Police have issued a warning over a scam in West Leeds which sees thieves driving off in vehicles they’re claiming to buy.
Leeds West police highlighted the rise in vehicle theft this week and produced a set of guidelines to prevent cars being stolen. A spokesperson said:
“In particular it involves individuals purporting to purchase vehicles advertised online. Upon viewing the vehicle advertised, the suspect drives the vehicle away without making payment.
“When selling your vehicle ensure that you don’t hand over keys/possession until you have received payment.
“Ensure you advertise your vehicle on a reputable site, particularly those that offer seller/buyer protection.”
Calverley Post Office was a finalist in the Community Engagement category at the Post Office’s ‘We’re Stronger Together’ regional awards.
The awards recognise the efforts made by postmasters across the region to keep branches open during the Covid-19 pandemic and serving their local community.
The work by Postmaster Waheeda Hussain, who runs Calverley Post Office, on Carr Road, was highlighted by Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read.
The Calverley team raised £510 for the NHS by hosting a curry night. They have also set up shop deliveries for the elderly and vulnerable in the community.
Calverley postmaster Waheeda Hussain said:
“It is great to receive this recognition. Fourteen plus years running Calverley Post Office. My family and I have given a lot, but we have also gained so much.”
Post Office Area Manager Melanie Shephard, praised Waheeda’s efforts. She said:
“The team at Calverley Post Office were nominated for the Community Engagement award for the money they have raised for the NHS and for the deliveries they have set up at their branch.
“The team raised £510 for the NHS by hosting a curry night and also set up shop deliveries for the elderly and vulnerable in the community. Meanwhile the Post Office has been open full time and continues to promote services like Drop & Go, which helps local businesses.”
Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said:
“I have heard many inspiring stories of postmasters going the extra mile and I have welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand how postmasters in the North of England have fared during the pandemic including Calverley. All retailers have been affected and Post Office was no exception. The next few weeks and months will be a critical period as we try and return to a sense of normality.”
Postmasters heard more at the event about three areas of their business that could help them recover some of the lost trade as a result of the pandemic – mail and parcels, banking – cash withdrawals and deposits, and the return in demand for foreign exchange.
With the return of international cricket and the continued easing of physical distancing rules to allow more regular activities to take place, west Leeds cricket clubs have been making preparations to welcome matches and members back to their grounds. There are seven clubs across west Leeds playing in grounds from Kirkstall to Pudsey, Calverley to Farsley.
Community reporter Jim Corah spoke to some of them to see how they were doing with the return of cricket, what precautions they have in place, and what they thought about the first international test cricket since lockdown. Today: Pudsey Congs Cricket Club.
Chris Doey, on the management committee at Pudsey Congs, who play at the Amber Cars Britannia Ground on Intake Road, said that it was exciting cricket was returning because in March they thought they would never play cricket this summer.
Congs’ first Bradford League match will be on Saturday 25 July 2020 (opponent to be confirmed at time of writing), with a friendly on 18th July 2020. For this season the league has been rearranged slightly, with six teams per league instead of 12, with teams playing each other once.
There will not be promotion or relegation this year, so Congs will be focusing on promotion to the Premier League next year.
Pudsey Congs Cricket Club
The clubhouse has been open for spectators, with plenty of space outside if the weather is good enough, and room for 60 inside. Chris said that there were a number of entrances to the clubhouse which allows for flow.
Gazebos were being considered for the players, as they were unable to use the changing rooms. Extra benches have been put out though it remained “very much the same” experience for members and spectators alike.
Players had been training whenever possible through out lockdown. When restrictions allowed PCCC players trained one to one, then in groups of six, and up to 25 between the different squads.
It was very much the aim of “being prepared to play” as soon as the teams where allowed to, to be “fitter than the rest” as they already had the skill set to play. Congs trained on Saturdays, allowing them to offer out the Amber Cars Britannia Ground on Monday-Friday nights to pro and local coaches.
Chris also discussed the recent first Test between England and the West Indies. It was “different” and not the return expected, and obvious that not a lot of cricket had been played. Chris had arranged leave to watch the first day from home, though it had been a rainy day.
Despite the result it was great to see cricket again, and in three or four games England should “be okay”.
A public consultation on the future of statues and monuments in Leeds has now started – and residents are being urged to have their say.
The review first announced last month will seek views and recommendations on how the city could better honour and represent inclusivity and diversity in public spaces, particularly in response to issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.
The review is independent from Leeds City Council and is chaired by Honorary Alderwoman Alison Lowe, who was the first female black city councillor in Leeds, serving the Armley Ward from 1990 to 2019.
Honorary Alderwoman Lowe will be supported in carrying out the review by a group of people with historical expertise, including from civic watchdog Leeds Civic Trust and higher education institutions in Leeds.
An initial inventory of statues in Leeds has been shared and the review is seeking views on them, as well as views on how to better portray, interpret and celebrate Leeds and its history.
The review looks at the importance and significance of specific statues to Leeds, any concerns about individuals currently represented, and the best ways to explain the historical context of statues, through information boards for instance.
Honorary Alderwoman Lowe said:
“As a historian I am delighted to have been asked to chair this review and have already discovered new facets of the history of Leeds and its people through our early investigations. In order to complete the review I urge people to get involved so that all voices can be heard. I look forward to seeing and hearing all the responses.”
Honorary Alderwoman Lowe is also interested to hear about any individuals or groups that are considered to be noticeably absent – although the review will not be itself recommending named individuals to be honoured – and how Leeds can best honour and represent significant individuals or groups in future.
Public consultation will run until Friday 31 July, with a report and recommendations expected to be published and presented to Leeds City Council’s executive board for consideration in the autumn.
Councillors have voted against pursuing the next stages of a planned major road in the green belt between Bradford and Pudsey following concerns about its environmental impact.
The huge infrastructure scheme would link Westgate Hill roundabout with the East of Bradford, removing traffic from busy Tong Street and the Holme Wood estate.
The route has been in the planning stages for as far back as 2012, and last summer West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which will fund £46.3 million of the estimated £64.2 million cost, agreed to provide £1.2 million to fund an outline business case for the road so the project could move forward.
The road would have unlocked the possibility of building more than 2,500 homes – a prospect opposed by campaigners in Pudsey and Tong Village.
But Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee heard Tong and Fulneck Valley Association chairwoman Julia McGoldrick criticise the potential effects on Green Belt, ancient woodland and wildlife.
She labelled the proposals as “outdated” and said 4,000 people from both Bradford and Leeds registered their opposition last year.
Cllr Michael Johnson (Labour), who supported the scheme in general, said he was opposed to a road going through Black Carr Woods.
Another councillors said the plans weren’t just about building another road for the sake of it, but regenerating south Bradford.
The committee voted against the recommendation by five to four.
Conservatives councillors in Horsforth, Pudsey and Calverley & Farsley wrote to the scrutiny board to voice concerns about the impact on the green belt. The letter was signed by councillors including Simon Seary, Mark Harrison and Trish Smith (Pudsey) and Andrew and Amanda Carter (Calverley and Farsley).
The decision was welcomed by Bradford Green party campaigner Matt Edwards, who said:
“We all know that building this new road won’t solve the traffic problem on Tong Street and it certainly won’t help us tackle climate emergency.
“Bradford Labour have been trying to force through this road – along with their plans for 2,500 houses – and they have finally been stopped in their tracks.
“Instead of trying to push this through undemocratically, the executive need to listen to this committee, and the thousands of people who objected. They need to sit down and come up with a real plan to make things better for people living in the area that will reduce traffic, not just move it around.”
A Pudsey headteacher says he is ‘bitterly disappointed’ after an Ofsted inspection said his school ‘required improvement’.
Co-Op Academy Priesthorpe principal Martin Blacoe criticised Ofsted inspectors who found the school ‘required improvement’ in four out of five areas following an inspection in March.
Martin Blacoe
Ofsted published its report today, and Mr Blacoe spoke of his disappointment in a letter to parents:
“We firmly believe this is an unjust outcome. However, we must not, and will not, let this deviate us from what is a sustained journey of upward school improvement.
“We have fought long and hard, on a platform of strong principles, values and beliefs to reach this point and must continue to do so. We absolutely believe we are a ‘Good’ school.
“A team of four highly experienced inspectors, including a Lead Inspector who had led on over 70 inspections and never had a judgment overturned, gathered extensive evidence over two days and arrived at the same collective conclusion.
“The Co-op Academies Trust stands shoulder to shoulder with us as an Academy, in the resolute belief that Ofsted have misjudged Priesthorpe.”
The report, which can be read in full here, is critical of students’ behaviour at the school, saying:
“Pupils have very mixed views about behaviour. Some pupils say behaviour is improving. However, other pupils told inspectors that disruption still occurs, and this has an impact on how well they can learn.
“Younger pupils, at times, feel intimidated by older pupils. Fixed-term exclusions are below the national average. However, a number of exclusions are for violent behaviour. The area that the school uses to remove pupils from lessons is not appropriate.”
The report adds that the quality of curriculum planning is variable. While praising planning in mathematics and science, inspectors found pupils did not achieve as well as they should in some subjects. The report adds:
“Teachers’ expectations of what pupils can achieve are not high enough across the curriculum.”
There’s also criticism of governors. The report says they ‘accept too readily’ what leaders tell them about the quality of education and pupils’ behaviour.
Mr Blacoe said inspectors had informed him on day two of the inspection that the overall effectiveness of Priesthorpe was ‘Good’. He then received a letter on 1 May which said that, following ‘enhanced quality assurance’, gradings provided at the end of our inspection had been changed.
In four of the five areas of the framework, the school’s grades had been reduced from ‘Good’ to ‘Requires Improvement’.
Co-op Academies Trust chief executive Chris Tomlinson, added:
“It goes without saying that we have an absolute belief that Priesthorpe is a good school and, like the Principal, senior leaders and governors, we are hugely disappointed with the final inspection outcome and how it has materialised.
“It is vital that we do not let this impact the hard work that goes on every day in the Academy and that, with staff, governors, students and parents, we will work tirelessly to prove that this is a Good school which will carry on improving.”
This was the first inspection since the school became an academy in July 2017. The visit was carried out by a team of five inspectors.
Leeds West Academy has announced a series of leadership changes at the school.
Christian Wilcocks has been permanently appointed as Executive Principal of the White Rose Academies Trust, from 1 September 2020.
Mr Wilcocks will lead the Trust’s School Improvement Team and will also act as deputy to the Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Whitaker, while also supporting other projects.
In addition, Daniel Whieldon has been appointed as Acting Principal of Leeds West Academy.
A spokesperson said:
“These changes will enable the Trust and the Luminate Education Group to grow, thrive and ensure that we deliver on our great promise.”
Mr Whieldon has been a key leader of the academy since he joined in January 2018 and will continue to use his skills and experience in school improvement and school effectiveness to drive improvements at the school.
Mr Whieldon will continue to be supported in his new role by Sam Pocock, Vice Principal (Quality of Education), who is charged with sustaining excellence in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and vice principal Ms Lorna Bradford, who leads on students’ personal development, behaviour and attitudes for Leeds West Academy.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has revived her monthly column for the Dispatch. Here, she reflects on the challenges of coronavirus and why she is privileged to represent the people of West Leeds.
A world of Zoom
It’s been a strange and challenging few months and we have all had to find new ways of working and staying in contact with people. That means switching face-to-face meetings for online discussions.
Zoom has become an essential tool for me for keeping up with local GPs, care homes, head teachers, councillors and others throughout the lockdown.
It has been very useful, but there’s nothing quite like meeting people in person. So, I was pleased when changes to the lockdown guidelines meant that I was able to finally re-start some social distanced meetings back in the constituency.
Community Hubs
Our community organisations in Leeds have been doing a great job helping people through these difficult times.
Last week, I visited Armley Helping Hands, BARCA, Kirkstall Valley Development Trust and New Wortley Community Centre to see some of their brilliant work.
Busy: New Wortley Community Centre
As well as talking about the challenges they have faced, they all spoke of the support they have had from the local community and from small and large businesses.
It was heartening to see such great examples of people pulling together with a common purpose – to support the vulnerable.
I was also pleased to help out with the Bramley Care Bears/Bramley Elderly Action food shop for older and shielding residents and see the support they have been offering.
And, I joined those delivering food from BARCA to Jacky on the Wythers, who posts on a local community page when food is available and distributes it from her garden.
Food support: Jacky from the Wythers.
Delivering Armley Helping Hands packages with Richard gave me the opportunity to learn more about what these organisations have been doing during the lockdown period. It’s a tremendous effort and I know their work is hugely appreciated.
Rachel Reeves with Adele Rae at Unit 11
Schools face ‘immense challenges’
Schools have faced some immense challenges delivering on the Government’s expectations. We all want children to be able to return to the classroom. But that has to be in a way that is safe for them and for teaching staff too. I’ve been in constant touch with school leaders in Leeds West to discuss solutions and raising their concerns at Westminster.
Before Covid-19 I regularly visited schools. However, that was not possible during the lockdown, so it was good to be able to thank Danny Carr (Dixon’s Unity) and Paula Head (Cobden Primary) in person – at a distance of course!
I have also just filmed the very first “Children’s Question Time with Rachel Reeves.”
I was really impressed by the quality of the questions that came from children at Armley Park, Beecroft, Burley St Matthias, Hollybush, Ryecroft, St Barts, Summerfield and Valley View.
They showed a real understanding of current affairs, including the Black Lives Matters campaign, the effect of Covid on charities and the impact of climate change.
However, I was unable to answer the question about when the local Nandos would re-open!
Paula Head from Cobden Primary in Farnley
Supporting local businesses
Many of us have changed our shopping habits in response to the Covid crisis. For some that has meant shopping much closer to home.
As the lockdown rules have eased, it provides a good chance to give some much-needed support to local shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and other businesses.
On a visit last week to Bramley Town Street, I grabbed a quick takeaway lunch from Persepolis which is soon to open as a restaurant as well as continue as a takeaway. A
fter I’d finished the day, I also managed to squeeze in a visit to the Sheesh Mahal for an excellent curry.
The Sheesh Mahal on Kirkstall Road.
Local Hero Awards
Hopefully, you will have seen details of the West Leeds Local Hero Awards on social media and in the Dispatch.
I was inspired to create these awards after Rana Singh, the site manager of Hollybush Primary School, contacted me to tell me about the work the head teacher Briony Robertson had been doing to support children and families.
Picking up a newspaper, switching on the news or scrolling through social media can be pretty depressing some days. So, I wanted to celebrate and highlight the many acts of kindness and generosity that are going on in West Leeds.
Briony was the first recipient of the new award, our second award went to Elizabeth Richardson of Porterhouse Cakes in Armley, and our third was awarded to Sam Horner of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation.
Dawn and her daughter Eliza started out painting the boxes. And it has now really taken off with arts collective Pyramid of Arts – which run groups in Bramley – designing and painting junction boxes with their art group as well as other local artists, including Leeds West Rocks.
Dawn said on Facebook:
“Nearly a year ago now we decided to see if we could track down the owners of the junction boxes and get permission to paint them… It took a very long time and a lot of dead ends but finally, we did it and had permission to paint the boxes just within Bramley. “
Then lockdown happened and everything ground to a halt.
“We couldn’t get paint from anywhere. We had bits and bobs at home but not much… we decided when lockdown eased to make a start…. boom!
“Box number one was started and finished within a couple of days. Things slowly started to open up again and we managed to get a bit of paint from people donating bits and bobs, so we cracked on and did a few more.
“We have just completed our 26th box. We have had a little bit of help along the way a couple of local artists have done a couple each (fantastic work) and we have more eager to help out in the future.”
The paint is supplied by Seagulls, meaning nothing goes to waste as the paint is recycled from unfinished pots. Books are a theme of many of the boxes but designs are branching out.
Bramley & Stanningley ward councillors Caroline Gruen, Jools Heselwood and Kevin Ritchie helped fund the project to cover costs such as paint and brushes.
Cllr Heselwood said:
“This is a fantastic project. The feedback from the community has been great with some really positive comments and so I would like to thank everyone who is involved, especially Dawn for coming up with such a great idea.
“People are spotting the boxes as they are out and about in Bramley and we have a Facebook page called Bramley Tate where photos of all the designs are posted. We are definitely brightening up Bramley one junction box at a time.”
Sam Horner, of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, has been announced as the latest recipient of the West Leeds Local Hero award, writes Jo Fiddes.
This award, created by Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves, is given to people who have gone above and beyond, and enriched their local community through acts of kindness and generosity. All winners have been nominated by members of the public.
Sam was nominated by Councillor Jim McKenna, who has been volunteering alongside him at the New Wortley Community Association.
This community hub has been responsible for delivering food packages and other essential supplies across Armley and Wortley throughout lockdown, and a whole army of people have been helping out.
Sam was singled out in in particular because of his unique approach to making his deliveries.
Sam dresses up as Elvis and serenades older residents who might be feeling lonely and isolated – from an appropriate social distance, of course!
The feedback has been incredibly positive – sometimes Sam/Elvis is the only person a resident sees all day.
So as well as providing a service to meet the physical needs of those who are elderly and/or shielding, Sam is also filling an emotional need by raising a smile and lifting the spirits.
Ms Reeves will continue to celebrate the community spirit of the people of West Leeds by distributing Local Hero Awards throughout July and August, but nominations have now closed. She added:
“We have had a tremendous response, so much so that I am considering making this an annual event. There are plenty of unsung heroes in our community and in the next few weeks I’m looking forward to publicly recognising even more of them.”
A view of the floods on Kirkstall Road in December 2015. Photo: Lizzie Coombes/@bettylawless
More than £22 million in extra government funding has been allocated to flood defences through the Kirkstall Valley and beyond to help stop a repeat of the devastating Boxing Day floods of 2015.
Leeds City Council has been granted £21m for phase two of its flood alleviation scheme, as well as £1.3m for natural flood management projects including an increase in woodland cover along the River Aire.
It is part of a £170m funding package the Government says will kick-start flood defence projects across England to protect homes, businesses and jobs.
The extra funding comes after months of lobbying by city leaders for government to give the city the one-200-year protection it needs to avoid a repeat of the devastating 2015 boxing day floods, which damaged businesses and homes when the River Aire broke its banks.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
Last winter I saw for myself the misery and upheaval that flooding can bring to lives and livelihoods and I said we would do more to help people.
This long-term plan will help push back the flood waters and protect hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and livelihoods.
Our record investment will also stimulate economic growth across the UK as we build back better.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves welcomed the extra funding and said:
“It is fantastic news that after almost five years of dragging their feet that the Government have finally approved the vital funds needed to properly protect Leeds from future floods.
“The floods on Boxing Day 2015 had a catastrophic impact on businesses in Kirkstall and Burley. I’m glad the Government has listened and that Leeds will get its flood defences at last.
“I will continue to keep the pressure up to ensure these defences are in place as swiftly as possible.”
Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“This commitment by the government to allocate additional funding towards flood schemes in Leeds is welcome news and a huge endorsement of the tenacity and determination shown by all those who have continued to work so hard to ensure our city and communities are protected from the devastating impact of flooding.
“We are still working to understand the details of the funding being made available but this announcement will be particularly significant for the next step of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 and we look forward to working with our local partners and central government towards delivering the scheme in full.”
Leader of the Conservative group on Leeds City Council, Cllr Andrew Carter said:
“This brings the total Government funding to £100 million pounds, the most for any scheme in England since 2015.
“On top of that, and of particular interest to local residents is that a further sum of £1.3 million pounds is to be allocated by the Government to Leeds for natural flood defences, i.e. tree planting and wash lands. This is particularly important as a lot of that work will be in the Aire Valley between Apperley Bridge and Rodley.
“It has long been my concern that unless we provided the natural flood defences, then residents of Rodley could continue to face flooding issues. This whole scheme is ‘shovel ready’, and now the Council must crack on.
“I am delighted that the lobbying from our MP, Stuart Andrew, and myself has paid dividends. I raised the urgency of this scheme with the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak in a face to face meeting some months ago.”
Announcing the funding,
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
The devastating impacts of last winter’s flooding were an important reminder of the need to continue to invest and accelerate action to reduce the impact of flooding on our communities.
Our record investment and ambitious policies will better protect homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, but we also recognise that we cannot prevent flooding entirely, which is why we will ensure that communities at high risk are more resilient.
Working closely with the Environment Agency, local authorities, business and the third sector we will create a better protected and prepared nation.
The Government says the new funding will protect more than 370 businesses and 3,300 jobs. It will also enable the development of land for homes and jobs, subject to a business case approved by the Environment Department and Treasury.
The announcement brings the government’s total investment in Leeds to more than £100m to help prevent a repeat of the 2015 Boxing Day floods. The area suffered a ‘near miss’ in terms of flooding as recently as March this year.
Problems: Armley Town Street. Photo: Lilly Marchesi
Armley Councillors Alice Smart, Jim McKenna and Lou Cunningham, and Rachel Reeves MP take the issues affecting Armley Town Street very seriously. We want Armley Town Street to be a safe, clean, thriving local centre.
Before the lockdown, we were seeing some inroads being made on Town Street.
Thanks to a concerted effort by police, councillors and other agencies and the implementation of public service protection orders (PSPOs), street drinking and anti-social behaviour had reduced.
Which way next for Armley Town Street? Photograph copyright Phil Kirby/theculturevulture.co.uk
Armley Festival has gone from strength to strength. We have seen a growing number of independent shops opening their doors and we’ve been working closely with the Armley Action Team, Armley in Bloom and other local groups to tackle some of Town Street’s problems.
Leeds City Council is doing what it can to address these challenges despite the colossal cuts in funding from central government both to the council and the police.
Armley has also been hit by cuts to universal credit and a ten-year programme of austerity, making life harder for local people. These impacts are felt much more than in leafy areas on the outskirts of the city.
As we emerge from the current crisis, the Council will have to make a huge number of difficult decisions given the government’s failure to address the funding challenges facing Leeds.
We are working with police and other agencies to address the recent concerns about crime, rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour.
We are also very concerned about the imminent closures of Boots and Card Factory and the recent closure of Wilsons, and are having discussions about how we can bring empty shop units into community use and encourage more independent businesses to open in Armley.
In order to secure a positive future for Armley Town Street, we are having ongoing discussions with the police and senior council officers.
We are also continuing to work towards Armley Town Street becoming a Business Improvement District (BID) and are looking at other ways to bring urgent funding into the area to fund necessary improvements.
The Armley councillors and Rachel Reeves MP work as a team. We will not stop working until Armley Town Street is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Councillors Alice Smart, Jim McKenna and Lou Cunningham, and Rachel Reeves MP
