The pioneering developer behind the eco-friendly Greenhouse development in Beeston Road is interested in reopening South Leeds Sports Centre, it was revealed last night.
At a meeting of the council’s inner south area committee last night, local councillor Adam Ogilvie said he had met with a representative from developer Citu, who had expressed an interest ‘in refurbishing and reopening’ the centre, which closed last November.
Councillors also received a paper detailing early proposals for a new primary school on the sports centre site. It’s understood Citu’s ideas for the centre could ‘sit alongside’ a new school but that discussions are at an early stage.
One local resident raised concerns over access to the site and the need to retain the sports pitches.
Members of the SPLASH group fighting to reopen the centre have confirmed a V for Vendetta themed protest at noon on Saturday, November 5, to mark the anniversary of the centre’s closure.
Other points from the area committee meeting at Belle Isle Family Centre included:
* New street cleaning arrangements should mean the area’s streets are now tidier
* Landlords, residents and local community groups are invited to a meeting about new rules surrounding houses in multiple occupation (ie with more than three unrelated people living in it, such as students). The meeting’s at Hillside next Thursday, 6-9pm.
* There has been a reduction in the number of burglaries and criminal damage across south Leeds, but an increase in drug offences, which police put down to more people being able to report offences and better working from the police. Councillor Angela Gabriel raised issues with prostitution in Holbeck.
*A priority neighbourhood worker will provide help and guidance to the Tenants and Residents Association Cottingley (TRAC) to help the group plan, organise and manage their own community initiatives. Councillors approved the funding for the project, which is commissioned by Health For All and managed by the council’s area management team.
* Councillors agreed to the setting up of a Middleton Park Strategic Advisory Group which will promote the park to a wider audience following its £2 million programme of improvements
* Residents were urged to support the Middleton Park Bonfire on November 5, which is sponsored by Land Securities
