With only a few weeks left to run, the West Leeds Local Hero initiative is nearing its end for this year. So only a few more winners left to announce…..and this week’s shout out goes to Armley resident Mark Armitage, writes Katie Lowes.
Mark was nominated by his partner Jo Foster. She described the work he has done throughout lockdown supporting the children and families he works with as part of his role as a teaching assistant at the East SILC in Oakwood.
Alongside his “day job” of working with children on site, he also delivered work packs to around fifty children from across the city and sent video messages for the ones that were struggling. Jo added:
“He makes sure the children are safe and educated but also that they have fun too. He has comforted and reassured them. He talks about their achievements and sings their praises. A lot.
“I frequently catch him at home on his laptop looking for things that he knows they will like. And all this whilst he -like lots of us- has been at times terrified and bewildered about the pandemic and lockdown. I know there are scores of education staff out there -cooks, cleaners, personal care staff, escorts, break time assistants, admin, TA’s and teachers…and of course I thank them all.
“But I particularly want Mark toknow that his huge efforts and commitment to providing safety, structure and some sense of normality for the kids has not gone unnoticed.”
On hearing he was a winner, Mark said: “This has been the most challenging time of my career but you don’t go into this wort of work unless you have the best interest of the children at heart. But hearing this news has put a great big smile on my face!”
The awards are run by Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves. She added: “Huge congratulations to Mark. His commitment to the pupils and families in his care is inspiring and he is a worthy winner of this weeks West Leeds Hero award.”
Armley is one of the communities playing host to a number of arts projects already preparing for Leeds 2023.
Research and development grants have been awarded by Leeds 2023 to local artists and organisations, despite the disruption of Covid-19.
The awards signal a renewed energy to deliver a transformational year of creative experiences across the region.
Each project supported by Leeds 2023 R&D Challenge Fund has been selected for its potential to be part of the year-long programme that will showcase creativity across all forms of culture. Creative ideas are being tried and tested with local communities in the neighbourhoods of Armley, Gipton, Harehills, Holbeck.
Leeds 2023 is committed to playing its role in the city’s recovery from COVID-19, ensuring the hidden stories and heritage of the city’s diverse communities are revealed, amplified and celebrated. Creative Director and Chief Executive of Leeds 2023 Kully Thiarai said:
“Our ambition is for creativity to fuel opportunities for everyone to thrive in our great city. We want to connect with everyone and every part of our city to showcase the creative talent of our communities and our artists. Building towards a year-long event of the scale and ambition of Leeds 2023 will take time, and it’s fantastic to see these projects begin to grow and take shape, when they could so easily have been derailed by the pandemic.“
Slung Low’s long-term ambition is to create a Leeds People’s Theatre (LPT); creating epic community-driven, accessible theatre on a regular basis in the city with both story and spectacle at its heart. In partnership with Leeds 2023, the team intends to successfully combine a high-level creative process, creating new connections with community organisations and developing a participatory programme of alternative events in Leeds. The first project created by LPT was the short film ‘The Good Book’, released in May 2020 and featuring a predominantly community cast from the city.
Music:Leeds intend to demonstrate how Leeds is the most exciting city for music in the UK and to make music in Leeds more accessible and inclusive. Through the creation of a comprehensive Directory that will build a local network and highlight opportunities, their Launchpad will create support for emerging artists and early career music professionals to access mentoring, live performance opportunities and funded project support. Music:Leeds plans to help define an inclusive narrative of what music in Leeds means, addressing its shared and diverse heritage and under told stories.
A chronic absence of ‘maker spaces’ in east Leeds is the starting point for this project, led by creative practitioners Kerry Harker (Project Space Leeds, The Tetley) and Claire Irving (Shine, Leeds Visual Arts Forum) of the East Leeds Project [ELP]. Working with local architects Bauman Lyons, and local residents, they are co-producing research and development for the ‘East Leeds Pavilion’, the first ever Maker Space for East Leeds, to be located in Gipton.
Foxglove is uncovering the incredible story of Leeds born, world-changing engineer, John Smeaton. Smeaton300 will be a rediscovery of John Smeaton’s achievements celebrating the engineer who described himself as an artist. Ideas are being developed to celebrate his achievements and legacy, as manifested in bridges, lighthouses, waterways & windmills in Leeds and beyond. Smeaton 300 is a Leeds tale with global reach and will appeal to curious minds of all ages and all interests.
The Bus Pass Project is a 4-year city wide programme that places older people of Leeds at its heart. The Performance Ensemble is a company of artists, all aged over 60 and drawn from diverse communities across Leeds. Its core group of 35 performers is growing into a 1,000-strong ensemble for the delivery of a spectacular city-wide event for 2023, rooted in authentic stories from the lives of the ensemble and co-created with older artists from Leeds and across the world.
· Live Little Stories For Leeds by tutti frutti, Wrongsemble, Unlimited Theatre, 154 Collective, Blah Blah Blahs, Alive & Kicking, Interplay, Fidget Theatre and Slung Low
A joint project between nine of the city’s theatre companies Live Little Stories for Leeds is a direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Live Little Stories was established to help children re-connect with live cultural experiences through a series of socially distanced performances taking place across the city in July, with support from Leeds 2023, as part of a plan to create a lasting legacy for the city’s children.
Live Little Theatre for Leeds took place in Armley, and Music:Leeds and the Bus pass project both engage with people from all over the city.
For progress on these and other projects in development visit: www.leeds2023.co.uk / Twitter: @leeds_2023 / Facebook: 2023Leeds / Instagram: leeds2023.
The site of the proposed development off Owlcotes Road, Pudsey.
Plans to establish the principle of housing at a site in Pudsey will be decided by councillors next week.
Developers want to build housing on a 5.5-acre site near Owlcotes Reservoir on Owlcotes Road, which comprises former Yorkshire Water land owned by Keyland Developments and land owned by a private individual.
If the principle of housing and access to the site is approved by members of the south and west plans panel next Thursday (27 August), developers will return with a detailed planning application which will decide design and the number of houses.
Initial plans for the largely empty site include a mix of affordable and market housing with one to four-bedroom apartments, semi-detached and detached homes.
Developers say the site is ‘highly sustainable’ with good transport links to Leeds and Bradford.
A planning officer’s report recommends approval in principle, subject to a raft of conditions including a £96,000 payment towards Highway improvements at Outer Ring Road junction with the A647 (Dawson’s Corner). It also limits the number of properties on the site to a maximum 77. The report concludes:
“The development will provide an acceptable quantum of affordable housing, with a safe and adequate means of access.
“It is considered that the principle of developing the site for residential purposes is acceptable in terms of all local and national planning policies subject to the imposition of conditions and a legal agreement. With consideration being given to all other matters, the application is recommended for approval.”
To date 13 objections have been received from local residents. Objections include the loss of view, privacy and loss of light to gardens of adjacent properties, sustainability and the loss of greenfield land.
The application has been submitted by Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, under a Planning Promotional Agreement (PPA) with a local landowner.
Pudsey councillors Simon Seary and Trish Smith have objected to the application as well as Calverley & Farsley councillors Amanda and Andrew Carter.
Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Armley earlier today.
Detectives believe the man had been assaulted by a group of youths in Whingate Avenue, Armley.
The victim, a man in his forties, was treated by paramedics at around 4.10am this morning but was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
A large scene is currently in place around Whingate Avenue to undergo forensic examination and specialist searches.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Tony Nicholson said:
“We are treating this man’s death as murder and are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances and identify those responsible.
“Our enquiries are at a very early stage and we are very keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the group of youths involved in the area or who has any information that could assist the investigation.
“Officers will be remaining at the scene throughout the day and we are liaising with our colleagues on the local neighbourhood policing team who are working to reassure the community who will be understandably concerned as a result of this incident.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team via 101 quoting crime reference 13200418973 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat.
Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
UPDATE FROM ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY REPORTERS:
Whingate Avenue has been completely cordoned off whilst Town Street and other nearby roads have been closed during the initial investigation. At least three police cars and six officers were at the scene of the crime.
Forensic examination of the scene has begun.
This is the latest incident – believed to be a stabbing -to have occurred in the Whingates area in as many months. The first on 14th May and the second on 1 August.
A former shop owned by Leeds City Council is set to be sold at auction after being deemed surplus to requirements.
1 Barden Place in Armley is a three storey, Victorian back-to-back previously used as a shop with living accommodation above.
The council says rising maintenance and repair costs meant that it is financially unviable to re-let the property, which was used as a local store/off licence until November 2016.
A council report authorising the sale of the property said:
“The property is surplus to Council requirements and no operational reason has been identified to justify its retention. In these circumstances, its disposal represents prudent and economic asset management.”
The price of the property will be set closer to the auction.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves is calling for action to tackle speeding motorists on a busy road branded a “race track” by worried local residents.
She has written to Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, to press for traffic-calming measures to be installed along Raynville Road.
Her letter is supported by Armley councillors Lou Cunningham, Jim McKenna and Alice Smart and follows a visit by the Leeds West MP to the road in Armley to hear the concerns of local people and see the problems at first hand.
Ms Reeves asked residents to tell her their views about the busy road in a survey posted on her Facebook page that has received more than 150 responses since it was posted in July.
Of those who responded, almost half (48.7%) said they had been involved in a near-miss in or around Raynville Road either as a pedestrian or car driver.
A total of 121 people left additional comments with many highlighting their concerns about speeding. Two people said their pets had been run over, while another stated that a car had crashed into their shop.
There were also concerns that the residential streets around the road were used as rat runs and that children were at risk from speeding drivers. Worryingly, two respondents stated that two children have been knocked over by cars in the last six months.
With regard to a solution, the general consensus was that traffic calming measures were needed urgently on Raynville Road. The most popular suggestion was the installation of speed bumps, although many respondents were also in favour of speed cameras.
Rachel Reeves said:
“It’s clear from my survey and talking to local people that they are really worried about the worsening issue of speeding traffic along Raynville Road.
“It is in everyone’s interests to take action to prevent serious accidents. I would urge the council to install traffic calming measures on Raynville Road as soon as possible.
“I have also been calling on the council for some time to make all residential roads in Leeds, especially those near schools and parks, 20mph zones.
“In Leeds West, many schools and parks are on roads where cars can travel at 30mph. Some roads, including Leeds Bradford Road – which goes along Bramley Falls Park – still have 40mph speed limits.
“I will continue to press the city council to consider implementing a 20mph speed limit on residential roads, especially ones near schools and parks.”
People who cannot attain their goals become consumed with disappointment. You must let your goals evolve with your life circumstances. Plan your goals and refine them over time as you consider your changing priorities and resources.
The following story is a case in point of setting a goal which proved too much and brought more unhappiness than the joy it was supposed to bring.
A friend proposed to his girlfriend when he was only eighteen. She accepted, and they were married a year later.
At the time, he promised that he would buy them a house before he turned twenty-four, he started the first of a series of jobs. None of them paid very well. He and his bride lived in a modest but comfortable flat.
As time went by he saved as much as he could and with help from his parents, scraped enough money for a deposit on a house and moved in and celebrated.
The monthly payments were more than he could afford though. He soon took on a second job but that wasn’t enough, so he took on another part-time job, his third. He worked himself to illness and stress and over time began to resent both the house and the wife that he had promised it to.
Instead of continuing a life he found satisfying, and continuing to save for a house someday, he rushed the process to meet his declared goal. He let a rigid goal change his life, which was the same as letting a rigid goal harm his life.
Setting goals are a brilliant motivational tool, but use them wisely by setting short term, medium term and long-term goals.
Leeds City Council has claimed its clean air zone will now not be introduced for the foreseeable future – despite spending millions of pounds helping motorists prepare for the changes, writes Richard Beecham.
The deputy leader of the council James Lewis has claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic has improved air quality in Leeds, and said the authority is working with the Government to understand whether pollution levels could ever actually reach illegal levels.
He added that council funding of the scheme would now be suspended as, should the government decide the air quality in Leeds was now at acceptable levels, its own funding for the scheme would be withdrawn.
While it is not known if or when work on the scheme will restart, the council claims it should know further details in the Autumn once a review into the scheme had taken place.
Under the proposals, the owners of buses, heavy goods vehicles and coaches would have to pay £50 a day, while taxis and private hire vehicles will be charged £12.50 a day if their vehicles did not meet pre-determined emission standards.
The boundary of the Clean Air Zone would be the Leeds Outer Ring Road, meaning several other areas, including Armley, Bramley, Farsley, Rodley, Wortley and Burley would all be in the zone.
Coun Lewis said:
“Leeds City Council is now working closely with central government to review the long term impact that the pandemic and these other factors will have on the city’s air quality to understand whether pollution will ever reach illegal levels.
“If the city’s air pollution is expected to stay below legal limits then we will no longer have the support of the government to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone. Given this uncertainty, our financial support will continue to be paused until the review is complete and we have received further direction.
“I recognise that at an already uncertain time, this latest update will be frustrating for many businesses. However, I would like to ask drivers and operators for their continued patience whilst we carry out this urgent review. I hope to be able to clarify the future of the Leeds CAZ in the Autumn.”
Plans for the zone would see older models of buses, taxis and HGVs traveling in areas around North Leeds and the city centre pay a congestion charge. The fees would be administered via a £6m camera network, which would identify number plates of cars which didn’t meet green requirements so that drivers could be charged.
It was originally expected to be up and running by January 2020 but, following numerous delays from central government in creating a vehicle database, it was announced in July 2019 that the charging zone should be going live “some time in 2020”.
Coun Lewis claimed improvements had been made through work done so far on the zone, adding the council was committed to reducing carbon emissions. He said:
“As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we have seen pollution levels fall significantly due to the quieter roads. Leeds residents now breathe air that is considerably cleaner and safer than just a few months ago.
“Coronavirus has led to big changes but, thanks to the city’s collective action, local air quality has actually been improving for some time.
“Many of our buses, taxis, private hire and businesses are now driving cleaner vehicles and we’ve accelerated highways schemes that will reduce traffic and create more space for cyclists and pedestrians. We’re investing in public transport infrastructure as part of our £270 million Connecting Leeds transport programme and have introduced policies and schemes to support the uptake of electric and low emission vehicles.
“Tackling the climate emergency and protecting the health of everyone in Leeds remain priorities for this council. Regardless of any future decision on the charging zone we will continue to deliver schemes that enable sustainable travel and the shift to zeroemission vehicles.”
Pandemics don’t stop babies being born – and more than ever more mothers are choosing to breastfeed because of the protection against infections that it offers, writes Suzanne Tobin.
But what happens when you need support? We know 8/10 mothers stop breastfeeding before they wanted and we are here to help you meet your own breastfeeding goals.
Following the closure of centres, following government Covid-19 guidance, the Coordinators, Suzanne and Cath from Health for All, set up an immediate alternative to breastfeeding groups.
In West Leeds the Pudsey and Armley peer support groups are very well attended and run by local volunteers so this was a huge blow to the area.
In Pudsey the Wellbeing Centre Charity supports the group by providing a room and in Armley the local Children’s Centre provide the venue and support. With Leeds Bosom Buddies in 12 groups all across Leeds we knew we had to act fast to help families.
Every Wednesday you can get support by joining our Citywide Zoom 10.30am-12pm, where it’s as much about seeing a friendly face and social support as well as the breastfeeding support.
“Having never had chance to see other mums or family in person since my son was born, it’s been really reassuring to chat to you all on zoom, get advice and a better sense of whether certain breastfeeding challenges are normal (it seems they mostly are!). The positive of lockdown is it’s helped us have time to bond with our new baby and to have space to get breastfeeding established.”
Teresa Newsome, Peer supporter says:
“I’m so pleased that we peer supporters can at least offer a weekly support group, so we can find out if last night was better for a particular mum, or if baby latched from the other side today or even if she managed to get her tea hot!
“Knowing we can’t just say ‘See you at the group!’, and giving mums that cuppa and a hug that we all know cures everything in that moment is heart wrenching. I’m so looking forward to regaining our group, and our community that grows within it.
“We will try to learn more ways of supporting our mums ready for the groups return, with a big emphasis on supporting mums with their mental health. We’re all aware of the massive impact the Covid-19 and its impact has been having on each other, especially the mums with their brand new babies. I’ll personally continue to be in awe of Cath and Suzanne and proud as punch of my fellow Bosom Buddy peer supporters – Roll on group life!”
You can also get support from Leeds Bosom Buddies support group on Facebook, now boasting over 350 members. Support can also be arranged via telephone, email, private message and zoom. Between them, Cath and Suzanne have also volunteered for La leche League for over 40yrs, an amazing achievement!
For World Breastfeeding Awareness week the them this year was Breastfeeding For a Healthier Planet. We ran an incredible five meets around Leeds “Boobies in the Park”, an idea from one of our peer supporters Abby Carden who knew it would be just what the families needed to reduce isolation and find some local friends.
Abby said: “It was an amazing success and feel it was very much needed, the mums loved getting out with their babes and being around like minded women they really benefited from the support of the peer supporters.”
With around 125 families supported between the events they have been an incredible success and more so.
On the 3rd August in Pudsey Park we launched the first of our events with glorious weather. With our carefully planned risk assessed, covid secure plan, Leeds Bosom Buddies peer support volunteers and co-ordinators went out to meet the mums.
Gemma, a Pudsey peer supporter, had this to say about the event:
“As peer supporters, we know that adjusting to life with a new baby is incredibly hard – even without a pandemic to deal with – and it’s vital we surround ourselves with people who can help us.
“When had my first son I was completely unprepared for breastfeeding, even though I’d been to my antenatal classes! I really relied on dropping into the Pudsey breastfeeding group to get help and reassurance. Just being around other breastfeeding women really boosts your confidence as a new mum.
“It was so wonderful we were able to offer this vital face to face support again after so long, even though we couldn’t provide our usual cups of tea and doughnuts!
“I loved seeing mums who we last saw in winter with their tiny newborns, now with their happy and healthy babies crawling around the park, eating their snacks and playing with their toys. And I was blown away by meeting the incredible, brave, resilient mums who have given birth during lockdown; learning to breastfeed in isolation using social media and video calls. Hopefully our event in the park helped local mums and babies to feel connected to their community again.”
Local mum Tori, with baby Xander, who’ve been attending the online zoom meets before the park meet told us this:
“To be quite honest, Bosom Buddies has got me through some really difficult and isolating times during lockdown and the park meet up was the icing on the cake. It felt like a little bit of the maternity leave I’d imagined had finally come true and it was so nice to see mums and babies face to face.
“To create and maintain such a supportive community in such challenging circumstances is a great achievement and all involved in Bosom Buddies should be really proud of how quickly and how well they’ve adapted.”
Heather says: “I attended the Boobies in the Park at Pudsey and it made me realise what we’ve been missing out on because of the pandemic.
“I gave birth three weeks before lockdown so just as I was getting ready to attend groups, they all got shut down. My breastfeeding journey has been challenging and I’ve really struggled at times. Thankfully, I have already seen a vast improvement after the advice I was given at Pudsey.
“It was lovely to meet other Mums and to speak to Suzanne in person. I’d love Boobies in the Park to be a regular thing. I honestly think my breastfeeding journey would have been easier, and maybe less stressful, had the support groups been available throughout.”
Rachel added:
“I attended with my two year old, Ethan and brought along my friend Jo and her two year old Leo. It was nice to see all the little babies being fed in a comfortable and safe environment. I felt it was important to attend as a nursing Mummy of a ‘toddler’ to help promote and normalise natural term weaning. The event was well-planned in the current climate and the location was beautiful.
For more information, contact Suzanne Tobin – suzanne.tobin@healthforall.org.uk.
Plans to improve Calverley Library and transform it into a mini-community hub could take longer than expected, a local councillor has said.
The planning application approved by the council last week includes external changes to the building.
But Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said local groups were to be consulted about internal changes – and that the Covid-19 pandemic was likely to delay any work being carried out. He said:
“When the planning application was lodged Councillor Amanda Carter and myself raised issues, as did some local residents surrounding the internal rearrangements, specifically making sure that the children’s corner and the area used by Calverley Historical Society, were still going to be adequate.
“Before any work commenced we were promised a full briefing and appropriate input. We were also informed that, although a planning application had been approved, the Council had put the plans on hold due to the current situation relating to Covid, and council finances, which we regard as most unfortunate.
“Therefore, although the planning application has been passed, no work is likely to start soon. The main thing is that the residents who raised issues, and we as ward councillors, have been assured of proper consultation to make this a successful project.”
The creation of the hub will mean the library and history centre is still housed in the Thornhill Street building, but other council services will also be introduced.
Remember the community courier service nicknamed ‘Bramazon’, which is delivering vital care packages to shielded older people in Bramley, Swinnow and Stanningley?
Community reporter and photographer Simon Cullingworth captured the Bramazonians (members of the Bramley Breezers running club ahead of a delivery of books and magazines:
