Leeds City Council has secured £1 million to make the Recreations area of Holbeck more people-friendly as part of a Streets For People project.
Staff have been talking to residents about the issues they face and sort of measures they would like to see. Obesity and asthma issues have been linked to safety fears of playing out or accessing Holbeck Moor because of speeding traffic.
Some of the measures used elsewhere that could be seen in Holbeck range from blocking streets halfway to create two cul-de-sacs through to closing streets completely and grassing them over as green play spaces.
Chicanes, pinch points and junction narrowing are also options, all aimed at slowing traffic and reducing ‘rat-running.’ One idea being floated is the creation of a permanent ‘play street’ by Ingram Road Primary School.
Residents are invited to find out more about the ideas and options and talk to staff about what they would like to see and on which streets.
The current events are very much at the starter-for-ten stage. No decisions have been taken and there will be a further round of consultation on a proposed plan once feedback from these events has been analysed.
The project also ties in with work being undertaken in the area by the Council’s Public Health team who are looking at wider issues, but who have already found a tie in around clean air and access to green space.
The Football Foundation is looking to upgrade the multi-use games area on Holbeck Moor and the new cycle route between the Elland Road and the city centre runs through the area. It’s hoped that the various parties can share information and come up with a package of improvements that makes a bigger difference.
A drop in session runs tonight (4 January 2020) at The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn LS11 9QX until 8pm. The final drop in is on Thursday (6 January 2020), 11am-2pm at The Happy Yak cafe in Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, LS11 9RQ.
