What's happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton and Stourton
Well that didn’t last long, did it? Announced one evening with a surprising lack of advocates, the proposed European Super League dominated the news but collapsed within 48 hours in the face of a universally hostile reaction. It was a great victory for the voice of football fans and for
As some of us try and make up for Christmas indulgence by increasing the number of steps we take each day, you notice just how much more of your surroundings you can take in when walking as opposed to travelling the same route by car. I really enjoy looking at
Since March, our lives have been dominated by Covid. As I write, Leeds has just been put under new restrictions which mean that families won’t be able to see anyone else in their homes. It is the rising rate of infections in our city that has made this inevitable and
Firstly, a big thank you to all the council staff, voluntary organisations and volunteers who have been doing so much over the last month to help others. The theatre company Slung Low has been delivering meals to people in Holbeck and Beeston supported by the Real Junk Food Project. Holbeck
When I finished writing my column for South Leeds Life at the end of February, I could scarcely have imagined that so much would change so quickly in the following four weeks. As the coronavirus has spread across the globe with no vaccine yet available – although lots of scientists
Storms Ciara and Dennis have reminded us once again of the risk of flooding in Leeds and across the country. The flood defences in the city centre, including the movable weir at Crown Point Bridge which can be lowered when the water level rises, have made a difference, but there
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a very interesting presentation at a local GP surgery on social prescribing. It’s all about trying to help patients with the illnesses and problems they have in a new and different way rather than by writing out yet another prescription. One GP said
Someone asked me the other day why MPs use the term advice surgery. Well, I replied, we do give advice but we’re not doctors. But that’s not how one person saw it. The first person who turned up at my very first advice surgery as a councillor many years ago
First of all, some good news. Royal Mail has dropped its proposal to close the Holbeck delivery office. I was delighted, if to tell the truth a little surprised, when I heard the news, but this has been a wonderful victory for local residents and Royal Mail staff. They ran
A journalist asked me the other day how my constituents are feeling about Brexit. I replied that judging by my inbox they are pretty much split down the middle. On the one hand, people say ‘I just want out’ while on the other people plead ‘Can’t you stop Brexit?’ And