Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious road traffic collision, which occurred yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 19 July) on Carr Road in Calverley.
At around 12.24pm, a Toyota Yaris was icollided with a Land Rover Discovery travelling in the opposite direction.
The 80-year-old man driving of the Yaris received serious chest injuries and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment. He is currently in a stable condition.
It is believed he suffered a medical episode at the wheel.
The 54-year-old male driver and 47-year-old female passenger in the Land Rover, did not receive serious injury.
Any witnesses to the incident, or anyone with Dashcam footage, should contact the non-emergency number 101.
A Farnley and Wortley councillor has expressed concerns over the potential re-opening of Leeds schools in September, writes David Spereall.
The city’s schools should all be back open straight after the summer holidays to stop pupils “falling behind”, according to Leeds Tories.
They accused the council’s controlling Labour group of failing to show leadership during the pandemic, after the authority said individual head teachers could decide whether or not to welcome students back at the start of June.
Labour indicated it wanted the goverment to set up a “co-ordinated national plan” to get children back to school.
But the party’s councillors also said they wanted to give local schools flexibility to continue online learning, particularly in places where pupils may be unable to keep a safe distance from each other.
Defending the council’s approach during the early summer at an online meeting on Wednesday, Green Party councillor Ann Forsaith (Farnley & Wortley) said that principals, teaching unions and parents had all “expressed deep concerns” ahead of the government’s proposed reopening date of June 1.
She added: “If some schools go back in September with 30 children in classrooms, albeit in bubbles, there will be no social distancing and the chances are there will be a second wave much worse than the first.
“Education doesn’t just have to be in school, other community facilities could be used.
“Our schools have alreay gone above and beyond what was expected of them and they now face the prospect of having to carry out more risk assessments.”
But the Conservatives claimed Leeds pupils were “falling behind the rest of Europe” because of the council’s approach.
Coun Dan Cohen said: “We want our young people back in school in September.
“We appreciate you don’t have all the levers, but you have influence.
“Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, it’s really time this administration started focusing on what it can do.
“I appreciate that may be harder than blaming the Government, but it’s what’s needed and what people in this city expect to happen.”
The full council meeting was the very first of its kind to be held virtually by Leeds City Council.
But technical problems caused severe disruption as almost all of the city’s 99 elected members tried to tune in on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a delay of around three-and-a-half hours before proceedings got under way.
Interplay Theatre has issued a special invitation for families to join them for ‘The Adventures of Walter Lemonface’ and ‘Mustacha’s Apprentice’ next week.
The event will take place on Thursday 30th July 2020, in the gardens of Interplay Theatre on Armley Ridge Road in Armley.
It will consist of a 25-minute live story experience with live music and animation, ‘The Adventures of Walter Lemonface’, by 154 Collective .
There will also be a 25-minute story workshop, ‘Mustacha’s Apprentice’, where you will be invited to make up and play out your own stories.
The event is free.
The stories are ideal for children aged three to 11 years old and their families. A spokesperson said:
“There will be social distancing enforced so you will not be interacting with other families as well as safe practices and use of PPE available to all staff/artists and attendees. We have a limited number of seats available and due to COVID-19 we have to ensure all households register their time slot beforehand.
“You can come as a household group of up to six people who live in your household or are within your ‘support bubble’.”
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has written to Leeds City Council to urge the authority to do all it can to reopen local playgrounds following the Government easing of lockdown restrictions.
In her letter (full text below) to Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for environment at LCC, Rachel Reeves raised concerns of parents who are unhappy because their local playgrounds have not yet re-opened.
Only six out of 200 playgrounds in Leeds have officially re-opened across the city – and they are too far for parents to travel easily from the four Leeds West wards of Armley, Bramley & Stanningley, Farnley & Wortley, and Kirkstall.
Ms Reeves is now urging the Council to reopen the remaining playgrounds to ensure children have a “safe and convenient” place to play after four months of lockdown restrictions. She said:
“The guidance and support from central Government about reopening playgrounds and parks has been poor. However, I am urging Leeds City Council to do everything in its power to urgently reopen our local parks.
“There are 26 blocks of high-rise flats in Leeds West and thousands of homes without gardens. These playgrounds are vital in helping children let off steam and are a lifeline in terms of their physical and mental health wellbeing.
“I hope Leeds City Council will act quickly and respond to the concerns of local parents to get local playgrounds safely reopened as swiftly as possible.”
The council announced six playgrounds would be re-opening, but Cllr Rafique spoke at the time of the difficulties of maintaining Government guidelines. He added:
“We are grateful for your continued patience as we work towards making sure the equipment is cleaned and safe for use in line with government guidance.
“We ask the public to remain responsible, stay socially distant, and both adults and children need to follow good hygiene practices to ensure the play areas can be enjoyed by everyone.”
MP Rachel Reeves
Rachel Reeves’ letter in full
Dear Councillor Rafique,
It is welcome that Leeds City Council is reopening playgrounds at the Arium, Lotherton Hall, Temple Newsam and Middleton Park, as well as the two in Roundhay Park.
However, those are on the other side of the city and they will be very hard to access for parents in the Leeds West wards of Armley, Bramley and Stanningley, Farnley and Wortley, and Kirkstall.
There are 26 blocks of high-rise flats in Leeds West and thousands of other homes which do not have gardens. After four months of lockdown, families urgently need a safe and convenient space where their children can play.
Several parents in Leeds West have been in touch with me because are they are unhappy that all the playgrounds that the Council is reopening are across the city. They want to know when their local play areas will reopen.
Other local authorities across the country have been far quicker at reopening their playgrounds.
Can you tell me know when the playgrounds in the four wards of my constituency of Leeds West will reopen? If Leeds City Council is planning a phased reopening, can I urge you to ensure at least some of the playgrounds can reopen in Leeds West as soon as possible?
While public safety remains the top priority for all of us, it is vital for the physical and mental health of children that they get the chance to play and exercise outdoors after so many weeks abiding by lockdown rules.
I look forward to hearing from you. Given the public interest in this issue, I will be making this letter public.
A new website to help people in some of the city’s poorest areas find work has been launched this week, writes Richard Beecham.
The new Employment Skills Leeds website will help match up businesses around Leeds with those seeking work and skills opportunities, Leeds City Council has claimed.
It follows a council service that works with communities, particularly in Leeds’s most deprived areas, and provides people looking for employment and skills opportunities with the right knowledge to succeed.
The authority also claims the service also offers support to businesses to help them “recruit, retain and develop a skilled and inclusive workforce”.
Jonathon Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for learning, skills and employment, said:
“We are proud of the variety of support we are able to offer those looking for employment and skills opportunities in Leeds and we want to ensure this support is as accessible as possible as we navigate the difficult months ahead.
“The new website will ensure all our information, advice and guidance on employment and skills support in Leeds sits in one place, is updated regularly and can be accessed with just the click of a button. The service will continue the crucial work they do out in communities, which includes supporting those without internet access.”
Visitors to the site can get help finding a job using Leeds Employment Hub, learn about apprenticeships via Leeds Apprenticeship Hub or find adult learning courses through Leeds Learning Hub.
The website also offers advice and guidance for employers looking to recruit or train their workforce.
Residents seeking employment can use the site to be put in touch with advisors who can provide free individual support, ranging from help practising for interviews to advice about becoming self-employed.
Between April 2019 and March 2020, Employment and Skills Leeds helped 5,414 people into work and 6,921 people gain new skills. They supported 291 businesses with their recruitment during the same time frame.
As mills go, Temple Mill in Holbeck has to be one of the best looking in Leeds, writes Mark Stevenson.
Temnple Works in Holbeck. Photo: Mark Stevenson
Its look is said to be based on the temple at Antaeopolis and Temple of Horus at Edfu in Egypt.
It is said that the main building was the largest single room in the world when it was first opened in the 1840s and remained so until Crystal Palace was built for the Great Exhibition 13 years later.
Historic Kirkstall Viaduct. Photo: Mark Stevenson
The mill was owned by the Marshall family. One of them, Henry Cowper Marshall, was chairman of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway company.
When the company announced its intended location for the new Headingley Railway Station he told them along with Christopher Beckett, a director of the company, to think again.
There was no way they were having a railway line at the bottom of their garden. So the station was built in Kirkstall but still called Headingley Station, even though it was a mile or so up the road.
Photo: Mark Stevenson
Just like in the old cowboy films, it is a time of opportunity when the railroad comes to town and, most importantly, a chance for people to get rich or richer.
The feelgood factor did not last long because a viaduct was planned and it was thought people wanting to get away from the city would not wish to live near it. So ‘affordable’ housing and factories were built instead. The viaduct in question is Kirkstall Viaduct (best looking in Leeds) built in 1849.
Spanning the River Aire: Kirkstall Viaduct. Photo: Mark Stevenson
One thing I have always wondered about Viaduct Road is where it gets its name from. Is it from the very obvious Kirkstall Viaduct or is it from the less obvious viaduct underneath the road?
Plans to turn a family home into a shared property have been granted by Leeds City Council.
Simon Eccles, of Shadwell, successfully applied to turn the mid-terrace property at 113 Stanningley Road into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
This means the house can be occupied by five unrelated adults who will share facilities, namely the existing kitchen/dining room and living room, and the existing first floor and proposed lower ground floor bathrooms.
“The evidence provided by the applicant is not considered sufficient, on the balance of probabilities, to demonstrate that the existing use as a HMO is lawful in accordance with the relevant legislation. The application for a Certificate of Lawful Use is therefore refused.“
Last delivery at Armley Helping Hands, who presented flowers and wine to say thanks.
After 16 weeks, 2,812 orders and 282 donations to Armley Helping Hands, a Kirkstall-based family business has delivered its last vegetable box. Home Veg Box team Simon, Julia, Sam, Chloe, Lou and Phil share their thoughts…
What a strange few months this has been!
Here at Home Veg Box in Kirkstall, we set out to help the people of West and North Leeds access fresh fruit and veg for themselves and their families during the lockdown. Bringing people the best produce for the very best value has been our mission and our pleasure.
Phil takes another donation down to the lovely people at Armley Helping Hands
We’ve delivered come rain or shine (but mostly in glorious sunshine), brought smiles to people is isolation, friendly waves to children, celebrated VE Day in style, shared favourite recipes, sliced up melons and pineapple for an someone with arthritic hands, sponsored a school project (VegRocks!), introduced an elderly person to mango for the first time ever, and donated crate loads of food to Armley Helping Hands. We’ve loved every second of it.
Making an impact – Jules and Simon Love.
None of this would have been possible without the support of our loyal customers, and we want to say a massive thank you for believing in this small, local family business during the Covid crisis.
With the rest of the world beginning to pick up the pieces of their business and open their doors once again, it’s time for us to get back to our own businesses, doing what we really do best.
Simon and Julia will be returning to being Moving and Handling trainers at LPS Training & Consultancy, Sam is picking up his paintbrushes again at Love’s Decorating and Chloe is focusing on her string quartet India Rose Strings and teaching singing and Cello.
Lou’s workload as a company administrator and bookkeeper is getting back to normality and Phil is back to creating websites and supporting his clients with their IT queries.
It was with a heavy heart that decided our very last delivery day would be Friday 17th July.
Chloe Merriott in 40’s attire
It’s been a tough decision and we will be very sorry not to see our lovely customers each week.
We hope everyone remains safe and well and we continue to spare a thought for the NHS, still working tirelessly through to the very end of the lockdown and beyond.
We are so proud of our little family and what we’ve accomplished for the community during this trying time.
Thank you for helping us make a difference.
Jules and Simon Love live in Kirkstall, their son Sam Love and his wife Chloe live in Bramley, Julia’s brother Philip Cave and girlfriend Lou live in Armley.
This year on 1 August, Pudsey will be flying the White Rose flag in style to mark the day that celebrates all things Yorkshire.
60 Yorkshire flags will fly from the brackets that usually host Christmas trees across the town, in a scheme organised by Pudsey councillor, Simon Seary, with the help of Paul Mann and Simon Hall.
Cllr Simon Seary
Cllr Seary, who is also chair of the Pudsey Carnival and the Christmas Lights appeal said:
“This year to mark the Carnival in May, we had hoped to fly flags across the town, but with the Coronavirus pandemic intervening we weren’t able to do so. So I am delighted that we can mark this special day with a bit of Yorkshire cheer.”
Businesses in Pudsey are being asked to play their part too.
Cllr Seary added:
“We would love for any business in Pudsey to decorate their shop or premises, to bring a little smile to the faces of those who pass by. It’s been a difficult few months, and we hope that this helps to bring some light relief.
“The people of Pudsey have done so much good in recent months, not least those working in the NHS and on the front line – we are grateful for what they’ve done.”
If this scheme is successful the organisers are hoping to buy more flags to cover a wider area in 2021, and are investigating whether some flags with the Pudsey coat of arms might be possible.
Plans: Pudsey St Lawrence. Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
With the return of international cricket and the continued easing of physical distancing rules, west Leeds cricket clubs have been preparing to welcome matches and members back to their grounds.
There are seven clubs across west Leeds, from Kirkstall to Pudsey, and Calverley to Farnley. Community reporter Jim Corah spoke to some of them to see how they were preparing for the return of cricket, what precautions they have in place, and what they thought about the first international test cricket since lockdown.
Today: We feature Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club and the rest of the clubs.
Most clubs will start fixtures over the next few weekends, check on their Facebook pages for fixture details.
Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club has been playing since 1853 as the educators of the Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League. KECC play at the Field of Dreams, on Queenswood Drive, though they have also played in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey.
Prepared: Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club
KECC’s Nick Davies said that the club were hoping to start a condensed league from Saturday 18 July, though were waiting on confirmation from the league (at time of interview).
The club have been busy during lockdown, with the bar refitted, electrics done, dressing rooms revamped, with new mobile nets and covers. They were also “finally” getting the overgrown hedge cut in a couple weeks.
The ground “itself looks as immaculate as ever”.
Calverley St Wilfrid’s Cricket Clubplay at Victoria Park, Calverley, running three teams on the Airedale & Wharfedale Senior League. They have very active junior teams.
Farsley Cricket Club play at the Pavillion Red Lane, Farsley, having formed in 1864. The club play in the Bradford Cricket League, and notable players include Raymond Illingworth who started as a junior and returned to play for the club after his first class career ended.
New Farnley Cricket Club formed in 1952 and are based at the Barry Jackson Ground, Lawns Lane, New Farnley Village. The club has teams in the first division of the Bradford Cricket League.
Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club formed in 1845 and celebrated a centenary at their present Tofts Road, Pudsey, in 1989. Sir Leonard Hutton played for the club either side of the Second World War. They play in Bradford Cricket League’s Premier League.
Kirkstall residents Sam and Robert Esterine are this week’s winners of a West Leeds Local Hero award, writes Jo Fiddes.
The duo were nominated by Janey Dicker, who said:
“They help collect and deliver food and supplies around Hawksworth Wood for the local foodbank, as well as organising socially distanced keep fit sessions and generally going out of their way to help anyone in need. They’re just the most selfless, lovely people.”
The winners received a virtual congratulations via Zoom from Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, who is running the awards. She said:
“I really enjoyed meeting with Sam and Robert today – they have been pivotal in helping local residents during this period, and they truly deserve the award. Thank you Sam and Robert!”
Councillor John Illingworth (Lab, Kirkstall) was also able to join the meeting to offer his thanks on behalf of Kirkstall councillors and residents.
Nominations for the Leeds West Local Hero are now closed, but winners will continue to be announced until the end of August.
