A Leeds organisation which supports creative practitioners has netted £1,200 to develop a website to explore Armley’s local heritage and stories.
Graft Collaborative is partnering with Assembly House and Armley-based creative Charlotte Cullen, who will be exploring the area’s common land and people’s rights to it as residents.
Charlotte Cullen is an artist, curator and lecturer in Fine Art at York St John’s Universtiy, currently researching the history and geography of the local area, exploring mark-making with natural materials.
They will create an online downloadable map blending their research and art together. This will provide a highly creative and unique opportunity for residents to engage with public green spaces across the area, celebrating the community assets and wealth of heritage, nature and spirit.
This map will be accessible through a new online PLAYGROUND: Exploring Armley space, a website for anyone and everyone to discover more about this incredible part of Leeds.
A Graft spokesperson said:
“The site will include interviews with Armleyians, a timeline of our growth and changes, and information about local groups, businesses and events.
“Our hope is create a permanent digital archive celebrating the history of Armley and its many amazing individuals, whilst looking towards the future of our community, and how we can come together to overcome some of the important social issues we face.
“There will be lots of opportunities for you to join us and get stuck in, so keep an eye out on social media for our community callouts looking for your stories, memories and input. Once the website is launched, we will be changing the sign currently installed in the Rose Garden, Gott’s Park, with a new QR code to link you online.
“we will also be hiding QR codes around the area, so therE will be lots to discover with a few surprises along the way!”
The website will be part of many creative projects coming to Armley thanks to the team at Assembly House – follow them on Facebook or Instagram for latest developments.
The project follows the PLAYGROUND: Exploring Armley project, which was based in Armley Park and Gotts Park during lockdown. This encouraged people to discover more about Armley.
Leeds Inspired, which provided the grant, is part of the city’s cultural programme that celebrates arts events and projects throughout the year, supporting high-quality, accessible cultural experiences for Leeds’ residents and visitors.
Problems: Armley Town Street. Photo: Lilly Marchesi
People are being urged to have their say on restrictions brought in to tackle street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Armley, Farsley and Pudsey.
Leeds City Council is reviewing 13 Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which were introduced across Leeds in October 2017. A PSPO can last for up to three years but can be extended upon review.
All 13 PSPOs have prohibitions which do not allow people to consume alcohol in public places. And the PSPO in Armley also has prohibitions to help tackle bins being left in the street for prolonged periods of time. The council is proposing to keep these PSPOs and prohibitions.
Leeds City Council is proposing to extend all 13 PSPOs (some with new prohibitions).These proposals have received support from local councillors in their respective PSPO areas.
If you would like to comment on these proposals, you can do so from Monday 10 August 2020 until Sunday 06 September 2020, by filling in an online questionnairehere.
The council will make a final decision on the proposed implementation of PSPOs following the public consultation.
Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for communities, said:
“Since introducing 13 PSPOs in October 2017, we’ve seen some really positive results in terms of tackling a range of issues that were found to be having a negative impact on the lives of residents and their communities.
“As part of the terms of the legislation we are reviewing each of the PSPOs as they approach their third year in operation to assess how they have done and the potential to extend. In some instances we are also proposing some additional prohibitions to be added to some individual PSPOs. With that in mind, we would welcome the thoughts of residents regarding the PSPOs established in their communities, and also regarding any further potential alterations that are being proposed.”
So is it Richardshaw Lane, Rickershaw Lane or Ricardshaw Lane? writes Mark Stevenson.
On all of the Ordnance Survey Maps from the 1840’s onwards, it is spelt Richardshaw Lane. Strangely though on the 1841 and 1851 census, it is Richardshaw Lane but on the 1861 census, it is Ricardshaw Lane and thereafter it goes back to Richardshaw.
There is a book from 1887 called The History And Antiquities Of Pudsey (where Richardshaw Lane is). It is by Simeon Rayner. The following is his explanation taken from the book:
“When the Angle chieftain, Stanning, looked from his hall towards the noon-day sun his vision was bounded by the slope which the Celt called the “hwpp” where the footpath now runs.
“He called it the “hrice,” as we call it a rig, or as people of culture and superior education tone it down, the ridge. It was then wood-grown, shady, verdant, and sacred to the foot of the hunter. The leafy garment that shaded it, the Angle called a “Scua,” which custom and superior education has so softened that we know the word as a shaw.
“And so “the wood on the ridge” — the rig-wood — became in Angle speech the “hrice scua,” and as the feet of after generations trod a path to that wood the path became the “hrice-scua” lane, which the changes of time twisted so slightly that for twenty generations the path was known as Kikershaw Lane.
“But alas! by the advancement of learning, the truth-telling designation had to be clothed in new garments, and from the awkward hands of its blundering tailor it came forth as that monstrous abortion Richardshaw Lane!”
Whatever the way of saying it, for the best part of 200 years it has been officially known as Richardshaw Lane.
Work has started to install fish passes on two weirs in West Leeds, as part of a multi-million project to allow salmon to swim up the River Aire for the first time in 150 years.
Contractors for the Environment Agency have this week moved on-site at Armley and Newley weirs as part of a £2.7 million project.
Work on fish passes at Saltaire and Kirkstall weirs is almost complete. These four fish passes, along with a three-year community engagement programme, together make up the Developing the Natural Aire (DNAire) project.
It will enable Atlantic salmon to complete their mammoth migration from the sea to spawning habitat beyond Skipton and into the Yorkshire Dales, along with other migratory fish including trout, eels and lamprey.
The fish passes are large structures being built to help the fish get over weirs built back in the Industrial Revolution that are too high for them to leap over naturally.
These complement 15 other fish passes that have been completed on the River Aire and its tributaries in the last decade.
A temporary track down to the weir at Armley.
Martin Slater, of the Environment Agency, said:
“We are halfway through this wonderful project and our ambition to restore salmon to the River Aire and the people who live alongside it is on track to be completed in the autumn.
“Now, more than ever, we have seen that people want access to nature and this project is delivering that for 100,000s of people across West Yorkshire.”
Aire Rivers Trust chairman Geoff Roberts added:
“Restoration of the fishery on the river is already exciting people from all walks of life and we will build on that excitement to help people enjoy their river in a host of different ways.
“In the next couple of weeks, for instance, we will be launching a series of self-guided and annotated walks from various points on the river. Find out more at DNAire.org.uk.”
The Aire Rivers Trust will deliver the community engagement and educational aspects of the project over the next three years by having:
· 1,000 school students learning about the project to encourage a career in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, maths).
· 1,000 volunteer days, cleaning up the riverbanks and teaching attendees skills in wildlife identification and river fly monitoring
· Three STEM undergraduates trained, one per year
· One environmental conservation apprenticeship
Work on Kirkstall fish pass, opposite the Abbey, back in May
Food and health champions FoodWise Leeds and Zest delivered an interactive competition for families as part of the #Vegrocks campaign to promote eating and growing vegetables during April and May.
Growing Better CIC were approached as not-for-profit food growers and fruit and veg boxes sellers to provide awards to children taking part in the competition. Community reporter JOSIE ARMITAGE interviewed CEO Dorota Hajdukiewicz.
Activities at Beech Hall Nursing Home in Armley.
How did Growing Better CIC start?
Growing Better CIC was established by Robert Moores in 2016, as a small project growing baby leaves in a polytunnel. Soon after, the operations shifted to one of the indoor units in the Sheepscar area of Leeds.
I joined the organisation in August 2018 to lead on business development, taking full responsibility for running of the business in March 2019.
In the following month, we decided to move to the West Leeds Activity Centre in Armley and shift our production to a shipping container and the allotment, where we are now.
Since then, Growing Better has engaged some 150 volunteers and youth groups in various projects, including NCS Challenge engaging young people in delivering projects in local areas.
We chose to work with the Beech Hall Residential Care Home in Armley, where the group spent a day with elderly residents bringing a lot of cheers and smiles, as well as improving the surrounding of the home by creating a small nature reserve outside!
How has Covid-19 and lockdown affected your business?
The lockdown has encouraged us to look at different areas of the business and focus, as well as to come up with new ideas to ensure the survival of our organisation and a space for people to engage with us once restrictions are eased.
Indeed, as the lockdown was being announced, we received government-backed funding (Key Fund) to help us grow the business and to continue to work with the community we operate in.
We have not only changed what we grow and sell, since the restaurants were closing or reorienting their businesses, but also developed good relationships with other local producers and suppliers to provide fruit and veg boxes, that are good value for money, as well as providing discounts to all the Key Workers.
What are the main areas of your business?
As a community interest company, we support people living with mental health challenges and those with learning difficulties by providing employability training and volunteering opportunities in our urban farm, based in West Leeds, where we grow highly nutritious micro herbs and micro veg hydroponically, as well as other products using traditional methods on our allotment.
We also engage school children in nature conservation activities, such as planting native trees and wildflowers, litter picking and organising nature walks.
Why did you want to be involved?
We were thrilled to be given this opportunity to engage with kids and promote eating healthy fruits and veggies, as well is growing their own micro greens.
This opportunity is exactly what we stand for, and a chance to go out there and provide the most colourful products helps us deliver our social mission.
We decided to not just provide the boxes and grow kits, but also to promote the competition and to take on the logistics distributing those, which was one of our proudest moments and rewarding experiences, and a highlight of why we exist as an organisation.
Growing Better held a stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market.
What are the best things about running your own business?
The most rewarding thing about running your business is seeing the positive effects of the decisions you make, such as community engagement activities, new products launches, or growing the organisation. Building your own team you fully trust and look after is also one of the best things any business owner should appreciate.
If you’re lucky to do what you love, you never feel like your job is done and you want to continue to improve and bring new ideas to life – the sky’s the limit!
What are the challenges of running your own business?
Running your own organisation is a continuous steep learning curve that may put many people off, as it may feel like a lonely place at times when you aren’t surrounded by people you trust and who want to be part of your organisation and support your efforts as a team.
You quickly realise that you cannot do everything on your own and having a team of like-minded people is critical to overcoming any challenges!
What’s next for you and Growing Better CIC?
Growth! Having recently secured a government-backed funding, we are now looking to expand our production by establishing new polytunnels and more outdoor growing space, that ultimately will be able to accommodate more training and volunteering opportunities for vulnerable people.
It also means that we will deliver more of our own produce, free from any nasty chemicals, grown and sold to Yorkshire people!
Get involved in engaging or supporting us
There are many ways anyone can engage or support our business – from purchasing our products, to volunteering to sponsoring some of our programmes.
We would like to hear from:
Volunteers wanting to help on our allotment
Schools looking for extra-curricular activities for pupils (on and off site)
Organisations working with vulnerable people wanting to engage in outdoor activities or looking for employability skills training and work experience opportunities for persons they work with
Organisations looking to provide perks for their employees, or to engage in local sponsorship programmes
Community groups and businesses wanting to partner with us on various projects
Local producers and craftsmanship who want to feature in our online shop. We always welcome collaboration opportunities with other like-minded organisations.
“No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
1. Remember that you are powerful.
Most of the time we have no idea what we are supposed to be doing, or who we are supposed to be imitating.
I say “imitating” because this is what we do: We conform to the external environment. We play roles and cover up our true selves by identifying with “things” that end up defining who we think we are. I’m a doctor, a salesperson, a secretary, a lawyer; I’m sad, happy, lonely, or miserable. I’m angry, jealous, afraid, and I can’t help it — it’s who I am.
The truth is, though, we are none of those things. They are symptoms of the sleepwalking disease. You are more important than any label.
We are not our professions. We are not our feelings. We are not our circumstances. We are not even our mind. What we are is far greater, far superior, far more important, and far more mysterious than our conceptual mind tries to define. This is why we are far more powerful than we think we are.
2. Choose to embrace life.
Let go and embrace the moment, whether it contains an obstacle or an opportunity. Stop fussing over trivial matters and start focusing on what’s really important to you.
Don’t go through life expecting things to change. Life becomes hard and unfair when we decide to complain about things rather than trying to change them ourselves.
Wake up to the truth that life is not a practice-run. Be bold and courageous, and make decisions that benefit your growth. Put yourself on your imaginary death-bed and realise that time stands still for no one. Start as soon as possible to make any necessary changes you may need to.
Take the first step before more time gradually passes by while you stand still stagnating. Your choice. Your life. Your responsibility. Your power.
3. Realise that you get to control your reactions.
We create our outside reality by the thoughts and beliefs we maintain about life in general. What we believe in our inner world, we see in our outer world—not the other way around.
We all have problems, and we’re often tested by circumstances outside of our control. Even though you may not be in control of what’s going on outside of you, you most definitely can control your reaction to those situations.
We have the power because our inner world (cause) affects the influence we allow the outer world (effect) to have on us. So next time you hear somebody mention that you have great personal power, know they are 100% correct. You have more control than you think.
4. Know that no-one is better qualified.
We place far too much emphasis on other people’s opinions about us, often to the exclusion of our own. This takes away from our own personal power.
No matter what anybody says about you, it doesn’t hold any significance to who you truly are unless you identify or agree with them.
Stop identifying with other people’s opinions and become aware of how you see yourself. Nobody knows you better than you do. Never accept another person’s reality as your own. Always believe that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. And, most importantly, never let another person’s opinion of you affect what you believe about yourself.
5. Believe that you are more than enough.
If you have to compare yourself to someone else, let it be a person who is less fortunate, and let it be a lesson to learn just how abundant your life truly is.
It’s just a matter of perspective. You may find that you are not entirely grateful for what you possess. You may believe that you need more than you have right now to be happy. If this is the case, then you are absolutely right — you will need more, and you will continue to need more.
This cycle will perpetuate as long as your mind believes it to be true. If you focus on what you have, and not on what you lack, you will always have enough, because you will always be enough.
6. Love yourself.
You have arrived. Everything you need is right here. Cut out the distractions, open your eyes, and see that you already have everything in your possession to be happy, loved, and fulfilled.
It’s not out there. It never was out there. It’s in the same place it was since the day you were born. It’s just been covered up by all the external things you have identified with over the years.
Be yourself. Love yourself completely and accept everything that you are. You are beautiful. Believe it, and most importantly, remind yourself often.
7. Stay cool.
If someone cuts us off in traffic or skips the queue at our local cinema, we may feel our blood pressure begin to rise and feel the need to react in a negative manner. We get uptight with other people’s actions, and in the end we punish ourselves for their bad behaviour.
We end up losing control over our own actions because of the way other people act. But we are responsible for our own action, regardless of how rude other people may act. If it’s hard to stay cool, remember: you are the one who loses in the end, if you lose the lesson.
8. Journey well.
We know life is about the journey and not the arrival. We don’t need to arrive if we accept that we are already here.
Be content with where you are today and don’t make the mistake of putting off being happy because you are waiting for the right moment to shine. Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to enjoy the journey.
Not everyone woke up this morning and not everyone will go to bed tonight. Life has no guarantees. Every minute you are living is a blessing that has to be experienced in the moment. It’s not always easy, but it’s always an option — a choice. Your choice.
Streets leading to two primary schools in Bramley and Kirkstall will be closed to traffic during the school run under council plans to extend an experimental social distancing scheme.
As previously reported in May, Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary was one of six schools across Leeds to have the road leading to it closed off with cones and signs to make social distancing easier for parents taking their children to school.
The council has announced £35,000 funding for up to 11 schools across the city to make up phase two of the experiment, which effectively pedestrianises whole streets.
A council report names Beecroft Primary School in Kirkstall and Hollybush Primary in Bramley as two West Leeds schools who will take part in the latest round of the scheme. The reports says:
“By reducing vehicular movement School Streets encourage parents and carers to walk, cycle or scoot to school, reducing the number of children travelling to school by car.
“The COVID-19 pandemic requires families to distance themselves from others, School Streets help enable social distancing on the journey to and from school by minimising vehicular movement and creating a safer environment.”
Schools which applied but were unsuccessful include Kirkstall Valley Primary School, Kirkstall St Stephen’s, and Valley View Community Primary School, Stanningley.
Kirkstall residents are today being urged urged to maintain social distancing, avoid large gatherings and get tested if they show Covid-19 symptoms.
The advice comes following a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Kirkstall and Harehills, which has prompted a call for communities to work together to help keep the city safe and prevent the virus spreading.
The city’s seven-day rate has also been gradually increasing from 4.1 cases per 100,000 people early last week to 13.3 as of yesterday (August 5).
As part of the city’s detailed outbreak control planning, a series of targeted preventative steps are being taken in Kirkstall and Harehills in an effort to stop further escalation of cases and to stay on top of community transmission.
Council and public health officials are also calling for people in these communities and across Leeds to continue to play their part in keeping themselves and others safe by following the latest advice and maintaining social distancing.
Mobile testing units have also been made available at Kirkstall and Fearnville leisure centres and people with symptoms can also book tests at other locations in Leeds.
Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and chair of the Leeds Outbreak Control Board, said:
“With some restrictions now being relaxed, it’s more important than ever that we keep doing everything we can collectively and individually to take care of ourselves, our communities and our city.
“Our outbreak planning has meant we’ve been able to identify these clusters early and intervene quickly, so it’s our hope that by working closely with people living in these areas, we can manage and contain these cases and prevent a wider outbreak.
“But we can’t do that alone and it’s absolutely imperative that residents play their part by following the latest advice, including avoiding gathering in large numbers, maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks when required, regularly washing their hands and by getting tested and isolating if they have symptoms.”
Some of the key actions being taken in communities where clusters have been identified include:
Additional support for families self-isolating.
Social media messages targeting the affected areas, re-inforcing social distancing/handwashing/self-isolating/get tested messages.
Mobile testing units at Kirkstall Leisure Centre and Fearnville. People can also book a test at other venues via: nhs.uk/coronavirus
Working with nurseries, care homes and places of worship to help promote important messages about testing and social distancing.
More advice and guidance for large multi-generational households in community languages.
These measures will be continually monitored over the coming days and further steps may need to be considered in light of new data and information.
For more details about outbreak planning in Leeds and steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, click here.
The Bielsa The Redeemer mural off Oldfield Lane in Wortley.
At the heart of Wortley, on the north side of Oldfield Lane near to Five Lane Ends, there is a large open space, much of it overgrown.
Sadly, few younger passers-by will be aware of this land’s long and important history as a sports ground. The T V Harrison Action Group is changing all that.
The TV Harrison ground was nicknamed ‘Wortley’s Wembley’ back in the day.
The name of Tom Vernon Harrison, a Leeds head teacher, has been associated with this sports ground ever since he led the campaign to raise public funds to buy the land as a permanent centre for the schoolchildren of Leeds.
Sadly he died in 1929 shortly before the land was handed over but the sports ground was named after him in recognition of his leadership.
In fact the land had been used for sport long before this time, with the first recorded cricket match being in 1857 and the first football match taking place in 1879.
It had been in continuous use ever since and, following Harrison’s work, it was put into the ownership of the Leeds Schools Sports Association (LSSA) so as to safeguard it for ever for use by Leeds children.
Whelan and Deane at the ground. Photo: Lea Westerman
For more than 70 years it was the home of school sports in the city, including being the home ground for the Leeds City Boys football team, nurturing such fine players as Paul Madeley, David Batty, Brian Deane and Noel Whelan.
Then, in 2002, out of the blue, LSSA abandoned the ground, citing vandalism to the pavilion as the reason for being unable to continue using it.
At one fell swoop Leeds schoolchildren lost this fine facility and the land slowly became overgrown and beyond use. Sports clubs who applied to to use it and to maintain at least a football pitch were refused permission.
In June 2019 the Leeds City Council saw an opportunity to take over the land for housing purposes and it designated it for housing in September 2019. Subsequent documents reveal that 61 houses are planned there. Contrary to all the evidence of conveyances, trust deeds and legal documents, the Council made the extraordinary statement that there is no legal restriction on the use of the land.
Campaigners have cleared the site of years’ worth of undergrowth
Even more extraordinary is that the LSSA has supported the change of use and has stated its wish to sell the land in order to finance improvement to other facilities and to develop an alternative site to serve as the focus for school sports. A figure of £2 million has been bandied about but there is no firm figure.
Frankly, the value of 61 building plots is in principle considerably more than £2 million. Its proposed alternative site is at Whitkirk, which may well be a very pleasant location but being way out on the east side of Leeds, six miles from the city centre, it is no substitute for the T V Harrison sports ground in the inner city and just 2.5 miles from City Square. The Charity Commission has made a trenchant statement questioning the legitimacy of this proposed site as a replacement.
The local community in Wortley were outraged by this proposal and formed an action group, not only to preserve the open space but more importantly to restore it to community sporting use.
This group has attracted considerable active support in the locality and it has already taken active practical steps to make a football pitch available for friendly matches. Thus far, despite all the historical and legal evidence, the city council and the LSSA are defending the decision to put houses on the.
The Action Group is continuing to lobby councillors, MPs and LSSA trustees in order to achieve the necessary change in policy and to retain and develop the land for its historic sports use. If necessary we will reluctantly take legal action to ensure that the provisions of the key documents are adhered to.
All too often the tactic is used of letting land or premises degenerate into a poor condition in order to justify financial gain to their owners.
Wortley has already has another example in the case of the historic Cliff House and its surrounding land, and we certainly do not want another.
The TV Harrison sports ground had always been a city-wide provision but we know that the local community will make full use of the much-needed facilities which can be made available.
It is a large site with space for a wide variety of sports and recreations. Community management can be immensely successful, as the example of Bramley Baths in our neighbouring community has shown. We intend to do the same.
Michael Meadowcroft, Chair, T V Harrison Action Group. 5 August 2020
‘Bielsa the Redeemer’ mural marks TV Harrison ground
Artists and Leeds United fans Nicolas Dixon and ‘Burley Banksy’ Andy McVeigh were invited to put together a mural at the side of the Pet Lodge Superstore on Oldfield Lane.
The mural shows Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in the pose of the Redeemer statue, which towers over Rio de Janeiro.
The pair were commissioned by Pet Lodge Superstore owner Arron Lambert, who has played a leading role in the TV Harrison campaign.
A new Pudsey lottery is proving a popular draw as it looks to support businesses looking to bounce back following lockdown and encourage people to shop local.
Almost £1,000 worth of tickets were sold for the first draw, which was held outside Ison Harrison Solicitors on Lidget Hill yesterday.
Pudsey Pounds. Photo: Damon Sugden
Pudsey Business Network Forum, which was revamped last year to support businesses in the town, is pioneering the Pudsey Lottery, which will pay out in Pudsey Pounds to be spent in local shops, the town’s market and businesses.
At the first draw, forum chair Cllr Trish Smith (Cons, Pudsey) said 21 shops and businesses had been selling the tickets. She added:
“The aim of this is to protect our shops and businesses and protect our high street.
“Considering we only launched on 9th July, and some businesses opened up even later than that, it’s been an excellent start! Thank you to every single person who has supported this initiative so that we can help to safeguard our shops, market and businesses.
“This is all about the local community and I’m pleased how many people have taken part in the first draw.”
Prizes are 80% of the overall pot.
Winners and thanks
1st Prize Ticket: 07/20 – 1111 Sold by: Coffee & Cake House
5th Prize Ticket: 07/20 – 752 Sold by: Bentley’s Butchers
Cllr Smith thanked everyone who has supported in any way, special thanks to Ison Harrison for hosting the event, to Balloon Bear for the display, and to Black Mouse for the champagne. She also thanked all the sub-committee members, Tom at PDS Windows for filming, Kudu Printers, Topstitch, Dan Pearce, Linley & Simpsons and Lisa Farrar for attending.
The next draw will be held on the first Tuesday of September.
Spend your pounds
Participating businesses that have so far signed up to accept the Pudsey Pounds are:
Tyersal Recreational Club, Tyersal Road, Tyersal
Troydale Members Club, Troydale Grove
Pudsey Table Tennis & Bowling Club, Windmill Hill
147 Sports Bar, Chapeltown
Petty’s Fish & Chips, 2 Owlcotes Road
Waterloo Fisheries, 107 Waterloo Road
Greetings Card Shop, 5 Church Lane
Megabites, 1 Valley Road
Amber’s Little Cakery 159 Fartown
54 Tearooms, 54 Fulneck
Bentley’s Butchers, 8-10 Robin Lane
Frank Eshelby, 24 Lowtown
Pudsey Carpet and Bed Centre, 27-29 Lowtown
PDS Windows, 61 Chapeltown
Coffee & Cake House, 161 Richardshw Lane
Olde Booths Tearooms, 20 Lowtown
Topstitch, 3 Lidget Hill
Gigi’s Restaurant, 63 Lidget Hill
Polished Beauty Salon, 5 Chapletown
Scrumdiddlyumptious, Market Place
Framed Memories by Laura, 40 Victoria Road
Phoenix Accessories, Waterloo Mills, Waterloo Rd.
Jarrod Headley, 21 Chapeltown
CS Locks, 16 Church Lane
Northern Mobility, 31 Chapeltown
Taste of Thai, 104 Valley Road
The Bearded Sailor, 1 Robin Lane
Make it Personal, 203 Richardshaw Lane
Sweet Memories by Ann, Pudsey Market Trader
Black Mouse Cheese & Wine Emporium, 15a Lowtown
Farmac Timber & Building Supplies, Richardshaw Road
It’s an idea that’s been causing some discussion over on the Armley Good Stuff Facebook page, writes John Baron.
Up in Middlesbrough there’s been a lot of innovative work been done to make more inner city alleys greener, cleaner and friendlier.
The ‘Alley Makeover’ idea comes from the executive mayor of Middlesbrough, Andy Preston.
Building on recent great work by local volunteers and local groups he wants to help residents transform 20 to 30 alleys over the next 12 months. The spiel sounds appealing:
“If you’re a resident and want your street’s alley to improve then get in touch – we can work together and make it happen.
“What we need from you is the will to help change things and know that you’ve got some like minded volunteers.We’ll help to coordinate your project, round up some more volunteers and help with any costs involved – including money for paint, plants and alley furniture.”
The project sounds fairly simple. For each alley a resident ‘Champion’ will be identified as the lead for their alley. Each Champion will link with local residents in their alley to help them put forward their ideas for improving their alley.
Inner city areas in Leeds like Armley, Holbeck and Beeston have struggled for decades with neglected bin yards and alleys.
This initiative in Middlesbrough would easily translate to Leeds. As one Armley resident said:
“This looks wonderful. It gives the place a sense of pride and hopefully teaches the little children to respect growing things even if they only have a small back yard it can all still be beautiful. Congratulations to all concerned with this project. Great community spirit.”
Another added:
“Our community spirit came back through lockdown, let’s use it not lose it. Armley is lost, let’s find it, let’s make it sparkle and shine again. Start with the rubbish. If it will go in a bin don’t walk past it pick it up, sweep up outside where you live ,if the council can’t do it we can just a simple thing by keeping you street clean. It’s a start.”
It’d be great if some community-spirited individuals in Armley thought this was a good idea and started to natter their local councillors to try make this a reality in West Leeds. Or even start something going themselves.
Let’s hope this idea makes it beyond just being Facebook chat…
