Consultation on a £2.9 million highways scheme to help breathe new life into Armley Town Street is due to begin in the summer, a council report has said.
A report to be considered by members of the Inner West Community Committee next Tuesday features a small but significant update on the scheme, which features road safety and bus priority improvements on Armley Town Street.
The government-funded scheme was announced in 2023, but details have been sketchy, despite calls by residents and traders for more information and consultation at an Armley Forum meeting last July.
A report to be considered by councillors on Tuesday says draft ideas been prepared by the council’s highways department. In May council officers called in at all businesses in the town centre and Branch Road to advise that full consultation is scheduled to get under way this summer.
“All were encouraged to engage with the consultation and encourage staff and visitors to Armley town centre to also become involved to develop a scheme which works well for those dependent on the town centre,” the report added.
Funding for the £2.9m scheme has already been secured by Leeds City Council as part of the Active Travel Fund distributed by Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for making walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred choice of travel.
The Town Street scheme is part of a wider £23.12 million package received by West Yorkshire Combined Authority in May to improve the cycling and walking network throughout the region.
Other issues
The report also says a meeting was held with Armley Action Team to confirm arrangements for trading on the pocket park off Town Street when entertainments are not taking place there. Initial discussion was also held on allowing markets on Armley Moor.
Continued problems with anti-social behaviour in and around Armley Leisure Centre were also highlighted, with police and council anti-social behaviour workers attempting to engage with young people.
Work is under way to introduce a children’s play area in between the Clyde blocks, which will also incorporate thermoplastic markings for children to play on.
Meeting details
The Inner West Community Committee meeting takes place on Tuesday, 2 July, 6pm-8pm at Milford Sports Club, Beecroft Street, Leeds, LS5 3AS. Members of the public can attend. The agenda can be found here.
The committee is made up of nine councillors from Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Kirkstall wards. It has eight Labour councillors and one Green and also has community co-optees.
I cycled past yesterday at 5pm and saw two blokes knocking the h*ll out of each other outside Heron Foods, with a crowd around them. The street is lawless. After living in west Leeds for 50 years, my now deceased father would not go there, he felt intimated.
Lived in Armley in the 1974-78, have nothing but good memories of the area, but i agree with the previous comments, town street is not a place to be after dark.