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Issue 34 | November 2017
What’s happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton & Stourton
CAN HOLBECK MANAGE?
In this issue:
Community heroes honoured
page 4
Cinema’s back in South Leeds
page 7
Fiery public meeting debates controversial sex work zone by Ed Carlisle
The spotlight remains firmly fixed on the controversial Holbeck ‘Managed Area’ - a scheme whereby on-street sex work is tolerated overnight in a designated non-residential zone - with a packed and stormy public forum last month, and both local campaigners and key organisations insisting that they're now redoubling their efforts to address the issues surrounding the scheme. The public forum, on 3 October, saw St Matthew’s Community Centre in Holbeck full with 170+ residents and others - including Leeds head of police Chief Superintendent Paul Money, and senior members of Leeds City Council. The meeting centred around residents and others, led by the 'Save our Eyes' campaign group complaining bitterly about issues surrounding the scheme. Emotions were high, there was plenty of heckling and wry laughter – but there were also many calls from all corners to listen and respect one another too. Complaints include: increasing levels of soliciting for and performing sex work, day and night across the local residential area (outside the permitted zone); related crime, especially around drug dealing
and abuse; related litter throughout the area, like condoms and needles; the impact upon the value of people's homes (they are dropping), and their car insurance premiums (they are rising); residents being propositioned and intimidated; and of the police and Council being largely absent and unresponsive. Only 25 cautions have been issued, and 5 arrests made, in 2 years for sex work outside the area – and all these featured the sex workers themselves, none the punters. Matthew Sullivan from 'Save Our Eyes' asked: “Who’s benefiting from this 'non managed' scheme? There’s lots of support for the prostitutes, but no-one cares about the residents. We accept the Police don’t have the manpower and resources they should, so we’re collecting data, and want to work with them. But a whole community has been put at risk, and things are getting worse. At least now we're making ourselves heard but we won’t take any more empty promises.” Chief Supt Paul Money responded: “This is a challenge to us. I grew up around this area, I don’t not care – but enforcement didn’t stop sex work in the previous decades, and it won't now. There must be another way. We wanted and
New city park for Hunslet
pages 10-11
A sex worker plies her trade on a residential street in Holbeck still want to reduce the unacceptable impact on residents and businesses – but that’s not happened. We want to talk and work with you. If we’re going to keep the scheme, we need to make significant changes. Or if it fails, we’ll wind it up.” And various Council representatives insisted that the Council was listening. Cllr Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities, commented: “It’s despicable; your voice is loud and clear” but was jeered for offering to “Come back and tell you what we decide.” She quickly restated the importance of working with local people on
solutions. “Give us 2 months”, she promised. Since the meeting, residents report that the issues continue - and that action from the authorities still seems slow. For instance, St Luke's School who recounted their battle against condoms and needles at the forum - still haven't been visited. But behind the scenes, all the groups and organisations (including 'Save Our Eyes' and other local bodies) are now meeting together; and the new reference group met on 30 October. Attendees tell us that this group will now be led by residents, and that
'transparency' and 'rebuilding trust' are top of the agenda. One resident and 'Save Our Eyes' administrator, Claire Bentley-Smith, told us: "Now we're having these meetings, I feel that the stand-offs that developed between those for and against the 'managed approach' are being tackled through dialogue and planning practical changes." Other stakeholders told us that concrete steps are in the pipeline - including CCTV, dedicated police officers, extra litter patrols, and regular communication with local residents - and that they're pleased with progress, but that much more needs to be done.
Hope wins silver at Europeans
page 20
NEWS
2-7
SCHOOLS
8-9
SOUTH BANK 10-11 FEEDBACK PEOPLE ARTS WHAT’S ON SPORT
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