Rodley Cricket Club played their first homer game after lockdown ended on Saturday, recording a win against Adwalton in Division Three of the Bradford League.
WLD photographer Simon Cullingworth captured some of the action from the day.
Check out more of Simon’s Snaps here.
Bramley-based Leeds Esprit Gymnastics Club has been awarded £5,850 of National Lottery funding to help the clubduring the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.
Sport England have provided a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through Covid-19.
Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, made up of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.
The grant will help Leeds Esprit Gymnastics Club – which serves the Bramley, Pudsey and Swinnow areas – to cover ongoing costs such as insurance, occurring bills and maintenance costs over the coming months.
Chris Walker, one of Leeds Esprit’s Head coaches, said:
“As a community sports club, we are understandably concerned about the future of the club.
“We don’t have large reserves of money, as any extra funds along with fundraising, are always spent on improving the gym and buying new exciting equipment for all the members.
“At present finances for the coming months are stretched as our sources of income have ceased, but our regular commitments still have to be paid. We are trying our best to secure the future of the club. This grant will really help towards paying our bills, and maintaining the gym. We are very grateful to Sport England for their amazing support at this very worrying and difficult time.”
Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said:
“The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.
“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Leeds Esprit Gymnastics Club to help it through these extremely challenging times.”
Popular street artist Andy McVeigh – aka Burley Banksy – has said he will no longer paint in the area around his home due to repeated vandalism.
The artist has been decorating street furniture in the Burley and Kirkstall areas for year, before rising to fame with his Leeds United themed electircity boxes near Elland Road football ground.
The boxes were also targeted by a separate group calling themselves Leeds Residents Against Graffiti.
The 50-year-old said his work was constantly being defaced, but damage to a joint mural (pictured above) he did in memory of a friend who took his own life were the final straw.
This is me done with the street art,I'm afraid. Haven't got time or emotional energy to keep repairing them. Most get ruined. You'll never win against scumbags like these. Also getting abusive messages written about me on my street so they know where I live. V unsettling & I'm pic.twitter.com/6lykHvg65o
— Andy McVeigh (@pantsdanny) August 3, 2020
Mr McVeigh, a teacher, posted on social media:
“This is me done with the street art, I’m afraid. Haven’t got time or emotional energy to keep repairing them. Most get ruined.
“You’ll never win against scumbags like these.
“Also getting abusive messages written about me on my street so they know where I live.
“Very unsettling and I’m concerned next stage is maybe damaging my van or house.”
Mr McVeigh said he could no longer keep up with repairs to his work. He added:
“It takes probably eight hours to do one then two times that for repairs. Have to earn living. Council/cops can’t help they say. It’s affecting mental health. Up all night as now when hear noise outside at 2am I’m worried it’s graffiti lads about to put windows through after messages they wrote.”
Hundreds of supporters on Twitter have rallied round Mr McVeigh.
@placid_casual tweeted:
“Don’t let them win!! Your work does so much good for the city. Keep it up, the positives outweigh negatives.”
Jacqui Honess-Martin added:
“You’ve made a massive change to Burley for the better and as an LS4 resident I will be forever grateful. Thank you.”
Darren John Young added:
“For what it’s worth Andy, for every one arsehole that defaces your work, there are 20,000 Leeds fans who think what you do is absolutely fantastic. I get the security concerns though and you have to do what’s right for you. Whatever you decide, good on ya. MOT.”
A new low-traffic neighbourhood in Burley will be created part of a £2.5 million package to create more space for cycling and walking on West Yorkshire’s roads.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been awarded the money from the government to deliver the first phase of ambitious proposals to ease the pressure on public transport and relieve traffic congestion.
Transport chiefs have earmarked busy Haddon Road to become a pedestrian and cycle friendly zone.
Restrictions are proposed at certain times of day or all day as part of the creation of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood.
Similar schemes would be implemented in Beeston, Hyde Park and Chapeltown in Leeds.
In partnership with local authorities, the Combined Authority is aiming to deliver a wide-ranging programme of trial cycling and walking measures, with schemes starting in the coming weeks.
Protected trial cycle lanes will be created along key routes into city and town centres, including:
This will be supported by the creation of walking and cycling zones in towns, including Brighouse, Elland, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden in Calderdale, as well as restricting traffic in Dewsbury and Huddersfield in Kirklees, with access by public transport and disabled parking spaces retained. Pavements will be widened and crossings improved to make it easier for people to access shops and services on foot, while maintaining social distancing.
Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“We are pleased that the Government has recognised our ambition to put cycling and walking at the centre of our response to the transport challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The plan for future investment in cycling and walking, announced yesterday, will help us build on the significant progress we’ve already made to enable more people to travel by bike and on foot – and, indeed, strengthens our future plans for the £317 million Transforming Cities Fund announced earlier this year.
“New research is showing we need to increase cycling and walking trips by at least 2,000% and 78% respectively to achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038. Long-term, sustainable and flexible Government funding is absolutely vital in helping us meet these ambitions.”
New secure bike parking will be introduced in town and city centres, as well as at rail stations and other destinations, including the creation of a pop-up hub on St George’s Square, Huddersfield.
The Combined Authority, through its CityConnect programme, will provide increased support to help people travel by bike, including support for businesses and community groups, free adult cycle training and e-cargo bike loans in Leeds and Bradford.
The Combined Authority has been provisionally allocated £12.5m from the Emergency Active Travel Fund. Following confirmation of this first phase of funding of £2.5m, the Combined Authority is working with partner councils on a second submission to government to access the remainder of the funding.
Ever fancied getting your hands dirty by helping out at West Leeds’s newest community-led farm? Well now’s your chance!
Come down and talk to members of the Kirkstall Valley Farm steering group to find out more about the farm’s aims and objectives – and discover how you can get more involved at the 16-acre former Burley Mills Farm site.
Farm chair Roger Plumtree will be leading groups of six on walks and talks on Friday 14th (6pm) Saturday 15th and Sun 16th August (10am, 1pm and 3pm).
Booking is essential to keep group sizes down. Please e-mail Roger on roger.plumtree@kvdt.org.uk.
Farm helpers are also inviting people to join them for ‘Mystical Summer Holiday’ family games and activities this month:
In the 12 weeks to February farm volunteers crowdfunded £45,000 from over 300 supporters to get the farm going. Sadly the coronavirus has put back plans, but the 135 members have formed growing, structures, events, wildlife and marketing groups that are ready to go.
At the same time volunteers have revitalised the allotments on the site, which has grown from six plot holders to more than 20.
The farm is supported by the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust and is based off Kirkstall Road, accessed from the side of Ready Steady Store. It was privately farmed for many years until the leaseholder died in 2017.
Nine speeding tickets have been issued by police in a bid to crack down on dangerous driving along the busy A65 Kirkstall Road.
Officers from the roads policing unit conducted a traffic operation last week, resulting in the tickets being issued for speeding.
Police also seized a vehicle after it was found to have no insurance.
A vehicle was also seized in Armley. The driver was reported for having no insurance and driving without a licence.
Volunteers at Litter Free Pudsey group are expanding their clean-up operations beyond the town’s boundary – by hosting a litter pick in Farsley.
The community action will be held on Sunday (8 August) from 1pm–3pm, meet at Jasper’s Coffee Shop on Farsley Town Street.
Let’s work together as a team to clean up the areas that are most important to us, our loved ones and our community.
One of the organisers, James Crabtree, said:
“We will be working with dog-friendly cafe Jaspers and the Farsley community to help tidy the neighbourhood.
“All equipment will be provided and we will have to work in groups of six to be in line with Covid rules. If you would prefer to bring your own PPE then that’s no problem and wear appropriate clothing.
“This gives us all a chance to take pride in where we live, do our bit for the community and socialise with new like-minded people. So bring family, bring friends and let’s make Pudsey, Farsley and our surrounding areas litter free.”
More details here.
Plans for a supported living complex on the site former funeral directors’ building in Stanningley have been refused by Leeds City Council.
Plans – first reported here – included the demolition of the existing building construction of a specialist complex comprising of 12 flats and eight bungalows at The Homestead, at Wheater’s Fold, off Stanningley Town Street.
A total of 20 full-time staff would have been employed at the development, according to plans submitted by Mr Partakis of Regent Street, London.
A planning officer’s report refusing the application criticised the ‘not complimentary’ design of the two blocks, before concluding:
“The proposed layout … and the internal configuration, outlook and aspect of the
residential units is considered to be constrained, overly tight and crowded within the
site and in relation to surrounding land uses and buildings, with little scope for
meaningful softer landscaping.
“This in turn leads to a poor internal and external environment and setting for both prospective residents and that of the site set in its surrounding area.
“Notwithstanding the unacceptable loss of trees to the northern boundary, no replacement planting is offered. The application is considered contrary to good design principles…”
The applicant had argued the scheme provided a ‘real opportunity to enhance the site, provide much-needed assisted living housing and improve the appearance of the site”.
View the plans in full here.
Farnley residents Rebecca Durrant and Craig Parker have been crowned this week’s West Leeds Local Heroes, writes Jo Fiddes.
These two local champions volunteered time over the Easter Weekend and the VE Day Bank Holiday Weekend to make food for local older people.
They cooked up a roast dinner with pudding ready to heat up on Easter Sunday for older people living alone. In addition, to mark the 100th Anniversary of VE Day they made up afternoon teas which were delivered by volunteers from Bramley Elderly Action.
This was to show appreciation and support for some of those who had served in the forces.
Arriving on their doorstep with a “Hero” certificate and a bunch of flowers, Ms Reeves, who founded the West Leeds Hero awards, was able to congratulate the winners in person.
Craig had helped set up the surprise visit from Ms Reeves, believing his partner Rebecca was the sole winner. However, unbeknown to him, he had also received an award.
The surprise was a very welcome one for Rebecca and Craig, who were thrilled to have received this recognition, although with typical generosity of spirit Rebecca said:
“There are so many other people who deserve this.”
Ms Reeves added:
“Like so many people in our community, Rebecca and Craig give their time and energy to support and help others, often people they have never even met. They do this because it’s the right thing to do, and not for any reward or recognition.
“They really deserve this award and I hope it takes pride of place on their wall, perhaps next to Craig’s framed photo of Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa!”
Nominations are now closed but watch out for another recipient next week.
I read a while ago in the WLD that this place is going to be hundreds of flats and the first thing I thought was how long before they are flooded and what happens if it floods whilst one of those tall cranes is in place? writes Mark Stevenson.
Over the years this old building has been many things. It was built in 1892, and on the 1908 maps it is marked down as ‘Viaduct Tanneries’.
By the 1950s it was a tobacco factory. One thing I find ironic is Burley Bridge Mills next door to it was making surgical instruments at the time. One place was making a product that kills us, the other to help cure us.
In the 1970s it was a clothing factory. Thyssen Krupp Woodhead Ltd were the last occupants of this site on Kirkstall Road from 1999 to 2015, when it was forced to close due to flooding from the River Aire.
I say that Thyssen Krupp were the last occupants but that’s not technically true. When I was there it was occupied by a handful of homeless people.
Each week we publish lists of planning applications related to council wards in West Leeds.
The following applications were published on on the Leeds City Council website in the past seven days:
Tree works, Abbey Retail Park, Savins Mill Way, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5.
In this month’s column, Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves talks about how people and organisations are getting back on their feet following the Covid-19 lockdown and pays tribute to the work of “local heroes”.
I was pleased to see at first hand work well under way at St Mary’s Hospital on the new Children and Adolescents Mental Health Facility. It is vital that the Government prioritises further investment in our mental health services, especially given the increased strain young people are experiencing due to Covid-19.
Supporting young people’s mental health, particularly through prevention and early intervention, is absolutely crucial. On average, one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime, and half of adult mental health illnesses develop before the age of 14. So, it was inspiring to visit St Mary’s and I look forward to the completion of the new unit next year.
I made a guest appearance as a bingo caller when I dropped in on Bramley Elderly Action to see some of the creative ways they have developed to continue their work during the pandemic.
Their fantastic efforts have included early morning food shopping, delivering essential supplies to the elderly and those who might be shielding, phone calls and welfare checks – and now they’ve come up with another inventive way to help ward off lockdown loneliness and strengthen neighbourly bonds. Backyard bingo!
Despite some terrible weather, the residents of Airedale Cliff held their very first Backyard Bingo session – with me as the bingo caller. Face-shields, gloves and a megaphone made for a very different sort of bingo game.
However, despite the social distancing and necessary safety measures, none of the fun was lost. We spent a very happy half hour playing the game before rain stopped play. Everyone who took part assured me that Backyard Bingo is set to become a new street tradition.
Throughout the last few difficult months, an army of key workers have kept us going. There’s the more obvious examples such as our brilliant NHS staff and care workers in general, but there’s also a whole host of others, such as postmen and women, retail assistants, bus drivers – the list goes on.
One of the nicest parts of my job is that it gives me an opportunity to thank some these key workers in person. I recently visited Tesco in Bramley to meet the manager and staff to thank them for the part they have played in keeping us fed throughout the crisis.
The retail industry has undergone so many changes through the pandemic, and has had to be incredibly adaptable and resilient in the face of major challenges.
A few months ago we would never have imagined shops where hand sanitising, perspex screens, outdoor queuing and mask-wearing were the norm, let alone considered that shelves would be emptied of toilet roll and pasta. Retail workers have had to work through all this, for the benefit of others. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
I was also able to thank some of our bus drivers who have kept us moving in these difficult times. The service they provided has been essential for other key workers, especially NHS staff needing to get to our hospitals.
My visit to the Bramley Bus Depot was a chance to meet some of the drivers and backroom staff. They too have made an invaluable contribution in these strange times, and I hope I speak for us all when I say we are incredibly grateful.
It was only a few years ago I successfully campaigned against a reduction in opening hours for both Bramley and Armley libraries.
Fast forward to today and both are thriving community hubs, offering so much more than a book-lending service.
Following a considerable financial investment from Leeds City Council, Armley Library and Community Hub has undergone significant improvements which befit such a landmark building.
As well as seeing the improvements first hand, I was able to talk to staff about the services they provide and how they have adapted in light of the coronavirus guidelines, including a click-and-collect book lending service. This significant investment will secure the future of the library and hub for many years to come – which is great news.
My Leeds West Local Hero Awards are running until the end of August. I have received so many emails about the work and impact these unsung heroes make to our community.
It has been genuinely inspirational to read about so many individuals and organisations that just get on with making other people’s lives better, with no thought of reward or recognition for themselves.
These awards have been so successful that I am now considering running them annually. Good news stories can sometimes seem to be in short supply, but it is a testament to the people of West Leeds that you don’t have to look too far to find so many brilliant examples of community spirit.
At the time of writing, we have had the following worthy winners – Briony Robertson, Elizabeth Porterhouse, Sam Horner, Sam and Robert Esterine, Cherie Cartwright, and Craig Parker and Rebecca Durrant.
