Your FREE community newspaper
Issue 83 | February 2022
Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton
WE CAN STOP THIS
In this issue:
Councillor Kim Groves steps down
page 3
Your Climate Pledges
page 5
College is building on success
page 12
Appeal for community information to halt recent spate of Beeston car fires by Ed Carlisle
R
esidents in Beeston are being asked for information to help stop a series of recent arson attacks on cars in the community – but some of the victims have also expressed frustration at the apparent lack of response or action from the Police. The past months have seen an unprecedented number of arson attacks on cars, always late at night, across Beeston. They have taken place at locations including Greenmount Terrace, Sunbeam Terrace, Lady Pit Lane, Maud Avenue, Lodge Lane, Robb Street, Dewsbury Road, and Oakhurst Avenue; several of the incidents have featured multiple cars. West Yorkshire Police have eleven logged incidents, but it’s unclear if every event has been reported or not. CCTV footage of one of the incidents shows what appears to be a small group of hooded young men quickly pouring flammable liquid over the cars,
filming themselves all the while - then setting it alight (and nearly getting caught in the explosion), and running away. Footage from another incident shows a young man (apparently white Caucasian) cycle up to a car on a mountain bike, again pour flammable fluid on it, before lighting it and pedalling away. West Yorkshire Police say they are treating some of the incidents as linked. But whilst there are suggestions circulating locally that some of these have been targeted attacks – relating to community or criminal feuds – several victims insist that they are completely in the dark as to why it happened to them. Shaz* told us: “We and our neighbours had our cars burnt up, it was shocking, and we now feel really unsafe. We have no clue who it was, or why we were targeted: we don't cause no trouble, I’m alright with everyone around here. But we need something doing about it, and we as the community need to stick together.”
A Beeston lad that made good
page 19
Yorkshire Cup winners
page 23
Cars ablaze on Lodge Lane in Beeston Local resident Brian* witnessed car fires on his street, and said: “We’ve lived in Beeston for 15 years, and love this community. We’ve been shaken and unsettled by this, but it won’t put us off seeing the good and hope in the area.” Meanwhile, another recent victim Malik* commented: “I’ve lived in Beeston all my life, but this put me and my family in serious shock.” Continues on page 4
WHAT WE THINK South Leeds has its fair share of trouble, but over and over again it has also shown itself to be a strong community. We pull together when we need to and there are a lot of good people making good things happen. These incidents – committed apparently by a very small group of people, who might or might not be local – do not define us. The hard-pressed police meanwhile need our help. We encourage all residents to share all the information they can. Together, we can stop this nonsense, and get back to building a safe thriving community.
NEWS
2-11
SCHOOL LIFE
12-13
COMMENT
14-15
ART LIFE
16-17
LIVES WHAT’S ON
18-19
20-22
SPORTING LIFE
23-24
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