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Sixth school to join Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust

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Spring Bank Primary, Headingley

A Pudsey-based academy trust is set to welcome a sixth school under its umbrella as it expands across the city.

The Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust is based at Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary School and is set to welcome Spring Bank Primary School in Headingley into its group.

According to a council report released this week, the proposed conversion date from a council-run school to academy is 1 May 2024.

Schools already part of the Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust include:

The council report can be read in full here.

Green light for store refurbishment ahead of Home Bargains’ Armley opening

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Armley's former Wilko store, off Stanningley Road. Photo: Google

By John Baron

Council planners have given the green light to transform the former Wilko’s store in Armley into Home Bargains.

A planning application was submitted to Leeds City Council last month by Home Bargains owners TJ Morris for a new shop frontage and shutters at the former Wilko’s store which closed last September at Centre West Retail Park.

The plans include a new shop front with shutters, goods entrance and fire escape doors, repair and paint existing cladding, car park resurfacing and associated work.

In a letter accompanying the application, developers say they will ‘reuse and refurbish’ existing floorspace at the store and add: “The Wilko store which had previously occupied the unit has now closed and this application will allow a new, well-established retailer to occupy the unit which will revitalise the town centre of Armley.

“The proposed works will allow the building to be refurbished to a high standard to allow Home Bargains to expand their existing representation in Leeds.”

Planning permission was granted today by council planners.

No date for opening the new Home Bargains store has yet been given. The company already has stores in Kirkstall and Stanningley.

The plans can be viewed in full here.

New adult care home plan submitted in Armley

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Access will be off Hill Top. Photo: Google

Plans for a specialist care home for adults have been submitted near The Travellers’ Rest pub in Armley.

Concert Healthcare Property Holdings Limited want to build a new care home of 13 bedrooms and two apartments for adults with a range of disabilities. Proposals include the demolition of the house at 61 Hill Top Road.

The applicants say the proposals will make efficient use of an underutilised, vacant brownfield site which is in a sustainable location and will also provide high-quality purpose-built care development which will cater for the unique needs of adult residents with a range of disabilities.

Access would be via Hill Top Road. The vacant parcel of land was occupied by a small engineering works until late 2013.

The plans can be viewed in full here.

Support on hand for TV interference during mobile upgrades in Pudsey

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tv interference Pudsey

Upgrades to mobile networks in Pudsey could cause interference to TV received through an aerial such as Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView, a national organisation has warned.  

Improvements are currently being implemented in Pudsey, and symptoms could include intermittent sound, blocky images (pixelation) or loss of TV signal.

For residents who are affected by the upgrades, free support is available from Restore TV. Restore TV is an independent programme created by Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL), an organisation owned by the UK’s four mobile network operators: EE, Virgin Media O2, Three and Vodafone.

Restore TV’s role is to ensure people can continue to enjoy free to view TV if mobile service upgrades cause TV interference. Restore TV reports to the Coexistence Technical Working Group, chaired by Ofcom, which monitors and advises on the programme to ensure free to view TV viewers’ interest are properly served.

The programme offers additional support for people who are 75 years of age or older, are registered blind or partially sighted or receive any of the following benefits: personal independence payments (PIPs); attendance allowance; constant attendance allowance or War Pensioner’s Mobility Support.

Ben Roome, CEO of Restore TV, said: “We know just how important TV is to inform, entertain and provide welcome company. Restore TV exists to ensure we all can continue to access free to view TV as mobile services are improved across the country.

“If you see new TV interference, we’re on hand to help you resolve the issue. We can send a Restore TV filter, free of charge, for you to fit between your aerial lead and TV or set-top box to remove mobile signals and allow you to watch free to view TV as normal. Full instructions are included, and we can provide further advice online and by phone if needed.

“In most instances, fitting the filter will resolve any issues, but if this isn’t the case, we may also be able to arrange a follow-up visit from a Restore TV engineer at no cost, depending on eligibility.”

Cable and satellite TV, such as Sky or Virgin, are not affected. However, viewers with these services, who also watch free to view TV through an aerial, can receive a free Restore TV filter.

Any viewers who experience new interference to free to view TV should contact Restore TV on:

·       0808 13 13 800 (free from landlines and mobiles)

·       restoretv.uk

In photos: Mild spring weather at Kirkstall Abbey

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Photo: Susan Tellum

Mild spring weather at Kirkstall Abbey and ongoing work on food defences in the Abbey grounds have been captured by photographer Susan Tellum.

Great to see the first signs of better weather!

Why not share your photos with our readers? E-mail us on news@westleedsdisoatch.com.

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Farsley Celtic strengthen management team to help stop slide

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Farsley Celtic director of football Pav Singh.

By John Baron

Farsley Celtic have added director of football Pav Singh to the current first team coaching set up as The Celts look to arrest an alarming slide which has seen them slump to 19th in the league – just five points above the relegation zone.

The short-term change will see Singh joining the current first team coaching set up in what the club describe as a ‘hands on role both in training and in the match-day dugout’.

The move comes as the Celts, who have spent much of the season in mid-table, recorded only one win from their last nine league games, and in the 15 games since their win against Gloucester on 23 December they’ve managed only three victories, scoring just 12 times. 

Gaffer: Farsley Celtic head coach Clayton Donaldson. Photo: John McEvoy

In a lengthy statement on social media this evening, Farsley Celtic chairman Paul Barthorpe said: “We believe that with the strength and quality of squad we have we shouldn’t be anywhere near where we are in the league, and our form earlier in the season has shown this.

“I have therefore taken the decision to act early, while we still have a good number of games remaining (seven). We are still a fair distance from the relegation zone (five points) and while are still masters of our own destiny, to make some changes in the short-term managerial set up to ensure we pull further away from the relegation zone.”

On Singh’s appointment, Barthorpe said: “His perspective and experience will complement our existing coaching team, offering us another valuable lens.

“His energy, enthusiasm and passion for this club has never been in doubt, and in recent times his work with the ETS helping turn them into league contenders in the first season of existence demonstrates the type of individual Pav is and I believe that’s exactly what we need at the moment. His role in putting together the playing squad this season alongside the current management team, also gives him the knowledge and familiarity meaning he can walk straight into the culture and start work from day one.”

Barthorpe added: “When we appointed Clayton and his team we were confident that they were the right team for the job, and that opinion hasn’t changed! The only thing they don’t have is experience, so to put into that group an experienced footballing resource like Pav… is a no brainer.”

Danny Ellis, Farsley Celtic. Photo: John McEvoy

Barthorpe also confirmed today that Danny Ellis, 38, has also been brought out of retirement as a player as the club seeks to arrest its slide down the league table. Ellis is a member of head coach Clayton Donaldson’s coaching staff and a former Farsley Celtic defender.

“At the beginning of the season we also registered Danny Ellis as a player, as his on-field passion, aggression and leadership was something that made him the player he was!” the statement added.

“We knew one day we might need that bit of extra steel and passion. He will now be made available for selection, his steady experienced head with the Farsley passion and fight is something that we will need in these last few games, and to be honest if we are in the last five minutes of a game and need to shore things up at the back I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather bring on.

“As a fan of the club as well as the chairman, I will take whatever steps I need to take and be a pro-active as I can to be to make sure we get what we all want, and that’s a successful end to the season!”

The club was placed under a transfer embargo by the National League on 23 February, which has yet to be lifted.

Farsley slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Boston United yesterday, their third loss in a week.

Kirkstall Brewery takes on The Tetley

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The Tetley. Photo: Google

Kirkstall Brewery has announced it will take on the lease of The Tetley in Leeds city centre, which once formed part of the vast Tetley’s Brewery site. 

The independent brewery has now got plans to make it a hub for great beer in the city, and renew the site as a ‘landmark of Yorkshire beer culture’.

The Tetley production line, best known for its cask ale, closed after 189 years in 2011, with the headquarters serving as an art gallery for the past ten years.

It’s hoped the building will reopen in May. The Tetley gallery closed in December 2023 after its lease ended. 

Kirkstall Brewery founder Steve Holt said: “It’s a tremendous privilege to bring Leeds’s most iconic brewery building into the Kirkstall fold. 

“As a brewery that pays a great deal of respect to the history of brewing in the city, we believe we are the ideal custodians for the next chapter of this legendary building.”

Michael Cronin, head of portfolio at Vastint UK, the owners of The Tetley building, said: “Last year we outlined our ambitions to safeguard this iconic building for the next 100 years and have now submitted our plans to the council. Since we became custodians of the building, it was always our intention to keep it open until the restoration work got under way to bring this fantastic building up to 21st century standards.

“So, we’re thrilled to be welcoming Kirkstall Brewery to Aire Park and to be bringing one of the current generations of Leeds and Yorkshire breweries to a site which has played such a pivotal role in the history of beer making in the region.

“The Tetley will form the centre piece of Aire Park, alongside the eight-acre public park and this collaboration will hopefully give the people of Leeds a small taster of what’s to come in the very near future.”

Holt added: “It really is the crown jewel of brewing history in Leeds, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to make it a landmark of Yorkshire beer culture once again.”

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Pudsey: Equestrian centre barn set to become family home

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Acres Hall Farm, Pudsey. Photo: Google

Plans to change the use of a former equestrian centre in Pudsey into a family home have been approved by council officers – subject to a raft of planning conditions.

Applicants Mr and Mrs Slinger submitted a planning application to convert an existing agricultural barn at Acres Hall Farm, off Acres Hall Avenue, into a four-bedroom detached home. Proposals included an access track and parking.

Mr and Mrs Slinger argued that the plans should be approved under permitted development rights, which allow householders to improve and extend properties without the need to apply for full planning permission.

18 objections were received to the proposal, including one from Cllr Dawn and Cllr Simon Seary, who said the development would be ‘inappropriate’ in the greenbelt.

Council planning officers approved the permitted development application, subject to a raft of 12 conditions including the applicant submitting acceptable drainage scheme and foul water drainage information.

The fresh proposals come after council planners refused an application last July for a stone-built six-bedroom home at the farm. Planners said the development was not in accordance with the council’s development plan.

The latest plans can be viewed in full here.

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Teen lads triumph at Bramley Villagers boxing show

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Boxer Reuban Briggs. Photo: Julian Hudson

By James Bovington

Two teenage boys were amongst boxers from Bramley Villagers Club who won their fights on the club’s first home show of the year.

Oscar Fletcher won an Independent Boxing Championship 60 kg title belt and Reuban Briggs showed his potential in a stunning debut performance. 

“Winning the belt means so much,” said Oscar, who at 17 is at college studying mechanics. “It’s everything I’ve been working towards for the past few years. I beat a strong opponent in Firefight Gym’s Finley Whelan. Now I have won it, it just gives me more motivation to keep fighting winning more belts as I work towards my eventual goal of becoming a professional boxer, hopefully even a champion.”

Boxer Oscar Fletcher. Photo: Julian Hudson

Injury forced Oscar to give up a football career with Bradford City Academy and on recovery he switched to boxing.

“I trained at a couple of other gyms and then settled on Villagers, and I now train with Titch and Danny Mitchell three times a week,” he said. “They’ve been brilliant with me these past two years. Lots of encouragement and rewarding hard work in an amazing team atmosphere. Boxing means that lads like Finley and me are strong and tough and proud that we can handle ourselves.”

Boxer Oscar Fletcher. Photo: Julian Hudson

Fifteen-year-old Reuban began boxing at Villagers aged six and was initially coached by Billy Wilkinson. “I’ve always been passionate about boxing, but it’s often taken a back seat to playing rugby for Stanningley. I train intensively in both sports.

“We’re five brothers from a sporty family. Connor boxed at Villagers and Lochie is now playing rugby league in Australia. Dad was a professional rugby player. I love it at Villagers the learning and the banter and we’ve all got massive respect for Titch and Danny.”

Reuban weighed in at 67 kg to beat Firefight’s Jacob Smith in a fast-moving bout in which both boys boxed with courage. “Jacob’s got guts, I admire him for that but I was determined to win,” stated Reuban. “Like Oscar I want to be a professional boxer. I just want to keep showing what I’m made of. I’ll fight anyone and beat them so keen to see who’s courageous enough to take me on next.”

Boxer Reuban Briggs. Photo: Julian Hudson

Both boys are looking for sponsorship to help them progress in their boxing. Individuals or companies interested in offering support can use Facebook to contact Oscar Fletcher or Reuban via his mother Don M Briggs.

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West Leeds planning applications: 17 March 2024

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Each week we publish a list of the latest planning applications related to the six council wards in West Leeds.

The following new applications were published on the Leeds City Council website in the past seven days:

Armley Ward

Bramley & Stanningley Ward

  • None submitted.

Calverley & Farsley Ward

Farnley & Wortley Ward

Kirkstall Ward

Pudsey Ward


Decided applications

Here are the planning applications decided by Leeds City Council this week:

Armley Ward

Bramley & Stanningley Ward

Calverley & Farsley Ward

Farnley & Wortley Ward

Kirkstall Ward

Pudsey Ward

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Farsley Celtic’s poor run continues at Boston United

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Farsley Celtic's Ryan Watson. Photo: Ivor Hughes

By John Baron

Kelsey Mooney’s second hat-trick of the week gave Boston United a deserved 3-0 win against a Farsley Celtic side suffering their third defeat in seven days.

Mooney, who rattled four in his team’s 7-3 win at hapless Gloucester last week, was again in fine form as the home side moved back into the playoff places.

The Celts, on the other hand, have recorded only one win from their last nine league games, and in the 15 games since their win against Gloucester on 23 December they’ve managed three victories, scoring just 12 times. After spending much of he season in mid-table, they currently sit five points above the National League North drop zone in 19th position, with seven games remaining.

Yesterday was an improved performance on Tuesday night’s abject surrender against Warrington.

For the first half hour The Celts looked solid, well organised and had matched their in-form opponents in a game of few chances.

The match changed on a mistake on the half-hour mark when Mooney turned the normally reliable Rudy Misambo to hand United a 30th-minute lead, his low strike going in off Leban’s right-hand post.

The home side were indebted to goalkeeper Cameron Gregory on the stroke of half-time, with the Boston stopper denying Darren Stephenson when through on goal following Jack Evans’ astute pass. The save would prove costly for the visitors.

Boston then had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead as the game opened up before the half time whistle blew.

Early in the second half Mooney grabbed his second when he headed home Martin Woods’ free-kick six minutes after half-time and then exchanged passes with Michael Gyasi six minutes from time to seal his hat-trick. Tellingly, Mooney’s tally in the last two games eclipses the number of goals scored between them by experienced Farsley forwards Michael Coulson and Clayton Donaldson all season.

The Celts had their share of possession and fired several efforts over the bar. They’ll be buoyed by the first starts in several months of Darren Stephenson – who showed some decent touches – and defender Harry Sheridan, but their small squad is stretched by injuries as the season enters a critical phase of the season.

Keeper Zan Luk Leban – arguably Farsley’s player of the season so far – will be on international duty for next Saturday’s game at Hereford and The Celts’ management team will be hoping for a dramatic return to form in what are arguably seven ‘cup finals’ before the end of the season.

Line ups

Boston United: Cameron Gregory; Jai Rowe, Michael Bostwick, Brad Nicholson; Sam Smart (Michael Gyasi 80), Dylan Hill, Martin Woods, Ethan Sephton (Lucien Mahovo 82); Keaton Ward (Deji Sotona 86); Kelsey Mooney, Jimmy Knowles. Subs (not used): Keziah Martin, Sam Essien. 

Farsley Celtic: Zan-Luk Leban; Harry Sheridan, Rudy Misambo, Tom Allan; Sam Leverett (Ryan Watson 79), Ben Atkinson (Jordan Carroll 87), Conor Branson, Jack Evans, Lewis Turner; Michael Coulson, Darren Stephenson (Clayton Donaldson 74). Subs (not used): Chris Atkinson, Harry Allen (gk). 

Referee: Tommy Breen.

Attendance: 1,522 (30 visitors).

Pudsey: Future of former visitor centre and glasshouse yet to be decided

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Closed: The former West Leeds Country Park Visitor Centre.

The future of the former West Leeds Country Park Visitors Centre and glasshouse in Pudsey Park is still to be decided by Leeds City Council – four years after the facilities closed their doors.

Both facilities shut in February 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and never re-opened after a subsequent round of Leeds City Council budget cuts permanently closing the facilities in 2021 in a bid to save the cash-strapped local authority £90,000 a year.

At least two community projects have expressed interest in taking on the buildings, including Steven Newbatt, who runs The Farsley Cake Co, and the Pudsey Community Project.

But a Leeds City Council spokesperson told WLD this week: “Unfortunately, none of the initial expressions of interest fully responded to the council’s requirements, so were not taken forward. We are currently reviewing the buildings and aim to have a plan for their future use in the coming months.”

Community organisations have been expressing an interest in taking on the glasshouse.

WLD understands the council also has concerns about their ability to legally lease out the former visitor centre due to low EPC energy ratings. As a result the council’s parks department has identified possible opportunities for these assets to be re-utilised to complement the use of the park by the public and these are currently being explored.

Council bosses invited expressions of interest for the former visitor centre in Autumn 2022, comprising animal enclosures, aviaries and aquariums, as well as associated welfare rooms, offices, a classroom and toilets. The glasshouse next door is also available.

Both projects have said they will continue to lobby the council.

Pudsey Community Project (PCP), which offers a range of services to support people in need, has launched an online petition to restart negotiations with the council after the process stalled due to the council’s city-wide review of all its assets.

PCP chief executive Richard Dimery said his organisation’s bid for the buildings had been developed further since their initial expression of interest.

“The buildings have been empty for four years now and are much-valued by the people of Pudsey,” Mr Dimery said. “Finding the right use for them is very important. We are committed to serving the community in any way we can and hope to work with others to find the most appropriate use. We will continue to do that.”

Pudsey Community Project’s proposals for the visitor centre include publicly accessible toilets; a small low-cost volunteer-run kiosk providing simple drinks and snacks for the park users; exhibition and activity space for park-based events; and to operate a six day a week youth and children’s group venue to help increase the offering for young people locally and reduce youth antisocial behaviour.

The glasshouse would be run in partnership with local schools as a horticultural classroom space for helping children engage with learning how to help things grow, and especially as a quiet space for working with children with special educational needs. Food grown there would be used locally in charity food provision.

Mr Newbatt wants to transform the visitors centre into an attraction attracting people from across the city, including a ‘travel back in time and explore’ dinosaur adventure, gift shop and community fruit and vegetable patch. It would also feature fully equipped meeting facilities, sensory area, visiting exhibits around local school curriculum and a fully restocked growhouse.

The growhouse will be minimally restocked to tie in with the overall attraction, while incorporating a snack kiosk and seating will be available for both attraction visitors and non patrons.

“I’m still hoping it will be a major milestone in bringing visitors and commercial expenditure back to Pudsey,” Mr Newbatt said. “We’ll keep fighting until the end and will be launching a petition to try get the council to listen to us on our Facebook group – Make The Visitors Centre Great Again – in the next week or so.”

Councillor Dawn Seary (Cons, Pudsey) said: “The closure of the visitors centre and glasshouse over three years ago, to save costs was in my view, a political manoeuvre rather than a genuine cost-saving measure.

“The cost of the buildings were merely absorbed elsewhere: the lights are still on, the plants are still watered and the animals and staff were retained and redeployed elsewhere in Leeds.

“While expressions of interest have been submitted, the Council has a lack of urgency in anything happening to the site, and keeps rolling out new excuses in the face of any proposals. I am thankful to the individuals who have submitted bids to reopen it and care about our park just as much as I do. I’ll keep working hard to hold this council to account so we can get something done, and keep making our community even better.”

Follow WLD‘s coverage of the centre’s closure and possible new lease of life here.

West Leeds Dispatch‘s Cutswatch series has been detailing cuts in West Leeds here.