By John Baron
Council chiefs will form a ‘problem solving group’ of different council departments after Armley residents called for a ‘proper investigation’ into problems with parking and traffic near a busy business park.
WLD reported in March on a deputation from the Cecil Road Community Group, who were demanding action over a “planning enforcement failure that has devastated our neighbourhood for over seven years”.
They told a full council meeting that their issues relate to approximately 10 garage businesses operating on Cecil Road in Armley.
They pointed to vehicles blocking streets and preventing bin collection and emergency vehicle access, crashed vehicles left parked on streets, late-night tow truck deliveries and industrial noise at all hours.
The deputation asked the council planning enforcement to carry out a proper investigation into the issues, including evening and nighttime monitoring.
In a council report responding to the deputation, council officers said: “The situation here is complex, long standing and difficult to resolve by one agency.”
It approves the setting up of a problem solving group of different council departments and partners, including the police.
The report adds: “No one agency is going to be able to resolve the issues being experienced. An holistic partnership approach bringing together the various stakeholders and services to look at all the issues together is required.
“The Communities Team has agreed to support this approach, working with residents, local councillors, Leeds City Council (LCC) service leads and other partners such as the Police to look at the issues, causes, powers to enforce and possible solutions.
“This proposed ‘Problem Solving Group’ would hopefully provide a more co-ordinated response to the challenges residents are facing.”
The report says the partnership will be able to look at all possible interventions, relevant constraints and how best to deploy resources.
It concludes: “If appropriate, enforcement can be better targeted while also looking at what powers are available to address what is a clear imbalance and friction between commercial activity and residential amenity.
“This may not completely eliminate the issues, but would aim to provide a more co-ordinated approach, improve community cohesion and restore some community confidence in services.”
The full council report and response can be read in full here.
WLD is awaiting a residents’ response to the council’s report.