How to register to vote at the General Election

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November 5, 2019

polling station west leeds — Mickey the dog casting his vote in Kirkstall Ward back in 2019. Photo: Mindy Goose

There are few things the British love more than queuing, talking about the weather, and drinking cups of tea – and one of those things is an election! writes Mindy Goose.

And so as not to disappoint, on Thursday 12 December the country will be going to the polls, to vote for a member of parliament (MP), and potentially cho0se a new government.

Before you can vote however, you need to be registered, and here West Leeds Dispatch will take you through the steps and clear up any questions our readers may have.

Deadline for registering

The deadline for registering to vote in this General Election is by midnight on 26th November.

If you want to apply to vote by post (more about that later) then you must register before 5pm on 26th November. If you are away on Election Day, then you can apply to vote by proxy, but this must be done before 5pm on 4th December. More about proxy voting later.

So who can register?

If you are over 16 and a UK citizen, you can register to vote, but there are restrictions on who can vote in a General Election:

You will not be able to vote until you are over 18 on ‘polling day’
You must be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen – a full list of these countries can be found in a link at the bottom of the page.
You must be a resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the las 15 years)
You must not be legally excluded from voting, for example members of the House of Lords, convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of electoral fraud within the past five years, and people with any “legal incapacity” that impairs their judgement.

Please note that EU citizens (other than British or Irish) cannot vote in a General Election.

What if I am a student?

Students can be registered at both addresses if they live away from home, so long as they are not in the same constituency (a constituency is the area the MP is elected).

They can only vote once though, as it is a criminal offence to vote twice in a general election. They may also apply for a postal or proxy vote – see below.

What if I have no fixed address?

You can still register to vote, even if you do not have a fixed address. If you don’t have a permanent address, you can register at an address where you spend a lot of your time or have some connection. This could be a previously permanent address, shelter or similar place.

You may not have a fixed address because you are:

A patient in a mental health hospital
Homeless
A merchant seaman
Part of the Gyspy or travelling community
Living on a boat or other movable residence
A person remanded in custody

More details can be found in the link at the bottom of the page

What if I need to register anonymously?

Your name and address will appear on the electoral register if you register to vote. If you think your name and address being on the electoral register could affect your safety, or the safety of someone in your household, you can register to vote anonymously.

More details of how to do this can be found by following the link at the bottom of the page.

If you have a learning disability

People with a learning disability have the same right to vote as everyone else. There is a step by step, easy read guide for registering to vote for people with a learning disability, the link to this can be found at the bottom of the page.

Ways of voting

In person at the polling station – this will be printed on the polling card that will be sent to you in the post. Voting is between 7am and 10pm, so there is plenty of time to get to the polling station on that day. Please note that you will not need a form of ID for this election.
By postal vote – Anyone can apply for a postal vote. You will be sent the polling papers to the address that you have supplied when registering. Follow the instructions on your ballot paper and post before Election Day, if they arrive after 5pm they will not be counted. Postal ballots can be posted from anywhere in the world, but be mindful of how long it will take to get there. If you feel that you have missed the deadline for sending your postal vote, you can take you postal pack to the your polling station or local authority on the day. The council may be able to collect your postal pack, please contact them directly. Details for both Leeds City Council and the Electoral Commission can be found in the links at the bottom of the page.
By proxy – if you are unable to vote in person, you may be able to apply for a proxy vote. This means a person you have nominated votes in your place, they must do this in person at your polling station.

Proxy voting in details

Reasons you may apply for a proxy vote:

You may be away on holiday or for work on the day of the election – this would be a one off proxy
More permanent reasons or long-term reasons may be:
- You have a disability
- You are away on an educational course
- You are away for work
- You are registered as an overseas voter
- You work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown Servant
- You are serving overseas in the Armed Forces

You can also apply for an emergency proxy vote, if for example you become disabled after the deadline or have to go away for work and did not know before the deadline, and you can apply before 5pm on polling day.

Your proxy will receive a proxy polling card telling them when and where to vote for you. You can still vote in person, so long as they haven’t already done this for you.

More details about Proxy voting can be found in the links at the bottom of the page, there are PDF forms that can be printed off for individual circumstances.

How to register

Follow the registration link.

It is a simple process, have ready your national insurance number. Once you have filled in all the boxes, the next screen will show your summary and give you the opportunity to change anything if you have made a mistake. Then just submit!

You can also download and print forms – these include large print forms (however they may not be suitable for users of assisted technology) – and send to:

Electoral Services, Level 2, Town Hall, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AD

Opting out of the Open Register

The open register is an extract of the electoral register that can be purchased in whole or in part by any person, company or organisation.

You have the right to opt out of the open register and remain on the electoral roll so that you can still vote and credit agencies can still find you, but your information will not be sold to a third party.

Useful Links

Registration link https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Commonwealth and eligible countries – https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/List-of-eligible-countries.pdf

No fixed address – https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/people-no-fixed-address

Registering anonymously – https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/register-vote/register-vote-anonymously

Students – https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/students

Leeds City Council Postal Votes – https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/postal-voting

Postal Voting – https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voting-person-post-or-proxy/voting-post

Proxy voting – https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voting-person-post-or-proxy/voting-proxy

Easy Read guide – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759251/Easy-Read-Guide-to-Registering-to-Vote.pdf

Print registration forms – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-if-youre-living-in-the-uk

Sort out your IT at Fulneck School support event

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November 5, 2019

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Sixth form students and staff at Pudsey’s Fulneck School are providing free help and support for people needing help with their Google products.

The event on Wednesday, 6th November, is aimed at local residents and will be held in the sixth form room, from 2-4pm.

The focus will be on: Google Mail security, (phone prompt, sms) organising folders,signatures, out of office, interface customisation, linking email accounts to Google Mail and filtering. Google Drive (photo backup) and Google Apps.

Register your interest in attending by calling the school on 0113 257 0235 or email: aj@fulneckschool.co.uk.

Pudsey Lowtown school nets new toys from developer

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November 5, 2019

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Lunchtimes for children at a Pudsey primary school have become even more fun thanks to the help of a local property developer.

Advent Developments, which is building the South Side Ridge scheme on nearby Pudsey Road, has provided Pudsey Lowtown Primary School with the funds to buy a variety of toys and games.

These include play mats, tents, building bricks and giant-sized versions of dominoes, snakes and ladders and twister.

Clare Armitage, head teacher at the Kent Road school, said:

“We are extremely grateful to Advent Developments for their support.
“The items we have been able to purchase are not only great fun but also provide an excellent way for the children to learn. It also encourages positive interaction between classmates and improves general levels of behaviour.”

South Side Ridge is an exclusive development of 12, four and five bedroom family homes. The first phase of the scheme has already sold off-plan.

A show home is open every Thursday to Monday, between 10am and 5pm.

Yorkshire Party call for ‘rail revolution’ in marginal Pudsey constituency

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November 4, 2019

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Bob buxton pudsey — Star Wars fan: Bob Buxton

The Yorkshire Party’s candidate for Pudsey has launched his campaign by calling for a ‘Yorkshire rail ‘revolution’.

Ahead of the December 12 general election, Bob Buxton, the Party’s transport spokesman, said:

“We won’t settle for being London’s poor-relation. From 2012-2017, Yorkshire’s railways received only £3.3 billion in funding, compared to £24.9 billion for London.
“Fair funding and proper, powerful devolution will allow us to start a Yorkshire Rail Revolution, accelerating electrification, replacing old diesel pacers, reversing Beeching cuts and building new lines and stations.”

Mr Buxton added:

“What little budget Leeds does have is set to be wasted by the Labour-run City Council on a pointless airport road – it won’t bypass the worst congestion and will be yet another attack on our greenbelt.
“Instead, the Yorkshire Party supports a direct rail link to an adjacent station via tunnelling which would also serve as a park-and-ride, taking hundreds of cars off the road every day.”

The Yorkshire Party also wants to see customers charged less for late bus and train services, rather than having to apply for refunds. Mr Buxton added:

“If your service is 20 minutes late, you pay half-price, 40 minutes late and it’s free.”

Under the Party’s ‘pay less for late’ scheme, customers with pre-paid tickets would be able to get immediate refunds directly at stations.

Other confirmed candidates in the Pudsey constituency include Labour’s Jane Aitchison, the Conservative’s Stuart Andrew and Liberal Democrat Ian Dowling.

At the last election in 2017, Mr Andrew held on to his seat by just 339 votes, making Pudsey one of the tightest marginal seats in the country and a key battleground at the next General Election.

Farsley’s Candied Peel Cake Co gets Twitter boost from Theo Paphitis

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November 4, 2019

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Farsley-based The Candied Peel Cake Co has received a business boost from retail entrepreneur, Theo Paphitis, writes Josie Armitage.

Steven Newbatt-Macdonald, the owner, tweeted the Dragons Den star about his business during ‘Small Business Sunday’ and was one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo to his 500,000 Twitter followers.

The weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, now has over 2,500 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK.

Business and retail entrepreneur and self-confessed shopkeeper, Mr Paphitis re‐tweeted The Candied Peel Cake Co’s message to his Twitter followers and as a result, the business has significantly more followers and extra orders for their cakes and locally sourced produce.

They are also profiled on the #SBS website which is exclusive to all Small Business Sunday winners.

Steven said:

“We’ve been in business for three years and only recently opened our first store in Farsley. It is great to have support from Theo because it’s been tough trying to raise our profile. Theo has recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do to his following.”

Small business champion Theo Paphitis, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome new #SBS members every week and highlight just how important it is to support our small businesses here in the UK.
“My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club; like-minded individuals who can share successes and learnings. The website will also give a valuable profile to the winners chosen and I wish The Candied Peel Cake Co every success.”

The Candied Peel Cake co specialises in handcrafted fruit cakes, mini cake “loaves of love”, traybakes and scones for all occasions. Gluten, dairy and egg free varieties are always available. They liaise with their customers to ensure they receive the exact item they require, whether this means changing designs, size or even the recipe to suit their needs.

Steven said:

“We pride ourselves on working closely with our partners, whether they be suppliers, producers or stockists of our products. We believe in supporting independent British businesses including local suppliers of produce including fruit, free range eggs and flour.”

You can order online at www.TheCandiedPeelCakeCo.com or pop into the shop on Farsley Town Street between 9am-5pm.

West Leeds World War One graves: Pudsey Cemetery

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November 4, 2019

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Pudsey War Graves — Photo: Mark Stevenson

Pudsey Cemetery has 31 casualties from World War One, 22 of which have headstones, writes Mark Stevenson.

I was able to find addresses for some of them.

William Wade husband of Annis Wade, of 5, Whittaker Street, Farsley.

C.W Dean husband of Amy Dearnly (formerly Dean), of 12, Randolph St., Bramley.

John William Fowler son of Jonathan and Mary Louisa Fowler, of 123, Fartown, Pudsey.

J.H Illingworth husband of Edith Rhodes (formerly Illingworth), of 30, Nether St., Farsley.

Henry Isles son of Mary France Coggins of 14, Primrose Hill, Stanningley.

H.H Beaumont son of William Beaumont; husband of Agnes Maud Beaumont, of 5, Highfield St., Pudsey.

Photos: Mark Stevenson

A week or so ago I thought it might be a good idea to take a photo of all the World War One graves in West Leeds.

It soon became clear I would need to narrow it down to get it done in the time I had.

The numbers I use are from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and to make it more manageable I only took a photo of graves with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Some WW1 war graves have private headstones which meant I would have had to look at all the graves in West Leeds which I did not have time for but I’m sure I will get around to.

Check out my coverage of St Thomas in Stanningley, St Wilfrid’s in Calverley and Hill Top in Armley.

Wortley: Public meeting discusses playing field campaign latest

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November 3, 2019

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TV Harrison ground wortley — The TV Harrison ground in Wortley

A public meeting will discuss the latest moves to stop council housing being built on a famous former sports pitch in Wortley.

The TV Harrison Community Action Group are fighting to stop 47 new council houses from being built on the Oldfield Lane – and have so far gathered more than 2,700 names on a petition to save the land.

The group is organising a public meeing on Wednesday 27 November at 7.30pm in St Johns Church, Lower Wortley Road to discuss the next moves in their campaign.

Campaigner Aaron Lambert said:

“If you want to stand up and fight for what’s right then now’s the time to step forward. Without people power our kids’ future is far less bright.
“Spread the word and let’s reclaim what our family and friends bought and gifted to the kids of our Leeds in between fighting two world wars. Their legacy will not die.”

Campaigners argue the people of Leeds raised £2,200 and the land was bought in 1929. In 1931 a ceremony took place on the land as the deeds were handed over from the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Alderman G Ratcliffe to a Mr TW Shortridge – as the land was gifted to the school children of Leeds. In the deeds, it states that the land ‘shall be left open and unbuilt upon’.

Three-quarters of the land, close to Wortley Asda, is currently owned by the Leeds School Sports Association, with a quarter owned by Leeds City Council, which wants to own the whole site.

The council wants to build much-needed local authority housing on the land. But campaigners want the site – dubbed ‘Wortley’s Wembley’ where Leeds United players including David Batty, Noel Whelan and Brian Deane all played as youngsters – brought back into community use as sports facilities.

Follow the Dispatch‘s coverage of this issue here.

Support community journalism and join West Leeds Dispatch community quiz night

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November 3, 2019

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west leeds dispatch quiz night 9 — These guys were quiz winners last time around! Photo: Simon Cullingworth

Quiz night fun at The Abbey Inn. Photo: Simon Cullingworth

Do you see yourself as a quiz-night king or queen? Here’s your chance to join other members of the community for some fun at the West Leeds Dispatch Community Quiz Night!

There’ll be some great prizes and some grub at half-time too.

All monies raised will help us to continue to fund community journalism in West Leeds.

Join us on Wednesday, 20 November 2019 at The Abbey Inn, Pollard Lane, Newlay.

Venue: The Abbey Inn, Pollard Lane, Bramley.

Entrance is £1 per person with a maximum of four in a team.

Gather from about 7.30pm. Quiz starts at 8pm. Quiz mistress will be Dispatch board member Jill Stocks. All welcome!

Quizmistress: Jill Stocks. Photo: Simon Cullingworth

Local journalism is in crisis, please support us …

These are challenging times for local news providers – and producing your daily dose of West Leeds Dispatch comes at a cost!

We’re a small, community-led news organisation which which wants to continue to maintain our openness and protect our precious independence.

And above all we want to connect people with what’s happening in their part of West Leeds. Every reader contribution, big or small, helps us to do that…

West Leeds planning applications: 2 November 2019

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November 3, 2019

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Each week we feature the latest planning applications from across West Leeds.

Armley Ward

One LED digital advertising screen 210-212 Armley Road Armley Leeds LS12 2LS
Change of use of existing dwelling (Use Class C3) To house of multiple occupation (Use Class C4) Bike store to front 10 Landseer Terrace Bramley Leeds LS13 2RQ
Detached garage to rear 27 Lancastre Grove Bramley Leeds LS5 3DZ

Bramley & Stanningley Ward

Single storey rear extension 1 Hardwick Court Bramley Leeds LS13 1FF

Calverley & Farsley Ward

Tree works Woodhall Playing Fields, Woodhall Lane, Stanningley Pudsey
Tree works, Clara Drive – West Wood & Lodge Wood, Thornhill Drive Calverley Pudsey LS28 5QW
G1 Ash – Fell row due to being close to the building and causing a nuisance 9 Ravenscliffe Road, Calverley, Pudsey LS28 5RZ
T1 Sycamore – Fell and replant with 10-12 cm standard T2 – T6 Hornbeam – Reduce height by 2.5 meters and spead by 1 meter. T7 Sycamore – Remove and replant with 10-12 cm standard. 82 Newlands Farsley Pudsey LS28 5BB
Part two storey and part single storey extension to side and rear 25 New Park Vale Farsley Pudsey LS28 5TY
Single storey rear extension 37 Wesley Road Stanningley Pudsey LS28 6EJ
Consent, agreement or approval required by conditions 4 and 6 of Planning Application 19/01648/FU, Land Off Standale Avenue Pudsey Leeds LS28 7JE
Retrospective application for boundary fence to front and side boundary 63 Old Road, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5BR

Farnley & Wortley Ward

None submitted this week.

Kirkstall Ward

5m single storey rear extension, 2.6m to ridge height (flat roof) 25 Talbot View Burley Leeds LS4 2RQ
Tree work. Rear Of 12 Burley Hill Drive Burley Leeds LS4 2SZ
New detached dwelling with parking and associated works Land Adj To 67 Queenswood Road, Leeds LS6 3NL

Pudsey Ward

Single storey link extension to garage Hanover House, 14 Roker Lane Pudsey LS28 9HW
Single storey side extension 12 Surrey Grove, Pudsey LS28 7NH
Change of use of adjacent land to domestic garden; two storey and single storey side/rear extension incorporating gable wall extension to side with front and rear dormer windows; relocation of existing rear garage 136 Tyersal Road Tyersal BD4 8HG.

West Leeds World War One graves: St Thomas, Stanningley

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November 3, 2019

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St Thomas Stanningley War Graves — ST Thomas has a number of graves, icnluding war graves. Photo: Mark Stevenson

St Thomas’s Churchyard in Stanningley has four casualties from World Ward One, writes Mark Stevenson.

All four have headstones, only one was I able to find an address for that still stands today was Joseph Roberts Lord son of Arthur and Mary Lord and husband of Linda Lord, of 15, Gladstone Terrace, Stanningley.

A week or so ago I thought it might be a good idea to take a photo of all the World War One graves in West Leeds.

It soon became clear I would need to narrow it down to get it done in the time I had.

The numbers I use are from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and to make it more manageable I only took a photo of graves with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Some WW1 war graves have private headstones, which meant I would have had to look at all the graves in West Leeds which I did not have time for, but I’m sure I will get around to.

In previous days I’ve looked at St Wilfrid’s in Calverley and Hill Top in Armley.

Barley Mow: Community misses out on takeover, but ideas live on

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November 2, 2019

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Campaigners have missed out in their bid bring the former Barley Mow Pub in Bramley into community ownership.

The Barley Mow Supporters wanted to turn the building, which has been empty since last year, into Leeds’s first community-run pub and community facility.

But they’ve been told by vendors Aprirose that their bid has been rejected. The vendor is exploring its options and has other offers.

barley mow bramley — Closed. The Barley Mow in Bramley. Photo: John Baron/westleedsdispatch.com

The Barley Mow Supporters say they are determined not to let people’s ideas for the future of the building – which were generated at community events earlier this year – go to waste.

Sophie Michelena, chair of Barley Mow Supporters, encouraged people to ‘keep on mowing’. She said:

“We’re determined not to let your ideas for a ‘more than a pub’ disappear. Those ideas will be made openly available.
“Please save the date for a social on 28 November, 7.30pm at Bramley Lawn, to say thanks, to get to know each other better, and to chat about ‘what’s next?’.
“This campaign has started new conversations and ideas to make life in Bramley better – let’s not give up on those. The best is yet to come. Keep on Mowing.”

Ideas included a recording studio for musicians, a space for bands to perform, an arts space or a community radio station.

barley mow beer mats — Ideas for the future of the pub were drawn up on beer mats

There were also calls for meeting and social space for all the community, as well as activities for young people.

More than 100 people attended a candlelit open event in the pub earlier this year.

barley mow meeting — Meeting: Sophie Michelena of the Mow Supporters and Bramley History Society’s Roger Cliff. Photo: David Horner

A post on the supporters’ Facebook page today added:

“We’ve come a huge distance in a short time, and many volunteers have worked incredibly hard to put a business and funding case together. THANK YOU to everyone who’s supported this campaign with ideas, time and talents. You are amazing.
“At this stage, we’re out of the race. If there are organisations or groups out there who are interested in bidding for the Barley Mow and want to know more from us or would like to work with us, please DM or e-mail bringbackbarleymow@gmail.com.”

The Grade II Listed pub closed last year and was on the market for £450,000.

Kirkstall: How new community library is bringing people together

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November 2, 2019

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A new community-led library is bringing people together and encouraging people to read in Kirkstall – eight years after Kirkstall Library closed due to budget cuts. Community reporter Ramona Green paid the library a visit …

Some of the books at the library. Photo: Ramona Green

There is now a library at unit 11, Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park that has a great range of books to suit every kind of reader.

Their stock continues to rise with regular donations of books being brought into unit 11.

As well as a library, the unit boasts quite a few activities including palates, hedgehog house building workshops – and recently hosted a West Leeds Dispatch community reporters course.

Unit 11 is run by community organisation Kirkstall Valley Development Trust (KVDT) who are using this site as a temporary community base while they continue to work towards establishing a more permanent home at Abbey Mills.

Children’s play area and library at Kirkstall Bridge’s Unit 11. Photo: Ramona Green

I spoke to Cathy, who visiting with her grandchildren, aged two, five and eight. They all really enjoyed it, the two younger children playing in the children’s play area while the eldest child scanned the vast array of books for something to take home and read.

I had a cup of tea with their grandmother and asked her what she thought of the library here in unit 11. Cathy said:

“This is a great idea, especially since most of the big libraries are being closed down.
“There is less and less effort put into getting our younger generation to read nowadays, especially actual paper books rather than e-books, so to have something like this in our community, it’s just fabulous.
“More areas in Leeds should do something community based like this, including the library. My grandchildren take after me and all love books and reading, which I’m so grateful for.”

I also spoke to Stella, who helped start this lovely, community based library.

Stella works at The British Library based in Wetherby and wanted to help put a library together nearer to her home in Kirkstall.

Adele Rae, from KVDT, approached Stella about getting something started there at unit 11 and that’s how it all began.

Stella put a shout out at work at The British Library asking colleagues for books to donate. Like a book appeal of sorts. Around 90% of the books there now were sourced that way, the rest from other donors.

Stella said:

“Just take a book away, enjoy it, bring it back or give it to someone else. We are very informal and there are no fines given here.”

There is also a fun-filled children”s area next to the library so avid readers who are also parents of young children can let their kids play and even read, as they also have a fantastic selection of children’s books too.

I strongly advise going along and taking a look for yourself and even borrowing a book or two. You don’t need a library card to borrow books from here. You could take half an hour to relax with a coffee as there is also a community kitchen in which you can make tea, coffee and cold drinks.

If you have any books that you’ve read or someone gave you that you aren’t really into, just take them along to unit 11 as their library will happily accept them and then someone else can enjoy them too.

At the moment it is mainly weekdays – but not every day – that unit 11 is open as it is still quite a new project.

Before Christmas they are looking to be open a full five days a week.

Contact Adele Rae for any further information, including opening times, what’s on and when & renting the space via her e-mail – adele.rae@kvdt.org.uk or by phone on 07900 986570.