Beeston & Holbeck Ward Update:
We’ve had some fantastically sunny weather and councillors are hoping that some of that weather hangs around for the school summer holidays. Councillors have supported and attended a number of local events including the Holbeck Gala, which was great (despite the rain!), and the Cross Flatts Farmers market. They are looking forward to the Breeze inflatables coming to Cross Flatts Park on 7 August.
Through the Inner South Community Committee, held on 7 July, Beeston and Holbeck Councillors have financially supported a number of positive initiatives, including:
- Funding for lighting on Holbeck Moor’s Multi Games Area
- A start up grant for the new Holbeck Moor Football Club
- Beeston In Blooms painting of Utility boxes
- 9 new litter bins to tackle litter hot spots
- Funding to support Beeston Festival which is scheduled for 18 September this year
- Funding for the Holbeck Food Bank, which has been busier than ever since the COVID pandemic started
- An environment project being run by St Luke’s Church
A massive thanks to all those who applied for funding for the above projects!
Councillor Almass and Gabriel visited the recently extended St Luke’s Church building and were impressed by their vision and really pleased to hear about the work they are doing with Leeds City Council to make us a City of Sanctuary and the new CAP Job Club.
Finally the ward councillors attended a Voice of Holbeck meeting to discuss the ongoing challenges faced due to on-street prostitution in the area and are committed to working with residents to improve our area for everyone.
Hunslet & Riverside Ward Update:
This month has seen the continued return to our normal community activities as Councillor Advice Drop-Ins restarted for the first time in 17 months, more Street Advice Sessions were held and we began attending more local events as community group’s restart up.
Litter remains an area of current focus and as well as organising community litter picks, we’re also now encouraging local institutions to ‘adopt’ their nearby streets and conduct weekly local litter picks. To support this we’ll look to provide these groups with litter picking kits etc. Thank you to Masjid Ibraheem on Woodview Road who’ve already adopted the Woodviews and are making a fantastic difference to these streets.
We are also focusing on addressing the poor condition of some of the Leeds Homes estates in the ward as low staff levels for over a year due to self-isolation and illness have had a big impact. Some of the agreed action include:
- Highways Gullies clearing a backlog of blocked drains on the estates
- Cleaner Neighbourhoods planning estate wide weed removal and pathway sweeps
- Housing Leeds Mangers to creating bespoke improvement plans for each estate.
Getting these estates to a good standard again will remain a focus for much of the year so please remember you can also help by report issues (potholes, fly tipping, litter etc.) at services.leeds.gov.uk as soon as you see them.
It was also good to hold our regular residents meeting online for Leeds Dock, Beeston Hill and Hunslet Green but we’re hopeful we’ll be back to face-to-face meetings for the next set in three months’ time.
Middleton Park Ward Update:
Young people have endured a great deal during the pandemic. Despite the continuing challenges with Covid, we believe they and their families deserve a fun break over summer. So we’ve secured funding for four major summer fun events across Middleton and Belle Isle.
The events are Mini Breezes, Tuesday 3 August, Blenkinsop Fields (next to Middleton Community Centre) and Tuesday 10 August, Parkside (Belle Isle, next to Windmill Primary); and full Breeze events on Friday 20 August, Blenkinsop Fields; and Tuesday 24 August, at Parkside.
The Council’s local Youth Work Team are also arranging some exciting visits and activities, such as horse riding, Go Ape, Flamingo Land, picnic and sports, Cooking, Go Karting, Blackpool Pleasure Beach. For more information, please contact Allison Dixon on 07891 277407.
Together with our Beeston and Holbeck colleagues and the Friends of Middleton Park, we’re now seeking local people’s ideas on the future use of the former South Leeds golf course, and also their views on some suggested proposals.
These include woodland planting, re-wilding, mown and formal walkways, increased biodiversity, wetland/pond creation, access controls, seating, car parking and an activity area and centre at the former clubhouse. The consultation also includes the possibility of a Covid-19 memorial woodland covering about 10% of the land in partnership with Leeds Hospitals Charity.
Consultation is taking place both online at surveys.leeds.gov.uk/s/SLGC21 and at the following locations:
- Saturday 7 August 11am-3pm, Middleton Park Visitor Centre;
- Saturday 14 August 11-3pm, Leeds Urban Bike Park;
- Monday 16 August 4-6:30pm, Leeds Urban Bike Park and lower end of the former golf course (near the Park Woods).
Main photo: Hunslet & Riverside Councillors joined a litter pick at Rowland Road pocket park
