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Airport rail station “too far away”, claims Calverley & Farsley councillor

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Andrew Carter Calverley and Farsley
Cllr Andrew Carter

A Calverley & Farsley councillor has claimed a planned rail station serving Leeds Bradford Airport would be “too far” from the site, writes Richard Beecham.

Updated plans to revamp transport links to the airport and nearby sites – including a new road and a “parkway” airport rail station near the western edge of Cookridge – were unveiled by Leeds City Council last month.

However, the leader of the authority’s Conservatives group Coun Andrew Carter has complained those using the station would have to complete their journey by shuttle bus and called for more “ambitious” solutions.

And another senior politician complained that more help was needed from rail operators to increase the capacity enough to accommodate airport-goers.

Coun Carter told the council’s executive board this afternoon:

“I want to see an ambitious proposal come forward that, at its heart, has environmental protection, but also looks at how we can reduce congestion.

“It seems that the parkway station as proposed is too far away from the airport. It means you have to then change your mode of transport to a bus.

“We need to look at how we can somehow engineer the station to be nearer the airport, and how we can, ambitiously, with public money, get people from that station to the airport with a modern means of transport.

“We really have to think out of the box here – there are conflicting agendas and it’s a balancing act.

“I would hope we can also view this in the wider context of transport in the city region as a whole.

“If money is available in large amounts – and I think it is going to be – we have to be as ambitious as we possibly can and wrap into it as many of the issues we face as we can, and that includes access to the airport.”

The proposals for the new station would see the facility sit on the harrogate line, well over a mile away from the airport terminal.

Council leader Judith Blake (Lab) said:

“Ambition is something we’ve expressed repeatedly to secretaries of state and this is one of the areas that has generated a lot of interest from the department for transport.

“Detractors will talk about change of mode in terms of negative and old-fashioned technology, but we have the opportunity to do something special here.

“The airport is important as an employment hub as well – there are a number of jobs there, and that has to be taken into consideration.

“It’s early days to come forward with the detail but we are all very keen to make sure we do make progress on this and have a much better network of transport in that part of the city.”

Leeds Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Stewart Golton (Rothwell) said:

“I’m not sure Coun Carter’s interjection is particularly helpful, just saying ‘we want something ambitious’, but not saying what ambition looks like.

“Everyone wants to see more people get into the station by train, but the current service being promised by the rail operator is not fit for purpose for delivering the modal shift that we want.

“I would like to know if any talks are due to take place with Northern Rail to discuss whether they can introduce more frequent services and longer trains to accommodate the extra demand we hope to achieve on this line.

“If we’re not going to have the surface access changes we were intending, and the airport is still intending to grow, then the current congested transport in the area is due to double in the next 10 years.

“When would local residents get to see what the alternative is for managing that?”

A council officer responded:

“We are fully engaged with Northern and Network Rail. But, as we all know, the industry at the moment is in considerable turmoil in terms of what is being delivered.

“We believe there remains an ambition to increase frequencies of services on the Harrogate Line – not at this present moment in time, but a significant increase in the train service in the short to the medium term.

“There is an ambition for further investment in the Harrogate line to bring it up to the standard of some of the other lines – we are not in a place at the moment where we can do that, but we are pushing for investment.”

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Have your say on A647 bus priority corridor work at Armley drop-in event

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A public drop-in event will be held later this month in Armley regarding the A647 bus priority corridor, which includes the controversial conversion of Stanningley Road’s two-plus lane into a bus lane, writes Keely Bannister.

Being held at Armley’s Wesley Road Chapel on Wednesday 29th January, the event will start at 3pm until 8pm.

The scheme – which is due to begin construction in February 2020 with works scheduled to last until Spring 2021- includes:

  • New bus lanes, parking restrictions and new crossings to the section of the A647 between Bradford Border to Dawsons Corner;  
  • Traffic signal upgrades with buses given priority at junctions between Dawsons Corner and Bramley Town End Roundabout; 
  • The conversion of Stanningley Road’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (two-plus lane) into a bus lane, apart from a section between Cockshott Lane and Armley Ridge Road during peak periods to maintain existing on-street parking provision for residents, as well as the extension of the bus lane linking up Bramley Town End roundabout; 
  • Cockshott Lane and Armley Ridge Road junction changes along Stanningley Road and the creation of a new crossing at Redcote Lane;  
  • Changes at the Ledgard Way/Armley Road (Mike Carpet’s) junction with a reduction in the movements allowed between 11am and 7pm, with changes to Pickering Street to help accommodate more traffic movements as a result; and  
  • A reduction of Branch Road to a single lane allowing widening of the footway and tree planting.

Residents are invited to learn more about the project as well as details of construction activities.

Conversion of Stanningley Road’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lane has proved unpopular with 50% of respondents to a consultation on the plans giving negative feedback. Armley ward councillors also expressed concerns over congestion.

Calverley & Farsley ward councillors, Amanda and Andrew Carter, have previously expressed concerns over the changes. Councillor Amanda Carter is worried about the impact on residents living adjacent to the scheme, stating:

“I have no doubt this will inconvenience residents.  No longer will they be able to park outside their home, instead displacing others from their parking spots.  Where do we end up? Residents permits that are a hassle and an inconvenience for residents and visitors alike?

“It is good that the council is looking to invest in our local road network but we are far from certain that this is the right approach.”

Fellow councillor Andrew Carter thinks the changes will have a detrimental impact on the climate emergency which the council declared in March 2019, explaining:

“We understand the aim of this scheme and, of course, I would like to see much quicker journey times for Calverley and Farsley residents in and out of Leeds.

“However, the city is still promoting an outdated mode of transport and I am yet to be convinced that reducing capacity for cars on the road network in West Leeds will actually deliver against the ambition to cut congestion.

“I have said on many occasions that there is no ambition in the city’s future transport plans – will this proposal allow us to move forward to an innovative, but deliverable mass-transit solution that will attract more passengers and persuade residents to leave their cars at home? I think not.”

However, Councillor Lisa Mulherin – who holds executive responsibility for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development – hit back at the Carters’ criticisms, saying:

“Making bus journeys faster and much more reliable is crucial to creating a shift from people using cars to buses.

“The A647 sees bus delays that impact on people’s lives, making it hard to get to work on time, make important appointments or plan journeys with any kind of reliability. This scheme will make a positive difference to people travelling by bus.

“This scheme underwent significant consultation and looked to address residents’ and business concerns over parking as much as possible while still making the very necessary improvements to the corridor.

“Many sections of bus lane will be restricted to peak hours only to allow for resident and business parking on the highway outside of these hours, including in Calverley and Farsley.”

People who are unable to attend the drop-in event, and who would like further information are invited to register for updates by visiting the Connecting Leeds website.

Alternatively, people can contact Connecting Leeds by e-mailing connectingleeds@leeds.gov.uk, calling 0113 222 4407 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or searching @connectingleeds on social media.

Bin collections: West Leeds streets in experiment to improve service

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Leeds Civic Hall.

Parts of of Armley and Farnley & Wortley wards are to be included in an experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to remove “obstructive and indiscriminative” parking stopping waste collection crews from doing their jobs, writes Keely Bannister.

Leeds City Council’s decision making Executive Board will decide tomorrow (Tuesday 7th January) whether to progress the scheme, which would see formal waiting restrictions applied in locations where inconsiderate parking results in refuse collection wagons being unable to secure safe passage and fail to empty residents’ bins.

A council report states:

“There is a significant problem across the city whereby vehicle passage into and along streets is being restricted due to inconsiderate parking, whether that be along the street itself or on corners of the entrances to that street meaning larger vehicles cannot turn into the street.  

“This is having a significant impact on the delivery of refuse services, evidenced by an increasing level of contact to the Council and Ward Members, as residents report missed, scheduled collections.  

“Access issues are also impacting service resources, both in terms of the need for front line crews to return to locations to recover bins, and supervisory/back office resources to deal with enquiries/complaints.”

The report also explained what an experimental order involves:

“An experimental order is used where the need for traffic management measures has been identified but there is a need to test the proposals to determine whether the scheme provides the desired solution. 

“In this instance the experimental order will allow the Council to address the identified problems at the multiple locations across the city as opposed to the police, whose finite resources wouldn’t be capable of dealing with the city wide problems.”

A mapping exercise was carried out in 2019 to locate where bin collections were being repeatedly missed due to access issues for refuse services with around 200 locations being identified across the city in 13 electoral wards.

The 13 wards suggested to be included are: Ardsley & Robin Hood, Armley, Beeston and Holbeck, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, Chapel Allerton, Farnley & Wortley, Gipton & Harehills, Horsforth, Hunslet & Riverside, Middleton Park, Morley North, Morley South and Weetwood.

The 200 individual locations were then presented to local councillors ward-by-ward for their input and knowledge. 

Lasting for 18 months, locations will be added/removed/amended from the order as it is put into practice.

The report states that consultation will be carried out with affected residents including leaflet drops and statutory notices.

It is envisaged that the scheme will be implemented by May 2020 for £25,000 or around £1,900 per ward based on the current list of 13 electoral wards to be included. 

Missed rubbish collections have long been a source of concern in West Leeds.

Cllr Amanda Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) voiced concerns over issues residents living in Calverley, Farsley and Rodley were experiencing last summer saying there was an “epidemic” of missed bin collections which was “unacceptable”.

Fellow councillor Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said that the missed collections were due to staff shortages.

Calverley & Farsley councillor Andrew Carter sits on the Executive Board as a representative for the Conservative Party.

You can read the full report here.

Building work to start in July on bus priority scheme

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number 42 bus
Photo: FirstBus

Construction on a bus priority scheme which aims to make some West Leeds services six minutes quicker during peak times, looks set to begin in July 2020, writes Keely Bannister.

A report to the council’s decision-making executive board on Tuesday, 7 January will seek approval to spend £13.9m to carry out detailed design and construction of the A58 Beckett Street scheme.

The scheme aims to improve the reliability of the 4, 4G, 16, 16a, 42, 49, 50 and 50a bus services, all of which run through West Leeds.

If agreed at the meeting, the changes will see improvements to Beckett Street north and south of the junction with Lincoln Green Road, including:

  • The southern section widened to accommodate a new section of bus lane outbound and a bi-directional cycleway on the eastern side of the carriageway. This is achieved by widening into the existing highways verge to the west with no loss of space for existing traffic.   
  • The northern section is widened to accommodate new bus lanes outbound and inbound and continuing the new bi-directional segregated cycle facility along the eastern side of the carriageway where it terminates at Museum St. This is achieved by widening into existing highways verge on both sides and adjacent verge on the eastern side with no loss of space for existing traffic.  
  • Outside St James University Hospital the existing Leeds City Council car parks are being altered at a cost of 9 spaces to provide more space to accommodate improved bus stop facilities and an improved pedestrian environment.  

Consultation on detailed designs for the improvements took place in July and August 2019, with 72% of respondents feeling either positive or slightly positive about the proposed changes to the route, 16% feeling slightly negative or negative and a further 12% feeling neutral about the proposals.

Construction – which is expected to be completed in March 2021 – will see some overlap with ongoing work in the city centre that has led to buses getting snarled in traffic at peak times and struggling to run on time.

As detailed in the report, the scheme is predicted to have a positive impact on the climate emergency that Leeds City Council declared in March 2019, stating:

“By improving bus journey times and reliability, and improving facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, these schemes are anticipated to encourage modal shift from private car to bus and cycling. 

“This is expected to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The anticipated reduction in car usage will also have a beneficial impact on air quality, linking in with the proposed CAZ boundaries and its operation of reducing nitrogen oxide particles.”

The A58 Beckett Street scheme is estimated to generate 48,000 new bus trips annually, and the A58 York Street scheme 15,600 new trips annually as a result of improvements in bus journey time and reliability.

Connecting Leeds comprises a programme of funding of £270 million to be invested in a number of public transport schemes across Leeds. 

Funding for Connecting Leeds comprises money from the Department for Transport (following the cancellation of the Leeds trolleybus scheme) alongside the council, Combined Authority, bus operators and developers.  

As The Dispatch has previously reported, Connecting Leeds schemes need to be “substantially completed” by 20/21 or risk losing their funding.

You can view the report on the scheme here.

Detailed plans for next phase of Kirkstall Forge development submitted – UPDATED

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kirkstall forge 1
There are plans for a new office block next to Number One.

Detailed plans for two eight-storey office blocks and a multi-storey car park have been submitted for the £400 million Kirkstall Forge site.

The second phase of commercial development, currently occupied by a temporary car park, will be to the west of the existing Number One office block.

It will provide the remaining 200,000 sqft of Grade “A” office space for the site as well as a multi-storey car park. It also includes leisure/retail space on the ground floor.

The Stitch public square area will run between the new buildings and the Number One block.

A design and access statement submitted to Leeds City Council by developers CEG said:

“The design proposals for this site have been developed in full consultation with Leeds City Council Planning Department.

“During the detailed design process, several pre-application discussions have been held with Leeds City Council where the scheme design has been discussed in detail and the submission of a Reserved Matters Application as currently proposed has been welcomed. “

The plans follow a community consultation event last July.

The dedicated car park will be positioned between the two new office buildings. Electric car charging, a cycle spa, shower rooms and locker facilities will be provided within the building.

Masonry will reflect the commercial as well as the new residential elements on the site, helping to blend the mix of uses being delivered across the 57-acre development.

Number One Kirkstall Forge has already attracted Zenith, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, Bupa, Smart Buildings Ltd, CEG, Trufe and Butlers restaurant and bar.

kirkstall forge station
Number One Kirkstall Forge, and the nearby train station

Plans for a nearby residential and commercial development with a public square, which would face onto the proposed development, were approved in May 2019.

Ultimately, the Kirkstall Forge scheme is set to become home to 1,050 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of offices and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space. Outline permission for the development as a whole was granted several years ago.

The detailed plans – and further information – can be found here.

Site history

Cistercian Monks constructed Kirkstall Abbey in 1152 on the wooded bank of the River Aire.

The Monks went on to build Kirkstall Forge around 1200 AD, with the ironworks from the Forge amongst their earliest activities along with farming.

kirkstall forge 3

After the dissolution of the monasteries, Kirkstall Abbey and its land were given to supporters of Henry VIII before eventually coming under the ownership of the Cardigan Estate, whom leased the Forge to various tenants, including the Butler family in 1779, who went onto manage the Forge for six generations.

The site was the longest continually used industrial site in the UK and manufactured motor vehicle axles and steel bars until the site closed in 2003.

The Midland Railway line passed the site and the Kirkstall Forge Railway Station opened in 1860 and closed in 1905. The new station, which opened in 2016 is situated close to the original station site.

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Mark’s History: Farsley’s Aston Martin connection and ‘wartime shadow factory’

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Farsley Aston Martin newlands
Photo: Mark Stevenson

I have never really been a big fan of cars and, other than a passing interest, I generally just walk past this monument to the Newlands Works in Farsley, writes Mark Stevenson.

On this occasion, I found myself half-reading the plaque and wondering to myself what the DB stood for on the Aston Martin cars.

It made me read the plaque properly and – lo and behold – the answer was right there in front of my eyes!

David Brown (DB) bought Aston Martin in 1947 and the initials are taken from his name. 

What got my interest the most though was that it reads ‘wartime shadow factory’, which sounds like the bad guy’s lair in a Bond film (you can’t mention Aston Martin and not mention Bond).

In 1935 a plan was set up for factories to meet the urgent need for more aircraft using technology transferred from the motor industry by the Government in the build-up to World War II.

Disappointingly the use of the word ‘shadow’ had nothing to do with Bond villains and was just a turn of phrase for the protected status of these factories. 

Photo captures regeneration of Farsley’s Sunny Bank Mills

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Photo: @sunnybankmills

This fantastic photo shows work progressing on a £2 million revamp of Sunny Bank Mills complex in Farsley.

The central part of the estate is being re-modelled to create open spaces and to re-establish the prominence of historic mill buildings.

The levels in the Weavers’ Yard are beginning to take shape. The flat upper area marked with white stakes will be the green space for tenants & visitors to relax & for outdoor events.

The lower area where the diggers are will be the 95 new car park spaces.

Last month mill bosses revealed how a £100,000 investment in the area outside the historic Old Combing building has enabled the popular Mill Kitchen and Grumpy’s to offer a continental-style eating area to their customers.

The work is part of the ongoing regeneration of the historic mill complex as a creative space for businesses. There are now 70 companies and more than 355 employees at Sunny Bank Mills.

West Leeds planning applications: 5 January 2020

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Every week West Leeds Dispatch lists the latest planning applications from wards across West Leeds.

Here are the latest planning applications submitted over the past week. Click on the links for more information on the plans and to comment on them:

Armley Ward

Bramley & Stanningley Ward

Calverley & Farsley

Farnley & Wortley Ward

3.5m single storey rear extension, 3.730m to ridge height and 2.5m to eaves, 138 Gamble Hill Drive, Bramley, Leeds LS13 4TW

Kirkstall Ward

Pudsey Ward

Mark’s History: When Farnley Hall was the Danby family home

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Farnley Hall
Farnley Hall. Photo: Mark Stevenson

I am not sure who was the last of the Danby family was to call Farnley Hall home but the last one to own it was William Danby, writes Mark Stevenson.

The hall you see today was built in 1756. William lived mainly in the other family house at Swinton Park (near Masham) and may have sold Farnley Hall and its manorial rights to fund building work at Swinton Park.

Farnley was one of the last places in the parish of Leeds to still have a Manorial Lord when it was bought by James Armitage in 1800 for around £49,500.

James was a cloth manufacturer from Hunslet, but it was not until he died in 1803 that the hall passed to his son Edward.

Edward had loads of work done to the hall, including having kennels built for his own pack of foxhounds.

In 1815 Farnley Hall was insured for £17,000, one of the highest-insured houses in Leeds at the time. 

Farnley Hall, as you might expect, is listed but so are a few of its outbuildings like the Farm Cottage, Stables, Garden Wall, Gazebo, Potting Sheds and Cart Shed all built around 1806.

There are a stables and barn that are much older dating from the 1600’s.

In 1945 Farnley Hall was sold to the council by Robert William Armitage.

West Leeds: All the land and buildings Leeds City Council wants rid of

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abbey mills 2 kirkstall
Proposals: Abbey Mills. Photo: Mark Stevenson

Words: Local Democracy Reporter Richard Beecham

Additional reporting: John Baron

Leeds City Council is expecting to raise around £95million over the next three years by selling dozens of its buildings.

The authority’s decision-making executive board is set to meet next week to discuss a list of “surplus” sites across the district for  “disposal” over the coming years to help boost council coffers.

As part of the plans, a provisional list has been compiled of all council-owned sites the authority hopes to sell in the coming years.

kirkstall district centre
Housing plans: Kirkstall District Centre. Photo: Google

Notable sites in West Leeds include the Kirkstall District Centre site, which is currently the centre of a controversial planning application for more than 260 homes.

The site is earmarked for disposal between 2020/2021 – despite council chiefs rubberstamping the sale of the land to developers Artisan back in December 2018.

Abbey Mills Kirkstall
Plans: Abbey Mills in Kirkstall. Image: Kirkstall Valley Development Trust

Historic Abbey Mills, which is the subject of a proposed community takeover by the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, is to be sold some time in 2021/22, according to the report.

Nearby St Ann’s Mills is also earmarked in the provisional list for sale during 2022/23.

And the site of the former Burley Willows Care Home off Burley Road, which was closed due to council cutbacks several years ago, is to be sold during 2024/25, according to the report.

Council officers claim the sales would only be for “surplus” sites, and would allow the authority to continue to provide certain services. The report stated:

“Realising capital receipts from the disposal of surplus property assets provides an essential source of capital to contribute towards the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and funding of Council priorities and services.”


It added: “The success of the programme depends on the performance of purchasers and is highly sensitive to economic conditions. “

We have included all of the sites from across the city below, with sites in West Leeds highlighted in bold.

2019/20 Completed

armley grange 1
Already sold: Armley Grange. Photo: Mark Stevenson

– Former Wortley High School, land at Swallow Crescent
– Quarry Hill (Plot 6)
– Armley Grange
– York Road Depot (Overage)
– Lisbon Street 34
– Brooklands Avenue, Site B, Seacroft
– Grange Farm (Land)
– Micklefield House Annexe & Caretakers Lodge
– Cardigan Road Library, Burley
– Asket Hill Primary, Seacroft
– Seacroft Crescent North, Seacroft
– West Park (Spen Lane)
– Kippax Kabin, Cross Hills, Kippax
– Green Road 74, Leeds LS6
– West Park, Post Disposal work

2019/2020 To Complete

– Bramham House, Bramham, Freely Lane
– Leonardo/Thoresby/2 Great George Street Disposals
– Ashfield Works, Otley
– Park Farm, Colton, Leeds
– Rosemont Flats, Bramhope, Breary Lane
– Quarry Hill Playhouse Square (Escrow)
– Swarcliffe Avenue
– St Francis Of Assisi Catholic Primary School – Caretaker’s  House
– Micklefield School, Former, Micklefield
– Buckingham House
– Holt Park District Centre, ASDA

2020/21

– Alwoodley Lane, Alwoodley
– Sovereign Street/Plot B
– Miles Hill Primary School & The Beckhill Approach, Phase 1
– Manorfield HOP, Horsforth
– Middleton Park Complex
– Kirkstall District Centre
– Micklefield House , New Rd Side, Rawdon
– Eastmoor School (Former)
– Seacroft Hospital – Access
– Clarence Road, Land at
– Kirkland House, Queensway, Yeadon
– Otley Civic Centre
– Bishop’s Way, Seacroft
– Richmond Hill former leisure centre
– Rathmell Road, Halton Moor, LS15,
– Harehills Park Cottages & Development site.
– Stanks Gardens, Land at, Swarcliffe (former St Gregory’s  School)
– Carr Manor Cottages 1 & 2
– Hark to Rover PH, former, Spen Lane
– Seacroft Crescent (Overage)
– Stonegate Road & King Lane, Land at, 2 pieces of land
– Cliff Cottage, next to Cliff House, Western Flatts Park ,off Fawcett Lane
– Park Court
– Well Lane, Land at, Yeadon
– Former Middleton Marauders Clubhouse, Blenkinsop Fields
– Hill Crest 32, land adj, Swillington (Self Build)
– Holdforth Place, Wortley
– Lea Farm Road, Lea Park Road, Kirkstall (Self Build)
– Land at Elland Road (disposal)
– Kendall Drive, Halton Moor
– Kenneth Street, Land at Holbeck

2021/2022

– Lisbon Street (site of former Leeds International Pool)
– Redhall
– Meadow Lane Development Plot
– Southern Quadrant East Leeds Extension, First Phase
– Miles Hill Primary School & The Beckhill Approach, Phase 2
– Clarence Road, Land at, Second payment
– Matthew Murray High School
– Peckfield Colliery, Plots 4, 5 and 6
– Main Street, Carlton, access to adjoining land
– Colton Road East, land, Colton
– Parkway Close, Seacroft
– Burley Road Shops & Car Park
– Throstle Mount, Middleton (Wades)
– Rothwell One Stop Area Office, Marsh Street
– Westerton Walk, Land at, West Ardsley (Extra Care)
– Seacroft Crescent, Land at, LS14 (Former Library Site – Extra Care)
– Brooklands Drive, Seacroft
– Quarry Hill Car Parking Payment
– Abbey Mills, Kirkstall Road
– Manor Farm Rise, Middleton
– North Parade Depot, Otley

2022/2023

– Eastgate & Harewood
– Windleford Green, Land at, Holmsley Lane, Woodlesford (Extra Care)
– Holt Park District centre (residential sites)
– White House Lane / Airport, land at (part of North West Leeds Employment Hub)
– Farrar Lane, Land at, Holt Park (Extra Care)
– Oulton Golf Course Disposal
– Middleton Park Avenue, Middleton

2023/2024

– Southern Quadrant East Leeds Extension, Second Phase
– Copperfields College
– Lazencroft Farmhouse (ELOR)
– Sweet Street 38/47 Marshall Street
– Bath Road (site D)
– Clarence Road Industrial Units
– St Ann’s Mills, Kirkstall
– Bath Road/Derwent Place (Site B)
– Thornes Farm, Land at

2024/2025

– Middle Quadrant East Leeds Extension
– Bramley Grange Farm
– Sissons Farm, Middleton
– Arena Development Site
– Park Lees site, St Anthony’s Road, Beeston
– East Lodge, Temple Newsam Estate
– Elland Road (Site B Car Park), Leeds
– Easel Site 3, Bellway – Amberton Close
– Summerfield Gardens, Rodley (Self Build)
– All Saints Road, Rothwell (Self Build)
– Otley LIDO, Farnley Lane
– Healey Croft Hostel, Westerton Road, Tingley
– Burley Willows Care Home
– Seacroft Crescent South

‘Wortley’s Wembley’: Sale of former football pitch edges closer to reality

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TV Harrison ground wortley
The TV Harrison ground in Wortley

Plans to build housing on former sports pitches dubbed ‘Wortley’s Wembley’ by campaigners have moved a step closer to reality.

Leeds City Council has published revisions to the originally approved conditions to buy the former TV Harrison ground at Oldfield Lane. The authority wants to build more than 50 council homes on the site.

Tv Harrison campaign wortley

The revised terms and conditions are with the Leeds Schools Sports Association (LSSA), which the report says owns three quarters of the site.

The terms and conditions of the purchase have not been made public as they relate the financial or business affairs of a particular person, and of the Council. The council report states:

“It is considered that since this information was obtained through one to one negotiations for the acquisition of the land then it is not in the public interest to disclose this information at this point in time.

“Also it is considered that the release of such information would or would be likely to prejudice the Council’s commercial interests in relation to other similar transactions in that prospective sellers of other similar properties would have access to information about the nature and level of consideration which may prove acceptable to the Council.

“It is considered that whilst there may be a public interest in disclosure, much of this information will be publicly available from the Land Registry following completion of this transaction and consequently the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing this information at this point in time. “

The news comes after LSSA put up fencing at the entrance to the site and warned campaigners against trespassing just before they were due to hold a community fun day on the site just before Christmas.

LSSA claims that if the planned sale of the site is completed, they would be able to reinvest the money in sporting facilities for schoolchildren in Leeds.

But campaigners who want to bring the site back into use, say the fight is not over, and that it should be replaced with a similar-sized pitch if it is eventually sold.

The Save the TV Harrison Community Action Group, who have gathered almost 3,000 names on a petition to oppose the sale, say the land was left in a trust to the children of Leeds and the LSSA has no right to sell it.

They say consultation has been scarce and that the pitch should be restored for Leeds schoolchildren to use.

The ground, which was once home to Leeds City Boys and graced by the likes of Paul Madeley, David Batty and Brian Deane, was closed in 2004 and is included in the council’s Site Allocations Plan (SAP) as housing.

A Leeds Council spokesperson said last month:

“The SAP was subject to extensive public consultation and a full public inquiry. Representations on this site were received from ward members, local residents and the majority owners of the site.

“Finding suitable land which could potentially be listed for inclusion is never easy, and we felt that the land at Oldfield Lane was appropriate, given it has not been in use for now 14 years and was previously identified for housing.

“We are aware of concerns which have been raised around the quality of playing provision in the area. We are extremely open and willing to work closely with local representatives and residents around what options are available to potentially enhance sporting facilities at other locations in and around the community. ”

The TV Harrison field was used for sport following local headteacher Thomas Vernon Harrison helping to raise £1,200 back in 1931 to buy the land for the children to use.

Bramley: Youth, 17, stabbed during fight

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A 17-year-old youth was suffered stab wounds to his chest following a fight in Bramley during the early hours of this morning (Thursday, 2 January).

The young man suffered wounds to his chest after a fight between a group at around 1.15am on Raynville Road.

Incident: Raynville Road, near the junction with Landseer Avenue. Photo: Google

A statement from West Yorkshire Police said:

“At 1.16am today (2/1) police were called to a report of males fighting in the street in Raynville Road, Bramley.

“Officers attended and found a 17-year-old male with a stab wound to the chest and another 17-year-old male with minor facial injuries.

“Both males were taken to hospital for treatment but neither’s injuries were considered life threatening.”

Earlier today, police set up a crime scene at the junction of Raynville Road and Landseer Avenue and at a nearby address. Enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact Leeds District CID:

  • by calling 101 and quoting crime reference 13200001398
  • by logging the information online
  • by anonymously calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

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