Climate charity Possible has unveiled a vision of Tempest Road in south Leeds reimagined as a people-friendly, climate-conscious environment with fewer cars. The vision will also be placed on a billboard at the junction where Tempest Road meets Beeston Road.
Almost four years ago a climate emergency was declared in Leeds. It is essential that we move away from private car use to help reach our climate targets, and by retrofitting public spaces and transport and mobility systems we can also help create healthier, safer streets and neighbourhoods for our communities to thrive.
In winter 2022, Possible talked to people who live, work and shop in south Leeds about what they would want to see change on Elland Road and Tempest Road. After holding two workshops with seven residents from diverse backgrounds to shape the vision, and interviewing a panel of experts, Possible went on to envision these spaces free from car dependency.
Last week (2 February 2023) Possible unveiled both of these visions to the public with residents, the wider public, campaigners and local councillors all present to show them what the future could look like, discuss how we could get there, and the impacts such changes would have on people’s lives and on the climate.
South Leeds sees some of the worst air quality in the city. Our workshop participants helped re-imagine Tempest Road, which connects two very busy main roads (Beeston Road and Dewsbury Road (A653)) and Elland Road (A643), which sees tens of thousands of people walk and drive up and down it regularly.
The think tank Fare City, produced a report outlining conclusions from expert interviews which informed the workshops with residents, and the final visions.
Possible is calling on local authorities and the public to use these visions so they can be bolder in reimagining the future of their cities and take action to address car dominance.
Hirra Khan Adeogun, Head of Car Free Cities at climate charity Possible, said:
“I’m thrilled to unveil these community-led visions for the future of Tempest Road and Elland Road. In order to meet our climate goals, it’s essential that we get people driving less. That shouldn’t make us feel trepidation but excitement. And these visions embody that excitement. They are green, vibrant, and allow a diverse range of people to travel easily and would give the people of Leeds more travel options, not fewer. Our cities have the potential to be wonderful places to live and tools to combat climate change – let’s make that change.”
This post is based on a press release issued by Possible
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During pandemic lockdown, seemed to be alot less cars parked in Tempest Rd. Perhaps suggesting some of the cars belong to people who do not live there. That most days its a free car park, probably for people then getting a bus to the train station. Can’t blame them, but its using a poor area like a free car park. Presumably using the area for fly tipping is not enough abuse of an area where many live.
Whilst would appreciate a considerable reduction in traffic, meanwhile a reduction in parking would help. People not living locally, who would have a permit, should pay for parking if there for hours a day. The money used to help improve the area. Feels like living on a motorway slip road. The zebra crossing was a very welcome addition.
and where would the people who live in these streets, where most of the houses do not have driveways, store their cars? You see, they need their cars because Leeds is the largest city in western Europe with no mass transit system. Busses do not count, because people who actually have jobs and places to get to in a reasonable amount time cannot rely on them because they are run for for the profit of First Leeds and their shareholders and not for the benefit of the residents of Leeds. So they don’t show up on a regular enough basis for them not to be viable.
I’m sure this hair-brained idea sounds great if you’re a virtue signalling ecologist who lives in a country house with 3 acres around it. In the real world though people have lives, places to be, things to do, and they need access to easy transport. Its like these people want to take us back to the days when everyone had to do everything on foot and within range of a horse.
How are these people who live in this place picture supposed to charge their electric cars that you just forced them to buy? What about disabled people who can’t walk? You just took away their access to easy transport. I could go on.
If you don’t want everyone to drive everywhere then provide *practical alternatives*. Doubtless instead though this will be another one of those things that sees “consultations” with no intention of listening to anyone who actually lives here because in reality its a broadcast operation dictating the new rules we we all end up having to live by, dreamed up by some eco-loon. Get in the sea.