A school pupil from West Leeds has won a national writing competition.
The Breakfast Club, one of the Greggs Foundation’s most successful projects, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
To mark this milestone, the foundation launched a nationwide competition across its partner schools, offering pupils the chance to win their own published and illustrated version of a story they have written about the Greggs Foundation.
The competition encouraged children to think about character development as well as visual aspects of storytelling, with prompts to help them get started.
10-year-old Anaiyah McIntosh, from Christ Church Upper Armley School, has been selected as the winner of the competition.
Her own short story tells the heartwarming tale about eight-year-old Hope – the Greggs Foundation mascot.
Along with having her story published and illustrated, Anaiyah also received a £250 book voucher for her school and a children’s Kindle Fire, a Leeds United Strip and a goody bag with surprise gifts for her to enjoy.
Anaiyah’s book was illustrated by Nicola Davison, who said:
“It feels so much more impactful to illustrate a story written by such a talented young author in the spirit of Hope, which applies to us all – adults and children alike.”
Sam Collier, head teacher at Christ Church Upper Armley School, said:
“We are very proud of Anaiyah for winning this competition. She clearly put a lot of thought and effort into her entry – a thought-provoking short story, with a powerful female lead triumphing over adversity – well done Anaiyah!”
Since 1999, the clubs have been set up across the country to help primary school children get a nutritious start to the school day.
There are now 535 Breakfast Clubs throughout the UK.
Where the New Wortley Community Centre now stands there was Beech Grove, just over the road from Wortley Lodge on Back Lane (now Tong Road), writes Mark Stevenson.
It could be from Beech Grove that the Beech Hotel takes its name.
It is thought that there has been a pub here since the mid-1800’s facing onto Tong Road, with the back being housing until the pub was bought by Melbourne Ales in 1931 and completely altered.
Art Deco style: The Beech Pub in New Wortley, Photo: Mark Stevenson
It is the building we see today with its Art Deco styling and Marmo cladding that is Grade ll Listed.
However, it is a landlady of the Beech Hotel in 1901 that I find more interesting.
Her name was Lizzie Smith, who was born in 1854 in Knottingley.
Side view of the Beech Hotel on Tong Road. Photo: Mark Stevenson
She ran the pub with the help of her sons Arthur and Harold both of whom were waiters.
Business must have been good as they also had a servant called Charlotte Bulmer.
Lizzie was not only a landlady but also a publisher (maybe a forerunner of the West Leeds Dispatch). Being a publisher and landlady must have been a good living as it says she lived on her “own account at home”.
Ryecroft Academy in Farnley has become the second West Leeds school to close due to an outbreak of the winter sickness bug Norovirus.
The school has announced it will close on Monday and Tuesday (December 9 and 10) due to the high number of pupils affected by the bug.
A comment on the school’s website said:
“This decision has not been taken lightly and we have a professional cleaning company carrying out a deep clean of the school.
“We are grateful for the support we have received during this challenging time and we hope those affected are feeling better soon.”
The Dispatchreported yesterday that Farnley Academy would be closed for at least Monday due to an outbreak affecting staff and pupils.
Both schools are part of the GORSE Academies Trust.
Norovirus, also called the “winter vomiting bug”, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. According to the NHS website, it can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about two days.
Leeds West voters have put their questions to the candidates hoping to represent them in the upcoming general election, writes Lottie Kilraine.
The hustings, held at Bramley Community Centre, lasted around two hours and covered a range of topics from Brexit to local issues such as future of the TV Harrison sports ground in Wortley.
There was a big turnout from a vocal crowd of residents who weren’t afraid to show their support, or lack of, for the different candidates.
Alastair Hutchinson, who hosted the event, described the night as critical to the community, saying:
“Politics needs to be accessible for all to understand and I hope this has helped.”
All the candidates agreed that more needs to be done for community centres including youth and sports projects, with Conservative candidate Mark Dormer saying “The youth are the future.”
Labour’s Rachel Reeves vowed to continue her work to reinstate the TV Harrison sports ground and Ian Cowling, representing The Yorkshire Party, said “[the grounds] are a fantastic facility and I think it is disgusting that it is being taken away.”
National Health Service
Health was widely discussed throughout the night with Mike Davies, standing for the Alliance for Green Socialism Party, expressing concern about the privatisation of the NHS.
The Green Party candidate, Victoria Smith, said her party is “fundamentally against the privatisation of the NHS” and accused the Conservatives of lying.
Both Labour and the Liberal Democrat representatives claimed more needs to be done to improve treatment for mental health.
Brexit
Regarding Brexit, it was clear that the Conservative candidate would be backing the PM to ‘get Brexit done’ while the Liberal Democrat candidate, Dan Walker, said he will do everything in his power to stop it from happening.
Labour and Green representatives both called for another referendum and Mike Davies, of the Alliane for Green Socialism, said:
“We must stay in the single market and we must stay in the customs union.”
Great passion and obvious divide within the room concerning Brexit and its impact on west LEEDS @bramleyhustings
All parties were in agreement that climate change is an important issue.
Rachel Reeves said there shouldn’t be a trade-off between economic growth and the climate emergency.
She praised Labour’s plans for their green industrial revolution as being “The most exciting part of their manifesto.”
The Yorkshire Party candidate championed for more cycle paths and Dan Walker said the Lib Dems promised to “invest heavily in the green economy and renewable energy.”
One of the biggest controversies of the night came from Mark Dormer after he mistakenly claimed that the Conservative’s plan to raise the national living wage to £10.50 per hour was a 50% increase of the current minimum wage.
Many of the audience members spoke up and disputed this to which he apologised and acknowledged his error.
The Brexit Party candidate, Philip Mars, was unable to attend due to a family medical emergency but a statement was read out on his behalf. He said: “My vision for the people of Leeds West is for them to be heard, heeded and respected.”
Leeds West voters will take to the polls on Thursday, 12 December to decide their next member of parliament.
Greenside Tunnel cutting being partially filled last year. Photo: Mark Stevenson
Plans to partially infill a historic Pudsey railway cutting have been refused by Leeds City Council following a massive residents’ campaign.
More than 370 people objected to proposals to completely fill in the Greenside Tunnel railway cutting, submitted by developers EP Homes ahead of a future planning application for housing on the site.
EP Homes wanted to fill the void under the nearby Carlisle Road Railway Bridge with inert material and build a retaining wall in front of the entrance of Greenside Tunnel, which would not be filled in.
They said the site works would ‘not have a significant impact’ on nearby roads and that neither the landmark tunnel nor the railway bridge would be physically altered. EP Homes had previously said the tunnel would be “not lost, but no longer visible”.
But council planning officers have refused the plans.
Their report says the developer could not demonstrate how the work could protect the living conditions of nearby residents. The officer also raised concerns over highways safety.
The officer also pointed to the impact on the tunnel and bridge and was unconvinced how the tipping of material and engineering of the land would provide a suitable building platform for future housing.
There were also concerns that the plans didn’t show why a viable housing scheme could not be provided by using less infill material with fewer vehicle movements.
The plans also lacked an adequate landscaping scheme which would mitigate against the loss of existing trees.
Members of the Greenside Greenway group want a greenway in the cutting
The decision has been welcomed by members of the Greenside Greenway campaign, who are working to turn Greenside tunnel onto a greenway for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Campaigner Martin Stanley said:
“Based on the objection documents submitted by different organisations we had always expected the plans to be rejected. It’s very exciting that the council has agreed with us.
“There is always the possibility of an appeal or fresh application, but the objections from Highways England regarding access to the tunnel seem very strong.”
Mr Stanley said the group was close to securing funding for a £10,000 feasibility study for the greenway and although the cutting was partially infilled two years ago, the group is confident the infill can be moved further along the route.
The group is hoping to become a charity early next year and is inviting people to become trustees. More details from greensidegreenway@gmail.com.
Cllr Simon Seary
The decision was also welcomed by Cllr Simon Seary (Cons, Pudsey). He said:
“It’s brilliant news that it’s been refused. The tunnel is a local landmark and it would have been a shame to lose it. Hopefully going forward it can become greenspace with the greenway campaign.
“Unfortunately it is still in the five-year Site Allocation Plan as housing by Leeds City Council and Pudsey councillors will be working to get it taken out of the plan.
“I don’t understand why it was on there in the first place. While it’s still on there we will be having to fight off potential developers.”
Other objectors included Cllr Mark Harrison (Cons, Pudsey) and former Pudsey Labour councillor Richard Lewis.
Repairs: St James The Great Church in Pudsey. Photo: Google
Residents living in the Pudsey constituency have one last chance to quiz the candidates standing in the upcoming general election at a hustings to be held at St James the Great Church, writes Keely Bannister.
All five candidates standing in the election are expected to attend the hustings which is being held this Saturday 7th December from 7.30pm at the Galloway Lane institution.
Candidates standing to be elected MP for Pudsey Constituency – which is made up of the council wards of Calverley & Farsley, Guiseley & Rawdon, Horsforth andPudsey – are:
Jane Aitchison representing The Labour Party;
Stuart Andrew representing the Conservative Party;
Bob Buxton representing The Yorkshire Party;
Quinn Daley representing The Green Party and
Ian Dowling representing the Liberal Democrats.
Candidates provided The Dispatch with a statement regarding why you should vote for them which you can read by clicking here.
They also attended a hustings event at Pudsey Parish Church.
If you have any questions regarding the hustings, contact Father Nicholas Clews on 07985091748 or Mr Akeel Bajwa on 07961328028.
Farnley Academy will be closed to students and staff on Monday 9th December to allow the school to be deep cleaned following the spread of the Norovirus throughout the institution, writes Keely Bannister.
In a letter to parents, which was posted on the school’s website this afternoon and given to children to take home at the end of lessons, the Principal Chris Stokes explained the decision.
Principal: Chris Stokes
He wrote:
“As you will likely be aware, across Leeds, the Norovirus is currently rife and is impacting on children and adults across the city.
“At The Farnley Academy, we have been monitoring the situation with our own staff and students very carefully. We have reached a point today where we now believe that the virus is having such an impact on our student and staff population that in order to stop the spread of the virus, a full ‘deep clean’ of our premises is required.
“This afternoon I have been in contact with a professional cleaning company who will be attending our site this weekend in order to complete the ‘deep clean’.
“This clean will involve fully disinfecting all floors, walls and surfaces in order to ensure that any trace of the virus is removed.
“Unfortunately, owing to the size of our school site, the deep clean will take longer than two days. As a result, I am writing to inform you today that The Farnley Academy will be closed to all staff and students on Monday 9 December 2019.”
The letter goes on to state that it is hoped the school will be able to reopen the following day (Tuesday 10th) and asking caregivers to follow professional advice if they believe their child has the virus by “keeping your child at home for 48 hours following their last episode of illness”.
This is the first known case of the virus closing an educational institution in West Leeds, although three schools across other parts of the city have been closed by the virus during the month of November with Morley Newlands Academy closing “due to a high percentage of children having symptoms of norovirus”.
Norovirus, also called the “winter vomiting bug”, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. According to the NHS website, it can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about two days.
The website goes on to state that the virus can usually be treated at home with Dr James Luke, the Medical Director at UK Insurance at Bupa UK, advising people to stay hydrated and ensure they wash their hands thoroughly.
Armley Christmas lights will be switched on this Saturday 7th December – with the celebration event being firework-free for the first time, writes Keely Bannister.
Hosted by Radio Aire, the switch-on show is taking place from 5pm until 6pm on Town Street and will feature Leeds Rhinos stars Richie Myler and Callum McLelland as well as Ronnie the Rhino.
10.30am to 1pm – St Bartholomew’s Church are hosting a Christmas market with face painting taking place between 11am and 1pm
2pm to 4pm – Armley Leisure Centre are face painting, giving out free one day fitness passes as well as offering deals on membership sign ups and children parties
3pm to 4pm – Judging of the Christmas Shop Window displays along Town Street will take place. Dispatch editor John Baron is one of the judges.
3.30pm – Community choir Sing Armley will be performing outside the St George’s Crypt shop
3.30pm to 6pm – Terry Atha’s funfair will be open on Town Street
All day there will be a candy cane hunt, spot the elf and offers in local shops to mark Small Business Saturday.
Armley Town Street will be closed for the Christmas Lights switch on. Photo: Keely Bannister
To accommodate the day, Armley Town Street will be closed between 12pm and 10pm with buses which serve the road (CT Plus run 81 & First run 15, 16, 16A, 86) diverting via Wesley Road, Tong Road and Carr Crofts.
Detailed plans for 21 houses in Pudsey have been approved today – at the second time of asking.
The site, on Hare Lane, already had outline planning approval for the principle of residential development only for up to 21 units on the site of a (former) manufacturing business.
Councillors last month had deferred a decision on the detailed application – which included access, , landscaping, scale and appearance of the development – following concerns about the ‘uninspired’ design of some of the properties.
Members of the south and west plans panel wanted more variety in the house designs and pallet of materials, in particular reducing the amount of natural stone in the development.
Developers Acrivarn Holdings and Mandale Homes North Yorkshire came back with revised plans, adding new four-bedroom homes, adding bay windows and other minor tweaks to some properties.
They have also introduced rendering to some houses to reduce the amount of stone used on the development.
The outline approval is accompanied by legal agreement requiring improvements to Hare Lane, on-site greenspace, a replacement footpath and affordable housing.
Councillors last month had also asked for more information on the maintenance of the private access road – Hare Lane.
Councillors today heard there was a legal agreement requiring improvements to Hare Lane, which is in poor condition, and also a commitment to its ongoing maintenance.
An external management company would be responsible for the management and maintenance of the lane, with housebuyers applying for membership of the management company and deciding maintenance riorities.
The meeting, at Leeds Civic Hall, heard that the council would have enforcement powers to ensure that the access lane was maintained properly.
A council report recommending approval of the plans said:
“It is considered the proposal will provide good levels of habitation in an attractive and secluded setting. The housing proposed would act to improve the quality of the area above that of the existing industrial buildings.”
Councillors unanimously approved the detailed proposals in principle.
They deferred and delegated final approval to planning officers subject to a raft of conditions, including details of electric vehicle charging points, and details on storage, loading and unloading of equipment and materials during construction.
A drinking establishment and a funeral directors will make way for five new houses in Farsley – despite concerns about people being hit by cricket balls.
Applicant Jayne Verity has been given approval to demolish The Manor function suite – formerly Mick Brittons – and the nearby Chapel Of Rest on the green belt site off Stony Royd,
The site is next to Farsley Cricket Club, and national representative body Sport England had objected to the proposals for the four-bedroom family homes.
They were concerned that well-hit shots from cricketers could hit and injure people and damage property – and called for a 25-metre high net to be put up to protect the new homes.
Sport England said that management and maintenance of these should be carried out by the applicant and not the cricket club.
But councillors on the south and west plans panel this afternoon said a 25-metre net would be too high and settled on 10 metres, with council officers to negotiate the possibility of installing retractable nets with the applicant.
Cllr Sharon Hamilton (Lab, Moortown) supported the 10-metre-high net. She said:
“I would not like to look out of my window and see a monstrosity. Sport England is being a bit unreasonable on how high it should be.
“They would need to be really good players to hit the ball into some of these houses.
“I like the layout of the houses. If I had the money, I might buy one!”
Cllr Jools Heselwood (Lab, Bramley) added:
“At 25 metres the fence would be seen from the Ring Road. You could deck [it] with lights for Christmas, it’d be that tall.”
Cllr Caroline Gruen
Meeting chair Cllr Caroline Gruen (Lab, Bramley) said she was concerned about the danger of the ball hitting someone – however remote the danger.
But she said there was already a problem with existing households and cricket balls and that no similar protection was found near other cricket pitches in Leeds.
In a planning officer’s report considered by councillors, Farsley Cricket Club added:
“While ball strikes are a rare occurrence, there is nonetheless a potential risk due to the proximity of the dwellings to the cricket club. We would like a clear understanding of the potential risk to our sporting activities if the application is approved. “
The plans – which can be viewed in full here – are were approved in principle by councillors, subject to a raft of conditions being met by the applicants. Final approval was deferred and delegated to the chief planning officer.
Ballot box image used under Wikimedia commons creative commons license
Here are statements from candidates standing in the Leeds West Constituency at the 2019 General Election on Thursday, 12 December.
West Leeds Dispatch contacted all candidates by either post or e-mail. These are the responses we received.
Ian Cowling, Yorkshire Party
Leeds West has a proud history of manufacturing from one of the world’s largest brick makers to Mather’s Black beer – or as I used to call it “Sheffield Stout” – to name just two, all gone now but not forgotten.
I have recently been hearing about a sports and playing field on Oldfield Lane in Wortley called “The TV Harrison recreation ground”, which is a Greenfield site and under threat from been built on so would be lost forever!
Yes we need houses but let’s use the brownfield sites first and build new starter home and not greenfield mansions.
I would like to promote investment for jobs that could be brought to the area and use its local skill base instead of them having to commute miles each day in fossil fuelled vehicles.
The people of Leeds West need places to work and play so we need a Yorkshire Assembly to give all of Yorkshire a meaningful voice and powers to impact on us the Yorkshire people for social, economic and democratic change we so desperately need NOW.
We have been left the crumbs from Westminster for far too long now and this last three years has shown us all in Yorkshire what they (London-based MP’s) really think of us.
Nearly 50% of MPs don’t even come from Yorkshire let alone live here! So it’s time for us to take control and never mind what Westminster thinks or the even the more distant EU, let’s put Yorkshire FIRST! And I will be there for Leeds West fighting for your corner of Yorkshire.
Mike Davies, Alliance for Green Socialism
No submission.
Mark Dormer, The Conservative Party Candidate
As the MP for Leeds West my first priority will be to support the Prime Minister and vote for his New Brexit Deal in Parliament so we leave the EU.
Leeds West voted to Leave and so did I. This has gone on long enough. The referendum result and the will of the people must be respected.
The high streets in Leeds West have empty shops and many are simply dying. We need business tax reforms and funding to regenerate and transform them.
A Conservative government will cut taxes for shops, cinemas and pubs so they can remain the heart of our communities and flourish.
Time and time again on the doorsteps I am told how bad the local transport is.
I will get the investment to make the improvements to transport that Leeds West so desperately needs. The Conservatives will set up a £500 million fund to restore old train lines and stations to re-connect towns to the rail network.
Northern Powerhouse Rail is essential to improving transport links to Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool, whilst additional tracks between Leeds and Bradford will directly benefit communities with more frequent and reliable stopping services and more capacity.
This will mean there are fewer cars on the roads and result in less congestion for non-rail users.
Most importantly, when I am elected as your MP, I will visit every household in Leeds West – I need to know what issues are important to you and what action you want me to take as your voice in Westminster.
Phillip Mars – Brexit Party
A proud Yorkshireman from a humble background, I understand the experiences of people trying to make their way in the neglected North.
Like many of my potential constituents I have had to fight and struggle for every inch of progress made in my life and I firmly believe that the Westmister elites need to hear that truth.
Whether sitting nose-to-navel with a perfect stranger on an overcrowded and delayed Northern Rail pacer, or trying to find a job in an economy hideously skewed to favour the South, I have been there.
I have stood worrying that bus delays might cost me a day’s work and wondered how to feed my family on meagre wages. Getting to where I am today was a fight against the odds.
What I promise to the people of Leeds West is to represent truthfully and faithfully the needs of the community to the Westminster elite and not stop pushing until they are heard.
I am not offering overblown spending initiatives or pie-in-the sky promises I can never hope to keep.
My offer to Leeds West is simple; I will make sure I am available to you, I will listen to you and I will take those things you ask of me forcefully to the commons and work to get you the things you need.
I would say, therefore, that my vision for the people of Leeds West is for them to be heard, heeded and respected in the highest offices of government.
Rachel Reeves, Labour Party
Since I was first elected, I have been your local champion. I have a strong track record of delivering results for our local communities.
When the hours at Bramley and Armley libraries were threatened, I led the successful campaigns to reverse those decisions.
I fought to save the historic Bramley Baths and helped secure major investment at Kirkstall Forge, and more train services at its new station.
Whether it’s fighting the Government to secure proper flood defences, or working to get improvements to Armley Town Street, I always put our community first.
I am determined to make West Leeds a cleaner and greener place to live, so have been spearheading efforts to clean up Farnley Reservoir, and also help support and promote local rugby and football clubs for our young people.
One of my biggest priorities is sorting out our woeful public transport. I have campaigned for Northern Rail to be scrapped and have taken on the bus operators to get better services.
Under the Conservatives, A&E waiting times are the longest ever, and many people find that it’s getting harder to make an appointment to see your GP.
Leaked documents have revealed that Boris Johnson has left the NHS on the table in trade talks with Donald Trump’s America – so it could soon be up for sale to US billionaires.
I want to keep fighting for Leeds West and delivering results for local people. With your support in this election, I can continue to be your local champion.
Victoria Smith, Green Party
The Kirkstall Valley flood in the heart of Leeds West during Christmas and New Year 2015 was a wake-up call to the effects of Climate Change on our constituency.
Businesses and homes flooded. In 2019, we have seen further record levels of rainfall and many local sports pitches unusable.
If elected as MP for Leeds West, I will work with parliament, the council and local environmental groups to prevent local flooding through land management and mass tree planting.
The Leeds West transport network is dissected by two major road arteries into Leeds – Kirkstall and Stanningley Road.
A single incident on either of these roads causes gridlock and the reason – in the 1970s, Leeds became a ‘Motorway City’, where traffic from outside the city is diverted through it. If elected, I would prioritise public transport, giving everyone the opportunity not to have to use a car.
This means re-opening historic train stations, re-opening stations in Armley, Wortley and Kirkstall (Spen Lane), plus further new stations to link with Pudsey and Headingley.
Buses that cross Leeds West are currently poor and getting into the city is do-able, but expensive. Travelling across the constituency during rush hour is impossible! I am currently working with First to improve routes through Leeds West, particularly for older people.
By prioritising public and active transport in our constituency, we will get improvements in air pollution and congestion, as well as access to shops, GPs and schools.
All this, while addressing our Green Party commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030 to limit Climate Change in accordance to inter-governmental law.
Dan Walker, Liberal Democrats
Dan grew up in the Midlands and moved to Leeds in 1996 to attend university, where he gained an MPhys degree in Physics, and spent a semester in Denmark as part of the ERASMUS programme.
He has lived in Leeds since, and Leeds West since 2008. He works for the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Leeds.
Brexit will hit the poorest, hardest. Dan has been campaigning to stay in the EU since the referendum was announced, and as your MP he will continue to do so.
Leeds West needs better transport and more jobs, not a needless act of social and economic vandalism, endangering the NHS, workers’ rights, and the environment.
We need to invest in public services, education, and transport so that the benefits of Remaining in the EU are shared more fairly. Additionally, we must push for radical devolution to the regions, including Yorkshire, so that power is spread out from Westminster.
His national priorities include the climate crisis, Brexit, and reform of the political system.
Locally, he is concerned about Leeds’ poor and monopolistic local transport, increasing foodbank use, and local environmental matters such as flood prevention.
Ballot box image used under Wikimedia commons creative commons license
Here are statements from candidates standing in the Pudsey Constituency at the 2019 General Election on Thursday, 12 December.
West Leeds Dispatch contacted all candidates by either post or e-mail. These are the responses we received.
Jane Aitchison, The Labour Party
I am not a career politician; I’m a public sector worker and have devoted my life to helping the vulnerable and winning better pay for working people.
Tory cuts and pay freezes made my job harder and harder, so I felt I must stand to get the change we all need.
On the doorstep in Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough people tell me they want real change.
Our schools need money, our NHS is really struggling. The police don’t have enough staff to deal with issues like anti social behaviour or enough police officers to patrol to keep us safe. Response times are too long.
Our high streets are struggling because living standards are down. There are much-needed foodbank collections in every church and high street.
Labour will invest in our public services again and increase living standards substantially with a £10 per hour minimum wage and 5% pay rise for all public sector workers.
We have a great plan to help small businesses too.
40% of our pensioners don’t get all their entitlements. I will organise monthly drop ins for them to get that checked so no one is left behind. Labour will end the need for foodbanks – a stain on our society.
Many people have lost trust in politicians, which is why I have pledged to only take half the MP’s wage and give the rest to local good causes. It helps everyone understand that I am not in it for me, I am in it for us.
Stuart Andrew, Conservative Party
I am proud to have served Pudsey in public office for over a decade and has been my home for over 20 years. There is, of course, much more to be done here.
I campaigned to keep the children’s heart hospital in Leeds and recently worked to secure the £600m awarded for a new Leeds hospital.
I have fought against the Labour-led Council eroding our greenbelt, including opposing the Fulneck Valley and Leeds Bradford Airport link-roads and also saving Kirklees Knoll in Farsley and strawberry fields in Horsforth from development.
Our transport system is inadequate, and I have consistently lobbied the Government for funding.
The Conservatives have pledged £4.2bn to fund bus, train and tram projects in eight regions outside of London – including West Yorkshire – in addition to the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.
I want to see a Metro or light rail transit system across our city. Frustratingly I secured £173m in 2015 that is still unused by the Labour Council. I will continue to push for its use.
Crime, burglary and anti-social behaviour will be tackled in our area bolstered by our share of 20,000 new police officers. In education I’ll ensure every school in our area gets a share of the £14bn we are investing.
Unless we elect a Conservative majority Government, we will just carry on with the endless arguments about Brexit and we will be unable to move forward.
It is time to move onto local issues and a vote for me at this General Election will finally allow us to do just that.
Bob Buxton, The Yorkshire Party
Transport spending in Yorkshire in 2016-17 was £137 per person. In London it was £733.
With equivalent funding, we could save the park-and-ride scheme at New Pudsey, build a direct rail link to the airport, with park-and-ride there too, and much more besides. These would cut congestion, reduce air pollution and grow the economy.
Leeds City Council wants greenbelt mansions, destroying our environment and merging towns with urban sprawl.
What we actually need are low cost starter homes, social housing and retirement homes, built on brownfield sites with supporting infrastructure – new schools, GPs, dentists and better transport.
Let’s bring back separate councils for Aireborough, Horsforth and Pudsey – they did a better job!
I am
passionate about democracy. Even though I voted remain, I believe that we must
honour the referendum result. My priorities are a free trade agreement with the
EU and trade deals with countries around the world – with our NHS fully
protected.
I completed
my teacher training at Trinity University, Abbey Grange and Guiseley Secondary
School, and now teach engineering apprentices in Laisterdyke. London schools receive
around 50% more funding per pupil than those in Yorkshire. Redressing the
balance, we can reduce class sizes, increase special needs provision, provide
mental healthcare for teachers and pupils and upgrade the fabric of our schools.
London-based
parties have let Yorkshire down. We can do far better than Westminster. I want
a Yorkshire Assembly, empowered by fair funding.
Yorkshire Deserves Better!
Quinn Daley, The Green Party
Politics has become a little like reality TV in recent years. Everything is about “winners” and “losers” and turning people against other people.
Every person in Pudsey and the UK deserves a roof over their heads, food on the table, a functioning NHS, fast and reliable public transport, and a planet that is still here in 50 years’ time.
The Green Party doesn’t want to score points with soundbites or make up policies on the spot. Our policies are evidence-based and costed and we all knew them long before the election was called: we publish them all online, year-round.
Democracy doesn’t end with one vote. 2016 told us the country is divided in half on the issue of the EU. Now we need to find a way through this and take the actual proposals back to the public. I believe that we should stay in and fix the EU’s problems from the inside with the help of our European friends.
The NHS, transport and public services are crumbling under Tory austerity, and the benefits system is cruel and divisive.
It’s time to revitalise public spending, end the selloff, and give every citizen enough money for a dignified life. The money is already there – we just have to get it back from the billionaires.
None of this will matter if the planet burns. We only have 11 years to fix this, so this election it’s essential you give your vote to someone who will promise to do everything it takes to avert the coming climate catastrophe.
Ian Dowling, Liberal Democrats
If elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for Pudsey
Constituency I will be a professional and approachable MP who will be your
representative in Westminster.
As a regular rail commuter into Leeds myself, it is clear we need an integrated local public transport network which is fit for purpose.
Liberal Democrats nationally would suspend all further rail price increases until the service is at an acceptable level.
Our schools are under financial pressures and firstly we need to ensure that funding is increased through raising the ‘per-pupil’ funding to an adequate level with an immediate cash injection to remove these pressures and release teachers to do what they do best.
I would seek to meet with local headteachers to discuss the specific issues for their school and work to address these.
Protecting the Green Belt from some of the destructive housing development proposals for areas like Fulneck Valley, and Ings Lane, Guiseley is of great concern.
These developments would have a real impact on the local community and building on a flood plain is nonsensical. I would work with the local communities to ensure we achieve sensible solutions.
Linked to this I would also seek to prioritise measures to tackle the climate emergency alongside local organisations and groups.
However, the biggest issue we all face is Brexit which is damaging to the country and local jobs and services.
Stopping Brexit underpins the future I will campaign for a Peoples Vote to ensure all have the final say on any deal.
