South Leeds Life 60 March 2020

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Issue 60 | March 2020

What’s happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton & Stourton

RAIL VIADUCT FOR HUNSLET?

In this issue:

Troubled pub to be demolished

page 3

Who’s that man with Billie Eilish? page 7

HS2 approval could mean high speed trains running on a new viaduct through Hunslet Loving books at Westwood

page 12

CGI showing how the HS2 viaduct would impact on Hunslet, looking down Balm Road towards St Mary’s

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by Jeremy Morton

he controversial High Speed Rail line (HS2) from London to Leeds was given the go ahead on 11 February by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

As we have previously reported, Leeds will see a new station built in the South Bank area of Hunslet and the line will approach the station through Stourton and Hunslet.

Earlier plans saw the new railway line using the existing rail corridor through Hunslet, which is largely in cuttings and goes under Pepper Road and Balm Road. However last year it was proposed that the entire section from Woodlesford into Leeds should be on an elevated viaduct. A final decision on the viaduct is still awaited.

In responding to the

consultation on the viaduct, Leeds City Council was critical of the lack of detailed design information. It stressed the need for effective noise mitigation measures for residents close to the line; high design standards to minimise the visual impact; proper development of the land under the viaduct; and ensuring the viaduct didn’t form a barrier to movement at ground level.

Cllr Paul Wray (Hunslet & Riverside) told South Leeds Life: “The government has given the go-a-head for HS2, but no decision has yet been made on the final route and therefore if there will be a viaduct through parts of Stourton and Hunslet.

The Council has asked for details on their proposed route to allow it to scrutinise it in detail.

“As local Councillors, we

share the concerns of many residents on the impact of a viaduct though their community and are not in favour of it. The government has committed to the Council to consult with residents and this is vital to make sure their concerns are heard. We will hold them to this commitment.

“The Council has also demanding urgent clarity on the compensation measures to be put in place for those who will be impacted by the final route, when this is set by government.

“More generally, the construction phase will provide a wealth of job opportunities and we need to focus on creating the skills needed, in our communities, to take advantage of these and of those generated by the new station once completed.”

Supporters of the HS2

project argue that as well as cutting journey times the new line will free up capacity on the existing network to allow more local services to run.

Opponents point to the increasing cost of the project and the loss of natural habitat along the route. However, this announcement appears to be the definitive decision.

The development of the new station is seen as a key part of the ‘South Bank’ regeneration plans. Developers are keen build offices and shops close to the station. The station itself will require roads to be rerouted providing an opportunity to promote walking, cycling and public transport over private cars.

The Leeds section of the line isn’t expected to open until 2035-40.

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council

and West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Lead and Middleton Park ward member, said: “HS2 is a critical component of our established plans to transform the region, so we very much welcome the government’s go-ahead to deliver the project in full today.

“In looking again at the project which the Prime Minister referenced, we have our own plans and ideas to improve the eastern leg and allow it to be delivered faster which we would be keen to discuss with him and the new HS2 Minister.

“We remain unequivocal in our clear commitment that HS2 needs to be delivered in full as part of an integrated network with Northern Powerhouse Rail from Liverpool to Hull with improved connectivity to south continued on page 3

Hunslet on the road to Wembley

page 24

NEWS

2-11

SCHOOL LIFE 12-13 COMMENT

14-15

CULTURAL LIFE 16-7 LIVES

WHAT’S ON

18 19-22

SPORTING LIFE 23-4 + HOLBECK HERALD

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

2 News

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.

South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.

Our aims 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.

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We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.

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Tower Works plans approved C

ouncillors on the City Plans Panel approved an application to build 245 flats in two buildings on the Tower Works site on Globe Road in Holbeck at their meeting on 20 February.

The site, which originally made carding and combing pins for the textile industry, is famous for its three chimneys built to resemble Italian bell towers, or campanili.

The largest tower is based on Giotto’s Campanile in Florence. The smaller ornate tower is styled after the Torre dei Lamberti in Verona. A third plain tower, built as part of the final phase of expansion in 1919, is thought to represent a Tuscan tower house.

The scheme faces criticism from Historic England, the Ancient Monuments Society and the Canal & Rivers Trust as the new building will reduce the views of the three towers.

However planning officers argue that the current 360° view has only been created by demolishing surrounding

Verona Square will a substantial open space linking through to the canal buildings. Previous plans for the site have included buildings of similar size and been approved, as have adjacent sites at Mustard Wharf (currently under construction) and CEG’s development across Globe Road.

As well as the towers, the site includes the Engine

House which is owned by Leeds City council and is due to be developed for TV and film post production facilities.

There will also a substantial amount of public realm open space with walking routes through the site, linking to the canal, Granary Wharf and Leeds

station.

Whilst approving the plans overall, Councillors added a condition that the balance between hard and soft landscaping should be altered in favour of more grass and planting.

There also critical that yet another city centre scheme had come forward with very

few 3 bedroom properties and with no “affordable” housing on site (a sum of £1,679,000 will be paid to the Council to build housing elsewhere).

Councillors felt that accommodation the city centre should mirror the mix across the city, including family and/or shared living.

Hunslet church bells on the move F

by Ed Carlisle

riday 7 February saw the removal of the eight main ‘ringing’ bells from the iconic St Mary’s church spire in Hunslet – and whilst some locals are philosophical about the event, others are concerned about what the loss symbolises for the local community.

The bells – each weighing close to 1 tonne – were installed when the original church was first built in 1864, on Church Street (nowadays opposite the Penny Hill Centre). As previously reported, the main church building was demolished and rebuilt in 1975; but then, the modern building – deemed structurally unsound – was closed in 2015 then also demolished last year.

The original spire – an iconic Grade II local landmark, which houses the bells – remains standing and various solutions are being sought by the Church of England and partners for the site – including housing.

In the meantime, the local Church of England (Leeds Diocese) successfully applied in the autumn for planning permission to remove the ‘ringing’ bells – but not for the four smaller ‘chiming’ bells linked to the clock, which are staying in the spire for now. The diocese issued the following statement this week: “The eight ‘ringing’ bells were first

Hunslet’s church bells prepare for their move to Suffolk installed to call the faithful to worship, but are too heavy to be rung in the remaining free-standing tower. They are therefore getting a new lease of life at a thriving church in Suffolk, which urgently needs replacement bells”.

Andrew Price, secretary for the Hunslet Carr Residents Assocation, commented: “It’s a shame that the bells are going. But if it helps safeguard the future of the spire itself, that’s worthwhile – and it’s good news that the rest of the bells are being kept for the future.”

But Pamela Clark, a long-standing member of the St Mary’s congregation before it disbanded, and a local Girl Guide coordinator, stated: “It is such a shame that another piece of Hunslet history is erased.

The bells from Hunslet St Mary’s church are being removed from the tower after 156 years of serving the people of Hunslet with their beautiful sounds.

“At least they are going to another Church where they will once again be lovingly rung. We will always have our memories of bell ringing every

Friday evening, pretty soon the way things are progressing memories and old photos will be all that we will have left of Hunslet as our history is distanced away from us.”

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal told South Leeds Life: “The residents are concerned, they wanted to know what was happening, but we (the Council) gave permission for the bells to be removed, whilst ensuring the chiming bells stayed. We are still working on saving the spire, but there’s no news yet – we will keep you updated.”

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News 3

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Troubled Hunslet pub site to become housing

Plans submitted for community sports pitches at Elland Road A

n application for planning permission has been submitted to create a community sports hub next to Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium.

As we reported last October, Leeds City Council are planning to provide four 3G artificial pitches on land at Fullerton Park on Elland Road in Beeston. The scheme is part of a wider Parklife project providing pitches across the city with financial support from the Football Foundation.

As well as the pitches, which will be floodlit with one covered by an air dome, a two storey pavilion building will be built housing changing facilities,

gym, meeting rooms, café, GP surgery and pharmacy. The site will have dedicated onsite parking for 100 vehicles.

The project aims to boost grassroots football and the pitches will be available to the general public as well as local football clubs. The siting of the GP surgery is aimed at improving the links between health and phyical activity, for exampl;e through social prescribing.

The surgery is set to be operated by the Fuller & Forbes Partnership who also run surgeries at Middleton and Cottingley.

As part of the funding agreement the facility will be

leased to a national not-forprofit charity set up by the funders, who will in turn will appoint a commercial operator to manage the hub.

The planning application also includes new arrangements for away supporters coach drop off and parking with a secure walkway to the stadium.

The site has previously seen a Speedway track in the 1930s and was used as Leeds United’s training ground until the 1990s. Although adjacent to the football ground, the land is owned by Leeds City Council.

You can read the full planning application on the Council’s Planning Portal, ref: 20/00319/FU.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal outside the former George IV pub

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by Jeremy Morton

eeds City Council has decided to demolish the troubled George IV pub on Grove Road in Hunslet and allocate the land for new Council Housing.

The site has been a problem for local residents for many years.

The pub was substantially damaged by a fire on the night of 18 October 2017 and has been derelict ever since.

The pub’s licence had been suspended in June 2017 after West Yorkshire Police had found weapons and drugs at the pub.

It was also believed stolen goods were regularly being sold there.

Since the fire the leaseholder has told the Council he would be refurbishing and reopening the pub, but has taken no action. In the meantime the site has become an eyesore and attracted fly-tipping.

The land is owned by Leeds City Council and the pub was let on a leasehold. The Council has approved £270,000 to buy out the leasehold interest and demolish the building.

The project will be funded via a combination of either retained Right to Buy receipts or Homes England Grant, blended with LCC Housing Revenue Account borrowing.

Commenting on the plans Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: “The current state of the George IV pub has been a long-

term frustration for Cllr Nash, Wray and I, but most importantly, the community. We are very happy our efforts to resolve this have resulted in the Council purchasing the site lease.

“The site has been a terrible health and safety concern and a blight on the landscape. Its current state would have detracted from our considerable regeneration efforts in the area, which started with the refurbished Hunslet Community Hub and Library, and will continue with the planned improvements on Hunslet Forecourt and at Church Street Playground. We will now work with officers to agree a suitable housing scheme on the site.”

CGI impression of the pavilion building seen from Elland Road

Rail viaduct for Hunslet? continued from page 1 and east Yorkshire, as well as an upgraded trans-Pennine route to truly transform connectivity, attract investment, and level-up communities across the north and the whole of the country.”

Ed Carlisle, local activist and Green Party candidate commented: "HS2 is a deeply flawed project, and hugely overpriced (£80bn minimum). It will benefit London far more than other cities like Leeds and Manchester. It's a rigid and outdated system, a white elephant that will likely be left stranded as society and technologies change in the coming decades.

“By their own estimates, it won't be carbon neutral for 120 years because the construction is so energy intensive. And its impact will be

fairly slight (5% extra people on rail around central England) - it will fail to create the transport revolution our country needs.

“There are other solutions on offer - but sadly, the big political parties have together become

very blinkered on this issue. I hope they stick with just going to Birmingham, but throw out the Manchester and Leeds leg - there are much better things we could do, for a fraction of the price."

HS2 trains are set to come through Hunslet

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

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On the beat

I

by Insp Lucy Leadbeater

have now been in post for nearly 11 months and am thoroughly enjoying my current role as the lead for Neighbourhood Policing in South Leeds.

My role is a very busy role with a lot of diversity. I consider myself very lucky that I get to do something different every day and have met many lovely people, both residents and partners, who work hard to make a positive difference across the Inner South area.

Engaging with the community Neighbourhood Policing is the bedrock of policing and my team of Neighbourhood Policing ward officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are highly visible and accessible within communities.

As a team we strive to deliver the current outcomes of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Plan 2016-2021 which was published by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) after extensive community engagement. The current outcomes are: • Tackle crime and antisocial behaviour • Safeguard vulnerable people • Make sure criminal justice works for communities • Support victims and witnesses In order to deliver these outcomes it is essential that we engage effectively with communities to understand your concerns and are able to respond to these and tackle the issues that are important to you.

We engage with communities in a number of different ways including PCSOs conducting contact points where members of the public can speak to an officer at a specific location, PACT and residents meetings are also an excellent opportunity for us to speak to larger groups of residents.

You can get information about South Leeds NPT including what are priorities are, where are contact points and meetings are as well as other information at our website www.westyorkshire .police.uk/my-neighbourhood/ leeds/leeds-south.

If you wish to receive information via email about incidents and events in your area please sign up to our Community Alert. Community Alert .Public registration is free and you can choose to receive news and appeals, local crime information and/or prevention advice direct via email, text or voice message. For more information and to sign up please visit www. wypcommunityalert.co.uk Some of the issues that we have been tackling this month are: Speeding across Inner South area Officers from NPT have been at various locations across Inner South with the pro-laser device. This has resulted in a large number of people being checked who are within the limit, a number of people who have been given words of advice as well as a number of people who have been prosecution for the offence of speeding. Officers from our Operations Support regularly assist us in tackling this issue and we will continue to tackle this.

Speed check on our streets Early Intervention at a number of primary schools in Inner South PCSOs have attended a number of schools this month

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B&M set to relaunch its Hunslet store

and delivered presentations to primary school children on a number of issues including knife and cybercrime as well as talking to the younger children on what the police do and how we keep you safe. Early intervention is an essential aspect of policing and it is well researched and agreed that early intervention and prevention are far more effective than enforcement.

Set for expansion: B&M’s Hunslet store at City South Retail Park. Image: Google Streetview

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Working in local schools Tackling vehicle crime in Beeston There has been a spate of vehicle crime in the Tempest Road area of Beeston. The majority of these vehicles have been left insecure and so officers from the team have been in the area for visibility and proactive patrols as well as giving out crime prevention advice to residents. Whilst on patrols PCSO Smith sighted a male who was wanted on recall to prison. Following a short foot chase the male was arrested and returned to prison.

Uncovered: a cannabis farm Drug supply issues The team have executed a number of warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act this month in premises in Middleton, Holbeck and Beeston. A number of offences have been identified which has resulted in a number of arrests for both Class A and Class B offences and the seizure of a large amount of drugs. Community intelligence is key for us to be able to tackle the misuse of drugs which has such a negative effect to a community so please get in touch with police or Crimestoppers with any information you may have.

&M has announced it is making its Hunslet store on City South Retail Park much bigger and better for its customers.

Following feedback from regular customers that they wanted a bigger shop and even more products, the store has been transforming the shop since the beginning of January and they have confirmed that the new store will be unveiled on Saturday 7 March.

The store closed on Sunday 9

February so the store team could complete the final phase of the expansion ready for customers.

The store will offer customers a bigger range of products across all departments.

They can expect to find a wide variety of branded products including toys, food & drink, pet products and health & beauty; as well as an extensive DIY, decorating and furniture range.

The store currently employs

45 colleagues, but the bigger space will see them taking on an additional 10 colleagues.

Ahsan Lodhi, Store Manager at B&M Hunslet, said: “We’re feeling really positive about the creation of even more jobs for local people and we hope customers are going to be delighted with their new and improved store.

“We are all really excited to get the doors open and welcome our customers through the door this month.”

Beeston Old Lane housing plans rejected T

by Jeremy Morton

he latest plans for housing on the former Morehouses jam factory site on Old Lane, Beeston have been rejected by Councillors, but may return as social housing.

The proposals, brought forward by Engie Regeneration Limited, were for 41 houses and 8 flats which were to be rented on the private market.

Councillors sitting on the South & West Plans Panel meeting on 16 January voted to reject the planning application because of a lack of affordable housing within the scheme; a lack of green space; and a lack of gardens to some plots.

A report will come back to Plans Panel on 13 February for the refusal to be ratified.

However, officers are now asking Councillors to defer the decision for three months to allow the developers to “revise the application (partnered with a Social Registered Landlord (sic), to provide a 100% affordable housing scheme.”

Registered Social Landlords

(RSLs) are not-for-profit housing providers approved and regulated by Government through Homes England. The vast majority of RSLs are also known as Housing Associations.

The report goes on to say that the developers do not intend to change the layout or design of scheme. “Affordable Housing” includes social rented housing as well as for sale and shared ownership (part buy, part rent) housing.

In 2018 outline planning permission was granted to Barmston Developments Ltd, for residential development on this site, but not acted on. The site has been empty for many years.

An application by Tesco to build a store on the site was rejected in 2013. A Wickes DIY store was on the site in the 1980s and the original jam factory building was destroyed by fire in 1976, after the factory closed in 1972.

The vacant site on Old Lane

Image: Google Streetview

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News 5

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Travellers set to lose homes in historic government proposals W

by Helen Jones

est Yorkshire Gypsy and Traveller people have spoken of feeling emotional after a meeting at the Leeds GATE offices on 21 February.

The event, named Right to Roam, was called in response to government plans to eradicate the Gypsy way of life and was attended by members of the local settled communities.

Mrs Connors, a local Irish Traveller, said “Sometimes we feel like everyone is against us.

This evening I saw that is wrong, many people are not against us, they actually value and respect us”.

In November Home Secretary Pritti Patel MP announced a consultation on plans to make trespass a criminal, rather than civil, offence which would result in families having their homes seized.

As CEO of Leeds GATE I told the meeting: “Even the National Police Chiefs Council has objected to these plans,

but the Government seems determined to push ahead, despite the horrendous effect this will have on Gypsies and Travellers, protestors, homeless people, mobile homers and others. We called this event because so many people had contacted us wanting to help stop this”.

Lauran, a local resident from Beeston, Leeds, told us she

attended the meeting because she is “fed up of the accepted prejudice and hatred in this country towards Gypsy and Traveller people. The level of bigotry faced by this minority is an absolute joke, and it seems to be accepted right up to the top, within government itself”.

Another resident said the meeting had helped her to see that the laws against Gypsy and

Life-saving defibrillators installed around Middleton and Belle Isle

Cllr Blake with Angela Nudd, owner of the Greedy Monkeys cafe

A

nyone in Middleton and Belle Isle who is unfortunate enough to suffer a heart attack now has a better chance of survival after three Community Public Access Defibrillators have been installed in locations across the local area.

Councillor Judith Blake who represents the area and is also Leader of Leeds City Council, announced funding for 50 Community Public Access Defibrillators across the city in her Budget speech last year and is delighted that after working closely with Public Health, three of the units have now been put in place in Middleton and Belle Isle.

These units are located at the St George’s Community Hub in Middleton,

Belle Isle Working Men’s Club and the Greedy Monkeys café in Belle Isle.

The Defibrillators can be accessed by dialling 999 and requesting the code to unlock the device, simple step by step instructions are provided, meaning that anyone can use the defibrillator to potentially save someone else’s life.

Councillor Judith Blake said: “We know that the chance of someone surviving a heart attack outside of hospital doubles if they receive CPR or an electric shock from a defibrillator device. These units really can make the difference between life and death and that is why I was determined to improve public access to them.”

Traveller people are already really damaging.

"When I heard big men talking about the devastating impact on their families of the laws we already have, I felt really strongly that we must stop the government from making things worse".

Richard, a Gypsy man, commented: “When I was a child in the 60s I felt the people

in power were trying to destroy my family.

What this government is proposing will finish the job if we can’t stop them”.

Mrs Price, who works at Leeds GATE, noted a history of failed policies towards Gypsies and Travellers, “we’re not demons, we are reasonable people, and yet our own government is continually trying to push us out. This is our country too, we have a right to be here”.

She added, “It was lovely this evening to see that other people care about what is happening to us.”

Ian, who describes himself as an environmental campaigner pointed out that “Throughout history, attacks on our rights have begun with an attack on the freedom of a minority, exploiting age-old prejudices.

The government is proposing to make trespass a criminal offence and this will be used to stop legitimate protest. This is an attack on us all.”

Rachael Darling who

manages advocacy, hate crime and mental health support services at the organisation told the meeting that she realised these proposed new powers will affect a lot of other people, not just Travellers, such as protesters.

“But” she said “you have to understand that a protester can go home. People who use our services can’t ‘go home’, this law would result in them losing their homes and having a criminal record. I can’t even imagine the consequences for children, older and vulnerable people. If we want to stop this we have to do something.”

The meeting closed with everyone agreeing to continue to work together on actions to protest the government proposals.

Leeds GATE encourage everyone to respond to the government consultation on the home office website or via the website of Friends Families and Travellers where there is a version which is simpler to complete.

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6 News

Blue Plaque for Keith Waterhouse

Free Easter meals from Space The Space youth project in Beeston - now in its 16th year - are once again hosting free all-age Easter-themed community meals. The meals will be on Wednesdays 25 March and 1 April, at 6pm, at the Church of Nazarene on Hunslet Hall Road. They are free, but pre-booking is essential. Please state which evening you wish to attend, and if you have any dietary needs. Space runs year-round weekly sessions for youngsters aged 11-18, as well as trips and other activities; it is led by the Salvation Army South Leeds Initiative, with support from a wide range of local churches and others. To find out more, book for the meals, or get involved, contact: Mark mahodgkinson85@hotmail .com 07791 301 672, or Ed edcleeds@gmail.com 07738 921 277.

New Parnaby crossing Hunslet & Riverside Councillors have persuaded LCC Highways to install a new Pelican pedestrian crossing at a dangerous corner on Middleton Road close to the Parnaby Tavern.

by Jeremy Morton

C

ouncillor Lisa Mulherin is Leeds City CR ISIS Council’s Executive member with responsiblity for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development and it’s clear that she relishes this new role when we met at Leeds Civic Hall.

I started by asking her how declaring a Climate Emergency in March 2019 had affected the Council. Cllr Mulherin talked me through work over the last year including holding the big conversation with residents, the creation of her current role following the local elections in May. She explained how every member of the Executive board now has a responsibility for Climate change and how every decision making report of the council now has a section on climate emergency and what impact the decision that is being made has, whether it’s positive or negative and if it’s negative, what is going to be done about that.

A report to the January Executive Board looked at the measures necessary to make Leeds a zero carbon city, and the Council’s role in that. But Cllr Mulherin stressed that Leeds wasn’t starting from standing start, the Council has been involved in the Leeds Climate Commission for several years alongside the University of Leeds, business and the third sector.

Leeds has the largest electric vehicle fleet of any local authority and is developing initiatives such as the district heating scheme known as PIPES. This uses heat generated by the waste incinerator at Cross Green and it heat Council buildings in the city centre as well as 2,000 council homes. This will reduce the Council’s carbon footprint and tenants’ energy bills.

With Leeds regularly gridlocked, I asked how the Council can help people move away from using cars everyday.

“What we are doing, and part of the issue with gridlock at the moment is some of the work that is enabling this, is giving buses priority. Rather than private cars keeping a bus stuck in traffic, buses (will) have their own lane, and gateways where they will have priority to get through and cut MA LI T

E

A Blue Plaque is set to be unveiled at Hinslet Community Hub on Friday 6 March in honour of the writer Keith Waterhouse. Born in Hunslet, he went on to work on the Daily Mirror and write the film Billy Liar.

The unveiling, at 12pm, will be followed by a talk about Waterhouse by local writer Anthony Clavane. The event is free, but you need to book tickets via leedslitfest.co.uk

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What is the council doing to tackle the Climate Crisis?

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NEWS IN BRIEF

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Councillor Lisa Mulherin through traffic.”

She continued that they are “taking traffic, apart from buses, out of City Square over next two years. Traffic will also come out of Neville Street, which you probably know is the most polluted street in Leeds, again making that bus and cycle only, which will make a huge difference to that gateway from South Leeds into the city centre.”

“I think we have to have improvements in place to public transport so people can say they have got an alternative. We are still looking for funding for a mass transit system. We are the biggest city in Western Europe without a mass transit system as Boris kept telling everyone during the election campaign, so we’re holding him to that and reminding him of what he had to say and what was in the Conservative Party manifesto and they need to now back that up with some funding and some real investment in Leeds.”

Moving on to the Clean Air Zone, I asked how it would benefit residents in South Leeds which has been left out of the charging zone.

“Buses are already making the transition to electric vehicles, and we’ve put a lot of investment into supporting taxis and private hire cars to

make the transition and that’s going really well. Many of them are outside the zone, but they need to cross the zone for business purposes. That does mean that the benefit goes to areas that are outside the zone.

Cllr Mulherin also pointed to the electric vehicle trialling scheme that we reported on last month, whereby business can try out an electric vehicle free for two months before making their decision whether to invest.

Aviation puts a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere so I asked Cllr Mulherin where the council stood on the planned expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport.

She explained that the Council is clear that the expansion of aviation with current aircraft is incompatible with tackling the Climate Emergency, but their influence was limited by outdated national planning guidance. “(We are) asking the Government to include aviation in the national carbon reduction targets. That would do a number of things: all local airports would be operating on a level playing field, rather than competing against each and we need the government to also look at how you get the regional balance better. The other thing it would do is get investment in

research for cleaner technology and put pressure on the other G7 countries, where the big economic decisions get made.”

Staying with transport we moved onto HS2, the new high speed rail line. Cllr Mulkherin explained that the Council was waiting to see more information and designs on the planned viaduct through South Leeds and what mitigation there would be.

“The very clear thing is that we don’t want (the viaduct) to affect communities adversely.

We had no detail, no drawings of what it might look like so we are pushing them for more detail now that they have the funding” she said.

She was very clear that the new HS2 station that will be south of the river, but linked to the existing station should not “turn its back on the South Leeds community.

“It’s actually such a short distance (from south Leeds) into the employment and educational opportunities in the city centre, we ought to be able to make that a nice attractive route to walk or cycle.

Linking the new green space in the developments at Tetley’s and Temple, with the historic buildings and the new city park – there’s great potential for making that work really well for people.”

I asked whether she supports the school strikes that had prompted the Council to declare a Climate Emergency

last year.

“We were asked about this at the secondary school Youth Summit last month. Cllr Fiona Venner (Executive member for children and families) said Yes we want young people to be actively engaged in making their world better, but we also believe it’s really important for them to be engaged in their education. So as a Council we can’t support people missing school.”

But Cllr Mulherin is enthusiastic about the role children can and are playing.

She’s keen to “enable them to actually be making a difference and feel it’s not something just to be worried about, but there is something practical I can do.”

She cites a new top tips guide with suggestion for children to challenge at their school, at home, or their youth club, such as starting a uniform bank at school to reduce waste and save money.

Schools will also be trialling meat-free Mondays where children can test out different types of food.

“All schools already have a meat free option every day, but on Mondays none of the options will include meat products. Hopefully that will encourage families also to try a meat free diet at home.”

Summing up, Cllr Mulherin told me: “There is lots to do, and lots happening, but I think we’ve made a good start.”

Heat generated by burning rubbish at Leeds Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility is heating Council buildings and council houses Photo: Chemical Engineer via Creative Commons

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March 2020 | South Leeds Life

News 7

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Health For All are Raising Aspirations R

aising Aspirations is a whole family approach project offering supportive steps to people 17+ years.

The project is aimed at workless families particularly furthest away from the job market. Helping them gain confidence, develop employability skills and work towards their long term goals and aspirations for the future, taking those first steps into education, training or employment.

Health For All have an innovative approach which gives people the opportunity to be creative in their thinking and do the things that they have always aspired to do.

They offer coaching sessions to help people focus on their future. Group work sessions to help build confidence, learn new skills, enterprise workshops, CV writing, support applying for jobs, further education and training. We can offer courses and taster sessions from a wide range of professions including music, woodwork, DIY, functional skills, art work, cooking, gardening and many more to give people the chance to just “give it a go” in a safe comfortable environment.

To find out more ring the Raising Aspirations team on (0113) 270 6903 or email: RA@healthforall.org.uk

Who’s that man?

The Raising Aspirations team are waiting to talk to you

Who was that man photographed with Billy Eilish at the Grammys last month. Was it her Dad? Her Manager? No, it was South Leeds businessman Terry George. Terry got his ticket to the star-studded show in Los Angeles as a ‘seat filler.’ Each guest gets an allocation of tickets, but someone doesn’t turn up or needs a toilet break as the cameras turn to the nominees, a floor manager will quickly direct a seat filler to make sure the show looks packed. Who knew? Terry told South Leeds Life that Billie was charming and more than happy to enjoy her success alongside him. The 18 year ild picked up five Grammys including Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

8 News

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Hamara secures funding for sports hall renovation H

The Hamara Community Committee who won the funding

Artist’s impression of the refurbished centre

amara Healthy Living Centre has won a grant of £300,000 from independent trust Power to Change.

The grant, part of the trust’s Community Business Fund, will allow Hamara to move the development of the Old Cockburn Sports Hall forward towards planning and detailed designs.

Hamara’s vision is to renovate the Old Cockburn Sports Hall in Hunslet Moor, Leeds, into a new sustainable, vibrant community hub to become The Cockburn Centre.

This will be a local community business which operates for the benefit of local neighbourhoods, led and run by adults with learning disabilities and supported by local volunteers.

Hamara will move its growing day opportunities provision for adults with learning disabilities, currently based at the Hamara Centre on Tempest Road and funded by Leeds City Council, into a new development to compliment Hamara’s long-term vision of growth for the service.

The building will also house a changing places toilet as well as a sensory room, quiet room and chill zone.

Mohammed Farouk, Chair of Hamara, said:

“Power to Change has given us the opportunity to address key issues relating to disability employment and participation in sport. It also ensures that through the development, we will empower and enable our community who have disabilities.”

Shanaz Gul, Operations Director at Hamara, said: “We are ever so grateful to Power to Change for supporting and investing in the project, we at Hamara are here to serve the community and this grant has the got the ball rolling to begin our journey of the next chapter, exciting times for Hunslet Moor!”

Armghan Sajid, Finance & Fundraising Manager at Hamara, said: “This grant means the world to us!

To have the support of such a pivotal and supportive funder such as Power to Change, we are confident we can now go on and secure the remaining capital and realise our ambitions.”

Kate Stewart, Director of Programmes at Power to Change, said: “We’re thrilled to be investing in Hamara Healthy Living Centre to continue their success and to transform the Old Cockburn Sports Hall into a new community business hub for Leeds.

“The team at Hamara has been instrumental in growing the organisation to be the largest ethnic minority organisation in the voluntary and community business sector in Leeds, inspiring many others to emulate their achievements, which is critical in a city as diverse as Leeds.”

Hamara is now working on finalising the designs for the building with a view to producing detailed designs and submitting a planning application next month to Leeds City Council.

They continue to apply for further capital funding and to drive their community fundraising with a charity Snowden event coming soon, and bagging and bucket collections at local supermarkets to name a few.

Visit Hamara’s website at www.hamara.org.uk for further information and how you can get involved whether you want to volunteer your precious time or help fundraise for this development.

The Community Business Fund offers grants between £50,000 and £300,000 to existing community businesses, based in England.

Grants are designed to help community businesses to grow and become more financially sustainable.

For further information go to: www. powertochange.org.uk/get-support

Licensing Act 2003 Notice is hereby given that I, Edna Bilala, have made an application under section 17 of part 3 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the grant of a premises licence for the premises known as: Nosso Prego Cafe & Restaurant Ltd, 159 Dewsbury Road, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 5NW I intend to conduct the following licensable activities on or from the premises: Sale of alcohol and late night refreshment Monday to Saturday 09:00am – 12:00am Subject to the following terms: CCTV, Challenge 21, incident register, litter clearance Responsible authorities or any other person may make written representations to Leeds City Council about this application until 02nd March 2020 which should be sent to Entertainment Licensing, Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR For full details and to view a copy of the application please contact Entertainment Licensing on 0113 378 5029 or email entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on conviction for this offence is an unlimited fine.

A light in the darkness

Local residents in Beeston have launched a new campaign to improve security in Beeston's Cross Flatts Park - and are especially calling for more and better night-time lighting. Last month saw them hold a public meeting (alongside Cllr Andrew Scopes), and a bitingly cold but productive nighttime walk around the park (with Cllr Gohar Almass). Callum Thomas, speaking for the campaigners, commented: "It feels productive. We're keen for the councillors to see what's going on - then with them, do some research, and look at what might make a difference. Together, let's fight for a better area". For more info, find 'Make Cross Flatts Park Safer' on Facebook.

Unfortunately this page is blank because the advertiser was not able to supply artwork in time

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

10 News

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Trading Places

Spring is in the air

Local volunteers marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight (24 February - 8 March) with an afternoon promoting and selling Fairtrade products, at Beeston Hill United Free Church on Saturday 22 February. Fairtrade is an international trading system to ensure the Third World producers and growers of a range of products including food, drinks, and clothing receive fair wages and community development support. More information at: www.fairtrade.org.uk

There are definite signs of spring as these Tête-à-Tête miniture daffodils in Cross Flatts Park show. Planted some years ago by Beeston In Bloom they brighten even the coldest morning.

Photo: Jeremy Morton

Meadow Lane to be narrowed as part of transport improvements A

pproval has been given for the first step in bringing about transformational improvements to the area around the Corn Exchange and across Leeds Bridge to Meadow Lane.

Leeds City Council’s executive board have formally agreed the £21.5million

construction plans required to transform the Corn Exchange and surrounding areas. A further £6.1million is secured for phase two works on Meadow Lane.

Work is being carried out as part of the Connecting Leeds programme which is set to invest an unprecedented

£270million in the transport network of the city.

The area surrounding the Corn Exchange no longer meets the transport and economic ambitions of the city. It is congested and buses regularly are held up or delayed.

Work on phase one starts in June to transform Call Lane,

CGI showing improved Meadow Lane and Leeds Bridge from The Adelphi pub

New Market Street, Kirkgate, Lower Briggate Duncan Street and parts of Vicar Lane and Boar Lane. The work will include widening pavements, introducing more greenery and improved public realm.

The second phase will focus on Meadow Lane to re-prioritise it from a four-lane highway, into

a mainly two-lane road with cycle ways and walking routes connecting the city via the planned city park. This proposal is a significant development in the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The scheme will also offer priority for pedestrians and cyclists in a bid to encourage a modal shift from private cars to walking, cycling and public transport use. It is anticipated the scheme will lead to a reduction of 175km travelled in private cars in the opening year.

The reduction is expected to be maintained throughout a lifespan of 60 years.

The expected completion date for all of the work is by winter 2020.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said:

“I am delighted this transformational scheme has now got the green light. The enhancements will place the iconic buildings of the Corn Exchange and Kirkgate Market in a more appropriate setting.

The bus priority measures and improved walking and cycling routes will improve connectivity services and air quality in the city.

“Like all major schemes, there will be disruption, however Leeds City Council will work closely with the bus companies, other transport providers and business to keep this to a minimum and will work hard to keep the public informed of changes which affect them. We’re currently working on unprecedented investment and change to transform the city centre into a more liveable, better connected and more active environment with better air quality for those who live, work and play in it.

Whist we work to minimise any inconvenience this work will cause, however we anticipate the long term benefits will be worth the disruption whilst this change takes place.”

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Security Grant

Mark-Burns Williamson, the Police & Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire visited the Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre on Saturday 25 January to see what a difference the Safer Communities Fund Grant we received from them had made. MEA had been having a lot of vandalism to their Gardening Project, mostly damage to the Polytunnel. With the help from the funding they were able to secure the perimeter to help stop the vandalism. They also bought some personal alarms for members to feel safer in the community.

Call to become a Friend of Trentham Park T

he Friends of Trentham Park continue their work developing their 'pocket park' in Beeston Hill, and would love to hear from other locals who want to get involved!

The group is led by local residents and supported by the Council and other local organisations. They formed in 2018 to revitalise this small and previously neglected park on Trentham Street, Beeston Hill.

Over the past two years, they have planted and maintained several raised beds and kept the space clean and tidy. They

have campaigned locally on issues like dog fouling and held a wide range of creative community events including the latest in the February half term (pictured). They have also partnered with the Council to see new play equipment installed.

Sue Kaye, deputy chair, comments: "It's been a privilege to work on such a fun project. We've all had a fabulous time working together, in a very hands-on way, and a wide range of people have contributed enormously.

Everyone enjoyed the half term activity day at Trentham Park

“I think we're done a good job so far - but a few committee members have sadly had to step back, and we're always keen to involve new local interest, so please get in touch to get involved."

The group hold friendly monthly meetings on the first Saturday of each month, at 1:30pm at the nearby Rowland Road social club: the next is 7 March, then the following one is their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 4 April. Or find them online at: facebook.com/ friendsoftrenthampark

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

12 School Life

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Reading for fun at Cockburn School Alpine ski tri Westwood Primary A H

ere at Westwood Primary School, we really believe in promoting a love for reading throughout the school.

Our children love reading both at school and at home and this is very clear from the conversations we have with the children and parents. We have recently started promoting #leedslovesreading, which we are going to launch more over the next few weeks.

This is going to be another way we will demonstrate as a school how enthusiastic we are about the subject.

We were very much inspired by Carry

Franklin the creator of ‘Leeds Free Libraries’ and to mark her wonderful legacy and to continue to keep her project alive we have built and installed our very own ‘Little Free Library’ in our school.

The purpose of the library is to promote the love of reading. Children can put their old books in and take new ones away with them. The Little library is a really fun way to inspire the children to read and is already proving to be very popular, we are sure this will continue for years to come.

Enjoying a book from the Little Library at Westwood Primary School in Middleton

group of Cockburn School students went on the annual ski trip to Pila in the the Aosta Valley, North West Italy.

Pila is described as having a bewitching natural landscape with a magnificent view sweeping the Alps, from Mont Blanc to Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. There are 70 kms of perfectly maintained pistes, modern ski lifts, 400+ snow cannons (meaning superb snowmaking) and a tempting mix of tree-lined runs and vast, wide, open spaces.

The students and staff travelled by coach and were lucky to avoid the UK storms Ciara and Dennis. They sent back their diary for the school social media accounts and the South Leeds Life: Ski Trip Day 1 and 2 Ski trip journey was really good and no issues. Minor delay at Dover for the ferry but after 40 mins we were on our way.

The students have been great and have shown great pride and respect with the bus drivers giving us a 10 out of 10 so far!

Students have been given the introduction for the week by the ski instructors. The forecast tomorrow is light snow so hopefully this will bring some great skiing conditions. Day two of skiing went fantastically well.

All of the students continued to make excellent progress and got quicker through ski hire. Despite the windy weather conditions some star skiers began to shine through such as Abdul, Alex, Emily and Libby. Great day quote from Sam “that has been the best day of my life since year 8!”

This was followed by a great night at the disco where

Cockburn students outside Aosta Town Hall Cockburn’s dancing prowess really kicked in.

Ski Trip Day 3 First day of skiing today.

Luckily the slight rain from the morning stopped and students were ready to hit the slopes. All groups did fantastically well today picking up the basics really quickly and making massive progress. Those that

had skied before also had a great day and really built on their previous experience. After skiing we headed out to bowling and the students got really into it chanting and cheering each other on. Lyra ended up coming second out of the whole group narrowly missing out to Mr Boxell!

Ski Trip Day 4

On the slopes

Thankfully the weath our side with bright b and no clouds. Al managed to move mountain to Grimod a all the way back down we have had a tou Aosta town and ma spent their spendin there. Some of them h stocked up for valentines/families an them something ni Sephora!

Ski Trip Day 5 Yet again all the have made massive However despite all overnight the skii challenging with the n causing bumps on t Cockburn students resilient in the new c and had another fabu skiing.

At the end of the students had a pre with their ski instructo of them were extreme and proud of the impr our students have m week. Last night we pa got ready for the fin skiing before depa home.

Ski Trip Day 6 Final day of skiing another lovely day. managed to get in thei and take in the im scenery. After having d got straight onto the have now left and ar way back to Cockbur Sweet Caroline as Despite a very sho Storm Dennis did n many issues and w safely back in Leeds the half term week.

Building College links with leading UK housebuilde T

o coincide with National Apprenticeship Week 2020 (3-7 February), Leeds College of Building announced it is teaming up with The Guinness Partnership, managers of the new housing development opposite the College’s South Bank Campus.

Construction is due to start on the new development near Leeds Dock and the Royal Armouries Museum later this year (the former Evans Halshaw Vauxhall dealership on Hunslet Road). This will be the largest development in Guinness’s 130-year history and will provide 928 homes as the basis for a dynamic community for local people and residents.

Guinness is committed to working with the College to develop opportunities for students, including career talks, employability skills, site visits, work placements and apprenticeships.

Two areas that the housing

provider is looking to focus on are addressing the national skills shortage and diversity in the workplace – key elements of the College’s strategic objectives.

This year is the 13th annual National Apprenticeship Week, coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, which is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.

The College currently has 2,500 apprentices on programme, with 2,250 of these training in Leeds, and a large number of apprentices progressing from the College’s 16-18 study programme provision. Strong links with organisations that can support students with their career choices (such as Guinness) is vital.

Derek Whitehead, CEO & Principal at Leeds College of Building, said: “Whilst classroom and workshop

studies are essential, there is no doubt to the importance of site visits, work placements and job opportunities. Projects such as these give our students incredible insight into new developments within the industry; they benefit immensely from seeing what life is like on a live site”.

Catriona Simons, Chief Executive of Guinness, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Leeds College of Building to promote high quality training through apprenticeships in the community we serve in Leeds. Apprenticeships are a key way of promoting skills development and increasing diversity across the construction and housing maintenance sectors. This partnership will enable students to gain real experience and insight into the careers available, while contributing to the delivery of affordable homes in the Leeds Bricks and mortar: students will be helping to build new housing in Hunslet area.”

Holbeck Herald News about the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan and other local issues

March 2020

A COMMUNITY THAT CARES D

ebra Coupar, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, has stated that she enjoys visiting Holbeck because it is a community that cares.

This accolade has been achieved mainly through the Listening Well activities organised through the “Voice of Hobeck”. Primarily the group made up of representatives from local organisations have successfully engaged with the community, bringing together people with differing views on the Managed Approach into a cohesive well disciplined community voice that has been listened to.

A report on the Listening Well conversations taken over the past 12 months is being compiled and will be released by the Voice of Holbeck group at the same time as the Independent Review on the Managed Zone / Approach commissioned by Safer Leeds .

Trust and communication are the keys that will move Holbeck forward, but this has to work both ways between our community and the authorities.

The old fashioned idea that throwing a few crusts at the community will keep them happy and in their place will no longer be the acceptable.

Organising ourselves into a body of people who are literate and have valued judgments is essential. The recent Leeds Citizens involvement in South Leeds is proof of the appetite for community power

Standing together - Leeds Citizens in Holbeck Over the years our own Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum has been at the forefront of involving local people in positive successful actions.

The production of the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan, approved

by Leeds City Council, has been a major step forward. We still have way to go to deliver the plans and projects and are seeking working partnerships to do so. To this end our next public meeting on Saturday 14 March at The Holbeck is designed to re designate our Forum and move forward with our Neighbourhood Plan .

To achieve this we need community support, your support. Please attend and raise your voice, tell us what you want Holbeck’s future to look like.

The next couple of years are crucial with some money

available for the community through the South Leeds Community Committee to spend in our area. Our voice on where these funds are allocated needs to be heard.

Holbeck Is People - over the next months let us continue to be a force , a voice that cannot be ignored.

In this issue of The Holbeck Herald we’ll look at problems and outstanding issues, but also bring you some good news of positive projects in our neighbourhood.

The new flats on The Spotted Cow site are not all they might be, why can’t we have high quality developments? More on this on page 2.

Parking: Every day cars are parked on Holbeck streets blocking pavements, causing pedestrians, mothers with prams

and disabled people to step out onto the highway. At almost every residents’ meeting parking is raised as an issue none more so than when Leeds United FC host home matches.

Travellers: Regularly travellers park up in Holbeck.

Yes they have rights and needs, but surely after all these years a solution should be found. It becomes a regular merry go round with mounds of rubbish and the constant magistrates orders costing Council Tax payers thousands of pounds.

School Field: Ingram Road Primary School is in a situation

where the number of pupils attending are too numerous for the space provided in the school tarmacked play area.

Increasingly the school playing field on Brown Lane is used as an overflow. The recent proposal from Leeds United to take over part of the field for their new training facility and football academy, along with the site formally used by the Matthew Murray High School needs scrutiny.

The future development on both these sites is important and the overall outcome must be one that benefits the school and the Holbeck community.

Social Housing: we also have news about what has happened to the planned Council housing that was to be built next to St Matthew’s Community Centre (see page 2).

Have your say on the future of Holbeck HOLBECK NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM Saturday 14 March, 12pm (refreshments from 11:30am)

The Holbeck

Jenkinson Lawn, Holbeck, LS11 9QX

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Holbeck Herald | March 2020

Is the design of Spotted Cow flats good enough?

T

he new flats on the site of the Spotted Cow pub on Top Moor Side are nearing completion, but is the design good enough for Holbeck?

We were expecting a build and design that would enhance and uplift the centre of Holbeck. Yet what we have now is far from pretty.

This residential block of flats is near completion and frankly it looks rough with an exterior design that a child could be proud to have produced.

A design by Nick Brown Architects was given planning permission in March 2016, but the developer decided it was not economically viable.

An altered design was granted planning permission in December 2016. The new design includes an additional three flats which has been achieved by internal reconfigurations (by making the apartments smaller) and by omitting a ground floor gym.

It also removed the perforated metal sheet cladding and window shutters.

Flats on Top Moor Side are nearing completion

The original design by Nick Brown Architects

New Counci scheme del

P

lans for 28 new Council homes in Holbeck have been put on hold after what is believed to be a price hike by the house builders.

Last year saw extensive consultations over a plan to build new homes on Meynell Approach, the site of one of the tower blocks demolished ten years ago. The site had been used

by Keepmoat as a depot during the building of new housing on Moor Road.

Leeds City Council proposed to use a new construction method where the homes are built off site in a factory and then delivered to site.

Planning permission was granted for the scheme in August 2019. Residents were invited to bid for the properties and the homes were allocated.

But six months on nothing has happened on the site.

Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum understands that the company Leeds City Council was to use for the construction raised its price considerably after planning permission had been granted.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: “The Meynell Approach scheme has needed to be revised due to a change

The empty Meynell Appr

in market condit resulted in a dela redesigning in the out. These changes need for a f determination. A fu scheme will be p council in due cour The Council contacting applica offered a prope Approach to info substantial delay.

Creating Streets For People

L

eeds City Council has secured £1 million to make the Recreations area of Holbeck more people-friendly as part of a Streets For People project.

Staff have been talking to residents about the issues they face and sort of measures they would like to see.

Obesity and asthma issues have been linked to safety fears of playing out or

2

accessing Holbeck Moor because of speeding traffic.

Some of the measures used elsewhere that could be seen in Holbeck range from blocking streets halfway to create two cul-de-sacs through to closing streets completely and grassing them over as green play spaces.

Chicanes, pinch points and junction narrowing are also options, all aimed at slowing traffic and reducing ‘ratrunning.’ One idea being floated is the creation of a permanent ‘play street’ by Ingram Road Primary School.

Residents, businesses and landlords have been talking to staff about what

they would like to see and on which streets.

No decisions have been taken and there will be a further round of consultation on a proposed plan once feedback from the recent events has been analysed.

The project also ties in with work being undertaken in the area by the Council’s Public Health team who are looking at wider issues, but who have already found a tie in around clean air and access to green space.

The Football Foundation is looking to upgrade the multi-use games area on Holbeck Moor and the new cycle route between the Elland Road and the city centre runs through the area.

It’s hoped that the various parties can share information and come up with a package of improvements that makes a bigger difference.

Speaking at the Landlords Forum, Nick Hunt who is leading the project said wotk could start as soon as the end of the summer this year.

Artist’s impression of the planned new housing

How can we imp

L

eeds City Council would like to see improvements made to Holbeck Moor.

They want to make it a cleaner, more attractive space with more to do so people will see it as a destination to stay longer, rather than pass through.

With input from residents and partner agencies working in the area we hope that ideas can become reality. So the first step is to get those ideas down on paper and chat through them.

• What do you think Moor at the moment?

• Do you have any asp for the Moor?

• What might be stopp using it at the moment?

• What would you lik change which would ena to use it more?

Let us know you (contact details below) along to the meet Thursday 26 March Holbeck.

The Holbeck Herald is published by Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum. Cont

Holbeck Herald | March 2020

il housing layed

roach site

tions, which has ay to allow some plans to be carried s may result in the urther planning urther report on the published by the rse.” are currently ants who had been erty on Meynell orm them of the

Applicants will be advised that the formal offer of a Meynell Approach property will be removed from their record, which will allow them to bid for other properties in the meantime.

However if their circumstances are still the same and they have been unsuccessful in being offered alternative accommodation & rehomed by the time the properties on Meynell Approach are built, we will re-offer them a Meynell Approach property.

prove the Moor?

k of the

pirations

ping you

e to see able you

r views or come ing on at The

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Making a difference in the Recreations

L

eeds City Council has been using its Neighbourhood Approach to tackle a range of issues amonst the older housing in Holbeck.

Since 2015 it has targeted blocks of about 250 properties, starting in the Recreations, then moving into the Crosbys, Shaftons and Rydalls. Last year they moved onto the Colensos, Eustons and Tilburys.

Overall, 900 properties have been inspected so far.

As a result, 1882 hazards have been removed from 427 houses relating to fire safety, falls, electrical safety, security and overcrowding.

Most landlords have cooperated, but 249 legal notices have been served.

There has been one prosecution for obstruction and three civil penalties with fines of up to £25,000.

All Council owned houses in the area have been inspected. Works have been identified and are being completed. Measures to improve fire safety in the Council’s back to back homes are currently being implemented.

117 empty homes have been brought back into occupation. This has not only reduced the visual

blight, but helped people in need of housing.

The team conduct quarterly ‘walkabouts’ to look for issues such as potholes, grafitti, unsightly properties and flytipping.

The walkabouts cover 50 streets and 1200 properties.

The January walkabout identified 81 new issues and there are currently 177 live issues across the area. But this has come down from 850 issues identified in 2015.

All residents and landlords are welcome to join the walkabout teams which also include the Police and Councillors.

The next walkabout will be held on Wednesday 15 April, meeting at St Matthew’s at 9:45am.

14 binyards in the Recreations have been improved with the instalation of communal bins, more suited to back to back housing. Funding to refurbish all the remaining binyards in the area is being sought.

Thermal cladding has been fitted to 153 homes in the area as part of a Group Repair Scheme.

The cladding has helped keep the homes warmer, cutting bills by as much as £400 per year improving the health and comfort of residents.

The team have also opened a Support Hub at 5 Recreation View in what had been an empty property. This has helped residents use Council and other services that they would otherwise have had to travel to Dewsbury Road Community Hub to access.

Since March 2019 the Hub has helped over 400 people.

Most enquiries have been about employment support

and housing advice, but staff have also helped with benefits and debt issues, Council Tax, anti-social behaviour, health, school places and put people in touch with local services.

The Hub will shortly be getting two public access computers for members of the public to use.

The Hub is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am-4pm.

Holbeck Landlord Forum

F

orty people attended the lastest Holbeck Landlords Forum meeting on 19 February.

The meetings are a chance for private landlords with properties in Holbeck to hear about plans and projects in the area and to discuss issues of concern with Leeds City Council and partner organisations.

The private rented sector in Holbeck is much higher than other parts of the city, accounting for 60% of the properties.

Across Leeds 60% of homes are owner occupied, but in Holbeck that figure is just 14%. Good communication with private landlords is therefore very important.

As well as hearing about progress on the Group Repair scheme in the Recreations and contributing to the Streets for People consultation, there was a question and answer session.

tact: 07505 157259 or Email: hello@holbeckneighbourhoodplan.org.uk

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Holbeck Herald | March 2019

Holbeck Together set to take over St Matthew’s Community Centre

St Matthew’s Community Centre

T

he transfer of St Matthew’s Community Centre from Leeds City Council to Holbeck Together took a step forward in January when the Council’s Executive Board approved plans to grant an initial six year lease on the building.

Holbeck Together (formerly Holbeck Elderly Aid) have been delivering services to the local community for 27 years and are the main user of the building, on the corner of Holbeck Moor.

Over the last few years they have been developing plans to refurbish the building to make it more attractive, accessible and better suited to current usage. Holbeck Together have worked with corporate partners to develop plans which include a full time café and creating flexible office space on the first floor in the former balcony. A new, larger, kitchen and a lift would also be included.

Holbeck Together are still working to secure the funding to see these improvements, hence the short initial lease. But Leeds City Council have agreed in principle to a long lease which would allow Holbeck Together to raise funds for the improvement works.

The Council has also approved revenue funding for five years of £143,747.

This will save the Council over £40,000 during this period and lead to a nil revenue cost in the future.

St Matthew’s church was built as one of the “Million Act” or “Waterloo” churches in the early nineteenth century as part of the peace dividend following the Napoleonic Wars. Parliament voted £1 million to build churches in the newly industrialising areas of the country, that were not being served by existing churches. The building is Grade II Listed and was converted into a community centre in 1981.

Holbeck heritage Vesta Victoria: Music Hall star

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orn at 8 Ebeneezer Place in and adopted the name Vesta 1873, close to Holbeck Victoria.

Working Men’s Club, Vesta’s stock in trade were saucy, Victoria Lawrence was a massive somewhat risqué songs with singstar of the Music Halls, both in along choruses. These included Our Britain and the United States.

You may never have heard of Vesta Victoria, but you will know some of the songs she made famous such as Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me A Bow-Wow and Waiting At The Church.

Victoria’s stage career started when she was four years old and appeared alongside her father and mother as Baby Victoria.

Her father Joseph had been brought up in the grim Holbeck Workhouse, but was now working as a mechanic.

Mother Emma had worked in the flax mills since she was a child. They escaped this life by performing in pubs and music halls.

Music Halls were the TV of their day.

With two performances every night and tickets from 3d (less that £1 today) and a new variety show every week, everyone went.

Baby Victoria graduated to Little Victoria when she was 19, still as part of the family act. But soon she went solo Vesta Victoria - Music Hall star

VE Day at Walking in history the club P

S Historic workhouse gateposts saved

Did you know that St Luke’s Primary School stands on the site of the Holbeck Union Workhouse? The gateposts will be replaced once the current extension work is completed.

4

Lodger’s Such A Nice Young Man, Poor John and I’ve Told His Missus All About Him. Now based in London these songs were sung in the Cockney style. She was adored by her audiences who roared out the catchy choruses.

From the 1890s onwards she regularly toured the vaudaville /music hall circuits. In the Americas she was a huge star, topping the bill and commanding a fee of £50 a week (£200,000 a year in today’s money). She won rave reviews and was showered with love letters and jewellery.

Her long career lasted into the 1940s with appearances at two Royal Variry Performances as well as film and radio work. She returned to Leeds occassionally performing at the City Varieties, the Hippodrome and other music halls.

She was less lucky in her personal life. Her three unsuccessful marriages mirroring her song It Ain’t All Honey And It Ain’t All Jam. However, when she died at her London home in 1951 she was still a wealthy woman.

The girl did well!

eventy five years after the Second World War ended in Europe, The Holbeck will be celebrating VE Day with an evening to remember.

Music and songs from the 1940s will be provided by female vocal group The Honey Bees. There will also be a buffet.

The party takes place on Saturday 16 May from 7pm at The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn, LS11 9QX. Like all events at The Holbeck this is Pay What You Decide. The event is also supported by local Councillors on the Inner South Community Committee.

upils from Ingram Rd School engaged in a history walk around Holbeck taking in the Victorian flavour of our area.

The six walks took place with 30 students on each in January and February. They wrapped up against the elements and enjoyed the experience. Some of the supporting adults on the walk commentated that although they had lived in Holbeck for years they had seen things and visited places they never knew existed.

Leeds Civic Trust organise many activities as part of Heritage Open Days in September and for a number of years Ian Pickup together with Dennis Kitchen have hosted history walks in Holbeck. A booklet, The Matthew Murray Trail, is used as a guide to the area and was supported through a grant from

West Yorkshire Combined Authority “go walking” initiative.

Later this spring a group of ladies from Ilkley, who are part of a walking group, have booked a walk taking in a visit to Holbeck Cemetery and other interesting sites in Holbeck.

The Holbeck Herald is published by Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum. Contact: 07505 157259 or Email: hello@holbeckneighbourhoodplan.org.uk

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March 2020 | South Leeds Life

School Life 13

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p Green fingered Councillor calls for

her was on blue skies l groups up the and skied n. Tonight r around any have g money have even r their nd bought ice from

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Changing your ‘budding’ artists to enter competition furniture?

C

hair of Leeds in Boom, and Beeston and Holbeck Councillor, Angela Gabriel is calling on all children to enter the Design a Flowerbed Competition.

The competition is asking children from across the city to submit pictures to be recreated as flower beds around Leeds Civic Hall. As well as this, the wining contestants will receive prizes for themselves and £300 of Parks & Countryside Nursery gift vouchers for their school.

Last year saw over 2,500 entries from 64 schools, and every youngster taking part received their own certificate.

The competition is for children aged 4-16 and runs until 31 March 2020.

Councillor Angela Gabriel said: “This is a fantastic competition. It’s been running

for a number of years now and every year it brings a smile to the face of anyone that sees the flower beds based on the great designs the children have drawn.

“This competition really helps connect young people to the inspiring flower displays and horticulture side of Leeds. As Chair of Leeds of Bloom it’s always reassuring to see the next generation getting involved.

“We have always had a tremendously high standard of entries by young people from schools across the city and I’m sure it will be the same this year.

“I would really urge children to get involved and get planning their designs. We had over 2,500 entries last year and it would be great to see even more this year.”

Cllr Angela Gabriel with pupils at Ingram Road Primary School

Call us to arrange a free pickup

0113 270 4005

Growing vegetables in a tower

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Donate it to support people with Learning Disabilities

Planting the seeds

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n February we reported how pupils at Hunslet St Mary’s Primary School were growing salad vegetables indoors.

The growing tower has lights and a pumping system to provide the best growing conditions indoors, no matter what the weather is doing outside.

Vicky, who is in Year 4, has

written this report of their work: Almost a year ago, Hunslet St Mary’s were lucky to receive a growing tower from Rethink Food. Advantages of using this method are: Grow more often; you can explore them in class; all year round; be healthy and it doesn’t use soil.

On 31 January we put plants

in a propagator, which is a growing machine that has light and water in it to help them grow. Then on 7 February, Mr Atkinson came to assist us.

First of all we built the growing tower, it was interesting to see it slowly growing upwards! Next we put in water for the plant to suck up, I like to think its stem is a straw! We put nutrients in the water and we said it was diet coke because it looked brown!

Before putting the plants in we passed them around on our tables! It was fun to look at the roots and the different features of them.

We then finally put the plants in, systematically of course! We put the Cucumelon on the bottom as it grows down. The Asparagus Pea grows really high so it went to the bottom. It was then that we put the names of the plants near them.

We can also measure our plants and put dates to see how they’ve grown, so then we can make graphs about them!

We’re really proud of our plants and we can’t wait to stomach them! We can make meals, food, sauce, pasta and I’m looking forward to taking them home to eat with my family!

A Growing Tower

Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken, Lay A Little Egg For Me

Children at the Little Owls Two Willows Nursery in Beeston have been learning about chickens - and eating their eggs!

They watched the chickens grow up from being chicks indoors to moving to their own outside run, which the nursery fundraised to build. The eggs can’t be sold, but parents and staff take them home and give a donation for ... well you could call it chicken feed!

Advertise with South Leeds Life and reach 15,000 people in the LS10 and LS11 area Ring 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

14 Comment

In our view Railway Viaducts

Hunslet is no stranger to railways.

The first commercial steam engine in the world ran here bringing coal from Middleton. Hunslet is still known around the world for the thousands of engines it built and exported. So in some ways it is fitting that the latest generation – high speed rail or HS2 – should through here. But we are 200 years on and it must be possible to build a line that is a credit to the city without wrecking residents’ lives for years to come?

Climate Crisis

It was good to hear from Cllr Lisa Mulherin, in response to our Climate Crisis edition, about the work Leeds City Council are doing.

Reducing are carbon dioxide output is something every organisation and business and every individual must do. It’s positive that the Council are both leading by example and creating the conditions for the rest of us to contribute.

A Way of Life under threat

No, not the loss of another pub, the criminalisation of the trespass laws.

Gypsies and Travellers have visited South Leeds for centuries. Over that time many have settled here, but others prefer their life on the road.

If the rest of us collectively met our responsibilities there would be plenty of proper sites that they could pull into. But Gypsies and Travellers have been demonised and marginalised. Stopping on the roadside with no facilities they sometimes cause problems. But in Leeds real strides have been made with a Negotiated Stopping policy.

If this law is passed they will not just be moved on, but their home will be seized – how can that be right?

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Your letters and comments High Speed Rail

It’s alright these Councillors and MPs banging on about how fantastic HS2 is, but they won’t be living right next to it or being told they have to move to make way for it.

Maybe they need to listen to those people also to appreciate the full impact it will have on all aspects of Leeds life.

Tracey Liddle £100 billion, I’m not sure if that’s value for public money, let’s hope the spend is policed. I’m sure we have to invest for the future and the railroads are one way, but personally I’d be investing in new waterways and upgrading existing ones.

Looking at global warming we on this Island are going to get our feet wet so why not use the water? It would also help draining flood plains when the torrent arrives. Looking at the rain this month, the question is will HS2 run on flooded tracks ?!

Roy Flavin

Travellers’ rights Travellers do themselves no favours. I’m sure that many are decent and law abiding, but they seem to have more than their fair share of delinquents. They nearly always leave piles of rubbish around. I’m not now in South Leeds, but where I am now we have an annual arrival which always causes friction through rubbish [always] and petty theft [sometimes]. They use my local pub and to be fair they’re fine. When my business was in Hunslet I had a van pinched which turned up the following week-end at the site at Tingley, I think it was. I find it hard to be positive as I’m sure many people do. They don’t exactly add to the area they move into.

Gordon D More legal traveller sites = less illegal encampments.

William Smith

High Speed Rail: worth the price tag?

George IV pub Well done Leeds City Council - another local pub gone. You’re doing really well South Leeds golf courses going, pubs going. Can you say what you want to take away next please?

David Slater The leaseholder wouldn’t refurbish as it would of probably ended up being a magnet for anti-social behaviour and there’s always the risk that the licence could be revoked. It’s not a viable investment for anybody. Pubs are going everywhere up and down the country, it’s a national trend for various reasons.

Demolishing an eyesore and utilising the land for new housing is a good way to do things.

William

The ‘national trend’ that you refer to is the destruction of a culture and endemic way of life. It’s a combination of greedy You have my solidarity. We have a deeply breweries charging outrageous business racist and authoritarian Government now. rates to manage and run pubs, the pricing We will have to stand beside all of beer and spirits, the smoking ban, the marginalised and oppressed groups or we rise in peddling and using recreational are all finished. drugs on licensed premises.

Elizabeth Kitching For many of my generation and older the pubs and clubs in this area provided interaction amongst the communities and benefitted many of the people.

Family generations have begun Beeston & Holbeck ward with a couple who met in a pub or Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. club back in the day.

We are not all content with The three councillors are: locking the door in the evenings Gohar Almass 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk and drinking cheap beer from the Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk supermarket whilst watching Andrew Scopes 07860 400 645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk mindless crap on the TV. There are thousands of empty Hunslet & Riverside ward properties not just in this city but nationwide, they have been Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:

Your Leeds City Councillors

Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk Paul Wray 07528 512 649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk

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

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

0113 378 9000 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

promising new housing for thirty years!

Tony Callaghan

Cycling I bought a bicycle again last year, after 25+ years off them, to get fit again after ferrying the family around in cars. The only trouble was, not long after I was diagnosed with cancer, but I went out when I felt up to it. Lately I’ve been getting out a bit more often (but I work away so not as often as I’d like) but I’m thinking of doing a few longer rides this year. There’s some good advice in your article. It’s good and sensible, but I’ve got a hybrid with a padded, suspended seat so I’ve not got the underwear as you suggest. Any more cycling advice appreciated.

Tony Linley

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Top Tweets Keep up to date, up to the minute, by following South Leeds Life’s Twitter feed: @SouthLeedsLife.

Twitter is the 140 character ‘micro blogging’ site. It’s free and you can sign up at twitter.com. It’s a great place to find the very latest news.

Here are some of our favourite recent tweets: @Georgina100310 Excellent morning visiting the Materials Recycling Facility at Hunslet - where 180,000 green bins from Leeds households are taken weekly, that’s 130,000 tonnes a day!

Machine magnetic, optical, weight and air sorting plus some hand sorting. Everyone there is doing a fantastic job @WestwardCare It was a privilege to welcome the new Minister of State for Health an Social Care @Helen_Whately & @DHSCgovuk to our CQC ‘Outstanding’ care home in #Beeston, Pennington Court.

Great to showcase social care and all the fantastic work undertaken by our team. #socialcareshowcase

Eco-bricks It’s good to see a mention for eco-bricks, which are a great way to compact otherwise unrecyclable plastic film waste.

It’s amazing how much you can pack into a single bottle. But for a number of reasons they can’t be regarded as a viable construction material, and people with the eco-brick habit (like me) quickly find there’s no demand for them as bricks. They belong back in the recycling stream, but so far I’m not aware of any recyclers or local authorities who take them seriously. If schools like Hunslet St Mary’s applied gentle pressure to Leeds City Council, that might start to change.

Graham Barker

Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW. Letters may be edited for publication.

Keep up to date with planning issues in LS10 and LS11 We publish a weekly list of all new planning applications online at: www.southleedslife.com

@LeedsCC_News Are you an EU citizen living in Leeds? Get a round up of the EU settlement process, and details of local help, at socsi.in/zrKdM or socsi.in/X1IfP. More in this short film socsi.in/3R14k. #EUcitizens #SettledStatus #Brexit @CEO_HunsletClub Another amazing week at our half term activity camp. We had 96 young people on the final day. Well done to Donna Hall and the team for providing such a wonderful weeks entertainment #hunsletclub đ&#x;’šđ&#x;’›

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March 2020 | South Leeds Life

Comment 15

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MP’s notebook

by Hilary Benn MP

S

torms Ciara and Dennis have reminded us once again CR ISIS of the risk of flooding in Leeds and across the country.

The flood defences in the city centre, including the movable weir at Crown Point Bridge which can be lowered when the water level rises, have made a difference, but there is still a risk further downstream in Hunslet and Stourton and to the east of the city in Kirkstall.

We are campaigning as Leeds MPs for further funding from the Government to extend flood protection in the city, but as we can see from the news reports in other parts of Yorkshire - where 90 separate flood warnings were issued during storm Ciara on 9 February and in Wales and the South West there are lots of people who have suffered the trauma of seeing their homes flood and their lives and possessions ruined.

One of the consequences of our changing climate is that we will see these kind of storms and heavy rain more often in the future. That’s why it is so urgent that we both adapt C

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MA LI T

by building more flood defences and trying to slow down the movement of rainwater off the fells - and act to prevent it getting worse by moving to a zero carbon country and a zero carbon world as quickly as possible.

All of us, government included, will be judged by the speed with which we act.

The cladding crisis in Leeds is growing. There are now 12 blocks in central Leeds that have waking watches because of unsafe cladding. This means that the leaseholders are having to pay a large amount of money each month for someone to be in the block watching out for fires 24 hours a day.

In one case, each leaseholder is having to pay £670 a month plus VAT towards this, which is money but they simply do not have. Their flats are worth nothing and they worry every every day about being asked to pay to fix the cladding which is absolutely not their fault.

I recently organised a debate in Westminster Hall on this crisis and 30 MPs turned up because so many people are affected across the country. The strain on them – both financial and emotional – is enormous and we made it clear to

ministers that they have to come up with a solution that doesn’t ask leaseholders to pay to fix a problem that was not of their making. If they had bought a car or a washing machine that turned out to be at risk of catching fire, no one would dream of telling them to pay to fix it, but what they actually bought was the home of their dreams which has now turned into a nightmare.

The news that HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail – the scheme to improve train services from Liverpool to Hull – are both going ahead is a victory for the campaign that Leeds and Yorkshire have led to get transport investment to Hilary Benn MP west and east coast mainlines – come to the North.

I know there are some concerns along with its contribution to taking about the proposed viaduct to bring cars off our motorways. Carbon the line into the centre of the city but emissions will be 7 times less per this is exactly what the Victorians did kilometre travelled on HS2 than when they invested in pioneering rail passenger cars and 17 times less projects in the 19th Century that than taking the plane.

Which brings me back to the gave us a big increase in rail threat of dangerous climate change capacity that is now basically full.

That’s one of the main arguments and the impact it is having on our for HS2 – it will allow additional weather. The truth is that all of these services to be run on the existing things are interconnected.

Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament. He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers Hunslet, Middleton, Belle Isle, Beeston, Holbeck, Cottingley in south Leeds as well as the city centre, Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Little London, Lincoln Green, Burmantofts, Richmond Hill and Osmondthorpe.

Get involved with South Leeds Life This newspaper is brought to you by people like yourself. Apart from our Editor, everyone is a volunteer. They care about what’s happening in South Leeds and want to help keep other informed.

There are lots of jobs needed to keep the news flowing: • Writing articles • Taking photographs • Distributing newspapers • Selling advertising • Managing social media You don’t need to be an expert, we can help get to grips with the job.

You just need a bit of time and commitment.

Does this sound like you?

Get in touch and let’s have a chat about how you can join our team Ring 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com

Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Suite 7, Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; phone: 0113 244 1097

Top Tips to save the planet and your wallet A

s part of our series of articles exploring CR ISIS climate change, we’ve compiled the following list of ‘climate tips’ – easy ways for regular local people to be planet-friendly, by reducing their carbon footprint. And in most cases, save money at the same time!

These steps on their own C

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MA LI T

won’t crack the problem – we also need to battle for major shifts in government policy, and in the practices of big business. But they represent ways in which each of us can play our part – small sensible steps towards a very different future.

Please submit your own ideas and tips, and we’ll share them too.

FOOD: 1. Eating less meat is a key way to reduce your carbon footprint – but if going vegan or vegetarian seems like too big a leap, could you do it one day per week, or one meal per day?

2. Food waste has a big environmental impact, and costs us all money. Do everything you can to throw away less food, and both the

planet and your bank balance will thank you.

3. Buying fruit, vegetables, and other foods ‘in season’ seriously reduces your carbon footprint: it saves things being shipped around the world to get to us. Even better, grow your own fruit and vegetables.

STUFF: 4. We can all be more environmental by buying less

new stuff: hit the charity shops (to buy and donate stuff), and/or choose to buy secondhand or refurbished goods on websites like ebay and gumtree; you’ll save a load of money, and be helping the planet.

5. There are also some great local projects – like Leeds Wood Recycling in Holbeck, and Seagulls Reuse on

Kirkstall Road – selling useful things like wood and paint back to the community, on the cheap. Perfect for eco-friendly DIY! 6. Clothing makes up 5% of the UK’s carbon footprint, and we throw away 300,000 tons of clothes (worth £12bn) every year: yikes. Check out projects like Leeds Clothing Exchange, or hold a clothes swap event.

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

16 Cultural Life

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Landscapes of the (Un)Known A

by Bruce Davies

s we prepare to enter March, BasementArts Project prepares to enter, not just our 2020 programme on 6 March, but also the last year of our first decade as a Beestonbased arts organisation.

On 2 April 2021 BasementArtsProject will turn 10 years old, but in the meantime we have a lot of

projects lined up for everyone here in South Leeds.

To kick off this year we have an artist originally from Leeds but who is now based in Hull.

Lou Hazelwood’s photographic based practice utilises experimental methods of production and analogue equipment in order to create something akin to abstract landscapes. The alien nature of these images echo the other

Gas Holder Hull shot on Vintage tri x by Lou Hazelwood

thematic thread in Hazelwood’s work which is that of our own disappearing industrial landscape.

BasementArtsProject would like to invite you to join us for the opening of this exhibition on Friday 6 March 2020 between 7:30-9:30pm.

If you cannot make it for the preview night the exhibition will remain open on the following dates:

Sunday 8 March 2pm–4pm Monday 9 March 11am–2pm Thursday 12 March 11am– 2pm Sunday 15 March 2pm–4pm Monday 16 March 11am– 2pm Thursday 19 March 11am– 2pm We also have a special event on Tuesday 17 March in which the artist will be present at BasementArtsProject between 12-2pm. BasementArtsProject will be providing hot food for lunch and the artist will be available to talk about her work and answer any questions that may arise. There are only 8 tickets for this event and they can be obtained from www.eventbrite.com Or you can book a ticket by calling Bruce Davies on 0750 672 1504 BasementArtsProject is located at 28 Back Burton Terrace, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 5JH If you would like to join our mailing list and get invites to all of our future exhibitions please visit www.basementartsproject .com/contact

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Print Perform Present

T

he first Print Perform Present, showcasing the best emerging and independent artists, performers and publishers from Leeds and the North, is at The Tetley on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March.

Celebrate print and performance throughout our building, from self-published zines, colourful screen prints, books and so much more!

There will also be the chance to take part in creative

workshops, listen to artist Spotlight talks and enjoy free, live performances in and around The Tetley.

The free festival is open 11am-4pm each day. 100% of all sales go directly to the artists. This event is generously supported by Leeds Inspired.

The Tetley also has two exhibitions open currently. Taus Makhacheva: Hold Your Horses and Emii Alrai: The High Dam. Both shows run until Sunday 10 May.

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March 2020 | South Leeds Life

Cultural Life 17

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Unruly women sent to the Smile Club

Irish History month

C

ome on love, cheer up, it might never happen.

Welcome to Smile Club. Life’s so much better when you smile.

Everyone knows that. So go on – give us a smile.

Set in a dystopian world in which a government drive exists to tame unruly women, Smile Club is a darkly comic one-woman show performed and written by Andrea Heaton, with writer Adam Z. Robinson. Produced by Red Ladder Theatre Company and directed by Artistic Director Rod Dixon, this pertinent, thrilling and sharply satirical new play will tour nationally to theatres and community venues in March and April, opening at Leeds Playhouse on Thursday 5 March.

Smile Club follows Lisa, a Smile Club attendee. She’s been through it all and she now knows – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that nobody likes a girl who makes a fuss; nobody likes a girl who can’t take a joke. She knows too, that life is simpler when you let things go. And she certainly has. All of it.

Join Lisa as she presents the perks and rewards of being a Smile Club Member. Hear about her descent into dejection, rage, and bloody violence, before her remarkable transformation into the smiley, well-adjusted human you see before you today.

Writer and performer Andrea Heaton says: “Smile Club started as an idea from an anecdote from a friend, about a man who wouldn’t allow a woman through the barrier of

D Andrea Heaton welcomes you to Smile Club a train station until she’d given him a smile.

“It takes place is a dystopian nearfuture where women are routinely sent for smile treatment to correct their behaviour, wearing them down to the point of giving in and accepting the status quo.

“The play is inspired by movements such as MeToo and Everyday Sexism, as a way of voicing anger about the way women are treated, but it’s darkly funny and thrilling. We can’t wait for you to join the club.”

Artistic director of Red Ladder, Rod Dixon says: “Smile Club explores a very plausible near-future when women become a little 'too outspoken for their own good', and have to be reconditioned in an institutional facility. It's a satire about the oppression of everyday sexism, but it's also funny and speaks very well to the times we live in. I wish it was farfetched, but actually this play’s

draconian dystopia is so close to the truth it makes me shudder.”

Red Ladder Theatre Company is one of Britain’s leading national touring companies, dedicated to producing high quality work which contributes to social change and global justice. It is a champion of new writing, particularly that which challenges or agitates and gives a voice to those who are often unheard on our stages.

Through Red Ladder Local it tours quality productions into community spaces and non-theatre venues.

Recent work includes Glory; Mother Courage and Her Children; The Damned United; The Shed Crew; Wrong ‘Un; The Parting Glass; The Life and Soul; and Playing the Joker.

Smile Club runs at Leeds Playhouse Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 March and at Hunslet RLFC, South Leeds Stadium on Wednesday 18 March at 7:30pm.

Kneehigh’s Ubu! A Singalong Satire at Leeds Playhouse K

by Hazel Millicamp

neehigh are a touring theatre company from Cornwall and this performance is based on Alfred Jarry’s play Ubu Roi (Ubu King), which premiered in Paris in 1896 and apparently caused a riot!

We did not know what to expect from this production, apart from that there was some expectation to join in – scary!

But as the narrator, says, the audience have come along to a performance of a “singalong” satire, so what did we expect?

The story of Ubu’s rise to power is difficult to follow at first and caused me and my companion some confusion but before long you are sucked into the bizarre, surreal, hilarious world that is being presented to you and you stop worrying

Photo: Steve Tanner about any of it making sense and just go with the flow.

The set was quite sparse except for a huge toilet amongst the band on a raised platform. Mr Ubu and his odd

wife Mrs Ubu ascended from the giant loo and it was often used to flush away undesirable characters.

The house band and singers were excellent – the song

id you know that Irish History Month takes place throughout the month of March 2020?

An initiative brought about by the Irish Arts Foundation in Leeds, Irish History Month exists to promote the many positive contributions that Irish people have made in Leeds and also introduces new audiences to the vibrancy of Irish arts, heritage, culture and history.

Throughout the month an Irish educational and cultural exhibition, ‘Timeline’, can be viewed at the Hunslet Library & Community Hub. On Thursday 5 March at Headingley Library, four Leeds-based distinguished second-generation Irish writers explore questions of identity and belonging. Ian Duhig, Ray French, Moy McCrory and Kath McKay ask the perennial question “where is home – here or Ireland?”

Through their essays, fiction and poetry about music, family and history, they explore being ‘not quite British, not quite Irish’.

Irish Arts Foundation Director, Des Hurley, will chair a discussion and presentation, ‘The Leeds Irish Centre.

1970-2020’, with the Sociable History Club at Leeds City Museum on Friday 6 March.

On Monday 9 March at Montague Burton Resource Centre in Harehills, County Wicklow based writer, poet and performer Carmen Cullen performs the songs and tells the story of her aunt Delia Murphy in her roving show ‘Hello Delia Murphy’.

The event provides a unique slant on Irish social history and the cultural climate of the times. It underlines the fearless nature of Delia Murphy as a

choices were well thought though as the age range of the audience was very wide, but they have managed to find songs most ages know.

The narrator (Niall Ashdown) does a great job of keeping the story on track and Mr Ubu himself (played by Katy Owen) is a magnificent, deranged, ticking mess – and I loved him!

It was almost problematic that despite the awful things Mr Ubu does, the audience can’t help but quite like him. But perhaps not problematic, because this can be the nature of ridiculous dictators – there is a disclaimer in the programme which states: “Any similarities between the characters portrayed in the show and the current government and/or other political administrations

woman and as a singer who promoted Irish folk songs and ballads. At the time it was almost impossible for a married woman with children to have a public profile, in particular in the showbusiness world. International Women’s Day 2020 takes place on Sunday 8 March.

At Kirkstall Abbey House Museum and as part of the ‘Sounds of Our City’ project, Conor MacMahon, will give a first public screening of his final year film, ‘Home from Home’ on Saturday 14 March. Conor is a Uilleann Piper and Film and Television Production Student at the University of Bradford and worked with Leeds CCÉ (Irish Music Association), Leeds Irish Centre and the Irish Arts Foundation to explore the current Irish music scene in Leeds and traces the history of Irish immigration to the city. ‘Sounds of Our City’ is at Abbey House Museum until 31 December 2020 and takes visitors on a journey through the musical

stories of Leeds.

A session of traditional Irish music hosted by local musicians takes place on the Kirkstall Flyboat on the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Granary Wharf on the afternoon of Sunday 29 March. All welcome.

Further details and timings are available on the Irish Arts Foundation website www.irisharts.org.uk The twentieth Leeds St Patrick’s Day Parade will take place in Leeds City Centre on Sunday 15 March, leaving Millennium Square at 10:30am.

around the world are purely intentional.”

It did bring to my mind a certain blustering buffoonish British MP with silly hair who seems to get away with many preposterous things because he has a funny bonce and a bumbling manner (naming no names!).

Some of the audience members were tasked to be a zoo, holding aloft inflatable animals. When the narrator asks them to voice some of the animals, everyone was beside themselves with laughter. It just all felt very joyous and unexpected.

I loved the anarchy, the strange twists and turns and I think getting the audience involved in the performance is

brilliant. There were a group of teenagers from a school or college who absolutely lapped up everything happening on stage, joined in uproariously with all of the singalong songs and fully entered into the spirit of the play.

There was a lot of pure joy from all of the actors and the entire audience by the end and most of the spectators were in the performance area just wanting to be a part of the chaos.

If you’re expecting a serious, ponderous play then this is not the one for you. If you want to laugh, shout, sing, join in and be entertained go along and cheer and jeer at Mr and Mrs Ubu, who really are weapons of mass disruption.

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

18 South Leeds Lives

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Middleton Railway prepares for its 60th T

o mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Middleton Railway as a volunteer operated Heritage Railway we are holding a series of special events which will have as a common theme volunteering.

The Trust will launch the 2020 season on Saturday 4 April with a Community and Volunteer day. On this day the Trust will unashamedly try and attract new volunteers but we would like as many South

Leeds community groups as possible to take part and to pitch for volunteers and helpers and to tell the community what they offer.

The Trust will provide trestle tables and chairs and space under cover in our Engine House for interested Groups.

On Community & Volunteer day the Trust will not be charging for travel on our Railway as an added inducement for visitors to

attend this event.

Commenting on the event, Charles Milner from the Railway said: “The Trust really would like to use this day not just to help the recruitment of volunteers to work on our Railway but also to help other South Leeds groups recruit volunteers and tell visitors what they are about.

“A robust and resilient South Leeds Community is very much to the Railway's benefit and we

want to do what we can to assist in that objective.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the 2020 season The Railway will be celebrating VE Day on 8 May, followed by their Teddy Bears special, linking up with Friends of Middleton Park to walk through the bluebell woods on 9 & 10 May. The Diamond Jubilee will be celebrated a gala weekend on 20 & 21 June.

There will be a fundraising music recital from soprano Jenny Leadbeater accompanied by Simon Lindley on Saturday 27 June at 5pm.

Now regular events on the calendar the Steampunk weekend will be on 4 & 5 July and the Model Railway exhibition will be on 11 & 12 July.

A new event will delights fans of local foods as Middleton Railway celebrates Yorkshire Day with ‘A Teaste Of Yorkshire’ on 1 & 2 August. Food and drink from God’s own county will be on sale and there will be evening trains running on the Saturday.

We will keep you updated with full details of these events here at South Leeds Life, or you can visit the Railway’s website: middletonrailway.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Library guide to Hunslet’s history L

eeds Libraries have produced a Research Guide for Hunslet and Holbeck listing some of the most useful, interesting and unique items in Local and Family History at Leeds Central Library.

The guide covers written histories of the area together with more personal memories.

Olbeck Burnfire: The Story of Sixpence and Unslit Feast*– Dialect poems by G.R. Kellett sounds particularly intersting.

There’s a wealth of source material if you want to dig deeper. There are maps from various dates as well as census records there are Parish

registers from long gone churches such as Hunslet St Silas and Holbeck Prospect United Methodist Church.

The newspaper collection includes the South Leeds Almanac (1949-51) and Holbeck Voice! (1976-80).

There are listings from cinemas including The Queen’s, The Alhambra and the Pavilion picture houses.

Of course there’s a lot of material about the railways, as well as other social history.

If you are interested in delving into the fascinating history of this area, this is a great place to start.

Around the north of England on a train ... with a bath O

ur own Ed Carlisle made a splash on social media last month when he proved you could take a bathtub on a train.

He travelled from Leeds to Preston and back again, by rail - to pick up a bathtub (unwanted and going cheap), for his new bathroom.

It would of course have been easier just to buy one - but Ed says they're trying to do the building work in a planet-friendly way, and save money as they do so.

He also adds that he can't resist a challenge: "I was wondering whether to give it a go, so I asked on Facebook if people thought it was They said he couldn’t do it ... Ed Carlisle bringing his bath back to Leeds

possible. Most people thought not, and my beloved mother-in-law was particularly insistent - so that sealed it! It was actually fairly easy, more pleasant than driving, more carbon-friendly and it raised a lot of bemused smiles from everyone."

If there is a moral to the story, is it that it's good sometimes - like in the 'Yes Man' film, with Jim Carrey - to break the norm, to go quirky, to try new things, and to stretch ourselves?

It won't always go according to plan - but you always grow and learn, and see something new of life.

Could you try something new today or this month?

Support independent community news!

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March 2020 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 19

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Make Time For A Cuppa and support for people living with dementia

by Kenneth Ingram

O

n 3 March the annual Make Time For A Cuppa event in support of Dementia UK will be held at BITMOs GATE centre in Belle Isle, from 12pm. The national event is in its 10th anniversary year.

I’m personally getting worse with my Dementia so this will be my last year involved with this event.

Hopefully it can carry as an annual event at The GATE with Carla and some help.

As with previous years we be raing money for Admiral Nurses who look after people and families who have Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

On the day we will have raffles and sell Buns and Cakes. If you can donate a prize or your baking for the event please let me or Carla know. We will also have hot dogs and drinks the proceeds of this to go to the charity.

Unfortunately the Lord Mayor of Leeds cannot be at the event this year, but I asked if we could have

as a prize, tea for two with the Lord Mayor and a tour around the Civic Hall. The Lord Mayor has donated this as First prize in the raffle and increased the numbers to 4 who can now enjoy this prize. This tour is not to be missed.

Entertainment will be provided by a choir of children from Windmill Primary School.

Mr Guitar Man, John will also play his as background music on the day. Everybody knows John who teaches people to play the guitar.

He is a man of many talents also teaching people art at the centre.

The Police and the Fire Brigade will be on hand to give out advice.

Julie, GATE’s own Family Research Tutor, will be at the event

giving advice on Family Research.

You can also join Julie and others on a Monday from 10am to research your Family Tree, on the big screen.

BITMOs GATE is located at Aberfield Gate, off Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH. For more information call (0113) 378 2190 or email gate@belleisletmo.co.uk

Don’t miss the Big Ideas at Slung Low A

by Nicole Joseph

s part of Slung Low’s Cultural Community College, which is now in its fifth term, we have a fantastic line-up of BIG IDEAS events and sessions where all are welcome to enjoy, explore, try and think about something new.

These sessions are interesting for all and led by inspiring people, covering different topics to inform, inspire, and introduce new ideas and passions, or simply new conversation topics. No experience or knowledge on the subject is necessary.

We have a whole host of new, exciting BIG IDEAS events that we

would love to welcome you to as part of our spring term. They kick off with Roger Hill- ‘New Words, New Worlds’. As part of Leeds Literature Festival, Roger is coming to The Holbeck to talk about words and their meaning and how we can consider them on a day-to-day basis. Roger Hill is a freelance director, performer, arts and education consultant, writer, lecturer and broadcaster. He has presented the nation’s longest running alternative music programme on BBC Radio Merseyside for more than 35 years.

This event will take place on Sunday 8 March, 5-6pm. There are other Leeds Literature Festival

Big Idea: Explore Irish Dance with Keira & Sioda Martin

events you might want to catch at the Holbeck running on the same day.

Our second BIG IDEAS event is with Clean Break theatre company; 40 Years of Arts and Criminal Justice talks about their award winning work over the decades.

After their ‘Sweat Box’ performance, we’ll hear from the renowned Clean Break team and some of the women who have benefitted from the company’s work which has engaged with crime and justice, stigma, as well as the impacts of prison on families.

‘Sweat Box’ is travelling across the UK and it invites you to enter the back of a prison van where three women share their stories of arrival and anticipation as they are transported from court to prison, from prison to prison, from prison to court. This event runs on Friday 20 March, performances of Sweat Box are at 6:30pm and 7pm, followed by the talk at 7:308:30pm.

Have you ever wondered whether technology is a good or a bad thing for us? Our BIG IDEAS event with Dr Zeena Feldman, ‘Digital Overload: The Pleasures and Perils of Connectivity’ will discuss this. Dr Zeena Feldman is a professor in Digital Culture; she’s interested in what it means to live with technology today and invites audiences to reflect on their own relationships with the digital. We will explore questions about technology by drawing on the

findings of two of her studies on: Quitting Social Media and Me Apps.

These projects reveal how the digital complicates the everyday, and impacts on self-care and mental health. Come along to this event on Sunday 22 March, 3:304:30pm.

Last but not least, we have Keira Martin on ‘Irish Dance’, supported

by Leeds Dance Partnership. If you were keen to see them last time, they’re back and you are invited to join Keira Martin and her sister Sioda, to a gathering of Yorkshire/ Irish chat, music and dance. Keira and Sioda were born and bred in Barnsley and have spent 20 years travelling the world as professional dance artists. They are inspired and influenced by their workingclass upbringing, politics, Ireland, dance, music and storytelling. If there is one thing they both agree on, it’s that you don’t get owt without hard graft. Join them as they talk to you about their work, show you an excerpt of their performance and lead you through a short workshop in Irish Dance.

Come and listen and do a jig, if you like, on Saturday 18 April, 11am2pm.

You may also be interested in these other Community College courses: • The Art of Social Dreaming 29 February, 7 & 14 March • Snooker – 7, 14, 21, 28 March and 4 & 11 April • Find Your Story (Writing and Performance) - 14 March

IN BRIEF Residents Meetings Hunslet & Riverside Councillors have organised three residents meetings in March These are an opportunities to raise issues with your Councillors, the Police and Council officers.

A meeting for Beeston hill Residents will be held at the Hamara Centre on Tempest Road on Monday 2 March at 3:30pm Hunslet Moor residents are invited to Dewsbury Road Community Hub on Tuesday 17 March at 6:30pm Residents of Hunslet Green and the Whitfields and surrounding area meet on Monday 30 March at 6:30 at Hunslet Community Hub. Refreshments will be served from 6pm at each event.

Cat Neutering The charity Leeds Feline Friends is offering free cat neutering to residents living in LS10 unril 31 March. The service for both male or female cats and includes a a one-off flea and worm treatment. You must have a secure and sturdy carrier. For more information call 07504 800031 Monday to Friday 6-9pm or text at any time.

From Kindness to Connection: A Heart-based Living Experience Day Compassion & Wellbeing 2020 are hosting this event at the Jamyang Buddhist Centre in Holbeck on Saturday 28 March from 10am4:30pm. The full cost is £60 or £30 un/low waged, however they are providing a small number of FREE places for local Holbeck residents with a LS11 postcode who are committed to attend. Email info@kinderleeds.org or telephone Angela 07890 682026 More information and booking tickets here: heartbasedliving.org.uk/from-kindness-toconnection

Light Jam at LS-TEN skatepark LS-TEN is running an Interactive Lighting Event called Immersive, hosted by Backstage Academy on the Tuesday 10 March. This event will be held in the skatepark and the ramps will be lit up with the special lighting effect which will move whilst you skate through them. There will also be DJ sets. This is a unique event never done in the UK before. Tickets are £10 to skate, £3 spectators.

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

20 What’s On

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

What’s On Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in March Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events Every Monday Women & Girls’ Drop In 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project 43 Stratford Street, Beeston Hobbies2gether craft group 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre Middleton Lychee Red – Chinese Elders Gp 10am-12pm Parocial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton Julie’s Ancestry Group 10am & 1pm BITMO’s GATE Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Crafts 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Breastfeeding Support 10:30am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston SLLAH Drop In Coffee morning 10:30am-12pm Assissi Place, Belinda Street, Hunslet Walk and Talk 11am-12pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle SLLAH Salsa-cise 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 11:45am-1pm Cottingley Community Centre Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Oakley View, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Women’s Tai Chi, Dance, Yoga 12:30-1:15pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Women’s Wellbeing Group 1-3pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Learning Disability Advice 1-3pm Connect In The North, Office 42, Sugar Mill Business Park, Oakhurst Road, Beeston Dance 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Men’s Boxercise 2:15-3:15pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Blossom Kinship Group 4-5:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road Connected 4-5:30pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road

DAZL Cheerdance Team (6-12yrs) 4:30-6pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton DAZL Urban Cheer (13-16yrs) 4:30-6pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton DAZL Contemporary (7-12yrs) 6-7pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton DAZL Youth Company (13-19yrs) 6-8pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 6-8:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Super Circuit 6pm Involve Learning Centre, off Church Street, Hunslet, LS10 2QE Kickboxing 6-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval South Leeds Spartans Girls Rugby 6-7pm Corinthians RUFC, Ring Road Middleton, by Leisure Centre DAZL DanceFit (women 16+) 6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road How To Meditate 6:30-7:30pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck South Leeds Sisters running 6.15pm South Leeds Stadium Coffee & Craft Middleton 6.15-8:30pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton St Matthew’s Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Yoga 6:30-7:30pm; 7:30-8:30pm St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Girls Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle DanceFit 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Middle Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Adult Jazz & Tap Dance 7-8pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston

Every Tuesday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Tots, Tea and Toast

Full details of every event including map and contact details are available at www.southleedslife.com/events

9:30-11:15am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Heart to Heart Breakfast 9:30am Asha Neighbourhood Project, 43 Stratford Street SLLAH Breakfast Buddies 9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Gentle Exercise 9:45am Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Holbeck Together’s Tea & Toast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Community Gardening/ Litterpick 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Lupton Street, Hunslet Muslim Pensioners Group 10am-12pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Baking 10-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Breastfeeding Support 10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre, 252-262 Sissons Road Women’s Friendship Group 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd SLLAH Mixed Exercise 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Old Lane, Beeston Community Coffee Morning 10-11:30am Beeston Library Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Storytime 10:30-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Get Online 11am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Tai Chi (gentle exercise) 11:15am-12:15pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street SLLAH Chair Based Exercise 11.30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 12pm Arthington Court, Hunslet Holbeck Together Community Lunch 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Oakley View, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Lunchtime Meditation 12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Credit Union 1-4pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Stay & Play 1:30-3pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, Beeston Craft Group 1:30pm Trinity Network, Oakley View, Beeston SLLAH Line Dancing 1:30-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston

SLLAH Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Holbeck Together Afternoon Social 1:45-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing 2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Teen Spirit Boys Group 4-6pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Kidz Klub Beeston 4-7:30pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 4:30-9:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Girls Group 4:30-6:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston DAZL Streetdance (6+yrs) 4:30-5:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Your Space Journaling Group 5-7pm The Happy Yak Café at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck DAZL Streetdance (Learning Disability 13+yrs) 5-6:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road, Middleton Inside Out wellbeing group 6-8pm Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road Women’s Fitness Boot Camp 6-7pm Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton, LS10 3TN Hunslet Rainbows, Brownies and Guides 6:15-8:45pm Hunslet St Mary’s Primary School, Church Street Coffee and Craft Middleton 6:15-8:30pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 6:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston DAZL DanceFit (women 16+) 6:30-7:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Craft & Social Evening 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Carr Free Football Sessions 6:30-7:30pm 8-12 year olds 7:30-8:30pm 13-16 year olds Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road, LS11 0AB Discovering Buddhism 6:30-8pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Fitness Boot Camp 6:45-7:45 Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street South Leeds Lakers running 7pm from Beeston Co-op Yoga 7:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre (small hall), Town Street

Every Wednesday Bacon Butty Breakfast and Wednesday Weigh In 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Welfare Rights Advice Surgery 9am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Messy Time 9:15-11am Middleton Play &

Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Parents and Toddlers 9:15-11:15am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Get Fit Where You Sit 9:15-10:15 Lane End Primary School, Beeston Road City Tots 9:30-11am City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road Pop Up Council Services 9:30am-12:30pm Cottingley Towers Open Doors Tea & Toast 9:30-11:30am St Andrew's Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Rags to Riches Sewing Group 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Women’s Walking Group 10-11am BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Shopping Trip to Morrisons 10am-1pm Holbeck Together, Domestic Street Holbeck Together Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court, Holbeck Money Advice 10:15am-3pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Adult Social Care advice drop in 10:30am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Walk &Talk Walking Group 11am-1pm MEA Social Centre, Middleton Park Avenue Free Zumba 12-12:45pm Middleton Leisure Centre Hatha Yoga 12:15-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Community Lunch 12:15-3pm Ingram Court, Holbeck Grandparents’ Support Group 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Oakley View, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Ladies Group 1-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck At Home In Holbeck 2-3pm Ingram Road Primary School Parnaby Pals Memory Cafe 2-4pm Parnaby Tavern, Middleton Road, Hunslet Carr Walk and Talk 2-3pm meet outside Greggs, Middleton Park Circus Knit and Crochet Group 3-5pm Costa Coffee, Crown Point Retail Park Aerobics and Dance 3:30-4:30pm Cottingley Primary Academy DAZL Dance class (6-12yrs) 4:45-5:45pm Watsonian Pavilion Cross Flatts Park, Beeston DAZL Dance class 5:30-6:30pm Cottingley Community Centre 1st Beeston Beaver Scouts 6-7:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval South Leeds Spartans Girls Rugby 6-7pm Corinthians RUFC, Ring Road Middleton, by Leisure Centre City Kids (R-Y6) 6-7:15pm City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife Chocolate, Chat and Chill 6-8pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Cottingley Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dru Yoga 6:30-7:30pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck DanceFit 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Free Walking Football 7-8pm Middleton Leisure Centre Youth Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Martial Arts 7-9pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm St John & St Barnabas Church Hall, Belle Isle Camera Club 8pm upstairs at St George’s Centre, Middleton

Every Thursday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Stay & Play 9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Table Tennis 9:45-11:15am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Community Cafe 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Ping Pong 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Little Explorers Baby Group 10-11:30am Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Community Craft Cafe 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre New Lives Group 10-11:30am Cottingley Children’s Centre Storytime (under 5s) 10:15-10:45am St George’s Community Hub, Middleton SLLAH Yoga 10:15-11:15am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Craft Group 10:30am Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Volunteer Centre drop in 10:30am-1pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Storytime (under 5s) 11-11:30am Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Dru Yoga 11am-12pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Holbeck Together Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Oakley View, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Lunchtime Meditation 12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck

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New Lives Group 1-2:30pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Square Muslim Ladies Group 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Green Gym 1-4pm Lady Pit Lane Allotments, Linden Avenue, Beeston Breathe Easy gentle exercise 1:30pm Hunslet Methodist Church Telford Terrace, off Balm Road SLLAH Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Fun and Games afternoon 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Holbeck Together Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Vale Circles Autism Hub 2-7pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Men’s Circuit Training 2:15-3:15pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Volunteer Centre drop in 2:30-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Kidz Klub Middleton 4-7:30pm Middleton Primary School, Middleton Park Avenue Kidz Klub Holbeck 4-7:30pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn DAZL Hip-Hop (6-12yrs) 4:30-6pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Footbal sessions 5-8pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston South Leeds Lakers Juniors running club (8-14) 5-6pm John Charles Centre for Sport astroturf pitch Community Choir 5pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane Middleton Beavers & Cubs 5:30-7:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Mini & Junior Rugby 6-7pm Leeds Corinthians, Ring Road, Middleton DAZL Hip-Hop (13+yrs) 6-8pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 6:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Introduction to Buddhism 6:30-8pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Ballet Burn 7-8pm South Leeds Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston Bingo 7pm St matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Youth Group 7-8:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Yoga class 7:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

Under 5s Storytime 10-11am Dewsbury Road Library Hunslet RLFC Brakfast Club 10am-12pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Holbeck Together Tea & Toast Breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Shopping Trip to Morrisons 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street Cuppa, Toast and Online help 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Middleton Minstrels Women’s Choir 10:30am-12:30pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Dancing In Time 10:30am-12pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Breathe Easy gentle exercise 11:30 Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Luncheon Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Holbeck Together 2 course Community lunch 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30pm Oakley View, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Krok Po Kroku (Polish Group) 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton SLLAH Ballroom Dancing 1-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston The GATE Men’s Group 1-3pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Holbeck Together Walking Football 1:30-3pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street Holbeck Together Afternoon Social 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Gentle Chair Exercise Class 1.45-2.45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Rhymetime 2pm Beeston Library, Town St Family Boxercise (from 11 Oct) 5-6pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Girls Football 6-7pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Church Lads’ & Girls Brigade 6-8pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre 5th Middleton Brownies 6-7:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st Beeston Cub Scouts 6:15-7:45pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road Youth Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle 5th Middleton Guides 7:30-9pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st Beeston Scouts 8-9:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston

Every Friday Tea & Toast 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road Welfare Rights Advice Surgery 9am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Toast and Games morning 9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Breastfeeding Support Group 9:45-11:15am Mothercare cafe, Crown Point Retail Park SLLAH Stretch and Tone 9:45-10:30 St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston

Every Saturday Breakfast Club

March 2020 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 21 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Middleton Woods parkrun 9am Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton Breakfast Club 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Zumba 9:15-10:15am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton DAZL Urban Cheer (7-13yrs) 9:30-11am South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle DAZL Tinies (3-5yrs) 9:30-11am South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 10am Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Kidz ‘n’ Co 10:30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Yoga 10:30-11:30am Beeston Parish Centre, Town street Bingo Afternoon 12:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Women’s Cardio Cricket 1:15-3:15pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston (starts 18 January) Tennis For Free 2-3:30pm Cross Flatts Park

Every Sunday Cross Flatts junior parkrun 9am top of Cross Flatts Park Street Cricket 10am-1pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston Women’s Cricket League 1:30-4:30pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston (starts 12 January) Saturday 29 February South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Hunslet Moor Litterpick 12-2pm Moor Road Boundless Voices Concert 7-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Spring Cabaret 7pm Slung Low at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Monday 2 March Mostly Men 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Nature visits for Families and Childminders 10am-1pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton Holbeck Together Carers Group 12:30-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Writers’ Club 1-2:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Secret Cinema 3:45-4:45pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Lego Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Beeston Hill Residents Meeting 6:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Tuesday 3 March Police Drop In 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Lego Club

3:30-4:30pm St George’s Community Hub, Middleton Time For a Cuppa dementia event 12-3pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Friends of Stank Hall 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Wednesday 4 March Hunslet Rugby Memories 12-2pm The Prospect pub, Moor Road, Hunslet Pot-a-Tea Dementia Cafe 1:30-3:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Hunslet Tenants & Residents Ass 6:30pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Thursday 5 March Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30pm Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Bereaved parents support group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, Ashbrooke Park, Parkside Lane, Beeston Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm The Old White Hart pub, Town Street Friday 6 March Blue Plaque Unveiling 12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Sound Bath 7:30pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Landscapes of the (Un)Known 7:30pm BasementArtsProject 28 Back Burton Terrace, Beeston Saturday 7 March Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Comm Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Volunteer Rangers 10am-12pm Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hilary Benn MP Advice Surgeries 10-11:15am St George’s Centre, Middleton 11:30am-1pm Vale Circles, Tunstall Road, Beeston Councillor Advice Surgery 10-11:15am St George’s Centre, Middleton Digital Drop In 10am-1pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Touch 11am Slung Low at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Print, Perform, Present 11am-4pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Friends of Trentham Park 1:30pm Rowland Road Club, Beeston Sunday 8 March Print, Perform, Present 11am-4pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Free Community Meal 12:30pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Hunslet v North Wales Crusaders 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Tony Harrison’s ‘V’ 7:30pm Slung Low at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Monday 9 March Tea, Cake and Conversation 12:30-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Sing Aphasia Choir 1-3pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Tuesday 10 March Code Club 3:30-4:30pm St George’s Community Hub, Middleton Beeston Local History Group

8pm Beeston Parish Centre (small hall), Town Street Wednesday 11 March SLLAH Curling 10:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston SLLAH Generation 55 12-2:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Bereavement Support Group 1-2pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Thursday 12 March Toy Library 11:15am-12:15pm St George’s Centre Community Hub, Middleton Heath & Heathcroft TARA 7pm Elland Road Police Station, Beeston Saturday 14 March South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd Kindness Workshop 10am-5pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Trinity Reflection Cafe 10:30am-12pm Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum 12pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity Night 7:30pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Sunday 15 March Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Leeds Dads meetup 2-4pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn, Holbeck Queer Lady M 5pm Slung Low at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Monday 16 March SLLAH Generation 55 12:30-2:30pm Whistlestop pub, Town Street, Beeston Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Tuesday 17 March The Writers Club 1-2:30pm Beeston Library, Town Street Hunslet Moor Residents Meeting 6:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Wednesday 18 March After Work Wednesdays Open Mic 6-11pm Sheaf Street Cafeteria, off Crown Point Road, Hunslet Smile Club 7:30pm Hunslet RLFC, South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Thursday 19 March Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton Digital Drop In 11am-6pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston St Luke’s Tenants & Residents 6pm St Luke’s Primary School, Beeston Road Leeds Film Club 6:30pm Cineworld Starbucks, White Rose Shopping Centre Friday 20 March Sweatbox 6:30pm Slung Low at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Saturday 21 March Digital Drop In 10am-1pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street

Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Mindfulness City Retreat 10am-5pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Belle Isle United Reformed Church Community Cafe 10:30am-12:30pm Nesfield Road Sunday 22 March GoTri Spring Duathlon 10am-1pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Tai Chi 2-4pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Hunslet RLFC v London Skolars 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Lionman 5pm Slung Low at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Monday 23 March Wellness Space Afternoon 1-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Tuesday 24 March Police Drop In 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Code Club 3:30-4:30pm St George’s Community Hub, Middleton Wednesday 25 March Volunteer Rangers 10am-12pm Hunslet Cemetery, Middleton Road SLLAH Curling 10:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Tiny Tetley 10:30-11:30an & 11:45am12:45pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Cop Shop Dementia Café 1-3pm Elland Road Police Station, Beeston Arm In Arm Memory Café 1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Drink and Draw 6-8pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Thursday 26 March Hunslet Remembered 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Toy Library 11:15am-12:15pm St George’s Centre Community Hub, Middleton Friday 27 March Free Legal Advice 2:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Saturday 28 March South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton From Kindness to Connection: A Heart-based Living Experience 10am-4:30pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Hunslet Moor Litterpick 12-2pm Moor Road Monday 30 March Hunslet TARA Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Hunslet Green Residents Meeting 6:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Tuesday 31 March Middleton Community Group 7pm St Cross Church, Acre Road

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

22 What’s On

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Family friendly what’s on roundup

by Helen Robinson

Helen and Lily

H

ere’s your roundup of family friendly activities for March.

I’m Helen Robinson and I run local parents’ website and community, South Leeds Mumbler: southleeds.mumbler .co.uk. Visit the website for more ideas and up to date listings of regular playgroups, classes and days out ideas.

Skelton Grange Nature Visits Skelton Grange environment centre is open for one morning each month for families and childminders to explore the nature area independently and

notice how things change throughout the year. The sessions are self guided, but simple materials such as bugs jars or pond nets can be provided if needed. No booking required, £3 donation per child payable on arrival. Donations support The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange to buy equipment and manage the centre. Monday 2 March 2020, 10am, at TCV Skelton Grange, Skelton Grange Road, LS10 1RS.

“Yorkshire Shepherdess” Amanda Owen, comedienne Jenny Éclair, Newsnight presenter Gavin Estler and writer Helen Taylor, described

by The Sunday Times as one of “the most tempting literary prospects of 2020”. There’s even an opportunity to remininsce about the hedonistic Hacienda days with DJ Dave Haslam.

Wednesday 4 – Sunday 8 March 2020, various venues across the city.

Leeds Young Film Festival 2020 kicks off on 30 March.

Look out for the line-up, which will be launched early March.

30 March – 13 April 2020, various venues across the city.

The Leeds Lit Fest Family Friendly Programme The majority of the children’s programme for this year’s festival helpfully takes place across one weekend. On Saturday 7 March, there are a series of family friendly workshops starting from 10am–2pm.

Activities for older children include a ‘Story Starter’ workshop with best-selling author James Nicol and a ‘Storybox’ drama workshop during which young people will create then perform a new

Leeds Lit Fest 2020 The start of March promises to be a real “page turner” as the second annual Leeds Lit Fest returns, bringing over 100 literature-themed events to 36 venues across the city. The main programme includes talks by the likes of 6Music presenter Stuart Maconie, the

Collage is always fun! At Leeds Lit Fest and the Community Hubs piece of theatre in just two hours.

Younger children can take part in a collage workshop exploring the simple shapes and colours that author Bethan Woollvin’s fairy tale characters and trees are built with.

And finally, I’m most excited about meeting children’s author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst – a distant relative of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and author of ‘Fantastically great women who changed the world’, which is a firm favourite on our bookshelf at home. Saturday 7 March, Leeds Central Library. Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3AB. The Hidden Someone has gone missing but have they left messages behind? Hidden in books, written on index cards, scribbled on the back of an old photograph; there is a mystery waiting to be solved. Douglas Irvine and Cameron Hall have

created an intriguing sounding trail as part of Leeds Lit Fest.

‘The Hidden’ is aimed at ages 12+ and has been described as encouraging “curiosity, disbelief and a questioning mindset”. Wednesday 4 – Friday 6 March 2020 at The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial St, LS1 6AL. Leeds Young Archaeologists Club Based at Middleton Park, Leeds YAC meets monthly.

Open to ages 8-16 years, the group welcomes new members, offering a free taster session for those who want to check it out first before signing up. Contact the group through Facebook at Leeds YAC. Saturday 21 March 2020, 10am-12pm, Middleton Park.

Leeds Urban Bike Park The £1.2m redevelopment of the old Middleton Park Golf Course is always free to use, with the onsite bike shop open

for bike hire and advice.

Hunslet, Middleton St George’s Centre and Dewsbury Road Community Hubs With an onsite library and free bike hire, community hubs always have lots going on for families. Regular weekly events include Story Time and Rhyme Time for under 5s are among the free weekly sessions available. Some hubs also run Code Club and others. Contact each hub direct for details or find them all listed on South Leeds Mumbler.

Leeds Discovery Centre Free tours are held every Thursday at 11am and 2pm.

These unique tours highlight interesting fascinating objects and stories behind some of our most unusual items in the centre’s over a million artefacts. The tours are one of the best ways to access and see the collections. Carlisle Road, Leeds LS10 1LB.

Start A-Fresh with Skills 4 Work S tarting A-Fresh is a 6 month programme designed specifically for those who are unemployed and would like to improve their chances of obtaining work and run by Skills 4 Work.

Based at Cranmore Drive in Belle Isle it consists of some basic fundamental modules in Maths, English and IT skills, followed by elective modules in either Technology (Computers etc), Practical Skills (Woodwork) or Gardening (inc Horticulture and Landscaping).

Learners can chose either fully or have a mixture of all three elective modules. Also included is help creating CV’s, cover

letters, interview practice and assistance contacting potential employers.

This is a comprehensive programme fully funded by the European Social Fund.

The training is blended, with face to face tutor led sessions, practical sessions, online activities with tutor support and group work. Classroom and workshop sessions will be at a venue in Cranmore Drive (LS10) and the gardening sessions will be based at Clarkesfield Allotments in Dewsbury Road (LS11).

More details can be found on our web site at: www.skills4workleeds.org.uk

Contact: Steve 07754 391490 email: info@ skills4workleeds.org.uk

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March 2020 | South Leeds Life

Sporting Life 23

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New Chiefs in town A

by Ian Pickles

s someone who has spent most of his sporting life on Elland Road watching either Leeds United or Hunslet RLFC during their years at the greyhound stadium, the arrival of a new Ice Hockey team in the area has piqued a bit of interest.

The new Planet Ice rink on Elland Road (next to the park and ride) has only been open since late January, but the Leeds Chiefs have already played a few matches at their new home stadium (they’ve been playing away whilst it was being built).

Knowing nothing about Ice Hockey, but seeing how fervent the support can be whilst in the states, and from my own friend who is a Sheffield Steelers fan,

I decided to venture down last Sunday evening to see the Chiefs play the Milton Keynes Lightning.

I booked online for a reasonable £13 (plus booking fee) into the still under construction Seating Area and headed off to Planet Ice. Face off time (Kick off to you and me) was held up for half an hour, obviously to get the mass of Chiefs fans in! So I fitted in a couple of pre-game beers.

An overtime win on Friday night against Hull Pirates had got Leeds in the mood, and along with a good number of Chiefs shirt wearing fans there were a lot of Leeds United and Rhinos scarves, worn by people coming along to check it out.

First things first, Ice Hockey is loud and fast! The music is all part of the game, and also, so

it seems, is belting your opponent into the Perspex barriers. Milton Keynes had brought a drum (hurrah) and a small but vocal set of supporters.

The first 20 minutes was pretty even. Milton Keynes scored first, before Leeds equalised.

Then it seemed our discipline went as two Leeds players were sent off for a number of minutes, leaving only 3 outfield players and plenty of room for MK. At the klaxon I asked a lady if it was Quarter time or Half time? “Third time” she said! Oh, well. First third over and Leeds had done well to keep it 1-1.

After a fruitless search for a Hot Dog (you have to!) I got back to my seat as the teams came back onto the ice and

prepared for the action. Sadly Leeds were still in the dressing room as Milton Keynes hit them with two quick sucker punch goals, and as the last third came round it was do or die for the Chiefs.

This time with a successfully bought Hot Dog with Mustard (£4) I got back to my seat to see Leeds launch attack after attack.

The game really does go back and forth but even with my little knowledge I could see the Milton Keynes Goaltender was having a good match.

Sadly the goal never came to make it an interesting finish, and MK wrapped it up in the dying minutes with a fourth goal.

So a 1-4 loss, but the crowd didn’t seem too disappointed. I think as the Chiefs get used to their new home and fanbase there is no reason Leeds couldn’t become an Ice Hockey city. It’s 100 years since their neighbours started just over Fullerton Park and look where they are now.

Leeds Chiefs play their first home game at Planet Ice on Elland Road

Hunslet on the road to Wembley?

Continued from page 24 it was torrential. Although Man of the Match Dominic Brambani was tackled short brilliantly the game descended into a sludge fest, and when the hooter sounded everyone was relieved to get off the pitch or out of the stands.

Hunslet were due to start their BetFred League 1 campaign the following week with a trip to Keighley, but the Cougars cup game had been postponed due to the storm. With cup games taking precedence over league matches, the fixture was postponed and will now be played on 10 May. Following their week off, Hunslet travelled to Wrexham to face the North Wales Crusaders for a fourth round cup tie.

The Parksiders scored first when Jimmy Watson crossed for a

try following a penalty after 16 minutes. Ten minutes later the Crusaders got on the score sheet whilst Anthony Boardman was in the sin-bin and went further ahead with another try on the half hour.

Good kicking from Dom Brambani helped Hunslet pull a try back before North Wales scored again just before half time, giving them a 16-10 lead at the break.

At the start of the second half the Crusaders went further ahead with a penalty. With a quarter of an hour to play Hurst was sinbinned and Hunslet took the opportunity to score five minutes later as Brambani crashed over under the posts and converted his own try to make it a two point game.

Anthony Boardman completed

the comeback scoring in the corner with four minutes remaining, after the ball was moved out to the left. Brambani completed the touchline conversion to give Hunslet a 1822 win.

The Parksiders will be hoping for a big name opponent as the Super League clubs enter thr fray in the fifth round draw, which hadn’t been made when we went to press.

The delayed League 1 start will finally be made on Sunday 1 March with a long trip to Llanelli to face the West Wales Raiders.

Hunslet then face North Wales again (8 March) followed by London Skolars (22 March) both at South Leeds Satdium; and then travel to Rochdale Hornets on 29 March.

Top of the league

Middleton-based Leeds Corinthians remain top of Yorkshire 3 after a late winner against second placed Knottingley on 1 February and an easier win over lowly Rotherham 64-7. Their match against Halifax was lost to the weather. They are due to play away at Castleford on Saturday 29 February.

Photo: Andrew Cassar

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South Leeds Life | March 2020

24 Sporting Life

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Hunslet on the road to Wembley?

by Ian Pickles and Jeremy Morton

H

unslet RLFC remain unbeaten in 2020 and are through to the fifth round of the Coral Challenge Cup. They finished January and their preseason with an entertaining 48-6 win over near neighbours Leeds Rhinos under the lights at South Leeds Stadium.

With Super League starting the same weekend Rhinos unsurprisingly played their Academy side for the Harry Jepson OBE Memorial Trophy.

Hunslet played attractive rugby and looked well drilled and ready for the season ahead.

Next up, on Sunday 9 February the Parksiders faced Coventry Bears in the Challenge Cup. This was the weekend of Storm Ciara and it’s credit to the back room staff that the match went ahead.

Coventry might be an

expansion club, but they are no pushovers and held Hunslet to an 8-4 lead at half time.

Hunslet came out for the second half with a renewed vigour. Jordan Andrade playing as a ball handling forward switched the ball inside to captain Duane Straugheir who was far too strong for the Sky Blues defence, scoring in range for Brambani’s conversion and Hunslet were 14-4 up on 45 minutes.

Waves of attacks now came as Chrimes went over in the corner after good quick passing. Andrade wrestled 4 men over the line to score a try that looked impossible and Tonks was too quick and powerful scoring in the corner from a Jack Aldous reversed pass.

Jack Lee registered a trademark try from close range converted by Brambani to give Hunslet a 36-4 lead before the rain started, and when it came continued page 23

Dom Brambani scores as Hunslet beat North Wales Crusaders in the Challenge Cup. Photo: Stephen Gaunt touchlinepics.com

Ismail Khan is ready for his next fight

Khan on his way to a knockout victory over Jake Pollard

B

by Imran Marashli

eeston boxer Ismail Khan’s fourth professional fight will take place on Friday 6 March 2020 at Elland Road.

The super-featherweight fighter, who has a 3-0-0 record with two knockouts, will look to maintain his unbeaten record at the venue where he has fought all of his professional bouts to date. Doors are due to open at 6pm.

Khan, 22, is coming off the

back of a stoppage victory against Michael Horabin in his last fight in September 2019.

He was also due to fight at Elland Road in December 2019 before the bout had to be called off at late notice.

In a post on social media, Khan said: “After a frustrating end to 2019, we’re ready to smash 2020!! I’ll be having my 4th professional fight, and another step up the ladder.

“I’m just a local Leeds lad

putting my everything into boxing trying to make it, I want everyone’s support it would honestly mean the world!

TeamIsmailKhan is constantly growing and I want to make some serious noise.”

Promising a new ring walk for his next fight, Khan has also released a new music video on YouTube which takes viewers behind the scenes of his training and sparring around Leeds, as the hype around the upcoming bout builds up.