South Leeds Life 107 April 2024

Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet,

ON TRACK FOR MASS TRANSIT

First new line will serve Elland Road and White Rose

Plans for a tram system running through Leeds and Bradford have been set out, with a line to Elland Road and White Rose in the first phase.

The proposals were agreed at the final Combined Authority meeting of West Yorkshire’s leaders before May’s Mayoral election. The meeting saw them agree to a major step forward for the so-called mass transit scheme as the West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin aims to revolutionise the region’s transport network. It is hoped that spades will be in the ground in 2028 when construction of the early stage of the project will begin.

Phase one would include two lines serving Leeds and Bradford, The Leeds Line and the Bradford Line. The Leeds Line would take people between St James’ Hospital, through Leeds city centre and on to Elland Road and the White Rose Shopping Centre.

The Bradford Line would run from Leeds city centre to Bradford city centre – also linking Bradford Forster Square station with the new Bradford rail station. This line supports Bradford’s plans to regenerate the city’s southern gateway, which includes the new Bradford rail station.

The Combined Authority

would also work with Kirklees Council to look into how to include a Dewsbury Line in future.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said:

“Today is a key milestone in our plan to create a betterconnected region that works for all. By setting out our plans to submit to government, we are taking a major step forward towards the biggest infrastructure project West Yorkshire has seen since the development of the motorways six decades ago.

“This will be transformational for the North, helping our communities to thrive and our economy to flourish –benefitting generations to come with greater opportunity and prosperity.

“We know that mass transit systems have successfully helped to regenerate areas right across the country by boosting connectivity, opportunity and prosperity –and we will work tirelessly to make sure that happens here in West Yorkshire.”

The Combined Authority will continue to work with local authorities to ensure that future phases of a mass transit network reach Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale, ensuring no part of West

The submission of the Combined Authority’s “strategic outline case” document to the Department for Transport was approved by members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on 14 March. The document will then be sent by the Mayor to the government for approval to continue with the development of the scheme.

The project will be subject to a full business case and approvals process. The announcement does not preempt the exact route, which will

consultation.

The Combined Authority will ask the public to have their say in the summer on the possible routes, with the two “phase one” Leeds and Bradford lines expected to be joined later by potential further schemes covering the rest of the region.

The mass transit system will form a key part of a wider integrated transport system in the region, seamlessly integrating with bus, rail, cycling and walking, so that everyone can get across the region with ease.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Mass transit will transform transport across our city and the wider region, helping to boost our economy and bringing our communities within easier reach of jobs and leisure opportunities.

“This is an important step forward in delivering mass transit, but there is still much to do and we are committed to working with the Combined Authority and our partners so this can be achieved for the benefit of people across West Yorkshire.”

A modern tram serving Beeston ... in Nottingham. Photo: Eric Smith

About us

South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds.

The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695.

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To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community;

To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences;

To foster community spirit and involvement; and

To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully.

South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines. We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.

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Councillors on the City Plans

Panel have unanimously approved outline planning permission for the City One scheme in Holbeck.

The site, which lies on one of the main routes into the city centre from South Leeds and the motorways and includes the Halfords store, was described by Chair Cllr Jim McKenna as “long overdue for development.”

When completed, City One, bounded by Meadow Road, Sweet Street, Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace, will include up to 1,925 private rented flats plus 750,000 sq ft of offices and a 450bed hotel, together with retail and other ground floor uses.

The exact details of the scheme are all ‘reserved matters’ which means they will come forward for planning permission at a later date, but must fall within the outline permission granted today.

Additionally, the outline permission includes a comprehensive 110-page Design Guide which future buildings

will have to conform to.

When the scheme was last discussed at a pre-application stage, councillors were concerned that there were no significant areas of green space within the scheme. As one councillor asked “where would future residents go to have a picnic?” The scheme presented today includes a central ‘park’ of a similar size to Park Square or Millennium Square.

There will also be a ‘linear park’ along the Sweet Street frontage to accommodate a high pressure gas

Public consultation on next phase of Aire Park masterplan City One: major development site gets go-ahead

VastintUK, the developer behind Aire Park, the mixed-use development on the former Tetley’s brewery site in Hunslet, is hosting a drop-in and online consultation on the final phase of the scheme’s masterplan.

The session, which will take place at The Tetley on Hunslet Road from 3-7pm on Wednesday 27 March 2024 will offer interested parties the first opportunity to find out more about the ambitious second phase of the masterplan which will continue Aire Park’s evolution.

The new plans will include the completion of the expansive 8-acre city park and drastically improve connectivity between the city centre of Leeds, its South Bank and Leeds Dock.

Plans will show the potential layout of the extension to the public park, up to 502 high-quality homes, further commercial and leisure spaces and a multi-storey car park.

The event is part of Vastint UK’s commitment to working with local stakeholders to shape the future of Aire Park. Attendees will be able to speak to members of Vastint’s planning team, as well as representatives from the architects and planning consultants.

The consultation follows the opening of the first pieces of the site’s public realm and Vastint UK’s recently revealed proposal for the refurbishment of the Tetley building.

main that runs below ground. A number of ‘green streets’ will run both north-south and east-west through the scheme. These will be predominantly pedestrianised, but with some limited vehicle access.

The developers told the panel that they hope to start the enabling works on site by the end of 2024. They then intend to bring forward the first phase of building for approval to commence on site as the enabling works are completed. The whole scheme is expected to take 8-10 years to complete.

freepost to:

The deadline for comments is Wednesday 10 April 2024.

On this next phase of the masterplan Simon Schofield, Head of Development at Vastint UK, said:

“We’re excited to be progressing with the next phase of the Aire Park masterplan and as a long-term investor into Leeds, we believe it’s important that we engage in a conversation with our neighbours about the future direction of this once in a generation redevelopment.

“The submission of planning for

phase two of the masterplan will be another major milestone for us, and we welcome any feedback on our plans as we look to create a new district for residents, workers and visitors to Leeds to enjoy.”

Those unable to make the session can find out more information about the plans at airepark.co.uk, which will be available to view from 27 March. Provide feedback on the plans via email to info@aireparkconsultation .co.uk or

The historic Tetley headquarters building has been leased to Kirkstall Brewery now that the art gallery has moved out. They intend to run it as a beer hall, showcasing their own and other local brewers’ beers. They also plan a programme of events and hope to open in May.

“It’s a tremendous privilege to bring Leeds’s most iconic brewery building into the Kirkstall fold,” said Steve Holt, Kirkstall Brewery’s owner and founder.

“As a brewery that pays a great deal of respect to the history of brewing in the city, we believe we are the ideal custodians for the next chapter of this legendary building.”

Freepost Vastint UK.

Aerial view of the Aire Park development

Artists impression of City One Square

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Local cancer hero is nominated for two awards

Steven Scupham is local South Leeds hero from Beeston Hill, battling cancer and volunteering to give something back. His bravery has been recognised in two nominations for this year’s Yorkshire Choice Awards and you can help Steven by voting for him.

Steven is nominated in the Volunteer of the Year and the Courage of the Year categories of the Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Steven told us his story:

My name is Steven Scupham, I was born in Edinburgh in 1961 and moved to Leeds in 1995 to continue my work as an NHS Dental Technician. Life changed for me in March 2013, I was feeling some in pain my ribs and I was losing a lot of weight. It came down to an evening at my friend’s when he sent me to A&E to get checked over as I was in a lot of chest pain.

I was tested for various things, but a junior doctor spotted something on the Xrays of my ribs. He made some enquires as he thought he knew what it was. I was transferred by Ambulance to the Leeds Cancer Centre at St James’ not knowing what was coming next. I was then sent for further tests still not knowing what the medical team was looking for.

About two weeks later, a doctor came to see me and said we have been testing you for Myeloma. I had never heard of this and asked what it was. The doctor explained that Myeloma is Blood Cancer. Myeloma affects your bones, lowers your immunity and you are prone to recurring infections. This came as a complete shock to me and I

didn’t know at that stage what the future was going to look like. My treatment started straightaway.

I was working for NHS at the that time as a Senior Dental Technician and had enjoyed many years doing my job. I took time off work to concentrate on the treatment, which was a clinical trial, and in November 2013 I had a Stem Cell Transplant. This was a complete success, but Myeloma is incurable, and so in 2014 I had to make the difficult decision to retire from the NHS after 35 years.

I was still only 52 and I wondered what I was going to do with my free time. I recalled seeing a charity shop in the Bexley Wing while having treatment, it seemed to be always closed. So I thought I would apply to be a volunteer and I started in April 2015.

This is where my volunteering story began and continued, while facing the prospect of having more cancer treatment. I got almost 6 years remission which surprised a lot of my Haematology Team as they said at that time the chances of survival after 5 years were statistically low.

The cancer returned in 2019 and I faced treatment for the second time, signing up to another clinical trial. I then had my second Stem Cell Transplant which was only a partial success. Yet I was determined that this Myeloma wasn’t going to stop me doing things in life and I continued to volunteer for Leeds Hospitals Charity. I still continue to work in their Bexley Wing shop on a Monday afternoon and do two afternoon shifts in the Merrion Centre shop per week, on

Tuesday and Thursday.

Towards the end of 2023, I was told that I needed third line treatment as the cancer was returning. So, I started chemotherapy treatment in January 2024, but I still continued my volunteering roles. Giving back to the medical team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is my way of saying thank you to them for the excellent care I have received since I was diagnosed in 2013.

I was very surprised to find out that I was nominated in the Yorkshire Choice Awards, in two categories: Volunteer of the Year 2024 and Courage of the Year 2024. Sharing my story is the important part about my

journey and showing to others that no matter what the challenge is you can rise above all that faces you. Easier said than done, I know, as so many other cancer patients can face really tough challenges during treatment. I shall continue with my positive mental attitude and carry on giving back, that’s what is important to me. I feel very proud of my nominations and this is something that will drive me to carry on!

To find out more about Yorkshire Choice Awards and to vote, go to: www.yorkshire choiceawards.co.uk/votehere

Voting closes on Friday 12 April 2024 and winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 7 June.

Construction work stops at White Rose station

The £26.5 million station is being build at White Rose Park by a consortium including Munroe K, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail on the LeedsHuddersfield Trans Pennine line.

Council and mayoral election details announced

Elections for Leeds City Councillors and the West Yorkshire Mayor will take place on Thursday 2 May 2024.

A third of Councillors will be up for election, one in each ward in the city, whilst West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin is standing for re-election.

Cllrs Mohammed Iqbal and Sharon Burke will be contesting their seats in Hunslet & Riverside and Middleton Park wards respectively, whilst a new Councillor will be elected in Beeston & Holbeck ward following the resignation of Gohar Almass.

As usual South Leeds Life will be covering the elections and bringing you details of all the candidates. We will post these online once nominations close on Friday 5 April. We will also be holding online hustings for the three wards in South Leeds in the week before the election. These will give you the opportunity to put your questions directly to the candidates.

Full details with links to join the meeting and how to put your questions will be published online once arrangements have been made.

If you’ve moved house in the last two years or haven’t voted in the past you may not be on the electoral register, you can check online at: www.leeds.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/register-tovote

If you need to register it’s very quick, go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, you will need your National Insurance number. The deadline for registering ahead of this election is midnight on Tuesday 16 April.

www.leeds.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/postalvoting

If you wish someone to vote on your behalf, you can apply for vote by proxy. The person voting for you will need photo ID. You must apply by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Find out more at www.leeds.gov.uk /your-council/elections/proxyvoting

All voters are advised to read the information sent through to them carefully when it arrives, as there are numerous changes being introduced at these elections which are explained in full, especially for anyone looking to hand in completed votes on behalf of other people.

Elections Returning Officer and chief executive of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan said:

“As we get ready to head into another pre-election period, it is important everyone who wishes to vote is registered to do and has chosen their method of voting. There are some important changes this year voters will need to read the guidance when it arrives to be fully aware of, and also we wish to remind everyone wanting to vote in person on election day they will need to have an accepted form of ID with them to show at the polling station or they will be turned away.

“We encourage everyone who can vote to exercise their democratic right to do so and have their say.”

For more information on the changes in place for this year’s elections visit the Electoral Commission’s website at www. electoralcommission.org.uk

David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K who own White Rose Park, told the Yorkshire Evening Post:

“We understand the disappointment this news may bring, especially given the anticipation for the station’s opening.

“However, we firmly believe that taking this step now is in the best interest of ensuring the project’s long-term success and sustainability.

“Our focus remains on delivering a state-of-the-art railway station that will serve as a cornerstone for economic development in south Leeds.”

As we reported in January, the opening of the new station, which will see the closure of

the existing station at Cottingley, had already been put back from “early 2024” to later this year, but that now seems in doubt.

Much of the work on the station has been compeleted including construction of the platforms, lift tower and two link bridges.

A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority said:

“We are investing £22 million into White Rose Rail Station. This scheme is a major priority for West Yorkshire. We are committed to working with partners to see it open as soon as possible.”

If you wish to vote in person at a polling station, you will need to produce photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. If you do not have an acceptable form of ID you can apply for one for free online via electoralcommission.org.uk/ voterID or by completing a paper form. In-person applications can also be taken at community hubs and libraries across Leeds. The deadline for applying for voting ID is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

Photo ID is not required for postal voting at this election. If you wish to register for a postal vote the deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April. Find out more at:

We expect that votes will be counted and results declared for the council election on Friday 5 May; and for the West Yorkshire Mayor on Saturday 6 May. We will bring you the results online as soon as they are announced and publish them in next months paper.

South Leeds Life does not support any political party, but we do encourage all our readers to use their vote.

Steven working in the Leeds Hospitals Charity shop in 2022

CGI of the completed station

On the beat

with Sgt Dan Ryder

Middleton and Belle Isle

In June 2023, I transferred to West Yorkshire Police from Thames Valley Police, and I am now the Lead Sergeant role for the Middleton and Belle Isle area.

I have been a serving Police officer for 20 years and have spent many of these years on proactive teams who target criminals causing the most harm to the communities I have served. Upon my promotion 3 ½ years ago, I have focussed my career on the community Policing role; using my knowledge, experience and proactivity to target the community’s concerns.

I appreciate the frustrations of the community when it feels like there is no point reporting issues to the Police, however it does help your Neighbourhood Policing Teams by reporting these either on the phone or via the online webchat. This allows myself and my team to create a larger and more indepth intelligence picture of the community, whilst also enabling me to bid for further resources to tackle the problems.

Every piece of information we receive gets evaluated and directed to the right team built to support the specific problem.

Since joining West Yorkshire Police, I have been identifying the main issues in the area and finding ways to tackle these problems. I do this by listening to the concerns of the community which are supported by the call demands made to the Police. From this, I have looked at how the Neighbourhood Policing Teams could improve in dealing with these issues and I have increased the number of Officers trained in specific skills as well as making operational changes into how we are policing certain issues.

With the work Inspector Lund has been doing to increase our staff levels, we are now starting to see in an increase in the Officers successfully targeting the off-road bikes by seizing these and prosecuting the offenders. We have also seen an increase in successful

Leeds Dock bus service to be axed this month

The29 bus service that links Leeds Dock to the city centre and Leeds University is again facing the axe, with services finishing on Sunday 7 April 2024.

The service was saved five months ago by Yorkshire Buses having been axed by First Bus in October last year.

Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) commented:

“We know residents at Leeds Dock, Victoria Riverside and CITU are concerned about the loss of the 29 bus route at the end of the month.

warrants and arrests in relations to drug supplying offences, several of which have led to custodial sentences.

The priorities currently set for my Middleton and Belle Isle team will be to focus on the anti-social and criminal use of off-road bikes. I also want to focus on the drug use and supply within this area. I review these 4 times throughout the year based on the concerns of the community and reporting of incidents. Although these are our priorities, we continue to monitor the levels and respond accordingly to our neighbourhood crime.

Offences such as burglaries and vehicle crime are always of most concern to our communities, my team maintain our policing operations and focus their patrols targeting these offences in order to keep the level of these offences down.

We regularly use our Facebook page - West Yorkshire Police South Leedsto feedback our recent work and successful results in tackling not just our neighbourhood priorities, but the work that our neighbourhood officers do in keeping our communities safe.

I would again ask for help from our community members in ensuring that our social media is shared within your local community groups as this not only does it provide reassurance to the people we serve but can deter those criminals that target our communities.

Contact us on:

101 for non emergencies

999 if a crime is in progress or life is in danger

Via our live chat service: www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ LiveChat (not 24/7) or via our on line reporting form: www.westyorkshire. police.uk/report-it

“We’re aware that there are interested parties who may wish to take over the route but are concerned about the financial sustainability of the route, in particular during outoff-term time when there are no students. We’re aware they may be seeking support from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the universities to support the route to be viable.

“We have stressed the longterm importance of the route to WYCA as the community around this area continues to grow and that arguments that nearby commercial routes being viable and thus not

justifying the need of support for this route do not consider the access needs for less mobile residents in the area.

“We know an access service would support those residents in need but feel a general service is by far a better option. We will continue to have these arguments.

“WYCA has indicated that under franchising this could be an area that could fall under a contacted route, but this is also several years away and of no support now.

“We’ll support efforts to keep the route going and join offer assistance where possible in the meantime to try and make the service viable while a longterm solution via franchising is developed.”

“Thanks and credit to Yorkshire Buses for working so hard to try and save the 29 service: I’m glad we tried, but it sadly wasn’t to be.

Independent operators like YB have so much to offer, an important counterbalance to the big corporate bus companies – but the system’s rigged against them.

“The newly-announced move to regional bus franchising, whereby bus services come back under public control, is a welcome step – but we need to ensure that smaller operators are not squeezed out.”

South Leeds Life has approched Yorkshire Buses for comment.

Regeneration partnership brings funds to South Leeds

TheLeeds Transformational Regeneration Partnership is a 10-year programme of change and investment involving the council, central government, Homes England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The partnership is underpinned by the Vision for Leeds which was announced by the government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities following the Spring Budget. It has been developed using existing locally-led plans, consultations and stakeholder engagement carried out by the council over many years.

Key aspects of the Vision and partnership include:

business case) towards the establishment of British Library North at Temple Works in Holbeck, along with working to bring the building into public ownership through Homes England.

New funding of £5m

• (subject to a business case)

towards the delivery of a new National Poetry Centre; and Support for further work • to explore and develop the role of the Royal Armouries Museum in Hunslet Riverside including the planning and delivery of new conferencing and exhibition facilities.

Revitalising Hunslet

• Riverside, South Bank, Holbeck, Mabgate, Eastside & West End Riverside and the Innovation Arc within the city centre, to unlock the delivery of 20,000 new homes.

Government allocating an

• additional £10m (subject to a

Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) added:

The launch of the service last year. Photo: Yorkshire Buses

Another off-road bike seized

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said: “We have had such a great response and we are extremely grateful to our local Asda store in Beeston, our milkman P Heaton and our staff and their families. We would also like to acknowledge the kind donation from Sue and the residents from St Peter’s Court.

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Iftar event brings communities together at Elland Road

by Jeremy Morton

Leeds United Football Foundation, working with Beeston’s Hamara Healthy Living Centre hosted a very successful Community Iftar at Elland Road’s Centenary Pavilion on Monday 18 March.

Not all of the 350 ticket holders were able to make it due to traffic problems on the night, but those that did enjoyed an interesting and uplifting event … and some great food.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, the Chair of Hamara, welcomed guests and talked about the organisation’s partnership with the Leeds United Foundation:

“Together we aspire to foster a spirit of unity and service working hand in hand to develop and deliver programmes that uplift and empower our young people.

“Tonight we gather not only to break our fast together but also to celebrate the spirit of unity, compassion and service that defines our community.”

Raheem Mohammad, CEO at Hamara, commented:

“The partnership with Leeds United Foundation has been going from strength to strength. Both organisations have shared values to support the community in South Leeds and this event is an example of how we can go beyond football. It shows how much Leeds United want to invest in the community they’re based in.

“I think everyone is proud that their football club has open their doors for the second time. Last year was overwhelming, a bit chaotic, but the club saw that there’s a massive fanbase that they’d never seen before and it opened their eyes.”

Hannah Simpson from the

West Riding County Football Association said:

“We’re blessed that grassroots football attracts so many people from different communities and different faiths.

“(We want to) explore ways that not only can we work with communities to get more people being active within the game, but also try and educate people that are already in the game to understand what it is like for people that they may be playing with on a weekend.”

Imam Qari Asim spoke about the religious significance of Ramadan and the daily Iftar –the breaking of the fast at sunset:

“I’m really grateful to the Leeds United Foundation for the amazing work they’re doing in reaching out to communities and this is a fantastic example of reaching out and bringing people together. That’s one of the key purposes of Ramadan.”

He went on to talk about the importance of self-reflection recognising the presence of God in your life; and of charity “showing that we care about our bothers in humanity, whether they are Muslims or not.”

He also commented that other religions have similar traditions such as Lent and Passover where believers detox their body and connect with God.

We then broke the fast by eating dates while listening to a traditional call to prayer.

Certainly on our table, we learned a lot about the traditions of the Iftar. An older lady explained that they believe that dates were sent from heaven. They are high in natural sugars and just what your body needs after a day of fasting.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire

Tracy Brabin has decided to take control of the buses in the biggest shake up to public transport in the region for decades.

In a landmark move, the Mayor decided to bring buses under local control – through a process known as franchising – as recommended by the Combined Authority at its March meeting in Leeds.

Routes, frequencies, fares and overall standards for buses in the region will be set by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – not private operators, who will instead be

contracted to run services on the Combined Authority’s behalf.

Buses are the most widely used form of public transport in West Yorkshire and provide a crucial public service, connecting communities and enabling people to get to work, school and meet family and friends.

But the current deregulated system has seen a decline in patronage over many years and the increasing use of public funding used to support services.

Despite the action the Combined Authority has taken

through its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), bus services in the region remain too infrequent and unreliable to meet passengers’ needs, with West Yorkshire ranking bottom for customer satisfaction according to a survey released by Transport Focus yesterday. A franchised model will allow the Mayor and Combined Authority to better deliver on ambitions for a greener, joinedup and easier to use transport network as part of a betterconnected West Yorkshire.

The Mayor’s decision follows a three month consultation

Buses brought back under public control Air quality has improved in Holbeck’s Tilburys

Leeds City Council has revoked an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)

Order for the Tilburys and Eustons area of Holbeck, close to the M621.

A report published on 22 March states: “Comprehensive monitoring within the AQMA has identified that air quality ... is now within UK Objectives and has been consistently so, for a number of years.”

Councils are required to carry out air quality monitoring under the 1995 Environment Act and the Tilburys AQMA was declared in 2010, due to levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) being above the annual average target of 40 μg/m3.

The main sources of NO2 are vehicle emissions and the burning of fossil fuels.

Three monitoring points on the end of Tilbury Mount and

Tilbury Row, near the M621, recorded levels below the target from 2017-2022.

The report states that there are no major developments planned for the area that would

add to the pollution. The national shift to less polluting vehicles and the Council’s clean air strategy also mean that levels are unlikely to rise in the near future.

which revealed that nearly three-quarters of the people and organisations which responded supported franchising.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said:

“I’m delighted to announce that we are taking back control of our buses in West Yorkshire, empowering the public to hold me to account for better services.

“For too long, buses have been run in the interests of private companies, not passengers. Franchising will help us build a betterconnected bus network that works for all, not just company shareholders.

“But we know that change will not happen overnight – the hard work we’ve been doing to improve the bus network continues while we work at pace to bring this new way of running the buses to our 2.4 million residents.”

To ensure a smooth transition, franchising will be introduced in phases, with the first franchised buses up and running in parts of Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield from March 2027.

In the meantime, the Combined Authority will continue with its BSIP, which has seen the introduction of the £2 Mayor’s Fares, increased frequencies on key routes, investment in bus stations and shelters and new bus services launching across West Yorkshire.

A new package of bus improvements for services across the region is also set to be announced in May.

However, monitoring will continue to take place in the area to ensure ongoing compliance with UK Air Quality Objectives.

Responding to the report, Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) said:

"Whilst I recognise the air quality meets Government targets, I strongly believe the air quality in the Tilbury area needs to continue to improve and monitoring may help that.”

The Tiburys in Holbeck. Photo: Google Leeds United Foundation hosted the Community Iftar

In the driving seat: West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin

Email:

Kirkstall Brewery to move in as The Tetley moves out

Kirkstall Brewery has announced that it is taking on the lease of The Tetley, with plans to make it a hub for great beer from Leeds and renew its status as a “landmark of Yorkshire beer culture”.

‘The Tetley’ building is the former brewing headquarters of Tetley’s Brewery in Hunslet, built in the Art Deco style in 1931. In the 1980s, Tetley’s Brewery became the largest producer of cask ale in the world, and the site has remained an icon of Leeds beer history, even after its closure in 2011.

The building, which now sits at the heart of Leeds’s newest mixed-use district, Aire Park, then operated as a contemporary art gallery from 2013 until 2023, when its lease ended.

The previous owners of the building, Carlsberg UK, agreed to a free lease over ten years ago for the gallery and continued to manage the upkeep of the building –maintaining the iconic neon lights, installing a new roof and more.

In 2022, The Tetley successfully secured capital development funding from Arts Council England to contribute to the development and fit-out of the building for its ongoing use as an art gallery. However in 2023 the new owners, Vastinit UK, revealed they had other long-term plans for the building.

Since then, The Tetley has been working hard to identify a new home in Leeds with several partners, collaborating on what seemed like very promising outcomes – but due to the financial climate these plans have not materialised.

Bryony Bond, CEO of The Tetley commented:

"The Tetley building made all sorts of things possible for us.

We welcomed over a million visitors, presented Yorkshire’s only Turner Prize winning exhibition, supported artists in developing their careers and reached thousands of children and families through our Tiny Tetley Studio and workshops. We’re immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved."

The Tetley, who are looking to rebrand themselves as they move forward, coninue their off site work including the play group at the Hamara Centre and plans for an outdoor play and creativity space at Rowland Road Club in Beeston.

From May, Kirkstall will be operating The Tetley as a showcase of the very best of brewing in Leeds. It will feature beers from other breweries in the area, alongside brands from Kirkstall Brewery, Leeds Brewery and Holt’s most recent acquisition, North. Kirkstall also plans to host a number of

events at the historic building.

“It’s a tremendous privilege to bring Leeds’s most iconic brewery building into the Kirkstall fold,” said Steve Holt, Kirkstall Brewery’s owner and founder.

“As a brewery that pays a great deal of respect to the history of brewing in the city, we believe we are the ideal custodians for the next chapter of this legendary building.”

Michael Cronin, Head of Portfolio at Vastint UK, the developer behind Aire Park and owners of The Tetley building, said:

“Last year we outlined our ambitions to safeguard this iconic building for the next 100 years and have now submitted our plans to the council. Since we became custodians of the building, it was always our intention to keep it open until the restoration work got underway to bring this fantastic

building up to 21st century standards. So, we’re thrilled to be welcoming Kirkstall Brewery to Aire Park and to be bringing one of the current generations of Leeds and Yorkshire breweries to a site which has played such a pivotal role in the history of beer making in the region.

“The Tetley will form the centre piece of Aire Park, alongside the eight-acre public park and this collaboration will hopefully give the people of Leeds a small taster of what’s to come in the very near future.”

Holt added:

“It really is the crown jewel of brewing history in Leeds, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to make it a landmark of Yorkshire beer culture once again.”

The Tetley is expected to reopen under Kirkstall’s management in May.

The Hunslet Club recognised for efforts in tackling knife crime

by Zoe Cressar

TheHunslet Club has received a National Youth Anti-Violence Educational Award in recognition of its positive impact upon Leeds, addressing a national blight and the support provided in assisting the UK tour of the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression, the ‘Knife Angel’.

Project Shield is about enabling a more positive, hopeful conversation with young people and delivering a co-ordinated response to tackling serious youth violence and protecting young people in Leeds. The campaign has encouraged the community to work together to make the spaces for our children and young people safer.

The Hunslet Club have been actively working with local organisations, West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council to make our city a safer place for our young members and wider community.

The Hunslet Club facilitated

West Yorkshire Police in delivering sessions that intended to help parents and caregivers with how to approach important conversations surrounding youth violence and knife crime.

As part of the delivery to our own young members of The Hunslet Club we visited visited the The Knife Angel that was hosted by the Royal Armouries Museum as part of the campaign. With aims to send a powerful message and spark conversations about knife crime in the city, the initiative is primarily aimed at raising awareness of the issues around youth violence and knife crime while engaging with and educating young people about the risks to them and the impact on their communities, through a range of work by statutory and third sector partners.

For our young people to reach their full potential, they require the basic need of safety and to belong to a community that is constantly advocating for that.

Members of The Hunslet Club with Paul Money (Safer Leeds), Cllr Mary Harland (Leeds City Council) and Chief Inspector Lucy Leadbetter (West Yorkshire Police) under the Knife Angel at the Royal Armouries Museum

How to reduce your energy bills Money matters with Leeds Credit Union

Spring may have finally sprung but with an 'Arctic blast' forecast to bring more cold and wet weather over the coming weeks, it may not be time to pack your winter coat away just yet.

Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, takes a look at the ways in which households can reduce energy consumption and save money.

With the cost of living crisis still ongoing and the UK's energy prices amongst the highest in Europe, many households are understandably concerned about their ability to pay their utility bills, especially those that are already struggling to make ends meet.

Fortunately, there are some proactive steps people can take to reduce their energy usage. These simple but effective tips will help keep energy bills as low as possible.

Turn the central heating off

Make the most of your timers and thermostats to ensure you only heat your house when absolutely necessary - it will save the average household around £70 per year. If you find yourself cold at other times, put on extra clothing or get up and move around for a couple of minutes to get warm. Try to use the heating as a last resort.

Wash clothes at a lower temperature

Setting your machine to wash at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will reduce the amount of energy

Women Together project boosts self confidence

by Tahena Ahmed

TheBeeston and Holbeck Women Together project was an independent group which ran for one year, formed after Asha Neighbourhood Project was successful in getting a grant from Live Well Leeds in March 2023.

your washing machine uses by approximately 40% per year.

Waiting until you have enough washing to do a full load is a good idea too, as doing a full cycle with the drum half-empty only wastes water. The same goes for dishwashers.

Don't overfill the kettle

We Brits may use our kettles more than almost any other kitchen appliance but we don't necessarily use them wisely, with most of us overfilling them and boiling more water than we need on a regular basis. By ensuring you only boil the exact amount of water you require, you'll knock approximately £33 off your annual electricity bill, based on the average of four cups a day.

Don't forget about the microwave

Microwaves cook food far quicker than ovens, grills and hobs and don't require preheating. Using yours as much as possible is an easy

way to reduce energy consumption.

No more long

showers

By reducing the amount of time each person in your household spends in the shower to four minutes per day, a typical household will save around £70 a year on their energy bills.

Switch to LED lights

Although LED lights are more expensive than traditional incandescent light bulbs, they last 25-times longer and are 90% more energy efficient, so investing in some is a great idea with long-term benefits.

Turn lights off in empty rooms

Leave post-it notes on your light switches to remind you to turn your lights off whenever you leave a room unattended. You'll be surprised how much energy you save each month.

Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services to people in Leeds.

During the project 120 women took part in 17 weeks of baking/cooking sessions with existing service users from the Asha mums group, Asha older women’s group and women from the South Leeds community. The members were happy for the sessions to be open for other women in the wider communities to enable learning, social networking and to prevent isolation.

The cooking was a great hit as it built the foundation of many friendships for those who are generally isolated. They sampled food from different cultures and gained new cooking skills.

A series of trips allowed women to build confidence travelling on public transport and to give them a break from their usual routines.

The sessions and trips had a positive mental, physical, emotional and social impact on everyone who attended. Women reported feeling happy in engaging with other women,

Women Together building confidence

their self-esteem and confidence increased in speaking and they developed skills to work as a team.

Women who took part in the project reported barriers in looking for employment, so we used some of the funding to pay for bus tickets to three job fair events organised by Smart Works project and Leeds City Council.

Sessions were also run about Female Genital Mutilation, visual impairment and cancer awareness. One participant said: “I was overwhelmed by loneliness, isolation, helplessness. I wanted to work and do courses but because I had small children I could not. I was able to take part in cooking sessions organised by

Asha because we had access to a nursery where mothers could take turns cooking and looking after children. We were able to go out on day trips with our children” I felt emotionally better making contact with the outside world and socialising.”

Asha will be running two more projects:

Unfolding Volunteer Wellbeing Course to help women increase confidence, reduce stress starting Thursday 18 April.

Maternal Journal (Art) classes for pregnant and new mums, every Wednesday for 8 weeks starting from 22 May .

To book onto either of these couses please email me: tahena.ahmed@ashaleeds.org

.uk or call (0113) 270 4600

Concerns over tree felling

Local campaigners are appealing for help to count the number of trees recently cut down along the local M621 motorway, to hold National Highways to account for their heavy-handed operations.

The past couple of years (since summer 2022) have seen National Highways – the body who oversee the motorway network – and their contractors undertake major works all along the M621, which passes through Belle Isle, Hunslet, Hunslet Moor, Beeston, and Holbeck. But many residents have been shocked at the large-scale treefelling in some areas, leading to a considerable increase in air and noise pollution from the motorway into the community.

Beeston and Holbeck-based Green Party campaigners Omar Mushtaq and Matt Rogan, with Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) are now looking to map and count the number of mature trees lost locally – and need your help. To find out

more, contact Omar on omar.mushtaq@leeds.green party.org.uk or call 07495 584 829. The team aim to map and tally the number of lost trees by the end of May.

Omar comments: “We estimate that 100s if not 1000+ fully-grown trees have been lost – and these provided an unsung but invaluable role protecting our communities from air and noise pollution.

Rates of respiratory illness in our communities are already amongst the highest in the city, and this will only make things worse. Of course National Highways have work to do, and in some cases the trees needed trimming, but they’ve used a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The tiny replacement trees will take a generation to grow, and we’ll bear the consequence.”

Omar Mushtaq and Cllr Ed Carlisle

Only boil the water you need. Photo: Shutterstock

Lord Mayor launches Cross Flatts Park heritage trail

by Jeremy Morton

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Al Garthwaite, attended Cross Flatts Park in Beeston on 12 March to unveil not one, but two plaques.

First up was a plaque to mark Beeston in Bloom’s Gold Medal awarded by Yorkshire in Bloom last year. It goes next to

plaques for Gold medals in 2019 and 2022 by the door to the Watsonian Pavilion in the park.

Unveiling the plaque, the Lord Mayor said:

“Many congratulations to Beeston in Bloom. I know what a worthwhile and hard-working organisation you are. People come out in all weathers to

make our area more beautiful. So congratulations on this very well-deserved award and I’m sure you’ll do equally as well in the future.”

Then it was time to unveil the new Heritage Trail in the park. Ten information boards have been installed around the park showing aspects of the park’s history including old maps of the area, the wildlife in the park, holidays at home during the second world war and the role of Thomas Watson who gave his name to the Watsonian Pavilion have funded the original structure.

The Lord Mayor praised the Friends of Cross Flatts Park who held an event last September as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival.

Following on from that success it was suggested that those stories should be

Holbeck Together host community roadshow

by Claire Holmes

Holbeck Together in partnership with The Leeds City Council Mobile Community Hub Bus held a Community Roadshow event at St Matthew’s Community Centre on Thursday 14 March.

We invited many different partners to come together so that the local community had the opportunity to access many different services, be better informed and for us as partners to come together to network.

Catherine Reuben, Sales & Business Development Executive at Westward Care/ (Pennington Court), commented:

"It was a great event for the

local community to come along to for new job opportunities, company, meet new friends, have a warm space and a good breakfast for people struggling to feed their children."

Partners on the day were: Anti-Social Behaviour Team, Adult Social Care, Capable Guardians, Being You Leeds, Better Together, Kids Klub, Reestablish, Basis, Women’s Therapy Leeds, Canal Connections, Ear to Hear, Library service, CAP Budgeting, Pennington Court, Hamara, People Matters, Green Doctor, Linking Leeds, Leeds City Council Localities, MHA, Getting Clean, Leeds Wood Recycling, Saviours Trust, Leeds Housing, Forward Leeds, Mosaic Church, Leeds City

Council Employment Skills and Training.

A huge thank you to all the partners that attended on the day, it was a huge success with one local resident asking " when is the next one"

Holbeck Together and the Community Hub bus would also like to say a special thank you to Cllr Andrew Scopes and Cllr Annie Maloney (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) for supporting the event through attendance and funding via the Inner South Community Committee.

The funding supported the cost of catering for the event where we managed to service over 90 hot breakfast sandwiches and a continental breakfast option.

preserved for park visitors year round. She also thanked Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour,

and Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet &

who

Beeston & Holbeck)

Riverside)

championed the project and secured funding from the Inner South Community Committee.

L-R: Cllr Andrew Scopes, Cllr Annie Maloney, Michelle Smith, Mobile Community Hub, Elissa Newman and Claire Holmes, Holbeck Together

The Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and Consort with members of Beeston in Bloom

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Al Garthwaite, unveils the heritage trail information boards with (L-R) Lady Mayoress, Hon Alderwoman Angela Gabriel, Cllr Andrew Scopes and Cllr Paul Wray.

The final ‘super span’ gantry spanning both carriage ways of the M621 between junctions 2 and 2a in Holbeck is to be installed and road closures will be necessary through April and May as the foundations are created.

National Highways have announced that they will require lane closures and some limited full closures of Elland Road north and south as they prepare the foundations.

Preparation works started last week with temporary traffic lights in place at the junction of Elland Road south (next to City Evangelical Church), and suspension of the cycle lane on Elland Road north (next to Holbeck Community Centre). These arrangements are expected to last until mid-June.

Full closures of Elland Road south, between Cemetery Road and Baron Close are planned for Tuesday 9 April to Thursday 18 April and Sunday 12 May to Saturday 18 May.

During full closures, clearly signed diversion routes will be in place, and access to residential properties will be maintained at all times. However, City Evangelical bus

stop on Elland Road will be temporarily suspended during full closures.

In a letter to residents, Christopher Ward, M621 Project Manager at National Highways, said:

“We will be looking to make these changes as quickly as possible and with the least possible disruption.

“However, during this period, please allow more time for your journey when travelling in the area.

“Whilst we understand closures and temporary traffic lights can be disruptive, these closures have been planned to allow us to complete our most disruptive and noisy activities during the day to reduce the impact of overnight working on residents.”

Road closure dates may change due to factors including weather and progress. For the latest details check online at: nationalhighways.co.uk/ourroads/yorkshire-and-north-eas t/m621-junctions-1-to-7

If you need to contact National Highways about these works please email m621j1to7@nationalhighways .co.uk or call 0300 123 5000

Residents across Beeston, Cottingley, and Holbeck are invited to get onboard with a new community-wide event this autumn – designed to put extra cash into everyone’s pockets.

The LS11 Yard Sale will create an opportunity, on a single day, currently planned for Sunday 15 September, for local people to hold stalls outside their homes, to sell unwanted household items, toys, clothes, or anything –like a car boot or table top sale, but from the comfort of their own doorstep.

Others will get to tour the area on the day, with an online map to

Hamara Centre wins prestigious health award

Beeston charity Hamara

Healthy Living Centre has won a major national award for its work to reduce health inequalities and poverty in Beeston and Holbeck, particularly among people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, Hamara was chosen from more than 500 charities across the UK as one of the 10 winners of the 2024 GSK IMPACT Awards, which are delivered in partnership with The King’s Fund.

The awards are a mark of excellence in the charity sector, recognising the outstanding work of small and mediumsized charities working to improve people’s health and wellbeing in the UK.

As an award winner, Hamara will receive £40,000 as well as expert support and leadership development.

Beeston and Holbeck faces

considerable health disparities.

For example, male life expectancy stands at 76.4 years, seven years less than men who live in Harewood. Additionally, 40% of Year 6 children are classed as ‘very overweight’ compared with 10% in the least deprived communities in Leeds. Significantly more people also have diabetes.

The award judges were impressed by the breadth of Hamara’s interventions. These include providing a range of health-related services, running a food bank, community cafés, a Saturday school, and dedicated programmes of work to target older people, including those with dementia, as well as activities for young people and people with learning disabilities.

The judges also commended the charity’s strong relationships across the NHS and with Leeds City Council.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity played a key role coordinating food deliveries, running a prescription delivery service and undertaking wellbeing calls. In 2021/22, the charity distributed almost 5,500 food parcels via its foodbank and 12,200 food parcels via the Cultural Food Hub, which provides a culturally appropriate foodbank via local community groups, as well as carrying out almost 7,000 wellbeing calls with its local population.

The judges specifically praised the work the charity is undertaking with people with learning disabilities. This includes the Halo project, a day service for people with learning disabilities to develop life skills and support parents. The charity also secured management of Old Cockburn Sports Hall, which it is fundraising to convert into a vibrant facility, run and managed by people with

learning disabilities and open to the whole community.

Hamara also works with researchers to ensure the experiences of people from ethnic minority backgrounds are heard in large-scale projects, such as one on poverty by the University of Leeds. The charity is now being consulted as a potential partner as Leeds City Council aims to become a ‘Marmot City’ – a city in which local organisations work together in a system to reduce health inequalities.

Lisa Weaks, Senior Associate at The King’s Fund, said:

“Through its broad range of services, Hamara Healthy Living Centre is embedded within its local community, dedicating itself to tackling stark health inequalities faced by its population while ensuring the community voice is heard at a strategic level. It has effectively identified various challenges – such as food poverty and language barriers – and created targeted programmes of work to address these sensitively, with a culturally appropriate approach. Hamara is a trusted partner of local communities, who greatly benefit from the committed work of the charity, Leeds City Council and the NHS.”

Commenting on the award, Raheem Mohammad, Director of Hamara, said:

“It is through the commitment and hard work of our entire team, partners and stakeholders that we have been recognised for the work we do in the communities that face the highest health inequalities. We are truly honoured to receive this award and we will strive to continue our work on making a positive impact. Hamara has a robust plan of growth over the next 3–5 years that will allow the organisation to support a wider population of people, and this award and training programme has come at the perfect time.”

guide them to all the registered households, and pick up bargains. There will be no charge to participate, but participants will be asked to help promote the event: the more who join in, the better it will be for everyone.

Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green Party, Hunslet and Riverside) is coleading the proposed event, and comments:

“We could all do with some extra cash in our pockets, and cheap stuff to buy – and many of us need to declutter our homes.

Table top sales and car boot sales are fine, but yard sales –common in many countries –

bring the model right down into our neighbourhoods. It should also make for a friendly crosscommunity event, and might even bring ‘tourists’ in from outside the area!”

To find out more, search for ‘LS11 Yard Sale 2024’ on Facebook, or watch out for details in the coming months here in South Leeds Life (but note that to participate as a seller or buyer, both registration and the stalls map will be online).

The organisers are especially keen to hear from others willing to help coordinate and promote the event.

Promoting active lifestyles through cycle training

Gantry

Website:

Email:

Cockburn students celebrate International Women’s Day

Year 7 and 8 girls rugby players from Cockburn School had a fantastic afternoon taking part in a practical rugby session at Headingley Stadium for International Women’s Day (IWD). They were privileged to meet and interact with HRH the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as well as taking part in a tour of the stadium. Congratulations to all those students who were selected to represent the school based on their commitment to extra-curricular

clubs. Year 9 students from Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy (CLCA) listened intently to a talk by Gail Weathers, CLCA school governor and local business leader.

With inclusivity as the theme of this year’s IWD, Gail emphasised the importance of embracing diversity and equality in all realms of life.

Her insightful messages resonated with students, promoting a culture of empowerment, and her

inspiring speech exemplified the spirit of International Women’s Day. Students left the talk empowered to champion inclusivity and equality in all aspects of their lives.

David Gurney, Executive Headteacher of Cockburn MAT said: “International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the incredible contributions of women throughout history regardless of religion, cultural background and ethnicity.

“I was delighted that our students got to hear from inspirational speakers, meet

School Street for Windmill Primary School

Partof Windmill Road in Belle Isle could be declared a School Street, limiting vehicle access at the start and end of the school day, according to a report published on 21 March.

Windmill Primary School, together with St Bartholomew’s in Armley and Ireland Wood in Weetwood have been shortlisted for the scheme, but there is only enough funding for two of the projects.

The third school will go on a reserve list for future implementation.

School Streets are designed to make entrances to schools safer and promote sustainable travel to school.

Schemes already operate at Clapgate, Middleton St Mary’s and Ingram Road primary

members of the royal family and widen their understanding of life outside of school. I hope that these experiences ignite passion, foster resilience, and empower our next generation.

“Our young people deserve excellent role models who exemplify resilience, leadership, and determination. They need to understand that equal opportunity and equality are really important. By celebrating the achievements of women, we pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive society.”

March at Middleton Primary

It has been a busy half term at Middleton Primary School with lots of whole school activities.

For Mother’s Day, the children had the opportunity to invite their Mums or carers in to school to enjoy a roast dinner with them. Over 150 adults and children enjoyed their roast dinners in our halls and the feedback was wonderful, so thank you to Diane and her kitchen team.

One mother sent this lovely message in: “Hey! I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the Mother’s Day dinner! Just amazing. I don't know of any other school who has made this kind of effort.

Middleton Primary is an amazing school.”

Year 2 children have been

visiting the elderly at Gascoigne House - they have now started writing letters to each other as pen pals.

That wasn’t all the fun to be had this month, the whole school also enjoyed a fun filled Comic Relief at the staff’s expense.

To raise money, the school council decided that they would set up a wet sponge throwing event. In exchange for their £2 donation to Comic Relief, the children revelled in the opportunity to throw wet sponges at different staff members, including Headteacher, Sam Williams.

It was all for such a fantastic cause and lots of money was raised. Thank you to all parents, and staff for their contributions.

schools. These have been shown to an increase in walking and cycling as well as improving air quality outside schools.

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will be used to restrict vehicular access on Windmill Road, west of Belle Isle Road, outside Windmill Primary School during the morning drop off and afternoon pick up times, with exemptions for access permit holders, authorised vehicles and blue badge holders.

Implementation of the scheme, along with two other Leeds primary schools, is being funded by £48,000 from West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Active Travel Fund. Work is expected to take place during the summer term.

Mums and carers came into school for a Mother’s Day lunch

Staff get wet for Comic Relief

Penpals with residents at Gascoigne House

Windmill Road in Belle Isle. Photo: Google

Students from Cockburn School met the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at Headingley Stadium

Ofsted: St Anthony’s Primary School is still Outstanding

In a report published on 6 March St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Beeston has been judged to be ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted inpectors.

The inspection took place on 22 and 23 November 2023 and 25 January 2024. Inspectors found The quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development and Leadership and management to be Outstanding; and Early Years Provision to be Good. The school was judged to be Outstanding overall. At its previous inspection in 2010 it was also hudged to be Outstanding.

Lisa Leonard, the school’s headteacher and a former pupil at the school, commented:

“The Ofsted report is overwhelmingly positive regarding all aspects of school life, reflecting a unique ‘school family which sits at the heart of their local community’. It rightly recognised the ‘excellent relationships with pupils and their families from their earliest

starting points in Reception.’ Our children were rightly praised for their exemplary behaviour, their high levels of respect for each other, their politeness and their love of learning. I am delighted that this was recognised as our children really are a unique blessing to us.”

The Ofsted report went on to recognise the school’s “high expectations of behaviour and

attitudes” as well as its “high ambition” within a “robust and purposeful curriculum”. There was also praise for St Anthony’s committed governing body, staff team and strong leaders. Inspectors said:

“Leaders work as ‘ambassadors for learning’ in order to raise the importance of education across the whole school community and improve

2024 Inner South Youth Summit a success

The Inner South Community Committee held their Youth Summit at the Civic Hall Banqueting Suite and welcomed young people aged 817 from across the Inner South wards of Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside and Middleton Park.

The Children & Families Champion, Councillor Gohar Almass (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck), was proud to welcome over 140 participants from 15 schools across the Inner South Wards of the city.

The young people took part in activities including a democracy

workshop, a Q&A session with local councillors and the Lord Mayor, an interactive Youth Activity Funding game and a visit to the Council Chamber to see where local democracy takes place.

Throughout the day the young people were able to interact with

Cockburn

John Charles

Academy was buzzing with excitement as students and staff came together to celebrate World Book Day in grand style.

The academy transformed into a literary wonderland as students immersed themselves in the joys of reading and storytelling.

Highlights included the eagerly anticipated Decorate a Door and Design a Book Mark competitions, which saw students unleashing their creativity and imagination.

the life chances of pupils who attend St Anthony’s.”

Lisa Leonard concluded:

“You have my word that we will celebrate this wonderful achievement, and never become complacent. We will continue to have the highest ambition and expectation for every child at St Anthony’s. What an achievement for our amazing St Anthony’s team!”

a wide range of stakeholders, peers and local councillors in a fun environment whilst learning the importance of democracy and what that means at a national and local level.

The event ended in the Council Chamber with an award ceremony. Everyone who attended was given a certificate and goody bag with items from notebooks to pens, water bottles and much more!

Councillor Gohar Almass said;

“I was delighted to welcome so many young people to the civic hall to attend the summit representing different schools from the Inner South of the city. They had a great time while learning about democracy, local government and how it all functions. It was great to hear their priorities for the Youth Activity Fund.

“This generation of young people will be making decisions for the city in the future, so it was an excellent opportunity to welcome them to the civic hall and listen to their ideas and answer their questions. The feedback was very positive during and after the workshops and the summit.

“I would like to personally thank all the participants including the Leeds City Council Communities Team, Voice of Influence and Change Team, my fellow councillors, the Lord Mayor and consorts and all the organisations who participated in making the summit a great success.”

Colourful and intricately designed doors adorned the corridors, each telling its own story, while book marks became canvases for artistic expression.

"The enthusiasm and

creativity displayed by our students in the Decorate a Door and Design a Book Mark competitions were truly remarkable," commented Siobhan Roberts, the esteemed Head of School at Cockburn John Charles Academy. "It's heartening to see our students embracing the magic of books and showcasing their talents in such a vibrant manner."

Adding to the excitement, the Learning Resource Centre hosted an exhilarating Scavenger Hunt, where students embarked on a quest to uncover literary treasures hidden within the stacks of books. Laughter and excitement filled the air as participants eagerly deciphered clues and unravelled mysteries.

New Bew World Book Day Cockburn John C

Decorated classroom doors for World Book Day at Cockburn John Charles

Potty about Potter: Four members of Gryffindor House team up with a Ravencl

Year 6 pupils celebrate the school’s achievement

Website:

Email: info@southleedslife.com

celebrated at Charles Academy

Meanwhile, the Pop-up Book Shop proved to be a haven for bookworms, offering a dazzling array of literary delights for students to explore and indulge in. From classic tales to contemporary bestsellers, there was something for everyone, ensuring that no reader left empty-handed.

In the spirit of sharing and community, the Book Swap provided an opportunity for students to exchange beloved stories and discover new literary adventures. The exchange of books not only fostered a sense of camaraderie but also ignited a passion for reading amongst the students.

"World Book Day is not just about celebrating literature; it's

about fostering a love for reading and learning," Jo McLellan, CJCA Assistant Head Teacher remarked. "Events like these not only ignite the imagination but also promote literacy and a sense of community within our school."

The other Cockburn MAT secondary schools also celebrated World Book Day. At Cockburn School, all students in Years 7 to 10 were read a short story by teachers throughout the day.

At Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, there were auditions for their summer Shakespeare Festival, Interactive Library in English lessons and ‘Remarkable Reading Recommendations!’

Space shot challenge

Year 9 students from Cockburn School and Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy took part in the annual Rotary Technology competition at John Charles Centre for Sport Sports. Schools from all over Leeds took part in the tournament and were asked to solve a practical and real-life problem. Students were tasked with designing and prototyping a rocket launcher that would safely project a capsule into space and return to earth in one piece. Teams gained points for different sections of the design challenge such as distance travelled and teamwork collaboration. Students worked hard to come up with creative and innovative design ideas and showed fantastic use of resources to construct their prototype

werley Community School

In our view

Transport for the public

We have a massive problem getting about in Leeds. The roads are jammed with bigger and bigger cars causing pollution and gridlock. But the alternative, public transport isn’t currently up to the job.

Leeds is famously the largest city in Europe without a tram or metro system, a scandal that goes back over decades. We publish two positive stories this month with funding put in place for a mass transit system for West Yorkshire, likely to be a mix of tram and light rail; and our buses taken back under democratic control. Less positive is the news that work has stopped on the new White Rose station, which shows how difficult to bring these projects to fruition. But our leaders must succeed this time, before the city grinds to a permanent halt.

Art left behind (again)

News that The Tetley art gallery have to move out of the building they put on the map has a familiar ring to it. They are not the first, and they won’t be the last, arts organisation that has moved into an unfashionable area that no one wanted to visit and made it desirable. So desirable that property values shot up beyond the reach of the organisation that created the regeneration. It’s time we took a leaf out of New Bewerley Community School’s book and put the arts at the centre of all we do.

The May issue of South Leeds Life will be out on Wednesday 1 May.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday 25 April.

Your letters and comments

Mass Transit Network

This news is very welcome! Transport in Leeds is a big issue and this would be a much needed addition, especially to lower the number of cars and, therefore, amount of air pollution. Hopefully this can link up other areas without train stations too?

Matt Rogan

Tracy Brabin is deluded. They’ve been talking about this for the past 30+ years! They all come out of the woodwork when it comes to elections, all these promises and nothing is ever delivered! Both Leeds and Bradford councils are an absolute joke too! They’ve known about transport issues for years and have done nothing but blame government, even when their own party was in power! Get these idiots out!!

Paul

I don't know why Leeds Council have such a bee in their bonnet about having a tram system on rails just because some other cities have them. Electric buses using overhead electric wires but on ordinary wheels with rubber tyres would be a lot cheaper and quicker to build.

Don Tovey

How about they just make the busses and local trains free and pay the providers per passenger that uses it. Once it is free people will migrate from their cars if the service is there. 1 billion bus tickets is a lot of people moved about.

Graham Spencer

Trams work and are definitely the way forward. Unfortunately West Yorkshire and predominantly Leeds Council think they know best. Head in the sands. Most large cities have a tram system, why not Leeds? They tried bendy buses like other places, such as Swansea. But nothing. For as long as illegal parking exists, trams will only work if vehicles are towed and/or destroyed.

Richard Sharp

I wouldn't hold my breath on this one.

I think we've been here and heard if all before.

Denise Golden

Leeds Dock bus axed

I am saddened that the route is ending. I am not a student and I used it to get to work daily. At the start of the changeover, there were quite a few nonstudents and students who would wait for it in the morning. Sadly, because of how inconsistent it was at turning up on time, people eventually stopped waiting for it. So, it looks like there is no demand when in fact the demand was there but gave up on being late to work or uni. I think this had a lot to do with the traffic changes around town rather than the bus company, sadly the changes around town have just moved congestion to parts around the dock.

Dock Resident

Bus franchising

I am glad this happened, but I will reserve my opinions until I see something concrete. I sometimes get the Arriva bus 110 from Wakefield to Leeds and make the same journey in reverse. The buses hardly ever come on time. I would hate to think that I had to work all day and make the journey home

Your Leeds City Councillors

Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:

Gohar Almass (Labour) 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk

Annie Maloney (Labour) 07554 969236 annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk

Andrew Scopes (Labour) 07860 400645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk

Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet.

The three councillors are:

Ed Carlisle (Green) 07738 921277 ed.carlisle@leeds.gov.uk

Mohammed Iqbal (Labour) 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk

Paul Wray (Labour) 07528 512649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk

Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are:

Sharon Burke (Labour) 0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk

Wayne Dixon (SDP) 07852 311717 wayne.dixon@leeds.gov.uk

Emma Pogson-Golden (SDP) 07794 577586 emma.pogson-golden@leeds.gov.uk

on the 110. Buses are cancelled with no notice, sometimes two in a row. The queue for the 110 sometimes is 50 metres long. Whatever happens they cannot make the service any worse.

Kevin Clarke

Safer school streets

I am writing in support of national charity Living Streets’ call to see 60% of children walking to school by 2029. Fewer than half of primary school aged children walk to school in England, this is a drop from 70% a generation ago.

When we design streets for children, we create places that work better for everyone. Increased walking rates will reduce road casualties, improve health and air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and boost our economy.

A combination of ambitious yet realistic targets, at least 10% of transport budgets spent on active travel, improved road safety in our neighbourhoods and empowering local authorities to make the right transport decisions, would go a long way to creating safer streets for children to walk and play.

I urge all political parties to ensure the walk to school is at the heart of their transport policy this election year. The impact of this investment will also help tackle the current climate, economic and health crises.

Mark Wouters

They made St Anthony's Drive in Beeston a School Street.

There was a guy from the council stood in the middle of the road turning round entitled parents, it was most amusing.

Dax Hewitt

City One

It’s about time that area was redeveloped, it’s been an eyesore for far too long.

Graham Armitage

Funding for Temple Works

This is so exciting, as these buildings have such massive historical value to the city. I for one cannot wait to see them sympathetically restored and used instead of being left to decay.

Jo

For once, the transformation of derelict and dangerous Temple Works for the British Library to use sounds like real, positive possibilities to bring good news to Holbeck and the rest of the City. Well done Leeds City Council.

John Leckenby

Aire Park and The Tetley

More pedestrianised areas please! An events space and skate park ... greenery ... bring back the Tetley shire horse sculpture.

Rick Poppa

How about shutting down yet more of city's arts infrastructure in the name of greed and capitalism?

Simon Goulding

Join the debate

Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW.

Letters

Artists impression of a mass transit system for illustrative purposes only

MP’s notebook with Hilary Benn MP

I’vewritten in my column before about the housing crisis in Leeds - and elsewhere - which is affecting a growing number of people.

The size of the housing waiting list is going up while the supply of houses has been going down. So having read in a recent edition of South Leeds Life about the new flats in Gascoigne House in Middleton which provide for people with additional needs – and how much the new residents like living there – I went the other day to have a look at Gascoigne House and at the new family council houses that have been built around it. The development is a great example of what commitment and bricks and mortar can achieve. More please!

I don’t actually know why the new building is called Gascoigne House, but I like to think it is named after the pioneering astronomer and telescope maker, William Gascoigne, who lived at New Hall in Middleton in the 17th

century. The Hall and the fields that once surrounded it have long since gone, but on the site where the Hall used to stand is the parade of shops at the Belle Isle Road end of Town Street. If you go to the newsagents there, you will see to the left a Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque commemorating Gascoigne’s life.

Gascoigne met the Lancashire astronomer William Crabtree, in around 1640. Crabtree was much taken with the Leeds man’s inventions, and we can tell this from the memorable letter he sent to Gascoigne just after Christmas that year in which he wrote:

“My friend Mr Horrox professeth that little touch which I gave him hath ravished his mind quite from itself and left him in an Exstasie between Admiration and Amazement. I beseech you Sir, slack not your Intentions for the Perfection of your begun Wonders.” He was a clearly a big fan!

Gascogne was described in his day by the first Astronomer

Royal, John Flamsteed, as an “ingenious a person as the world has bred or known”. Sadly, he died at the Battle of Marston Moor during the English Civil War at the age of just 32, but his fame and his achievements live on all these years later.

And in other news, our buses are finally to come back under local control. This will be the biggest change to the way buses are run in Leeds for 40 years. Services will now rest in the hands of local people and all money made from fares will go back into supporting them. It will take a little time for the new system to get up and running because there’s a lot of bureaucracy to go through, but the plan is that the first franchised bus services will be up and running in parts of Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield from March 2027 – and everywhere else by early 2028.

I’ve long said that if control of the buses is good enough for London, then it’s good enough

for Leeds. And now, we’re finally going to see it happen.

St Patrick’s Day is a very special occasion for everyone of Irish descent. I wasn’t able to attend the parade in Leeds this year, because I was in Washington DC along, it transpired, with a lot of other people who had left the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to join the festivities there.

I was fortunate enough to attend the lunch that the Speaker of Congress gives every year for the Friends of Ireland - including President Joe Biden and the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar who both addressed us - as well as a reception at the White House.

The President told us that his Irish Finnegan ancestors sailed away from Newry to the United States in 1850. It turns out that Barack Obama's great-great grandfather, a shoemaker like President Biden’s, had sailed five weeks earlier from the same port.

The idea that they both set out from the same place for a new life having absolutely no idea that both their great-great grandsons would become President of the United States is really quite a story, is it not?

The other bit of history we learned was that when

South of the River: Oliver’s Army

by Jeremy Morton

Did I tell you about the time I was a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army?

I was reminded this week when some marketing arrived addressed to Lt Col Jeremy Morton. I had bought a Christmas present online and had given that as my ‘title’. I usually leave the title box blank – why do you need to know if I’m Mr, Prof, Dr or Ms for that matter. All you need to know is that I’m Jeremy Morton. This particular website didn’t let you leave it blank, so in a fit of pique I ticked Lt Col.

Anyway, as you’ve probably guessed, I wasn’t a real Lt Col, but I was an honorary Lt Col for a few months back in the early 1990s.

I was working for a housing association at the time, which was developing a project to help service leavers buy their own home. Social housing was in short supply back then and it hasn’t got any better in the thirty years since, but that’s another story.

We were invited to help with a series of lectures and advice clinics to help soldiers facing a round of redundancies which had the friendly title ‘Options For Change’. A number of staff

volunteered to cover various locations as the roadshow wound its way across the land.

Obviously a senior manager nabbed the trip to Benbecular in the Outer Hebrides. My first stop was Sandhurst –effectively the Army’s university. And it was quite an eye opener.

The New College at Sandhurst is an impressive Victorian red brick edifice, but I was billeted in the Old College. This is a Georgian structure, white stucco and colonnades, and it houses the Indian Army museum, that’s the British Indian Army obviously, not the actual Indian Indian Army.

The stone flagged corridors were lined with memorabilia from India which made me feel uncomfortable, having grown up on stories of what the British got up to on the subcontinent from my Australian mother who lived in India for six years in the 1950s.

My accommodation was a very ordinary study bedroom. I unpacked and headed off to the Officers’ Mess for tea. I had no idea what to expect and wondered if I would have to toast the Queen (tricky for a republican). It turned out I didn’t.

On the way back to my room

I turned a corner to face a group of armed young women cadets in full battle gear and camouflage heading out on a night exercise.

At breakfast I was surprised to find The Guardian and the Mirror on the table alongside more right-wing newspapers. It occurred to me that maybe not all army officers were fascists.

The next morning was spent in a lecture hall delivering a scripted section on housing that slotted in with benefits, employment and a medical officer talking about what we would now call wellbeing. I remember he delivered the immortal line: “Now I know the Army always tells you the answer to any problem is exercise, but it’s especially true when dealing with a stressful situation like redundancy.”

In the afternoon we held a surgery where the ‘men’ could ask for advice about their situation. I discovered that the officers weren’t there because they were mostly from Army families and still in denial about being made redundant.

I also discovered that the Army had taken away the men’s ability to think for themselves. I don’t mean this in a bad way necessarily, how else would they follow orders

President Ronald Reagan went to Ireland in the 1980s to visit his ancestral village of Ballyporeen, he drank a pint of Guinness at the local pub. The pub kept the glass and put it on display in a special case for customers to admire in the following years. In 2004, after President Reagan had passed away, the Ronald Reagan Library discovered that the pub was being sold. So they bought it, including the pint glass, and shipped the whole lot across to the United States, where the pub was rebuilt as part of the Ronald Reagan Library in California.

I had always thought that it was only the original London Bridge that had made that journey westwards across the Atlantic Ocean, but it turns out I was wrong. And what’s more, the original pint glass made a special journey from California to Washington for the recent lunch on Capitol Hill. I was

rather anxious that the Speaker might drop it, but I should not have worried.

And - finally - to bring us back home to Leeds, Irish migration was not all westwards across the Atlantic. A lot of it was also eastwards across the Irish Sea to Britain, including to Leeds which has a long-established Irish community that has contributed so much to our city. This included that particularly important example of eastward Irish migration across the Pennines when the footballing legend Johnny Giles moved from Manchester Utd to Leeds Utd in 1963 (where he went on to play 383 games for the club).

All these stories remind us of the ties of history, famine, friendship, conflict, faith and love that bind together the USA, Britain and Ireland and which run like a golden thread through so many lives. What history has brought together, let no one put asunder.

Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament

Contact:

Email: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk

Website: www.hilarybennmp.com

Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; Tel: 0113 244 1097

efficiently? But I would explain various options and they would ask “Yes, but what should I do Sir?”

Along with PTSD it’s an issue that many ex-servicemen and women struggle with.

I was beginning to see that whilst the Army was part of Britain, it was also another country.

Another episode that stuck with me occurred one lunchtime at Burford camp on Salisbury Plain. We were stood around in a rundown

classroom when lunch arrived. Two large containers, they looked like motorbike panniers, camouflaged (obviously) and insulated. One contained rice and the other an excellent chicken curry. This was then served up on Royal Doulton crockery and silver cutlery –presumably the regimental silver.

It said something about former glories and current spending cuts. But also that we had to treated properly and appropriately.

Which brings me back to being a Lt Col. The army has to know what rank you are so that they know how to treat you. As

professional civilians our main contact, a Major, explained we were honorary Lt Cols. He also advised us to watch out for people with red on their collar or shoulder because they were senior to us.

As well as knowing where we fitted in, I think it was a mark of the respect and thanks the Army gave to our presence, which was clearly appreciated – both by officers and men (of whichever sex).

As I say the Army is another country. Familiar in many ways, but quite different in others. Somewhere I was interested to visit, but I don’t think I could live there.

Sandhurst (Old College). Photo: Shutterstock

Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey Toxic Positivity

WhenI established my business six years ago, I had a clear vision. My goal was to support young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or less privileged areas, in realising their potential beyond the limitations of their circumstances.

What does that mean? Well it means that everyone, no matter who or where they are from, has equal access to deliberately choosing more positive thoughts that can ultimately dictate the outcome of their lives.

That’s not an airy fairy notion, it’s a fact backed by neuroscientists, they say that how we think influences how we feel and interact with the world around us. But in order to

do that, you have to learn how … something that doesn’t feature highly on the national curriculum.

I named the business Pathways for Positivity, a title reflecting the neural pathways within the brain. As we engage in activities including reading, meditation, learning new languages or artistic expression, we encourage new neural connections, thereby improving brain health.

This process enhances cognitive functions like memory and focus, promoting mental alertness as we age. As a result, neural pathways can be reshaped to regulate our emotions, thoughts, and responses, increasing qualities such as compassion, gratitude, and joy while reducing negative

emotions like anxiety, fear, worry and anger.

I didn't choose the name Pathways for Positivity because I'm always happy and optimistic. Like anyone else, I have periods of sadness and adversity. Nonetheless, my core belief is that even when life feels challenging, circumstances can improve.

That being said, there is a time and a place to step away from the idea that positive thoughts are the simple solution to all of our problems.

You may have heard of toxic positivity — it’s when people feel compelled to suppress genuine emotions. They feel pressured into wearing a mask of positive happiness. They bury their feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration, which can result in emotional repression and denial.

They do it so as not to upset or worry the people around

them. And rather than processing emotions in a healthy way, they internalise their true feelings, leading to heightened stress, anxiety and worry, causing potential depression or suicidal thoughts. This is particularly common among men who often put on a brave face to hide troubling emotions deep inside.

It's tempting to see what we want sometimes, perhaps somebody we care deeply about, who hasn’t quite been themselves recently is now laughing, joking and being the centre of attention. They’re suddenly high on life and extremely positive. All of their previous worries appear to have gone. You want to be happy for them. But it’s at this time, I’d urge you to talk with this person and explain that you’re pleased they seem to have turned things around, but

you’re still there to listen, chat with and confide in if they aren’t quite as happy or positive as they’d like to have other people think. Showing worry, fear, anxiety or overwhelm isn't a sign of weakness.

One of the fundamental signs for suicide awareness that people often overlook is a sudden boost in positivity and behaviour.

So while I am a huge

advocate for the power of positivity I don’t believe it should be used to paper over the cracks of unhappiness.

If you or someone you care about is struggling, contact your GP for an appointment or reach out to online mental health services for more advice.

Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor - www.pathwaysfor positivity.com

Image: Shutterstock

Iam doing a wing walk in April to raise money for Middleton Park Equestrian Centre (MPEC) for the disabled.

After having had two hip replacements, the second one 6 months ago, and at the age of 69, I am riding and volunteering at MPEC. The

work they do with disabled children is phenomenal and they deserve some help so I said OK. I will do a wingwalk so now I have set up a justgiving page and can’ t bottle out!

I used to do skydiving, scuba diving and occasional horse riding, but from 2012 to 2023 I couldn’t do any of my favourite activities and now I am riding

more than I ever did, thanks to my wonderful surgeon and MPEC.

If you ever see us riding through the Park, stop and say hello.

The link for my page is here if any readers would like to support me … www.justgiving .com/crowdfunding/kathleenrakhshanMPEC

Local history with Ken Burton

Thwaite Watermill (part two)

Last month we traced the history of Thwaite Watermill in Stourton from its origins up until 1871. Now we bring the story up date.

The year 1872 saw the Horn family arrive at Thwaite Mill, taking on the tenancy for £100 per annum thus showing the poor state of the property at this time. Stone crushing machinery was installed by the Horn family so that the mill could be used for grinding flint, china stone, and chalk, and at the same time they renovated

the existing machinery. Sadly, however, Thomas Horn’s 15 year old son was killed while replacing the large water wheel.

Raw materials for crushing arrived by barge and from 1920 were transported on a small railway known as the Jubilee Line to the mill buildings. China Stone was sourced from the Cornish Coast, while flint came from Kent, and chalk came from the Hessle Quarry in Yorkshire.

mill in the same way as they arrived.

Flint and china stone were ground together to make a final slurry which was used to make glaze (the shiny surface on ceramics) for local potteries like those at Castleford and Ferrybridge and were transported in barrels by horse and cart, but for further afield the slurry was pumped from huge underground tanks into specially modified barges. The First World War however saw the end of the Aire valley

final pit contained chalk with the consistency of soft butter which was known as Paris White and air-dried in the form of ‘cakes’ on racks in the mill attic.

Slurry from the lower pits was transported into the drying sheds each shed having four furnaces which heated flues under the firebrick floor the slurry was poured over to a depth of 5 or 6 inches and left for two days until dry.

The chalk powder or ‘whiting’ was then bagged and sent off to be used in all sorts of products, from paint to toothpaste and other pharmaceutical items. Records even show that a monthly consignment was sent to Wakefield Prison to go into inmates’ bread.

In 1923 the Horns began producing putty as a way of using up surplus whiting which was mixed with Canadian linseed oil in the ratio of one part oil to seven parts whiting and this became their most successful venture and becoming their only output by the 1960s.

pulled down in 1968 to widen the Navigation.

Following the Second World War Thwaite Mill continued to be successful, putty production in 1950 was estimated at 800 tons per annum. Another feature to be replaced at this time was the wooden swing bridge built in 1824 this had been operated by the ‘pennyman’, who allowed tall-masted keels, sloops, and other vessels to pass in return for a small toll. These pennies accounted for his entire wage, and if no boats were passing he spent his rime in his little wooden hut doing odd jobs such as cobbling shoes. The job of the pennyman ceased because the bridge became too rickety for use and in 1951 a new one was built of concrete.

pottery industry and the result put an end to the grinding of flint and china stone.

Chalk was also ground at the mill where it was broken down into egg-sized pieces by a jawcrusher. It was then fed into a water-filled edge runner, known as the Tommy Mill, to be crushed into slurry. This was fed into a water levigation system where it was separated into three grades using buoyancy. The bigger heavier pieces sank to the bottom of the first pit and so on until the

Their success was due partly to them installing a Raymond Mill in 1931, which increased output and efficiency; this machine was originally developed to crush coal. A Marshall Diesel engine was brought in to power the Raymond Mill because the wheels weren’t strong enough although they were still used for mixing the chalk and linseed oil.

During the time of the Horns management there were a variety of jobs for the workers at the mill and for the first few decades, during the Victorian era, employment was available at Thwaite House as well. Lots of Horns’ employees lived in Dandy Row; the set of eight cottages located nearby along the Navigation and built in the 1820s, possibly with bricks from the old buildings in Briggate. These cottages were

The success of Thwaite Mill was not to last and as time progressed the Horns’ production methods became outdated and they were less able to compete with newer manufacturers and with the market now changing to uPVC window frames and double glazing they decided to close the mill. The final nail in the coffin was on the night of the 29 January 1975 when the river breeched the weir causing it to collapse thus preventing water from being diverted into the mill and turning the wheels.

Fortunately the mill was not left empty for long and in 1978 the Thwaite Mill Society was formed from a group of volunteers who did not want to see the site go to waste. The weir was rebuilt, the buildings and water wheel were repaired and refurbished and in 1990 the site reopened as a working Museum run by Leeds City Council.

However, in 2024 this now seems in doubt. The Council are said to be pulling out of a deal struck between them and the Canal & River Trust who will be left in sole charge. Does this mean another South Leeds heritage asset disappearing?

Dandy Row with Skelton Grange power station behind

Loading putty at Thwaite Watermill

Shows this month at Slung Low

Aftera great end to 2023 with The Gifting, Slung Low are back to presenting shows and workshops at The Warehouse In Holbeck.

Letters to Leeds will be the outcome of a Myth Making Workshop on Saturday 6 April at 1pm. Letters to Leeds is a collective exploration of Leeds. It’s a project that was born out of a love for Leeds, but also a confusion about what makes it great. The myth-making workshop consists of a series of creative thinking, writing and improvisation tasks that respond to Leeds-specific prompts.

Later on Saturday 6 April, Eleanor May Blackburn asks Does my F**** look big in this?

Join Ellie as she navigates a class of 30 adolescents asking her anything about sex; and what happens when they go home? Does My Fanny Look Big in This? Tackles sex education, validates sexual anxiety, and deals with sexual trauma while answering questions you’ve always been a little too embarrassed to ask. Let’s explore the sexual world through spoken word, uncomfortable noises, an inflatable sex doll, (bad) singing, anxiety and a limerick (14+).

CHISHOLM FOR PRESIDENT! is a new soul musical by Zodwa

Nyoni and Testament, inspired by Shirley Chisholm - the first black woman to run for US President.

Through live music and performance, you’ll hear about the true story of a black women’s struggle against the political machine and her ground-breaking bid to become President in 1972. Expect an uplifting night of 70s inspired music, with actors performing alongside a full live band.

Friday 12 April, 7:30pm.

The Ballad of the Underwater Daughter promises unhinged puppetry for adults and ages 14+ on Friday 26 April at 7:30pm.

Somewhere out there, in the murky no-man’s-land between reality and “are you pulling my leg?” there's a mechanical island inhabited entirely by dads. The Ballad of the Underwater Daughter is a strange sort of odyssey. A woozy universe of messy minds and monstrously fishy metaphors. Overloaded with puppets, props and machines. It contains very strong language and exploding dads.

All these shows are pay-whatyou-decide. Book your free ticket at www.slunglow.org /shows and once you’ve seen the show decide how much you want to pay. Slung Low’s Warehouse In Holbeck is on Crosby Street, LS11 9RQ.

Another Platinum Artsmark for New Bewerley Community School

by Paige Hurley

New Bewerley Community School’s hard work and dedication to the arts has been recently rewarded with their second Artsmark Platinum award, the only primary school in West Yorkshire to be granted such an accolade.

New Bewerley is a whirling snail of creativity on the edge of the city centre. A primary school dedicated to the arts, creativity and developing opportunities and cultural experiences for its children and community alongside the other curriculum subjects.

Arts-rich and arts-focused, the school has heavily invested in In Harmony Opera North, Northern Ballet, The World

Reimagined and its innovative spiral art curriculum; alongside a wealth of resident artists, who have entered the school. The school is dedicated to celebrating with the diverse community of Beeston and celebrating each child’s own unique footprint on the world.

New Bewerley has also recognised the growing need for SEND and SEMH provision and invested time and money in drawing therapy, music therapy, Lego therapy and it’s new and improved sensory room.

Much like the school’s innovative shape, the art curriculum is a spiral, ensuring that children learn and revisit all areas of the art curriculum progressively building on

Review: Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse

by Salima Hussain

Isaw the play Macbeth on Thursday, which was very well played. It was orchestrated and written with clarity.

From the beginning of the play I was drawn into a world of ambition and betrayal. It started off creepy which set the tone perfectly.

The cast were amazing, especially Jessica Baglow (Lady Macbeth) who clearly

demonstrated the manipulative and subtle power a lady has over a man. The play demonstrated beautifully how Macbeth was the head and yet Lady Macbeth was the neck on which the head resided. The head would orient itself upon the neck’s commands. Macbeth’s character was also well played alongside the witches.

The quotes used by Shakespeare were poignant and perfectly positioned. I was

difficulty knowledge.

Artsmark gave New Bewerley a glowing report, which included this snippet:

“You ensure a high level of representation in every area of the curriculum and your work with The World Reimagined to build an anti-racist arts curriculum has been powerful, deploying artists in residence in art and poetry, feeding into events such as Big Hair Day, celebrating diversity and your annual Carnival.

“Your Music curriculum now has a stronger focus on diversity and you have specialist SEND delivery from an experienced music therapist. You have art workshops for children with significant needs and use

impressed by how everyone looked and the sounds effects.

It was immersive and I felt as if I was part of the story. The director (Amy Leach) made some great choices in how they produced the show. The lines were well spoken and had emotional resonances. The play moved at a good pace so I was intrigued throughout the play, allowing the tension to build up towards the conclusion.

Overall it was a triumph and it proved how strong and important Shakespeare’s work still is. I was left thinking about ambition and how, without

drawing and talking therapy effectively with vulnerable pupils.

“You have a rich range of opportunities to learn and to perform in music and in visual arts you extend the range of offer to include eg sculpture, pottery and mixed media.”

The school is so proud of their fantastic achievements and will be celebrating throughout the rest of the school year starting with the Platinum Disco next week with the annual carnival and arts celebration day planned for the Summer Term.

New Bewerley would like to thank all children, parents and staff who have helped the school to get to this momentous occasion.

integrity, it can lead to transgression and guilt. The theatrical experience was both intellectually stimulating and emotionally gripping and I would recommend it.

Middleton Railway will reopen its doors and resume train services on Saturday 30 April for a three day Easter weekend.

Trains will run from Moor Road station in Hunslet up to Park Halt in Middleton Park, with the first train leaving at 10:30am and the last at

Middleton Railway reopens April’s activities in Middleton Park Pride in Place community art project

by Penny Lewis

Swarthmore Education Centre’s Lottery Funded Creative Communities project is delighted to announce its next blocks of Pride in Place art workshops, which will take place at BITMO’s Gate in Belle Isle and St Luke’s Church in Holbeck.

In each block, six talented artists will demonstrate and introduce participants to their practice, each week showcasing a different technique. Techniques so far

3:30pm. There will also be an Easter Egg hunt. There will be school holiday trains running on Wednesday 3 and 10 April.

Saturday 6 April is Community Day at Middleton Railway. A range of community organisations will be in the museum to talk to passengers

about their work. They will be joined by the Lord Mayor of Leeds and local Councillors.

Train rides on Community Day are free, although a donation would be very much appreciated.

Don’t forget that entry to the museum, which features a range of historic locomotives as well information about the history of the railway and the local locomotive building heritage of Hunslet, is free.

The Middleton Railway was built in 1758 and is the first railway authorised by an Act of Parliament, the first to have commercially successful steam locomotives, in June 1812 and also the first standard gauge preserved railway, opening in June 1960. It has operated trains every year since opening in 1758.

TheFriends of Middleton Park (FoMP) will be busy this month with a host of activities in and around the park.

As usual, they have organised free play sessions for children during the school holidays.These take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am-1pm near the Visitor Centre by the lake.

On Tuesday 2 & 9 Apri ACE will be organising outdoor games and sports, then on Wednesday 3 & 10 April there’s dancing for boys and girls with DAZL.

The activities are free and there’s no need to book, just turn up and join in.

FoMp have organised an open meeting on Tuesday 16 April at 7pm at Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road, LS10 3SP. This is a chance to find ouit more about the work of the Friends and their upcoming plans.

Then on Sunday 21 April the

monthly guided walk will look for signs of Spring around the park. Meet at the visitor centre at 1:30pm, wear suitable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Peaking ahead into the first weekend of May it’s time for the Bluebell Walks. FoMP

volunteers will meet Middleton Railway passengers at Park Halt at 11:20am, 12:40pm and 2:20pm on Sunday 5 May and Bank Holiday Monday 6 May and escort them through the woods to the Visitor Centre and back, enjoying the carpet of bluebells along the way.

have included mosaic, oil painting, rag rugging, pottery, lino printing, photography, and much more. Some fantastic work has been achieved, much of it by people who had no experience and sometimes doubted they could ‘do it’.

Pride in South Leeds has been viewed from every anglebuildings, parks, maps, memories and history, people and friends.

We welcome people aged 18 and over who live in LS10 and LS11. Everyone is welcome to apply, regardless of artistic

talents. All materials and a free lunch are provided.

We are pleased to be offering childcare for babies and preschool children for the first time at St Luke’s Church.

Venues and dates for workshops beginning in April: St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill, LS11 8PD: Mondays: 15, 22, 29 April; 13 and 20 May; 3 June. 10am2pm. Childcare available.

BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH: Wednesdays: 17 & 24 April; 1, 8, 15 & 22 May. 9:30am1:30pm.

Come along, make friends, get creative, have fun!

If you would like to take part in the project, please email: creative.communities@swarth more.org.uk or you can call me, Penny, on 07438 666342 or visit the website www. swarthmore.org.uk/projects

The project will also recruit and support volunteers to support the sessions, and we welcome applications from anyone interested in offering their time and energy.

If you would be interested in finding out more about volunteering please contact: creative.communities@swarth more.org.uk for more information or you can apply via the website www. swarthmore.org.uk/projects

Train rides are free on Community Day

The bluebells will soon be out in Middleton Woods

What’s On

Every Monday

Community Play Group

9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Money Buddies

9am-12pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library Tea and Toast

9am-12pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH

Warm Space

9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN

Parents & Tots Group

9:30-11am St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck Trinity Network Tea, Coffee, Toast

9:30-11am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Women Only Exercise (HFA)

9:30-10:15am Beeston Village

Community Centre, off Town St MEA Crafts Group

9:30-10:45am Middleton Elderly

Aid Social Centre, Acre Road

Holbeck Together coffee shop

10am-12pm St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

Creative Communities Workshop

10am-2pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD. From 15 April. Book: 07483 666342

Crochet & Knitting Group

10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street

MHA Craft Club

10-11:30am St Andrew’s

Community Centre, Old Lane

Mums and Tots

10:30am-12pm Asha

Neighbourhood Project, Beeston

Monday Breakfast Club

10:30am-12pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Ave, Hunslet, LS10 2QE

Chair Based Exercise

10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus

Story & Rhyme (under 5s)

10:30-11:30am Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library

Lychee Red Chinese Seniors

Lunch Club

11am-1pm Beeston Village

Community Centre, off Town St Digital 121 support drop in 11am-12pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library

MEA Bingo and Hoy

11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid

Social Centre, Acre Road

Trinity Network Indoor Curling

11:30am United Reformed

Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle

MHA Soup & Sandwich

11:30am-1pm St Andrew’s

Community Centre, Old Lane

Cottingley Warm Space

11:30am-2:30pm Cottingley

Community Centre, LS11 0HJ

Dinner Jackets (baked potato)

12-1:30pm St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

MEA Lunch Club

12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid

Social Centre, Acre Road

Trinity Network Lunch Club, Bingo

12:30-2:15pm United Reformed

Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle

Women’s Wellbeing (HFA)

1-3pm Middleton Family Centre, Sissons Road, LS10 4JG Green Gym

1-3:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Sourton, LS10 1RS

50+ Women’s Friendship Group

1-3pm Asha Neighbourhood

Project, Beeston Beeston Bookwormers Book Club

1:30-2:30pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library Beeston

Digital Inclusion Classes

1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus

Dancercise

1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly

Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Meditation & Movement

1:45-2:45pm St Andrew’s

Community Centre, Old Lane

Children’s Gardening Group

3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library

Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)

4-6pm Blenkinsop Field, Acre Road, Middleton, LS10 4JQ

Ultimate Dance Academy

4:30-7pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, LS10 4AW

Kickboxing

6:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Legs, Bums & Tums

7pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, LS10 4AW

ANDYSMANCLUB

7-9pm Leeds College of Building, Cudbear Street, Hunslet LS10 1EF

ANDYSMANCLUB

7-9pm Vale Circles, Tunstall Road, Dewsbury Rd, Beeston LS11 5JF

Every Tuesday

Tots Group

9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle

Community Play Group

9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston

Stay and Play under 5s

9-10:30am BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH

Warm Space

9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN

Holbeck Together Boxercise

9-9:45am St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

MHA Breakfast Buddies

9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s

Community Centre, Old Lane Advice & Advocacy

9:30am-2:30pm Asha

Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600

Trinity Network Indoor Exercise

9:45am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Mobile Hub & Library

10am-3:30pm near St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

Chair Based Exercise

10-11am St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

Coffee and Connect

10-11:30am St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck Grandparents Kinship Support Group

10am-12pm St George’s Centre, Middleton

Woodwork

10am Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, Belle Isle

MHA Exercise Class

10-11am South Leeds

Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston, LS11 7JH Craft & Chat

10:30am-12:30pm St George’s

Community Hub and Library, Middleton

Aasra Unpaid Carers Group

10:30am-12:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD Story & Rhyme (under 5s)

10:30-11:30am Beeston

Community Hub & Library, Town St Story & Rhyme (under 5s)

10:30-11:30am Hunslet

Community Hub & Library, off Church Street

Stronger Together (SEND parents)

11am-1pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH

Bingo and Hoy

11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid

Social Centre, Acre Road

MHA Lunch and Social

11am-2pm Arthington Court, Balm Road, Hunslet

MEA Lunch Club

12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid

Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Lunch Club

12-1:30pm St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

Lunch Club and Social

12-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus

Trinity Network Lunch Club

12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle

Lunchtime meditation

12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist

Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck

Women Only Swimming

1-2pm Asha Neighbourhood

Project, Beeston

MHA Line Dancing

1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston

MEA Walking Group

1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Digital Beginners

1:30-3pm BITMOs Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH

Book: (0113) 378 2190

Healthy Hearts Advice

1:30-4pm BITMOs Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH

Movie Afternoon

1:30-3:30pm St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck

MEA Line Dancing

2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid

Social Centre, Acre Road.

Hot Meal (free to BITMO tenants)

3:30-5:30pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road

Mental Health Peer Support Group

3:45-6pm Involve Community Centre, Hunslet, LS10 2QE

Adult Maths Support

10am-1pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH

Holbeck Together coffee morning

10am-12pm Ingram Court

Community Room, Holbeck

Trinity Network Keep Fit with Julie

10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle

Anti-social Behaviour surgery

10am-12pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library

Creative Communities Workshop

Women’s Make & Do Group

4:30-6pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library

Book: 07848 515528

Cockburn Community Choir

5-6pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston

Free Kids Sports

4:45pm West Grange Courts, West Grange Road-Winrose Crescent, Belle Isle, LS10 3AP

DAZL Dance

5:30-6:30pm Cottingley

Community Centre

Girls-only Football

5:30pm Yrs 2-4; 6:30pm Yrs 5-7

The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP

Dance Fitness (14+)

6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road

Book: 07519 018675

Inside Out exercise class (HFA)

6-7pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX

51st Leeds (Hunslet) Guides

6:15-7:15pm Rainbows; 6:157:30pm Brownies; 7:15-8:30pm

Guides St Mary’s CofE Primary

Academy, Church Street, Hunslet

Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)

6:30-8:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Old Elland Road

Hunslet Nelson Women’s

Rounders

6:30-7:30pm Hunslet Nelson

Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Yoga (HFA)

6:40pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, Belle Isle

South Leeds Lakers Running Club

6:50pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston.

Book: bit.ly/LakersRunning MINT Men’s Support Group

7-9pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH

Middletones singing group (HFA)

7-9pm Laurel Bank Day Centre, Middleton Park Avenue, LS10 4HY

Every Wednesday

One You Weight Management

8:30am-12:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle

Everyday Lives coffee morning

9-11am Beeston Village

Community Centre, off Town St Warm Space

9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome

Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN

Open doors

9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s

Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston

Bacon Butty morning

9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly

Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Advice & Advocacy

9:30am-2:30pm Asha

Neighbourhood Project, Beeston

Book: 0113 270 4600

Brave Hearts peer support group for women whose children no longer live with them

10am-12pm Middleton Family

Centre 256-262 Sissons Road

LS10 4JG

9:30am-1:30pm BITMOs Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH. From 17 April

Book: 07483 666342

Woodwork

10am Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, Belle Isle Remember Together Group

Young Dementia Leeds Hub, Cottingley Book: 07983 215865 email mcst@ageukleeds.org.uk

Beeston In Bloom Gardening Gp

10am-12pm Millennium Garden, Cross Flatts Park Scrabble Club

10am-12pm St George’s

Community Hub and Library, Middleton

Rags To Riches Sewing Group

10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX

Beeston Remembered

10:30-11:30am Beeston

Community Hub & Library,Town St

Raising Vibes

11am-2pm Holbeck Moor

Skatepark

Hunslet Litterpicking Group

11-12:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE

Holbeck Together Lunch Club

12-1:30pm Ingram Court

Community Room, Holbeck

MHA Cottingley Lunch Club

12-2pm Cottingley Community

Centre, 115 Cottingley Approach

Trinity Network Lunch Club

12:30-1:30pm United Reformed

Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle

Sew It Seams Sewing Group

1-3pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX

Warm Space

1-3pm St Luke’s CARES 246

Dewsbury Road, LS11 6JQ

Online Self Care Group

1-2pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre Book: amy.hallam@healthforall.org.uk

Holbeck Together Craft Afternoon

1:30-3:30pm Ingram Court

Community Room, Holbeck

Parents & Tots Social

1:30-2:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Walk and Talk (HFA)

2-3pm meet at Middleton Park main gates on Town Street

Tai Chi

2pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, Belle Isle

Children bike confidence

3:45-4:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, LS11 7NA

Brave Words Drama Group (4-17)

4-7:30pm Beeston Village

Community Centre, off Town St Book: 07775 926166

Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)

4:30-6:30pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle.

Ultimate Dance Academy

4:20-6pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, LS10 4AW

Bat & Chat Table Tennis

5-7pm Dewsbury Road

Community Hub & Library

1st SLAM Beavers (6-8 yrs)

6-7:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston

Yin Yoga with Amy

6-7pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre,

Ingram Road, Holbeck Illuminate Dance

6pm Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, Belle Isle

Holbeck Moor FC: Inclusive adult football training

6:30pm Holbeck Moor

Line Dancing

6:45-9pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle

Leeds Co-operative Photographic Society

8pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton

Every Thursday

Tots Group

9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle

Book: 07794 577586

Music & Movement

9am-1pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Parents & Tots Group

9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Warm Space

9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN Mobile Hub & Library

9:30am-3:30pm near St

Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck

Advice & Advocacy

9:30am-2:30pm Asha

Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600

Holbeck Together shopping trip

9:30am-12:30pm

Book: 0113 245 5553

Holbeck Community Shop

9:30am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Ping Pong

9:30-10:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road

Holbeck Together Coffee Shop

9:45-11:30am St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck Library Story Bus

10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Splat Mat play for under 5s

10-11am Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD

Trinity Network Craft

10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle

Kushy Nana (HFA Elder Bangladeshi Women’s Group)

10am-12pm Building Blocks

Nursery, Maud Avenue, LS11 7DD

Women’s Friendship Group

10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd Craft and Chat

10-11:45am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Woodwork

10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Craft Group / Digital Inclusion

10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Story & Rhyme (under 5s)

10:30-11:30am St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton

Inclusive dance

11am-12pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park

Walking Football

11am-12pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road

Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road

Warm Space

11:30am-2pm Cottingley Community Centre Line Dancing

11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck

22 What’s On

School holiday activities at local libraries

Our local Community Hubs & Libraries have a host of family friendly activities lined up for the Easter school holidays.

Lego Club: Building a Love of Books, Brick by Brick St George's Centre Community Hub & Library, Tuesday 2 April, 3:45-4:45pm

Join the monthly Lego Club and construct Lego creations based on best-loved children's books, featuring a different theme each month. This month, we'll be making some egg-cellent springtime builds!

Free family-friendly event recommended for children aged 5+, accompanied by an adult. No need to book, just drop in!

Bloom: Create and Make St George's Centre Community Hub & Library,

Wednesday 10 April, 10:3011:30am

Grow your interest in reading with green-fingered crafts, Lego challenges, and seed-sowing, based on 'Bloom, The Surprising Seeds of Sorrel Fallowfield' by Nicola Skinner, a book with plant-power and peril in its pages.

Create and make to welcome in the springtime and celebrate the school holidays.

Free family-friendly event recommended for children aged 7+, accompanied by an adult. No need to book, just drop in!

Speedwell Dance Presents ... Thumbelina

Hunslet Community Hub and Library, Thursday 4 April, 23pm

Brought to life through dance, live music and song, Thumbelina is a gentle and

playful performance with the beauty of the natural world at its heart. Children are invited to take part in Thumbelina’s journey, build a shelter from sticks and escape with her from a hungry toad.

Through their play Thumbelina gains the strength to carry on and make it safely home.

A pay-what-you-decide family-friendly event suitable for children aged 3 to 8, accompanied by an adult.

Tickets available at: www. ticketsource.co.uk/leeds libraryevents

Breeze Egg Hunt

At all Leeds Libraries

Leeds Libraries have teamed up with Breeze to support the Breeze Egg Hunt this Easter. Eggs will be

popping up on posters and large boards across the city and we have one at every Library in Leeds! To collect eggs you just scan them with your Breeze Pass app. Each egg that you scan is worth points … and points mean prizes! Get your Breeze Pass ready as the hunt starts on the Friday 29 March. More info at breezeleeds.org

Beeston Community Hub now has a Playbox on site alongside the ones at Dewsbury Road, Hunslet and St George’s. The colourful Mini Playboxes are packed with fun and engaging open ended play activities for children under 5 and their families.

The hope is that families will be inspired to recreate these simple play activities at home with objects they already have.

The Mini Playboxes support speech and language development, numeracy skills and encourage creative play. Reed in Partnership will be running a new pop up at Dewsbury Road, fortnightly starting on Tuesday 26 March from 1–3:30pm. Offering employment advice and support across a variety of sectors linking in customers with employers they support.

Leeds City Council Fostering services will be running Pop ups at: Hunslet on 16 April 24pm and St George’s on 30 April 2-4pm.

Beeston Community Hub and Library, Town Street, LS11 8PN

Dewsbury Road Community Hub and Library, LS11 6PF

Hunslet Community Hub and Library, off Church Street, LS10 2NS

St George’s Community Hub and Library, St Georges Road, Middleton, LS10 4UZ

Easter at The Hunslet Club Special skate sessions

Hunslet’s LS-TEN

Skatepark, the place for all your skateboaring, scootering and rollerskating activities also run some special sessions.

The Skate Mates project

provides an opportunity for young people between the ages of 8 and 13 to learn some new skills and make friends with the help of expert coaches.

These sessions are

completely free for young people with an LS10 or LS11 postcode. LS-TEN provide all the equipment needed and will guide attendees through all the basics of skateboarding. Each session runs from 4-5:30pm on Wednesdays, running until 8 May.

All abilities are welcome, whether you’re completely new to skating or you’re already getting rolling.

Then on the last Monday of the month from 8-10pm the boys get pushed aside for the Marginalised Gender Skate Session

This is a fantastic, supportive and inclusive session held for skateboarders of any ability who aren’t cisgender men. We welcome non-binary people, non-gender conforming people, genderqueer people, trans people, women and girls.

LS-TEN is located at Kitson Road, Hunslet, LS10 1NT

The Easter Holidays are fast approaching and The Hunslet Club is ready to bring the community together for our annual festivities.

Kicking off with the annual Easter Party on Sunday 31 March, 12-3pm at The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP. Don’t forget to bring along your decorated Easter Bonnet to be in with a chance of winning a special prize. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance for the Easter egg hunt and judging the Easter bonnet parade. This free event is for the whole community to come and enjoy so bring along all the family. There will be an arts and crafts station, face painting, games, and more family fun. Our bar and tuck shop will be open to purchase food and drink.

The club is running three camps this Easter, you can choose one camp to attend or mix and match from Activity, Football or Rugby. The Activity camp provides a safe space for young people to stay active and engage in activities such as football, dance, games, cooking, baking, arts and crafts. Full

booking details at www. hunsletclub.org.uk

The Hunslet Club runs over 100 evening activity sessions per week serving young people aged 18 months to 18 years. Our activity session timetable will run as normal during the school holidays. We also run a free youth club 5 nights per week.

Another happy Activity Camp

Hunslet’s Involve Centre to hold fundraising day

by Stewart Walton

Involve, a community centre based in the heart of Hunslet, is holding a fundraising day on Wednesday 3 April 2024 to support and expand the work of the centre. Our community centre has become a valued space for the area. We currently host: a youth club; a computer group; a mental health support group; a Church; a litter picking group; a soup and roll session; an after school club; a coffee morning and a breakfast club. We have become a meeting

point for various other groups. We have just completed stage one of our work on our back garden and look forward to being able to go out and take pleasure in the outdoor area come spring and summer. We have our first day of planting, working with staff from Starbucks coffee on Monday 15 April. The community are encouraged to join us from 10am for breakfast and gardening.

On Wednesday 3 April we will be holding our first fundraising event from 12-4pm, we hope it will be the first of many. There

are many planned building works on our to do list and we are working through them, but unfortunately they are not very cheap. Our community centre is a valued space by local businesses and service users. This fundraiser is a great way to include the Community in the maintenance of the Centre.

At the fundraiser we will have lots of board games, outdoor activities, cakes and refreshments, plenty of stalls to keep you busy, a quiz, and we have some rooms to name!

Chair of Trustees, Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet &

Riverside) said: “Involve has started to go through an amazing transformation into a community centre in the heart of Hunslet. This fundraiser will be a great way for people to get to learn more about the community centre, what it can do for the people of Hunslet, but also help raise some money towards some of our projects, specifically in this case, a brand new sign for the building. I am told I am making drinks.”

Claire, Project Manager added:

“The transition from a Special Educational Provision to community centre has been challenging, but I am overjoyed to see the interest in the centre and the progress we are making. We at Involve are constantly liaising with visitors of the centre to see what they would like to do, and as you can imagine, the list is

endless. We are looking forward to the fundraiser as the team have worked very hard to put this together.”

Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE

Involve Centre. Photo: Google

Thumbelina

Women are doing it for themselves at LS-TEN

Funding pot for active ideas

by Karen Peck

Doyou think we could …?” is something I love to hear when chatting to residents within my role.

The nuggets of an idea that can have the opportunity to develop into new local opportunities for people to be active. Active Leeds (part of Leeds City Council) continues to share its Get Set Leeds Local project learning with Sport England, which emphasises that real change at a community level in helping more people move more comes from ideas and projects which are community led, developed collectively, and building on elements which are strong within the project priority places.

Change takes time, but it is happening and we see continual new opportunities developing or sustaining across South Leeds. Sport England have invested into our Place Based approach which has areas within Holbeck and Beeston and Hunslet and Riverside Wards as focal areas for our approach.

A Community Chest Pot of up to £300 is available to apply for, by groups and residents in the above wards to seed fund some ‘good ideas’ to help people move more, with further support to develop something bigger through funding

support, advice, connections or working collectively along with building capabilities and capacity through support and upskilling opportunities. Feel free to get in touch for a chat or an application karen.peck @leeds.gov.uk

Being active all year, whatever the weather is important for our mental and physical wellbeing but we know many people see Spring as an opportunity to get back outdoors, whether its walking, getting on a bike, connecting and playing a game with others, attending sessions such as rollerskating via LSTEN in a community space or borrowing a rounders kit or tennis racket from Watsonian Café in Cross Flatts Park to have a game with friends or family.

At Cross Flatts Park we have a bike hub, with bikes available for groups (with insurance and training) to book out and use. Free weekly Adult Learn to Ride and cycle confidence sessions continue from Cycle North each

abilities. Come along and join in, chat and get to know what’s going on locally. If you run a group/club and would like to be a part of it then get in touch.

Playzones

And finally, watch out for a consultation starting later this month about investment in some of our multi-use games areas (MUGAs). Leeds has the opportunity to apply for investment from the Football Foundation to create new Playzones.

Saturday bookable via www.cyclenorth.co.uk/adults

We’re interested to know though what would help you or your family get on a bike?

Our British Cycling Activator Andy will be restarting evening children’s bike confidence and learn to ride sessions at Cross Flatts Park, utilising the wooden timberfly bike ramps from Easter on Wednesday afternoons, taking place 4pm during school holidays and from 3:45–4:30pm when school term begins. These are drop in sessions, no bike required.

Brickfield Park on Lady Pit Lane (next to St Francis of Assisi Primary School) has had investment over recent years from the council and ward members to enhance the greenspace with play equipment. Two great sessions will be available at Brickfield Park which use the park in different ways:

Brickfield ParkPlay is every Saturday from 10:30am parkplay.com/parks/brickfield

This is a free community-led activity session for all ages. Pop along and join in when you can to enjoy fun games. Children of all ages and grown ups welcome, with all generations playing together.

Brickfield Park Adult Beginner Bootcamp developed from a resident idea, with an application to the Community Chest Pot and other funding support and from St Luke Cares ABCD co-ordinator.

Every Monday evening starting after Easter Holidays. Keep an eye on socials to see more information on times and how to get involved coming soon.

Save the Date – 11 May

Following the success of the first Let’s Move: South Leeds event last year, it will be returning in 2024 on Saturday 11 May, 12-3pm at Cross Flatts Park. Community partners will be showcasing and sharing a range of different sports and activities that are on offer across South Leeds. We’re hoping there’ll be something for everyone, for all ages and

Hunslet

get off to the perfect start in their league campaign

Continued from page 24

Coach Dean Muir will be happy with Hunslet’s start to the League season. Two wins from two will breed confidence for the next two tough games against Keighley and Oldham. Hunslet will however, have to start these games better as they were sluggish out of the blocks, and they cannot afford to give teams a 10 point start every week.

Cross Flatts Park and Holbeck Community Centre have been identified as potential sites for the Playzone investment. An online survey will run from mid-April to 17 May, we’ll share full details on the South Leeds Life website and in the May newspaper.

Do get in touch to share your local insight and ideas for what may help people move more in South Leeds. Follow us Get Set Leeds Local on social media, or get in touch: karen.peck @leeds.gov.uk

Jude Ferreira again shone in attack and Ethan O’Hanlon was superb off the bench, whilst Jordan Syme and Billy Gaylor took the team forwards, but the defence was a real team effort today as this side builds itself into the season.

Both Hunslet and Rochdale Hornets wore odd socks today to raise awareness for Downs Syndrome and two of Hunslet’s most loyal supporters Tony Dawson and Kyle Butterfield led the team out onto the pitch. Hunslet play Keighley Cougars under the lights at South Leeds Stadium on Good Friday 29 March, kick off 7:30pm.

That’s followed by home matches against Oldham on 7 April; Workington Town on 21 April and North Wales Crusaders on 28 April.

You can read full match reports of every Hunslet RLFC match online at southleedslife.com

Children’s bike confidence sessions restart in Cross Flatts Park

Hunslet wore odd socks at Rochdale for Downs Syndrome Awareness

Hunslet get off to the perfect start in their league campaign

Pickles

at home and Rochdale Hornets away.

The Parksiders started with a win over relegated Newcastle Thunder at the South Leeds Stadium on 17 March.

The game had to be switched to the South Leeds Stadium after Thunder’s home at Kingston Park became

unavailable.

Newcastle only re-entered the league recently after a rescue package was put together and the team took some heavy defeats in the 1895 Cup, however Hunslet were never going to take them lightly on match one of the league season.

Although Alfie Goddard went close early on for Hunslet, Thunder took the lead on 8 minutes after gaining good field position with a 40/20.

It didn’t take long for Hunslet

to reply when on 12 minutes Beharrell and Watson combined to send Jack Render strolling over in the corner. 4-6 Hunslet looked strong on the flanks and on 20 minutes a loose Harry Williams pass was hacked forward by Alfie Goddard. The bounce fooled Newcastle, and Goddard backed up to score. Beharrell converting 10-6.

Jude Ferreira caused a constant problem for the Newcastle defence, and on 24 minutes the former Hull FC

Hunslet Emeralds are heading for Germany

by Zoe Cressar

In June this year The Hunslet Emeralds, the competitive dance squad from The Hunslet Club’s dance section, are competing on the international stage in Germany representing the club and the wider South Leeds community.

The girls are a credit to the club and community, they compete throughout the year and have proven very successful. Their victories, passion, and continuous commitment to the squad, each other and their training development and progression is inspirational to all the young dancers in our dance section.

The competition, The Summer All-Levels Championship, will take place

in Dusseldorf, Germany and this will be the first time our dance section will have travelled and competed in another country.

The Emeralds will be taking both their junior and senior pom dance squads to the competition. It is an exciting time for our dance section and the club as a whole.

The Hunslet Emeralds have worked tirelessly to rehearse and train to perfect their routines and they cannot wait to perform on an international stage.

The Hunslet Emeralds are asking for as much help as possible to get every girl on the trip no matter their financial status or caregivers’ situation. The club is organising numerous fundraising events

such as bag packing in supermarkets, car washes, sponsored activities as well as auctioning off memorabilia to raise funds to cover travel and accommodation costs.

They have set up a fundraising page as a plea to members of The Hunslet Club and our wider Hunslet and South Leeds community to spare as much as possible and contribute to this cause.

The Hunslet Club’s priority is helping young people achieve their full potential. A prime example of this in action is this competition. Please dig deep and help The Hunslet Emeralds go International.

You can donate by visiting: www.gofundme.com/f/thehunslet-club-emeralds-gointernational

unanswered points with tries from Goddard, completing his hat-trick, Cam Berry, Josh Jordan-Roberts and Jude Farreira scoring the try of the game after Jack Render feilded a kick deep in Hunslet territory before Jimmy Watson and Josh Jordan-Roberts combined to set Ferreira free.

Coach Dean Muir was not happy with how his side started each half, but was happy with the win and praised winger Jack Render for his work coming inside and taking the ball up.

“Although the three-quarters scored 7 of the 9 tries, the work to create space out wide is done by hard yards down the middle” said Muir.

Alfie Goddard received both sponsor’s and Supporters’ Player of the Match, but there were also good performances from Ferreira, O’Hanlon, Syme, and Billy Gaylor who took the game to Newcastle in the latter stages.

on the last tackle after the Parksiders had earlier kicked the ball dead. 4-0 after only 2 minutes.

It got worse as a straystray was intercepted by Joe Hartley who went 80 yards to score shrugging off three tacklers on the way. Rudd converted and Hornets led 10-0 on 15 minutes.

Hunslet got the scoreboard on 20 minutes when Jack Render and Jude Ferreira combined, followed by Harry Williams and Spencer Darley.

The Parksiders took a 10-14 lead in at the break.

On 55 minutes, on the last tackle an inch perfect Harry Williams kick was fielded spectacularly by Jude Ferreira who wrestled his way over for his second of the afternoon. Beharrell converting 10-20.

man linked with Jack Render who slid in low to score. 14-6 Newcastle were not dispirited and attacked the Hunslet line, but the home defence held and with ball in hand the penalties started to fall Hunslet’s way. After a third penalty on the trot good Hunslet passing sent Alfie Goddard in for his second of the day. 18-6 at the break.

A sluggish start to the second half allowed Newcastle to score again, but then Hunslet chalked up 30

Hunslet clung on for a famous win at the Crown Oil Arena Rochdale on 24 March to go second in the league and set up a first versus second clash on Good Friday (29 March) against Keighley Cougars at the South Leeds Stadium.

Nails were bitten down to the quick before the hooter sounded. Then a happy band of Yorkshiremen travelled back across the Pennines victorious. Hunslet have now won two from two in their quest to get promotion from League 1 to the Championship.

It wasn’t like that from the off though as, with Hunslet still on the bus, Lewis Else went over

Rochdale pulled it back to 20-20 with tries on 66 and 69 minutes after Hunslet were forced to reorganise after Jack Render and Will Adams left the fray with injuries.

The decisive score came on 75 minutes when Ross Whitmore, lively at acting halfback slipped a pass out to a rampaging Harvey Hallas who was too strong and dived over the line close enough for Matty Beharrell to add the extras. 2026.

It still wasn’t over though as Lewis Else also picked up his second try for Hornets on 78 minutes, but too far out for Matty Rudd to level it up. 24-26 Rochdale came again, but the Hunslet defence held solid and on the hooter it was the Parksiders who celebrated a tough fought victory.

Continued on page 23

Hunslet RLFC have kicked off their League 1 campaign with two wins out of two, beating Newcastle Thunder

Hunslet Emeralds ready to go international

Alfie Goddard on his way to a hat-trick against Newcastle Thunder. Photo: Craig Irvine by Ian