By John Baron
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she wants to see ‘a Town Street that people are proud of again’.
The Leeds West and Pudsey MP was discussing the Pride in Place programme, which is set to pump £20 million into the Armley and New Wortley area over the next ten years.
Decisions on how the money will be spent will be made by a Neighbourhood Board made up of residents and people who want the area to do well.Â
Ms Reeves visited Christ Church Upper Armley, Yum community pantry on Gelder Road and New Wortley Community Centre. She was accompanied by Steve Reed MP, Secretary of State for Communities.
When asked about the outcomes she would like to see from the fund, Ms Reeves told WLD: “I’d like to see a Town Street that people are proud of again. A Town Street that’s safe to go the shops. It’s incredibly important.
“This morning one woman put it really well to me. She said that ‘Armley is like a person who is not having a good time at the moment. They need to get their confidence back and feel good about themselves again’. I’ve always had faith in Armley and its vibrancy. There are a lot of people doing good and positive things, but it has struggled.
“I hope Pride in Place will help put Armley back on track. I’ve always wanted that as the local MP but it always needed investment and now, as Chancellor, I’m able to support that.”
Ms Reeves was joined in her visit by Steve Reed, Secretary of State for housing, communities and local government.
Mr Reed was last at New Wortley Community Centre ten years ago, when he heard about the community’s achievements and how the centre – which was about to open an extension – had become a beacon of grass roots empowerment.
“Today was a chance for Steve to see what happened here ten years after his last visit,” Ms Reeves added. “He’s come back now when we’re in a position to put into action what we were talking about back then.”
A recruitment process is under way for the community led Neighbourhood Board made up of local people. The Reverend Phil Arnold, from Christ Church, has been appointed as chair.
Farnley ‘East’ will also receive £20m from the Pride in Place programme.
I’ve lived in Armley for 40 years us locals call it the Olympic village now not many English shops it used to be a good place to go shopping and I have not been there for months I go shopping in Bramley
So is rachel having police gaurding every street every shop and every schools. 24 hours aday its ok bring 20million into it. But on whos expence when everyone knows leeds city council have no money in the pot. Because if they did 25 to 30 year old kitchens and windows and bathtooms would be replaced, all pot holes armely bramley and wortley would be fixed. Seeing that speed limits come down even more near schools. Lunch meals for kids are better and kids are given more. Funding into teachers and staff and health care workers too. And more policing again. Why now when armley went down 15 years ago and please please rachel you want to put money into anything open a mental health day histpital again for men and women.
She can spend as much as she wants it will stillbe a 3rd world hovel because of the inhabitants
A bomb should do it and then start again !
Unfortunately it doesnt matter how many giant fancy flower beds or new pavements etc are planned for town street ( i saw proposed plans ) the selection of shops and residents will be the same, banks have closed , older long standing shops have given up , there is only 1 ATM machine now the majority of the shops are foreign convenience shops , vape or charity shops that has no appeal to im guessing 90% of local residents , Armley town street died a death yrs n yrs ago the 20million would be spent elsewhere.