants, among others.
Kirkstall Village Action Group secretary Melanie Robbins said:
“With things getting back to ‘normal’ now we thought we’d try kickstarting the comeback with a bit of a coffee morning to get people together and chatting face to face again, whilst at the same time doing a bit of fundraising for the group.
“We are still organising the Christmas lights in Kirkstall, which were a much-needed distraction during lockdown, but we also have some other projects to get going again. There will be a few stalls and some free kids. colouring activities, where they can make a mothers’ day or Easter card.”
Our latest issue looks at the rising cost of living and what it means to people, as well as putting the focus on the work of food bank volunteers across West Leeds.
We also put the spotlight on our new community newsroom in Bramley, look at the importance of Swinnow Community Centre, and feature campaigns to get more people playing bowls in Stanningley Park and West Leeds Rugby League Club’s bid to create a new community facility in Armley – and more!
We’ve also got some super columnists lined up. Amanda Truman from Farsley’s Truman Books reviews the latest novels, Zulfi Hussein from Deeva Restaurant provides a tasty recipe, Anne Akers is back on her Calverley allotment and Rodley’s Mark Stevenson has a bumper Mark’s History page.
There are also money-saving tips from the ‘auld git’ in our 12-page paper, which sees contributions from 18 of our fabulous community reporters.
Here’s where you can pick up a copy:
Armley
Armley Helping Hands, Strawberry Lane Community Centre
New Wortley Community Centre, Tong Road
Armley Community Hub, Stocks Hill
Clowns Hairdressers, Gelder Road
Bramley
Bramley Baths, Broad Lane
Broadlea Community Centre, Broadlea Hill
The Villagers Community Club, Broad Lane
Bramley Community Centre, Waterloo Lane
Bramley Lawn, off Rossefield Approach
Bramley parkrun/Junior parkrun
Bramley Community Hub
Burley
Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, Flexspace, Burley Road
Seagulls, Kirkstall Road
Calverley
Calverley Arms, Calverley Lane
Calverley Post Office, Carr Road – from Thursday
Calverley Library, Thornhill Street – from Thursday
Farnley
Farnley Community Centre, Cross Lane
New Farnley Community Centre, Low Moor Side
Farsley
Truman Books, Town Street
Deeva, Town Street
The Constitutional – from Friday
Kirkstall
West End House, Abbey Road
Station Diner, Kirkstall Lane
Butler’s, Kirkstall Forge
Kirkstall Leisure Centre
Pudsey
Pudsey Community Hub/library
Pudsey Wellbeing Centre
Pudsey House
Pudsey Leisure Centre
Swinnow Community Centre (from Wednesday)
… and more to be announced.
We have a small number of papers left, e-mail us at news@westleedsdispatch.com if your business/community organisation can help us distribute it.
Community reporters graduating after successfully completing a course in New Wortley.
Want to help tell the story of your community? Time is running out if you’d like to join our free community reporters’ training course.
The friendly and informal course runs over SIX sessions and offers a fun introduction to writing articles, taking photos, making videos and basic podcasting – as well as offering wider help and guidance on everything you need to know to be a community reporter. We can even help with spelling and grammar!
The West Leeds Dispatch community newsroom is based at Bramley Lawn. Photo: John Baron/westleedsdispatch.com
Our free course is aimed at beginners and runs over SIX, two-hour sessions. There will be lots of tea, coffee, cake and biscuits – and it looks great on your CV as you will learn transferable skills you can take into employment or studying.
It’s running in our new community newsroom, based at Bramley Lawn Social Centre, on Thursday evening (17 March 2022), from 7pm.
Plans for a new supported housing development on the derelict site of a former pub off Cockshott Lane in Armley have been given final approval following a long-running planning saga.
The proposals were first submitted almost two years ago, with developers wanting to build 11 new three-bed houses. There would also be two blocks of supported living housing, made up of four one-bed bungalows and 13 one-bed flats with a one-bed staff flat.
The plans are on the site of the former Wyther Hotel Public House, which was demolished in 2004. The site is subject to anti-social behaviour, including fly-tipping and drug dealing. The back section of the site is a former bowling green, which is also now unused and overgrown.
Councillors approved the plans in principle last July, subject to a raft of conditions. But it’s taken until this week for council officers to approved the final plans.
Conditions include a £25,888 greenspace off-site contribution from the developer MD Construction, as well as the safeguarding of trees on the site.
Various forms of the plans have been in the pipeline for around two years, and had attracted six objections from local people – with some citing problems around fly tipping, the potential removal of trees and concerns around construction traffic.
A Leeds builder who helped set up a thriving online network of tens of thousands of tradespeople is campaigning to get police across the country to take theft from vans more seriously.
Liz Gribbin is one of the leading lights behind the Builders’ Talk Group, which is a trade group run by builders, for builders, to offer general support and advice and help people who are in crisis or who are struggling with their mental health.
Along with similar groups for plasterers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and decorators, the Facebook-based groups have than 130,000 members.
And Mrs Gribbin, 49, who originally hails from Pudsey, is now tackling a campaign to get the police to take theft from vans as a more serious crime due to the impact it can have on tradespeople’s lives and their mental health.
She said:
“A lot of the guys work for themselves, they have no support network behind them and no-one to talk to. That’s why we’ve set the groups and the website up, to offer that support.
“People tend to forget they’re just people trying to do their best and provide for the family. When someone steals £6,000 of equipment by breaking into your van it’s like someone removing both your hands. You’ve essentially lost your livelihood, particularly if you’re not insured.
“The stress and worry is overwhelming and a lot of the guys simply can’t afford to replace them. At the end of the day they’re just normal guys, human beings. I’ve known it lead to relationship breakdowns and attempted suicide, particularly if the insurance doesn’t pay out.
“Getting your house broken into is bad enough, but in many respects this is even worse. The difference with van break ins is that the police won’t turn up for two days, if at all in most cases, you can’t leave your van vulnerable while they decide whether to follow it up or not. This is something we are trying to change.”
Mrs Gribbin has spoken to Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew to enlist his support, and he has provided help and advice to her campaign.
Forty three police and crime commissioners across the country have been contacted, positive responses from some, leading to online conversations.
She is hopeful of making some progress and added:
“We want the crimes to be taken more seriously based on the impact they have. They tend to get lumped in with theft from vehicle, but it’s nowhere near the same thing as having your sat nav stolen. I’m hopeful we can make some progress.
“People don’t always understand how difficult the job is, and I hope this is raising awareness.”
The Facebook groups continue to support a number of builders who have experienced mental health difficulties, with members often supporting each other when they need help. The builders’ group was first set up seven years ago when her husband George set up a plasterers’ group and it took off.
The network now includes Facebook groups and a website featuring tips, advice, business coaching and more. Much of this is paid for by Mrs Gribbin, who now lives in Rawdon.
Farsley Celtic picked up what could prove to be a valuable point as they drew 0-0 away at Alfreton Town.
The Celts had the clearest chances, Dave Syers hitting the crossbar in the latter stages of the match, but a point apiece was probably a fair reflection of the 90 minutes.
It was the hosts who were on the front foot early on, but the Reds were unable to trouble Kyle Trenerry in the Farsley goal. Bailey Hobson flashed an effort wide on the break, whilst an audacious long-range effort from Dayle Southwell drifted just past the upright.
Midway through the opening period, Farsley had the biggest opportunity to break the deadlock as Dave Syers won a flick on to send Will Hayhurst bearing down on goal; however, he was unable to get the ball out of his feet for a shot, attempted to round the ‘keeper, and could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
The final action of the first 45 saw Trenerry called into action for the first time, standing strong to palm away a powerful strike from Southwell.
The opening to the second half was a scrappy affair, with Farsley forced to adjust after Jerome Greaves (injury) and Luke Parkin (illness) were both forced off, after 45 minutes and an hour respectively.
But the big chance for the visiting Celts would arrive with 15 minutes remaining; Sam Walker whipped in a dangerous cross from the left, and Dave Syers outjumped the hosts’ defence but could only guide his header onto the crossbar.
Farsley could have been left to rue that missed opportunity as Alfreton had late chances of their own, Trenerry making an important stop low down to Matt Rhead, whilst Conor Branson struck a first-time volley over the bar from 10 yards out.
Ultimately, both sides will have been left feeling like they could have won the game; but for Farsley, it was the first point away from home, and the first clean sheet, since the goalless draw with Guiseley on January 2.
Farsley manager Russ Wilcox said it was a fair result, but lamented his side’s inability to convert their chances:
This group of indoor skaters are on the 'roll' in Farsley.
By Michelle Corns
A team of volunteers have set up family friendly skating sessions at Farsley Celtic Football Club.
Last year West Leeds Dispatch brought you the story of the Armley Park skaters– which proved very popular. The article highlighted the plight of there being nowhere decent to skate in the area. After the article was published, WLD was flooded with e-mails and social media requests about how to join in.
In the winter months, the weather made it even more difficult to skate outdoors so a small group of skaters from Armley Park recently set up skating sessions at Bramley Community Centre. This ran for four weeks on a Wednesday evening, but it was quickly obvious that they needed a much bigger space. The spaces were full to capacity within minutes of the booking going online!
Some of the skaters at Farsley Celtic. Organiser Susan Cunningham is second from the left
There was capacity for skating at Farsley Celtic FC, so sessions now running 4-6pm at The Nest with a separate area for children and beginners.
With the help of Bramley councillor Kevin Ritchie, the volunteers have been able to obtain a small grant from Leeds Community Fund, which has enabled them to buy better equipment such as the large trolley speaker to play music in such a large space.
The sessions cost just £5 for adults and £3 for children. The initial idea came from skate enthusiast, Susan Cunningham, from Farsley. Susan said:
“I really wanted to get this going because there wasn’t anywhere to skate indoors in West Leeds and particular over winter.
“It’s been a whirlwind, everything happens so fast. We have been inundated with requests for skating, and had lots of support from members of the public and particularly local councillors.
“We soon realised that we needed a bigger venue and its been working really well at Farsley Celtic and huge thanks to the volunteer team as there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. It’s been a pleasure to bring so much joy to people, there is a huge friendly skate community within Leeds West now.
“It’s happened so fast we haven’t even had time to reflect. It’s been constant! The staff at Farsley have been fantastic and really welcoming. The first week was when the storms hit, and it didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. They still came along.”
One of the attractions of roller skating is that it is a fun activity that parents can join in as well.
Once the initial layout for skates and protective equipment has been made, it is an inexpensive hobby to maintain. Parents often accompany their children and end up buying skates themselves.
One such parent is Michelle Gittens, from Armley, who joins her daughter for skating sessions. Michelle said:
“The Leeds West Rollers group has given myself and my daughter the opportunity to learn a new skills (and bond over a new love) in a safe and friendly environment. Being local and indoors, gives us the option to still get out and do activities during the winter months.
“The session enables us to have fun with friends and feel part of a community. With support from the more experienced skaters, we can advance our skills each week. The combination of exercise, socialising and having fun, provides both of us with physical and mental health benefits.”
You can read all about the mental and physical benefits of roller skating in the previous article.
Another regular skater, Paulette Earl, who is also from Armley, added:
“Skating is my life. It makes me feel so happy and I’ve made so many friends through skating. Farsley (FC) is an amazing place to skate and meet other skaters. The hall space is massive – I love it. I look forward to my Sunday skate.”
She further praised the people behind the event, adding: “The volunteers are doing an amazing job with all the organising.”
As well as organising skating sessions, the volunteers are also raising money for charity. The sessions at Bramley Community Centre raised £80 for the Invisible Pain Theatre Company– a West Leeds-based community theatre group who support people with mental health issues.
There are plans for a roller fundraiser on 20 March, to raise money for Ukrainians who are fleeing from the Russian Invasion.
A police update, a briefing on planning applications and the latest on plans to create new wooded areas in Armley are on the agenda of the latest Armley Forum meeting.
The Armley Forum will be held on Tuesday, 15 March at 5pm via Zoom and all Armley residents are cordially invited to attend the meeting, which will be chaired by councillor Alice Smart (Lab, Armley).
Victoria Mills is on Stanningley Road. Photo: Google
Part of one of the last remaining 19th century industrial mill buildings on Stanningley Road is set to become flats, after Leeds council planners approved the proposals.
The building towards the back of the former Victoria Foundry will be turned into five one-bedroom flats by applicant Noreen Khan.
A planning officer’s report approving the plans states:
“Its architecture, materials and detailing set it apart from other adjacent buildings and it offers visual interest within its setting and is a building that was responsive to the industrial boom in the area during the C19 and one of the few remaining industrial buildings from that period within the area.”
The report concludes:
“It is considered that the proposed development will not result in any adverse highway impacts, contamination or flooding risks and the noise implications in this location would not be harmful to future or existing residents or existing neighbours.”
The proposals offer no dedicated parking but planning officers said there are seven parking spots in the courtyard and the flats were in a sustainable location, close to transport links.
An adjoining part of the building already has permission to be converted into 12 flats.
