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Issue 80 | November 2021
Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton
UNDER SIEGE
In this issue:
Councillor fights for crossing safety
page 3
Beeston’s award winning Wikimedian
page 6
Mafeking residents battle Airbnb “nightmare” by Ed Carlisle
R
esidents of a Beeston neighbourhood are on tenterhooks, anxiously awaiting the outcome of a planning application relating to developments that they say have already ‘ruined’ their community – in a case that has considerable relevance to the wider public across south Leeds and beyond. The developers, for their part, claim that the residents are running a ‘hate campaign’ against them. The dispute centres around two houses on Mafeking Grove and Mafeking Avenue, just off Dewsbury Road. These were converted to short-stay serviced accommodation earlier this year by a company called Aphrodite Suites, and listed on websites including Airbnb from March. Aphrodite Suites rent out a number of these luxury ‘holiday lets’ across West Yorkshire, featuring jacuzzis, smart TVs, high-end fittings and furniture, and more; they fetch up to £230 per night. Their listings are awash with glowing reviews – although there’s also a significant thread of negatives. On the Mafekings, residents allege that their previously quiet and neighbourly cul-desacs have – to quote one resident – been “ruined’ by the anti-social behaviour of many of the Aphrodite Suite guests. They insist that the two houses – two bedroom back-to-backs that open straight onto the
street – have played host week after week to (often noisy) sex work and ‘hook-ups’, prolific drug and alcohol use, and loud late-night parties (with up to 25 attendees) that often spill into the street. Following the involvement of the police and Council officers, it emerged that the properties didn’t have the relevant planning permission – and the owners submitted a retrospective application in late July, whilst (legally) continuing to trade. Further police involvement saw the properties served with a ‘partial closure’ notice via a court order in August, forbidding them from having more than four guests at once. Residents suggest that this has marginally improved the situation, but isn’t being policed by the owners, and has been breached several times – including twice in October. Residents and their supporters have since lodged dozens of objections via the Council’s planning portal – ahead of the case soon going to Plans Panel. Those objections speak of stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, children bed-wetting, loss of privacy and parking, environmental issues such as urination in the street, and noise and light pollution. Residents say it’s been “devastating”, “a misery” and “a nightmare”. They say they have documented evidence of everything, including photos and video footage – some of
Leeds Dads return to The Holbeck
page 9
Young authors are in their Element
page 12
Residents of Mafeking Grove & Avenue want their quiet streets back which we have seen. Several also added that the owners have been dismissive, intimidating, and even threatening when challenged. In a joint statement, local mums Rachel and Emma told us: ‘We’ve all had enough. A safe and friendly family street has become a street where we don’t let our children play out: you never know who’s going to be on the street, and there’s so much inappropriate behaviour. “We’re drained, some of us are now trying to move away, and it feels like we’re losing: we're doing everything by the book, but the owners and clients have faced no repercussions.” Continues on page 3
Batsman sweeps the board
page 24
NEWS SCHOOL LIFE
11-13
COMMENT
14-15
ART LIFE
16-17
LIVES WHAT’S ON ‘Bunny Girls’ at a recent 18th birthday party held in one of the flats
2-10
SPORTING LIFE
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