Community choir and band perform festive music at Bramley Baths

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December 4, 2019

bramley baths swimming — Historic Bramley Baths dates to 1904. Photo: Lizzie Coombes

Bramley Baths has got a raft of special festive community events to help get you into the Christmas spirit.

People can swim along to festive tunes at two special general swims featuring the Sing Armley Community Choir led by Samantha Stewart and Bramley-based Tutti! Leeds Community Concert Band.

The events feature mulled wine and mince pie afterwards (on a pay as you feel basis). The swim to music events are on:

– Sing Armley Community Choir on Friday 6 December @ 6.30pm
– Tutti! Leeds Community Concert Band on Wednesday 11 December @ 6.15pm

There’s no need to book.

Santa Swims

And Santa Swims feature festive music in the pool and the chance to see Santa Claus in his North Pole grotto afterwards!

Bramley Baths Elves will put on some festive activities while youngsters wait to see Santa after the swim – and there will be a present for all children attending.

Cost for the swim, activities and Santa is just £5 per child (£4.65 for an adult swim). A family swim for two adults and two children is £15.

The swims are on Saturday, 7 and 14 December, starting at 12.15pm, with a visit to Santa and festive activities after the swim.

Admission is by BOOKING ONLY. Call 0113 256 0949 or call into reception to book.

Bramley Baths chief executive Jayne Young said:

“Want to get into the Christmas spirit with a real splash? You’ll get a warm and friendly welcome here at Bramley Baths.
“We’re really looking forward to having Santa popping by and to the wonderful community choir and band performing live.”

New signs

Sign of the times at Bramley Baths. Finance assistant Charlotte Hill, Chairman John Battle and operations manager Courtney Harrison with one of the the new signs. Photo: John Baron

The community-led facility has today unveiled new signs on either side the Grade II Listed building, which dates back to 1904.

The 6ft wide signs are hand-made out of Accoya wood.

Kirkstall flats plans refused for second time

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December 3, 2019

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Plans to build flats on a residential street in Kirkstall have been refused for a second time.

Leeds City Council planners said plans by Mr I Kouhazari for a block of five apartments at Abbeydale Vale were over dominant and also expressed ‘significant’ highway safety and access concerns. Officers said:

“The proposal is considered to have a significant detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the wider street scene through the unsympathetic design of the residential block within a constrained location which features a number of mature trees and an area of habitat.”

Similar plans for the site, which last year was the scene of local complaints about the removal of trees on the site, were refused by the council back in July.

Earlier this year Mr Kouhazari withdrew larger proposals for a single block of nine apartments on the same site, following objections from neighbours and Kirkstall councillors.

Why ‘Addams Family’ funeral directors is loved by people in Bramley

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December 3, 2019

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A former newsagents in Bramley has been given a new lease of life… as a funeral directors – and business owner Kate Elizabeth Field says it looks “like something from the Addams Family”, writes Neil Hudson.

And locals seem to love the fact the Victorian landmark, with its wonky roof, has been restored.

Kate, 41, from Cookridge, took on the neglected building after it closed in 2018.

Plans to turn the former Harry Binns’ newsagents into shops and flats drew a wave of objections from residents.

Now, after a year-long renovation, it has transformed into Field Funeral Services.

Mother-of-two Kate says:

“I remember wanting to be a funeral director at the age of 11.
“Running my own business has always been a dream.
“My husband has done all the work. Some people say it looks like something from the Addams Family. When it closed as a newsagents, I used to drive past and think it was such a lovely, quirky building. It just needed a little TLC.”

Residents back funeral directors

A previous planning application submitted to Leeds City Council in June 2017 to turn the empty shop into shops, including a take-away and flats, including nine additional parking spaces, drew 19 objections from residents.

Objections centred on noise, odour, increase in rubbish and extra traffic. Permission was subsequently refused.

A revised application, submitted in February 2018, drew 18 objections. In refusing the application, the council noted:

“The attractive Victorian two storey building… is considered an undesignated heritage asset due to the detailing and design.”

In contrast, plans to turn the building into a funeral directors drew only support. One letter to the council read:

“Great to see a fantastic development of what was an eyesore building for so long – and that it is actually now being restored and not knocked down and turned into a retailer box. Well done Leeds for supporting this.”

Former mechanic turned funeral director

Kate admits to being a tomboy as a child and after school went to Leeds Technical College to train as a mechanic. She worked as a funeral director with another firm for nine years before striking out on her own.

She says:

“I was always a tomboy growing up. I used to climb trees and jump off garage rooves when I was young.
“When I left school, I went to Leeds Technical College to train as a mechanic, which I did for a year, before moving into the office side of things. After that, I went to become a funeral director with another firm. When the chance came to start my own business, I took it.”

What does Kate’s business offer?

Field Funeral Services offers a range of funeral packages, with simple packages starting at £1,250.

Kate said: “For me, it’s about offering a clear service. You meet people at the most vulnerable time, so my job is to say, I’ll take care of that so they can just breathe. All my packages have inclusive prices, which means there’s no hidden extras.”

Contact her at 2 Raynville Road, Leeds, LS12 2TF

Tel: 0113 457 2309 or 07834 641 989

Email: ladyfield.kf@gmail.com

Web: www.fieldfuneralservices.com

Carols and a bacon butty at St Thomas in Stanningley

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December 3, 2019

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st-thomas-church1 — St Thomas' Church, Stanningley. Photo: Mark Stevenson

Fancy a good old sing along with a bacon sarnie? St Thomas’ Church in Stanningley is having a coffee morning in the church hall on Saturday, 7th December.

There will be bacon butties on offer, as well as tea and coffee and some Christmas carols to get everyone into the festive spirit.

The event will also have some ‘traditional Yorkshire carols’ to boot, featuring well-known carols to some unusual tunes. Come along at 10am to 12pm.

Could stray cricket balls scupper Farsley homes plan?

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December 2, 2019

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A drinking establishment and a funeral directors could make way for five houses in Farsley, if plans are approved later this week.

Plans have been submitted to demolish The Manor function suite – formerly Mick Brittons – and the nearby Chapel Of Rest on the green belt site off Stony Royd.

Applicant Jayne Verity wants to build the four-bedroomed detached homes with garages in their place.

But Sport England has objected due to the potential disturbance from stray balls from the cricket pitch, which is situated next to the application site.

Sport England says protective netting 25 metres high must be provided to the southern and western boundaries of the cricket pitch and that management and maintenance of these should be carried out by the applicant and not the cricket club.

Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said:

“Although I support the scheme in principle, I note the comments from Sport England and am aware of difficulties in the local area with ball strike to properties from the neighbouring cricket club, causing both danger to residents and damage to property, and impacts on the activities at the club which are concerned about having to scale back their matches.”

Farsley Cricket Club added:

“We as a club have no objections to the proposed development in principle, but we must reiterate the comments from both Sport England and Cllr Carlill.
“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 recommended for approval in principle by council planning officers, subject to a raft of conditions being met by the applicants.

The planning officer says the erection of stop netting to the western boundary is “considered reasonable … however, the requested 25m high stop netting as specified by Sport England is considered to be unacceptable, in terms of the impact upon character [of a green belt area]…”

Councillors on the south and west plans panel will meet on Thursday afternoon to decide on the proposals.

Pudsey drop-in surgeries arranged after spike in anti-social behaviour

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December 2, 2019

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Pudsey bus station — Pudsey Bus Station.

Pudsey’s local councillors and community policing team have arranged for drop-in surgeries at the town’s library and leisure centre following a recent spike in anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The drop-in surgeries – an opportunity for residents, workers and business owners to speak to the police face-to-face about the issues as well as helping give information – are taking place over the following dates and times:

Pudsey Library on 4th, 11th and 18th December from 11am until 12.30pm
Pudsey Leisure Centre on 4th, 11th and 18th December from 6pm until 7pm

The surgeries are part of a plan to tackle issues caused by groups of youths congregating and causing a nuisance such as verbal abuse, criminal damage, stone/missile throwing, illegal use of fireworks and drug use.

Police are asking for help from the public to tackle this behaviour. They require information such as who are the youths involved and where and what time are they about; how many of them are in the groups; and what are they doing.

As well as the drop-in surgeries, people are also invited to e-mail feedback and information on anti-social behaviour to LASBT@leeds.gov.uk quoting NRT.

The Neighbourhood Response Team (NRT) – made up of West Yorkshire Police Link Officers and a Leeds Antisocial Behaviour Team’s (LASBT) Offender Manager – are working in hotspot areas around the town centre to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Anti social behaviour has long been an issue in Pudsey. It was recently high on the agenda of the Outer West Community Committee, where councillors raised concerns that culprits were giving authorities false details to avoid further consequences.

Calverley & Farsley councillor questions ‘anti-social’ firework displays

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December 2, 2019

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Andrew Carter Calverley and Farsley — Cllr Andrew Carter

A senior Leeds politician has called on Leeds City Council to investigate the “anti-social use” of fireworks in the city, writes Local Democracy Reporter Richard Beecham.

Leader of the council’s Conservative group Coun Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) suggests “large firework displays” are now taking place “all year round” in parts of the city, often in the early hours of the morning.

In a letter to the authority’s environment scrutiny board, Coun Carter claimed the noise was disturbing people’s sleep while compromising the safety of individuals.

The letter, which was co-signed by Coun Carter’s Conservative colleague Matthew Robinson, read:

“Fireworks play an important part in celebrations when used and enjoyed responsibly.
“However, you will be aware that a growing number of local residents have expressed concerns about large firework displays that now appear to be taking place all year round, often in the early hours of the morning, with the noise causing disturbance to people’s sleep, and having a harmful impact on pets.
“There are also reports of fireworks being used anti-socially in a way that poses a considerable risk to the safety of the emergency services and the general public.”

The letter, which was sent to the board’s chairman Coun Barry Anderson (Con) on November 8, continued:

“You will be aware of the disruption in Harehills this week which whilst isolated serves to highlight the seriousness of this issue.
“We believe that the time is now right to investigate in detail the use of fireworks in our communities, focusing on low level criminality, anti-social behaviour, and noise nuisance, in order to develop a better multi-agency approach for 2020.”

A report following the letter from Leeds City Council officers read: “A referral to this scrutiny board has been made by councillors Carter and Robinson.

“An invitation has been extended to Coun Robinson as the main referrer of this request and also to the relevant director and executive board member to contribute to the board’s initial discussion surrounding the matter raised as part of this request.
“The board will then be asked to determine what, if any, further scrutiny activity is required.”

The scrutiny board will meet on Tuesday, December 3 to discuss the request.

Calls for investigation into Leeds council ‘sales of green spaces’

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December 2, 2019

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A senior Leeds politician is calling for an investigation into why Leeds City Council is “selling green space” despite having declared a climate emergency earlier this year, writes Local Democracy Reporter Richard Beecham.

Coun Colin Campbell (Lib Dem) has asked for the authority’s environment scrutiny committee to look into the “sale” of small areas of green space in the city to developers, following a planning application which he claimed plans to run an access drive across an area of public green space.

Coun Campbell’s concerns follow Leeds City Council’s declaration of a climate emergency earlier this year, and the authority’s subsequent pledge to become carbon neutral over the coming decade.

In requesting scrutiny of the issue, Coun Campbell wrote:

“It may seem small scale but we have recently have had a planning application to run an access drive across a section of public open space and incorporate this into a garden.
“I was wondering if either of your committees might like to have a conversation about the selling of green space given the declared climate emergency.”

A section marked “Clarification of the enquiry” added:

“Coun Campbell has confirmed he would like to consider the processes linked to the sale by the Council of all green spaces – including those smaller strips of ground and verges, as well as larger pieces of land that may form part of major projects.”

At a full Leeds City Council meeting in March this year, members voted to declare a climate emergency in Leeds, and committed to make Leeds carbon neutral by 2030.

The scrutiny board will meet to decide whether to grant Coun Campbell’s request on Tuesday, December 3.

Rodley: Christmas events in the village

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December 2, 2019

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A whole raft of events will keep Rodley residents entertained in the run-up to Christmas.

Activities include a nativity service, Carols by Candlelight, a coffee morning and a Christingle service.

There’s also a Christmas Day Family celebration.

Check out the listings above for details. Information via Paul Heaton.

In pictures: Peter Covey’s 80th parkrun on his 80th birthday

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December 1, 2019

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Photos & words: Simon Cullingworth

This is Peter Covey, who completed his 80th parkrun at the age of 80 in Bramley Park yesterday.

Peter was supported by club mates from Pudsey Pacers running group, as well as Bramley parkrun volunteers and runners.

Peter had the support from his family, including a live facetime stream to France, where his family were also doing celebratory 5km.

Well done, sir!

Seven community activities you’ll find at Unit 11 in Kirkstall Bridge

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December 1, 2019

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Earlier this year, Kirkstall Valley Development Trust opened up a new community base at Unit 11 in Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Centre. As well as a community library, here are some of the activities on offer there. Ramona Green reports …

PLAY & STAY – Bring your little ones along to unit 11 for our play and stay. We have lots of toys, both educational and fun, and books galore! We will make you a coffee/tea and you can watch your children have a great time while meeting other parents.
KNIT & KNATTER – Whether you are an expert knitter or simply curious, come along and meet our resident stitching superstar, Linda, who will help you along with getting started.
STITCH, BITCH & MORE – This is an “arty crafty” type session where materials will be provided to take part in all manner of creative activities.
COMMUNITY CHOIR – In the lead up to Christmas, KVDT have organised this weekly meet-up for people of varying degrees of singing talent to come along and have fun. Laura is running these sessions which will continue into the New Year.
YIN YANG YOGA – a lady called Laura is providing a weekly yoga session so why not learn to relax and exercise at the same time. Just come along and “limber up with Laura.”
KVPS (Kirkstall Valley Parents Social) – This is an opportunity for lone parents and carers (with or without their children) to meet up and have a chat while their children have fun together in the well-equipped play area.
CREATIVE WRITING – This is a new project that will be starting in the New Year. It will give like-minded people the chance to get together and create stories, poems, articles etc….

Mark’s History: Story of the Sandford Road school for poor

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December 1, 2019

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James Garth Marshall was the third son of entrepreneur John Marshall, who owned Temple Mill in Holbeck (the one that looks like an Egyptian Temple), writes Mark Stevenson.

In the 1840s he leased this site on Sandford Road (possibly named after Sir Sandford Graham, a local landowner) from the Earl of Cardigan.

James believed the poor should be educated as this could help them improve themselves, and he opened a few schools around Leeds like the infant school that was once on this site.

In 1882 County Primary School on Sandford Road in Kirkstall was built by Richard Adams for the Leeds School Board.

The building is Grade ll listed, as are the railings. It is now known as Jacob’s Court, apparently after the developer’s son.