Police have released the identity of a man who died in a road traffic collision on Stanningley Road on Saturday night.
Shane Grimes, aged 30, from Bramley, died at the scene of the collision in Stanningley Road at its junction with Armley Grange Drive.
Shane Grimes
He had been a pedestrian involved in a collision with a blue Skoda Fabia at 10.58pm on Saturday. The Skoda was travelling away from Leeds towards Stanningley Bypass.
The driver, a 20-year-old old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was later released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or the circumstances leading up to it, particularly anyone with relevant dashcam footage, is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police Major Collision Enquiry Team via 101 quoting reference 13190356285.
Armley residents are calling for speed cameras and a lower speed limit along the whole length of Stanningley Road.
Members of Armley Forum tonight backed concerns voiced by meeting chairman Cllr Jim McKenna (Lab, Armley) for urgent measures to make the road safer.
Residents also said they will organise a ‘community speed watch day’ where local people wearing hi-vis jackets join with police at the side of the road and monitor the speed of vehicles as well as help educate drivers about speeding.
They also discussed getting a petition together to call for the road to be made safer.
Concern: Cllr James McKenna
Cllr McKenna said there had been at least four fatalities on the road in the past four years and added:
“We have raised issues with Stanningley Road over the years and are anxious to get a speed camera on there. I would like to see that whole stretch of road covered and want to see it all with a 50mph limit.
“It is just not acceptable. It is a race track.”
One resident told the public meeting at Armley Library:
“Something needs to be done urgently.”
Cllr Lou Cunningham
Cllr Lou Cunningham (Lab, Armley) added:
“I know it gets really tiresome but it’s really important people keep reporting the problem to the police. We know it’s a problem because we live here, but for it to register with the police we need people to report problems so they show up as a hotspot.”
The meeting heard Speed indication Devices would be installed on Hall Lane to tackle speeding there, and police will also be increasing patrols on Town Street.
Community speed watches could also be held on Wortley Road, Dixon Road and Armley Ridge Road – all of which were flagged up as having traffic problems.
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More than 1,600 houses are set to be built across outer west Leeds after a new document from Leeds City Council was rubber-stamped this month, writes Richard Beecham.
The site allocations plan (SAP) is the city’s new housing master plan, outlining in extensive detail where new homes should be built in Leeds over the coming decade.
Following a year of disagreements which culminated in an inquiry into the plans, Leeds City Council this month finally rubber-stamped the document.
The SAP is split into 11 “housing characteristic areas”, each with their own proposed sites earmarked for housing and employment development. This article will focus on plans for the so-called “Outer West” area. This covers a large area, with Pudsey, Stanningley, Farnley, Calverley and Farsley, as well as parts of Wortley, Bramley and Armley.
As well as housing, the document lists green spaces which should be protected from development.
It is expected that developers will use the SAP as a guide on what they can build in Leeds and whereabouts, while the council claims it will give the city extra protection from “bad developments”.
Sites allocated in the new SAP:
Land at Calverley Cutting, Apperley Bridge (1.1 hectares) – 32 units. Airedale Mills, Rodley (1.9 hectares) – five units. Land at Raynville Road, Bramley (0.5 hectares) – 15 units. Land adjoining Woodhall Road and Gain Lane, Thornbury (7.4 hectares) – 196 units. Land at Bradford Road / Sunnybank Lane, Pudsey (0.6 hectares) – 22 units. Land at Daleside Road, Thornbury (3.4 hectares) – 89 units. Hill Foot Farm, Pudsey (2.7 hectares) – 60 units. Owlcotes Farm / Owlcotes Gardens, Pudsey (3.3 hectares) – 100 units. Land at Waterloo Road, Pudsey (1.1 hectares) – 28 units. Dick Lane, Thornbury (7.5 hectares) – 206 units. Land off Tyersal Close (0.9 hectares) – 27 units. Land off Tyersal Road, Pudsey (1.1 hectares) – 33 units. Land off Tyersal Court, Tyersal (2.9 hectares) – 46 units. Harper Gate Farm, Tyersal Lane (11.2 hectares) – 283 units. Land at Station Street, Pudsey (0.5 hectares) – 20 units. Musgrove House, Crawshaw Road, Pudsey (0.4 hectares) – 14 units. Edison Business Centre, Ring Road, Bramley (1.8 hectares) – 64 units. Wortley High School (6.6 hectares) – 40 units. Land at Upper Wortley Road, Wortley (0.5 hectares) – 18 units.
Controversial: The TV Harrison ground in Wortley
Leeds City Boys’ pitch (TV Harrison ground), Oldfield Lane, Wortley (1.7 hectares) – 61 units. Land at Stanningley Road, Leeds (0.6 hectares) – 22 units. Wood Nook, Pudsey (5.4 hectares) – 60 units. Stonebridge Mills, Farnley (3.6 hectares) – 75 units. Land at Heights Lane, Armley (0.8 hectares) – 28 units. Land at Hough Top Court, Pudsey (2.5 hectares) – 76 units. Land at Waterloo Lane, Leeds (1.2 hectares) – 20 units.
This leaves a total of 1,640 new homes to be built in outer west Leeds in the coming years.
Controversial: Kirklees Knoll Farsley. Photo: Don Harris/Facebook
The document also stated that 1.6 hectares of land at Rodley, and 17.8 hectares of land at Kirklees Knoll in Farsley – which has been the subject of a long-running planning battle – should be safeguarded from development until at least 2028.
The land off Tyersal Court was deemed suitable for school use, while a new Gypsy and traveller site is proposed on land on the corner of Tong Road and Lakeside Road, Wortley.
A further four sites were also allocated for general employment use:
Land read of Stanningley Field Close, Swinnow (0.5 hectares). Land at Stanningley Road and Swinnow Road, Pudsey (0.4 hectares). Expansion of land in Phoenix Way (1.2 hectares). Wortley Low Mills, Whitehall Road (1.7 hectares).
A further 238 sites were allocated as protected green space.
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Obviously, the hill had something to do with cabbages but I was hoping it would be something a bit less obvious. It turns out I was hoping in vain!
The hill, just off Leysholme Cresent in Wortley, is said to have poor soil for growing food except for cabbages – hence the name Cabbage Hill.
Otley might have its Chevin for views but the view you get from Cabbage Hill easily matches it in my book. The views of Leeds are amazing.
Christ Church Upper Armley. Photo: Mark Stevenson
When I was having a walk on the hill I got talking to locals John and Harry (who is going to be the best white goods delivery driver there is ).
John was a fountain of knowledge telling me about the mines that dotted the area and that the hill itself is thought to have a connection to the monks at Kirkstall.
Farnley Academy can be seen in the distance.
As much as I like my history to me the hill is well worth a visit just for the views.
There is an information board there telling you the names of what you can see and how far away they are.
Community campaigners, traders and politicians have come together to mark a government grant which could act as a catalyst to improve Armley Town Street.
From over 40 towns seeking the award, Armley was one of only four (with Beverley, Christchurch and Digbeth) to be successful.
The BID will be developed with the private sector over the coming months so the businesses can determine what they want to achieve to improve Town Street over the next 5 years.
A BID is an extra levy, on top of business rates, that is paid for by business rate payers and used to benefit businesses within a specified area. The levy should add to and enhance, rather than replace or distract, current provisions provided to the area by the local authority.
Jonathan Simmonds, Chair of Armley business group and the recently formed Armley Action Group (AAG), said:
“This BID funding will enable local businesses to agree what wants doing to strengthen the main shopping area.
“Once agreed, a vote will be held in about a year’s time to see if they are willing to financially contribute through the creation of a Business Improvement District. For smaller businesses the contribution could be well under £100 per year.”
And this sentiment was endorsed by Lou Megson, who led AAG’s request for the funds:
“This is great news for Armley. So much has been done and so much more needs to be done to let Town Street realise its wonderful potential.
“Working together things are now happening. We will now start discussing ideas with the business community to ensure the way forward offers the very best opportunities for them.”
Armley MP Rachel Reeves said:
“The money will ensure more can be done to make Armley a better place to live, work and shop with ever greater partnership working between the local authority, residents and businesses.”
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UPDATED: 5.43pm: Police say Kevin Monterio has been found safe and well.
ORIGINAL POST: West Yorkshire Police have launched an appeal for information to help locate missing nine-year-old boy Kevin Monterio, writes Keely Bannister.
Kevin was last seen in the Armley/Bramley area between the hours of 7am and 9am this morning (Sunday 21st July).
He’s believed to live on the Heights estate.
He is a mixed race male, light skinned, short black hair, skinny build, wearing a blue \adidas tracksuit.
Anyone with information on Kevin’s whereabouts is asked to phone West Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting log 619 21/07/19.
Aged 16-25? Learn how to survive this summer with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service! writes Keely Bannister.
Are you aged between 16 and 25 years old? Currently unemployed, not in training or education? Do you enjoy the outdoors? This could be the course for you.
Attendees will have their experience in the outdoors transformed through learning the core skills of survival – shelter, water, fire and food.
The course, named Get Started With Survival, starts on Monday, 19th August and lasts for one week ending on Monday, 26th August.
It takes place at Stanningley Fire Station on Stanningley Road with travel expenses paid as well as breakfast and lunch being provided each day.
There is a taster day on Tuesday 13th August.
To register your place or ask any questions call 0113 236 8399.
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Armley-based Forge Recycling has submitted a planning application to Leeds City Council to expand their current waste transfer station to help increase their recycling capacity from 3,900 tonnes per annum to 49,000 tonnes, writes Keely Bannister.
Forge are looking to expand their current site, which is based on Forge Lane at Scotch Park Trading Estate, as well as utilising land they have recently bought next to their current site.
At the moment, the company has to tip its collection rounds off site. This development, which will create a Material Recycling Facility (MRF), will mean that Forge Recycling can take control of their own waste and maximise the quality and volume of recycling which is processed in the city.
If granted permission, the development of the site will see an additional 18 full time staff positions created which will be made up of:
Two office workers
12 drivers workers
Four operational staff
Concerns have been raised by the council about the potential impacts of the development on the local environment caused by dust and litter.
In response, Forge have created a management plan to minimise any issues, which includes regular site sweeping and litter picking, waste only being permitted to be tipped in enclosed areas, water used to suppress dust as required and covering of skips and stores.
As the Northern boundary of the site is approximately 25m from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, particular attention will be given to protecting this area, with litter picks leading to the canal and netting above the boundary wall.
A document submitted as part of the application proposes that there will be an additional 34 one-way trips daily, with 14 being attributed to staff in the morning and the other 20 being spread throughout the day.
The document says that the impact on the local highway network will be negligible due to the type of roads in question and the amount of HGVs that currently travel on them.
As is currently the situation, waste will be accepted to the site, which is accessed via Canal Road and then Forge Lane, 24 hours a day – however the waste will be only be processed between 7am and 10pm.
Forge Recycling have been in operation at the site since 2010. They have become active in the Leeds community, supporting many community projects including sponsoring Armley FC.
The company helped institute the Recycling on the Go initiative in Leeds City Centre as well as introducing Yorkshire’s first cup recycling service which has so far seen 365,000 cups recycled.
You can read all the details of the planning application and comment on it here.
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Kirkstall Abbey and Pudsey Park have once again won a prestigious Green Flag Award, writes Keely Bannister.
The Green Flag Award scheme, now in its 22nd year, “recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces” as well as “setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world”.
Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said:
“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We congratulate each and every winner on their fantastic achievement.”
Ruins: Kirkstall Abbey. Photo: MARK STEVENSON
The two West Leeds Parks are joined by five other Leeds parks and greenspaces – Otley Chevin, Golden Acre Park, Roundhay Park, Temple Newsam estate and Middleton Park – as winners of the award.
Meanwhile, there’s still time to vote Armley & Gotts Park as the best in the UK.
Louise Megson, an Armley Good Stuffer, recently shared with The Dispatch why she will be casting her vote for Armley & Gotts Park:
“Armley and Gotts Park is a space that has something for everyone: woodland trails, wide open spaces for the dogs to run and a link to the river and canal waterways.
“It has been lovely to watch how the community have started to cherish the space bringing in the edible fruit and veg in our newly designed rose garden.
“The golf course cafe is good for Sunday lunch and community groups.
“Down at the park we have great events such as Breeze, Teddy Bear Picnic and Cherry Tree Blossom parties to name just a few.”
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More than 2,000 people flocked to Armley for the annual festival on Saturday. Here are community reporter Mat Dale‘s photographs capturing the fun of the big day …
Members of the Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Temple enjoyed the day. Photo: Mat DaleEnjoying the entertainment on stage at Armley Festival 2019. Photo: Mat DaleHead over heels for Armley! Photo: Mat DaleMaking the most of it on Armley Moor. Photo: Mat DaleMembers of the Armley Common Right Trust at their stall. Photo: Mat DaleLeeds Lord Mayor Cllr Eileen Taylor opened Armley Festival 2019. Photo: Mat DaleTime for an ice cream and a break. Photo: Mat DaleArmley winner: Up for the cup. Photo: Mat Dale
Almost 130 years since it was first in service, a mechanised masterpiece at Armley’s Leeds Industrial Museum will be firing visitors’ imaginations as part of a new exhibition celebrating the history of engines in Leeds.
Made for the City of Leeds by the famed Shand Mason and Co in 1891, the fire engine, complete with a dazzling boiler crafted from Yorkshire iron, was employed at the old Gipton Fire Station.
Able to raise steam on its way to a fire and needing only two firefighters to operate it, its “double vertical” design became the most successful fire engine of its time.
The vintage fire engine is one of a number of feats of Leeds engineering which will be on display as part of the museum’s new Power House exhibition, which opens to the public this week.
The driving force behind centuries of industry and innovation in Leeds, other exhibits include a Hattersley Pickard Fan, which in times gone by was used in the traditional Russian steam room at historic Bramley Baths.
John McGoldrick, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of industrial history, said:
“Engines have been the heartbeat of some of the biggest and most important innovations of the last few centuries and their rapid evolution and development has gone hand-in-hand with major advances in fields such as science, production and travel.
“In Leeds, those machines became a cornerstone of the city’s status as global industrial powerhouse, enabling Leeds to become one of the world’s leading lights in the production of wool and textiles and locomotive building.
“Those accomplishments, spurred on by the power of engines, left a legacy which can still be seen all around us today, not only in our history and heritage but in the city’s modern-day reputation as a centre for engineering excellence.”
Visitors to Power House will also get the chance to see Fiona Elizabeth, the museum’s vintage mill engine, in action.
The engine takes her name from Fiona Lister, descendant of Steward Tempest, owner of Armley Mills in the early 1900s, and Elizabeth Tempest, daughter of the last owner of the mill, which today houses Leeds Industrial Museum.
After being employed in a flour mill in Kent and at a dye works in Lower Wortley, at the end of her working life the engine fell into disrepair but from 1980, a team of volunteers and museum staff spent around 4,700 hours restoring the machine to working condition.
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Armley Moor hosted this year’s fun-filled Armley Festival. The Festival team were delighted that, despite a dodgy forecast, the weather held as Armley welcomed over 2,000 festival go-oers.
Mik Artistik, fresh from his success at Glastonbury festival and on his way to Latitude, provided a lively, quirky and talented opening which paved the way for a showcase of artists and musicians.
These included fellow Glasto performer Charlie Limm, local talent Eric Spike, who had teens queuing up for selfies after his performance and The Redwood River Band, who had locals up dancing and cheering to round off the festival.
Alongside the musical and entertainment crowds were wowed by the pop up acrobatic encounters throughout the day and lulled by the Institute of Crazy Dance Hammock boat, complete with its very own crew.
There were over 40 stalls at the festival, with support and food stalls from the local churches, Mosque and Temple.
There was a fine array of activities courtesy of Artists from Assembly House and local Breeze inflatables. There was also input from our local Neighbourhood Policing Team and local Fire Service.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds toured the festival and spoke very highly of the event and the way the community was coming together. One of the highlights for the locals was the Armley’s Got Talent competition, with a range of acts performing for our discerning judges.
The whole vibe of the festival was positive and inclusive and don’t worry if you missed it, the festival team are already planning more events for Armley.
If you would like to be involved in any way we would love to hear from you either via our Facebook page or email armleyfest@gmail.com.
Armley Town Street has missed out on a slice of a £675 million fund aimed at regenerating local high streets.
Local authorities were encouraged by Government to bid for grants of up to £25 million to be spent to help district centres “facing significant challenges”, with Armley Town Street chosen by Leeds City Council back in March.
But the council has been told that its bid to the Future High Streets Fund had been unsuccessful.
The Government received more than 300 expressions of interest from across the country, with around 50 towns and cities successful.
In a joint statement, Armley councillors Lou Cunningham, Jim McKenna and Alice Smart (all Lab, Armley) expressed their disappointment. They said:
“Armley councillors were extremely disappointed to receive the news that Armley has not been selected to progress to the next round of the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF).
“We have been encouraged to consider renewing our Expression of Interest for support for Armley Town Street for the next round of the Fund, which will be announced in the New Year.
“In the meantime we will continue to support the work of volunteer groups who are working hard to make a difference within our Town Street area , and work with them in looking at the feasibility of creating a Business Improvement District in Armley.”
Leeds City Council’s bid included initial plans to improve the appearance and vitality of Town Street, improve safety for all road users and pedestrians as well as support new investment which respects the heritage of the area.
The money would have helped fund investment in infrastructure, such as public and other transport access, as well as work to help support new housing and workspaces.
It could also have been used towards work to encourage homes and workspaces to replace under-used retail units.
Politicians and traders celebrate the BID before last week’s Armley Festival. Photo: Mat Dale
A BID is an extra levy, on top of business rates, that is paid for by business rate payers and used to benefit businesses within a specified area.
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Courageous Sarah Pearson, from Armley, overcame real fear to complete an awe-inspiring 15,000ft (three miles) skydive.
Her death-defying feat has so far raised more than £600 for the Humankind charity. Sarah, who is in recovery from alcohol dependency, says Humankind saved her life.
Sarah was helped by Forward Leeds, one of Humankind’s drug and alcohol services which has bases across the city, including Armley and Burley. She said:
“The whole experience of doing a tandem skydive was both terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure!
“The climb up to 15,000ft was stomach-churning enough, but when the shutter door was rolled up and I watched the first few skydivers exit the plane, I was giving serious thought to cancelling, and was nearly in tears.
“But my instructor was amazing – very professional and reassuring – and once he’d prised my hands off the sides of the plane door, we were out and in freefall!
“The canopy must have opened after just a minute or so, but it felt like a lot longer!
“I pretty much screamed on and off all the way down, and afterwards my instructor Mick said it was the funniest tandem he’d ever done!”
She said emotions were running high when she was reunited with her family on the ground. There were lots of hugs, and tears, and “reflections on how far we’d come as a family since I got into recovery”.
And Sarah added:
“I’m so grateful to Humankind and Forward Leeds for all their support, getting me into detox and early recovery, and then working with me at 5 WAYS to keep me engaged and motivated and sustain my recovery.”
“My skydive is mine, and my family’s way of saying thank you, for everything.”
Sarah’s skydive took place at the Skydive Academy in Peterlee, Co. Durham.
Sarah now works as a Business Support Officer for West Yorkshire – Finding Independence (WY-FI) a partnership of seven non-profit organisations across West Yorkshire for which Humankind is the lead partner.
Anna Headley, Humankind Executive Director, said:
“This is an incredible effort by Sarah and we’re all really proud of her. Sarah’s a great example of what Humankind is all about – helping people to build healthier lives that have meaning and value for themselves and their families.”
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Leeds City Council has admitted it needs more help from the Government to fix the city’s roads, after figures reveal the authority receives more than 20 complaints a day about potholes, writes Richard Beecham.
Information released by the council following a freedom of information request show more than 37,000 complaints have been made to the authority about the state of roads in the district between 2014 and 2019.
The council says it has a “robust” system for managing highways in the city, but admitted it is dealing with a backlog of maintenance and needed “greater financial support” from central government.
The figures also show a huge disparity between areas, with roads in Harewood receiving four times the number of complaints as those in Rothwell.
A total of 37,637 pothole complaints were made about Leeds roads between April 2014 and March 2019, while £2m was spent during that time by the authority filling in the holes.
The council wards of Harewood (2,376), Wetherby (2,218) and City & Hunslet (2,104) broke the 2,000 barrier for the number of complaints made over the five-year period.
Farnley & Wortley ward has the highest number of pothole reports – 1,358 – in West Leeds, followed by Calverley & Farsley.
Meanwhile the Middleton Park (651), Rothwell (599) and Headingley (328) wards saw the lowest number of pothole complaints.
Responding to the figures, a spokesperson for Leeds City Council said:
“We have a robust system for managing our highways in Leeds and proactively plan maintenance to reduce the amount of reactive repairs needed. We carry out routine safety inspections to identify potholes for repair, as well as reviewing local reports.
“The council has increased spending in the last 10 years on planned maintenance to reduce the number of potholes forming on the roads.
“However, we do still need greater financial support from government. It is estimated that the cost of restoring the roads in England and Wales to a reasonable, steady, state would be approximately £9.79bn.
“Currently, we are dealing with a backlog of outstanding maintenance on our road network. More support needs to be given to local authorities to help us improve the condition of our roads to tackle problems which affect all road users every day.”
Kirkstall-based transport campaigner Stuart Long agreed that the council needed more resources to deal with the problem, but called on the authority to make it easier to complain about road problems. He said:
“They don’t have the budget – they need the government to help out.
“But when you make a complaint, everything has to go through an online system.”
How your ward rates
Leeds City Council received more than 37,000 complaints about potholes over a five year period – that’s around 20 a day.
The figures come following a freedom of information request, and also break down the complaints by council ward.
We also have statistics on the total equivalent spend by the council on filling in potholes over that same five year period, from April 2014 to March 2019.
Find your ward below:
Ward
Total complaints 2014-2019
Adel and Wharfedale
995
Alwoodley
1755
Ardsley and Robin Hood
697
Armley
1137
Beeston and Holbeck
1218
Bramley and Stanningley
755
Burmantofts Richmond Hill
833
Calverley and Farsley
1182
Chapel Allerton
1547
City and Hunslet
2104
Crossgates and Whinmoor
863
Farnley and Wortley
1358
Garforth and Swillington
1029
Gipton and Harehills
1470
Guiseley and Rawdon
1152
Harewood
2376
Headingley
328
Horsforth
950
Hyde Park and Woodhouse
774
Killingbeck and Seacroft
1193
Kippax and Methley
653
Kirkstall
884
Middleton Park
651
Moortown
1355
Morley North
703
Morley South
906
Otley and Yeadon
1157
Pudsey
1179
Rothwell
599
Roundhay
1865
Temple Newsam
815
Weetwood
936
Wetherby
2218
And here’s the amount of money spent repairing the potholes…
Ward
Total Cost – 2014-2019
Adel and Wharfedale
£52,161
Alwoodley
£92,341
Ardsley and Robin Hood
£37,900
Armley
£60,577
Beeston and Holbeck
£65,777
Bramley and Stanningley
£39,921
Burmantofts Richmond Hill
£43,803
Calverley and Farsley
£63,269
Chapel Allerton
£83,086
City and Hunslet
£109,310
Crossgates and Whinmoor
£45,825
Farnley and Wortley
£71,152
Garforth and Swillington
£54,001
Gipton and Harehills
£80,301
Guiseley and Rawdon
£60,364
Harewood
£127,498
Headingley
£17,228
Horsforth
£51,107
Hyde Park and Woodhouse
£41,974
Killingbeck and Seacroft
£63,409
Kippax and Methley
£36,296
Kirkstall
£46,388
Middleton Park
£34,657
Moortown
£71,785
Morley North
£37,860
Morley South
£49,389
Otley and Yeadon
£61,345
Pudsey
£62,392
Rothwell
£31,945
Roundhay
£98,571
Temple Newsam
£42,615
Weetwood
£48,939
Wetherby
£119,792
____________
Local news is in crisis. Can you help?
These are challenging times for local news providers – and producing your daily dose of West Leeds Dispatch comes at a cost!
We’re a small, community-led news organisation which needs your support to keep delivering quality journalism. We want to continue to maintain our openness and protect our precious independence – and above all to connect people with what’s happening in their part of West Leeds. Every reader contribution, big or small, helps us to do that.
For as little as £4 a month (£1 a week) you can support us – and it only takes a minute.
Or set up a standing order with your bank: Contact us on Paywestleedsdispatch@gmail.com if you’d like to do this.
IF you are undertaking a more extensive spring clean, working on a DIY project, or generating commercial levels of waste, you are most likely looking for something bigger than a wheelie bin in which to dispose of the waste.
Firstly, assess the amount of
waste you have. If you only have half a skip’s worth of waste after minor
domestic renovations, perhaps it is more convenient and time-efficient to take
a trip to the local
recycling centre yourself.
If you decide that you require a
skip, you need to choose which size of container you require. Skip sizes are
measured in cubic yards. As a rule of thumb:
Skip for the garden, household
waste, and home clearance waste:
40-45 bin bags – 4-yard midi skip
Skips for builders and commercial
use:
80-90 bin bags – 8-yard large builders’ skip
Skips for builders, commercial
use, and building sites:
100-200 bin bags – 14-16-yard jumbo skip
Roll-on roll-off skips in various sizes and
capacities
Make sure to load your skip
respecting the level load, so it is safe to collect and transport for the skip
lorry. Skip drivers are legally bound to carry only safe amounts of waste;
therefore, you need to order an appropriate size. If you overfill your skip,
you’ll be charged more.
Where can you load a skip?
Once you have hired a skip, make
sure you have a designated space where your chosen skip hire company can
deliver it and collect it. On private lands such as your driveway or front lawn,
you are free to place your skip as you like.
If placed on the side of the
road, you’ll need to contact your local
council and obtain a permit. Arranging a permit can take up to ten days,
therefore you need to book your skip in advance. Some companies will arrange
the permit for you if you ask (us being one of them).
If you place a skip on the
roadside without a permit, you may face a fine of up to £1,000. Make sure to
schedule the skip collection with your provider before your licence expires.
What waste can you put in your skip?
Skips can be used for the disposal
of all household, garden, and building waste after DIY, home refurbishment, or
gardening projects.
It is safe to place items such as
bricks, plastic, general waste, soil, wood, tiles, and scrap metal in a skip.
Waste that is not accepted in skips includes:
Hazardous and corrosive waste
Paint, oils, and liquid
Aerosols
Gas canisters
Asbestos
Electric appliances such as fridges and TVs
Raw meat
Batteries
Some prohibited items are not
allowed in mixed skips but can be collected in a separate skip. If you wish to
dispose of any of the prohibited items, you must contact your local council,
who will consult you on where to dispose of your waste safely.
What happens to your waste after collection?
Once collected, the waste is
transported to a recycling facility, where it is sorted for recycling to
minimise the amount of waste being sent to landfill.
Skip suppliers must be certified
waste licence carriers — meaning that after collection, your waste will be
disposed of as per your local council regulations.
A waste license also works as an assurance that your waste will not be fly tipped, as the Environmental Agency monitors licensed waste management and recycling facilities.
The walk takes a slow relaxed pace to allow people to share stories & local history as well as a spot of foraging which are pointed out along the route so don’t forget the camera & foraging basket. There will also be the opportunity to do some pond dipping, sailing paper boats & bark rubbing.
Under 16’s free & £5 per adult to help us cover costs, create communal growing spaces & provide educational opportunities for all to enjoy.
Everyone is welcome to bring a picnic or food to share.
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead. The walk is wheelchair / buggy friendly
For more information please contact incrediblekirkstall@gmail.com
Armley Community Hub, Stockshill, LS12 1UQ
Various free activities throughout the summer inc multi-sport activities, storytelling and secret cinema.
Suitable for children aged 5 to 12 years. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult for all activities other than multi-sport.
Hot and cold vegetarian and halal friendly food provided.
Arts and crafts, multimedia workshops, and sports activities. Visit the performance tent and a large range of inflatables such as obstacle courses, rock climbers, challenge games and sporting inflatables as well as an under 5 play section.
All welcome. Free event.
Breeze in Armley Park 2015. Photo: West Leeds Dispatch
For the second year we are looking for the lost Magical Doors! We have glitter tattoos, face painting, magic wands making, story telling, little rainbows taster, Fairies Wardrobe stall and fancy dress competition with fantastic prizes for 2 winners!
Refreshments and biscuits available.
Booking in advance is essential. Children £5. Adults £1. PayPal or bank transfer.
Christ Church, Armley Ridge Road, LS12 3LN
Food Frenzy: Young People’s Cooking, Tuesdays throughout the summer, 2pm to 4pm
Cook and eat, meet new friends and make something tasty. Suitable for children aged 8 to 17 years.
Funded by Inner West Community Committee. Free to attend but you must book a place. Please contact esther@fgfleeds.org or call 01133504207 or 07523515268.
Climbing Lab, Kirkstall Industrial Park, LS4 2AZ
Free indoor bouldering taster session.
Thursday & Friday afternoons throughout the summer.
Arts and crafts, multimedia workshops, and sports activities. Visit the performance tent and a large range of inflatables such as obstacle courses, rock climbers, challenge games and sporting inflatables as well as an under 5 play section.
All welcome. Free event.
Blue carpet: Bluebells under the trees in Farnley Park. Photo: Dave Dalton
Farsley/Calverley Children’s Centre, Farsley Farfield Primary School, Cote Lane, LS28 5ED
Playtime at Farsley/Calverley Children’s Centre – Tuesday 27th August 10.30-11.30am.
£1.50 per child. For adults and children aged 2-5 and their siblings.
The camps will cover football, rugby, cricket, athletics, a fun ping-pong and pool competition, cheerleading, inflatable footpool, and zorbing. There will be a sports day with prizes and rewards.
£15 per child per day or £50 for all four days
Contact 07766 113801 or e-mail info@ledsports.co.uk.
Farsley Library, Old Road, LS28 5DH
Aliens Love Underpants Workshop, Wed 21st Aug, 2pm to 3pm.
Meraki Creative Hub will be retelling the story of Aliens love Underpants in a way you’ve never seen before.
As well as an interactive performance, children will be able to explore the story through a variety of sensory play activities, crafts and games. With characters from the story to chat, play and sing with, too! Booking essential.
Den building, bug hunting, nature crafts, games and lots more. Meet at Gott’s Mansion House. All children must be supervised by a responsible adult. Younger siblings can attend with older ones.
Booking essential. Please call Claire on 07891277006 or e-mail: claire.rogers@leeds.gov.uk.
The kids will use bug pots, magnifying glasses, head torches and bat detectors to explore the grounds and woodland around Gotts Mansion looking for wildlife. Let’s see what exciting creatures we can find or hear.
All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Booking essential. Contact Claire 07891 277006 or email: claire.rogers@leeds.gov.uk.
Gym Magic, Unit 5, Grangefield Industrial Estate, Pudsey, LS28 6QN
Breeze Camp, Mon 5th Aug to Fri 9th Aug, 9am to 4pm.
A week-long multi-activity camp for eight – 13 year olds. Come along and join in a wide range of activities including sports, arts and crafts, drama, music, games, outdoor survival and more.
All welcome to join us on an Incredible photography & nature walk through the kirkstall valley where you can share / tips Ideas, learn new skills, visit amazing locations inc local history, natural landscape & wildlife.
Under 16s free. £5 per adult. The walk starts from outside the Abbey House Museum at 11am.
All welcome to bring along your own equipment or have a go with ours.
Everyone will receive free digital copies of all pictures taken via e-mail / social media. For more info contact incrediblekirkstall@gmail.com.
Mini Dragons, Every Tuesday throughout the summer, 10am to 11am.
Create your own mini dragon, and prepare to get messy!
Takes place in the visitor centre, but if the weather is nice activities can be moved outside.
For Under 5s. Bring along older siblings too – everyone’s welcome!
Kirkstall Children’s Centre, St Stephen’s Church Hall, Norman Street, LS5 3JN
Free for children under 16 & £5 per adult to cover costs, create communal growing spaces & provide other educational opportunities for all to enjoy.
The walk takes a slow relaxed pace to allow people to enjoy the local nature sites, share stories, local history as well as a spot of foraging along the canal & bird watching which are all pointed out along the route so don’t forget the camera & foraging basket. The children will also have the opportunity to do some pond dipping, paper boat making / sailing & other activities depending on weather.
Dogs are not welcome in the nature reserve.
Younger children are welcome to bring bikes or scooters as it is a longer walk. The walk is wheelchair / buggy friendly.
Everyone is welcome to bring a picnic or food to share and we are happy to bring along some herbal tea & other foraged treats.
For more information, contact incrediblekirkstall@gmail.com.
Kirkstall Leisure Centre, Kirkstall Lane, LS5 3BE
Various activities throughout the summer inc Baby Boogie, Mermaid and Shark Experience and Mini Activities.
Make a Pacman game, from scratch in Scratch. During this session you’ll draw your own maze and characters and code your Pacman to gobble up all the tokens and escape the hungry ghost – if not, your players will be declared the loser! Suitable for ages 7-13.
Meraki Creative Hub will be retelling the story of Aliens Love Underpants in a way you’ve never seen before. As well as an interactive performance, children will be able to explore the story through a variety of sensory play activities, crafts and games. With characters from the story to chat, play and sing with, too! Booking essential.
Prepare for blast off! We are seeking budding astronauts for a mind-boggling mission to restock the Moon Library. Join us for a series of space themed challenges and activities to test your outerspace abilities. There will be cosmic codes to crack, out of this world crafts and intergalactic games. Have you got what it takes?
Sports, outdoor games, arts activities and inflatable. There will also be smaller rides and refreshment stands.
All welcome. Free event. Funded by Leeds Community Committee.
Swinnow Community Centre, Swinnow Lane, LS13 4RF
Breeze Camp, Tue 27th Aug to Fri 30th Aug, 9am to 4pm.
A week-long multi-activity camp for 8 – 13 year olds. Come along and join in a wide range of activities including sport, arts and crafts, drama, music, games, outdoor survival and more.
Booking required. £16 per day or £65 for the week.
Have a great summer!
____________
Local news is in crisis. Can you help?
These are challenging times for local news providers – and producing your daily dose of West Leeds Dispatch comes at a cost!
We’re a small, community-led news organisation which needs your support to keep delivering quality journalism. We want to continue to maintain our openness and protect our precious independence – and above all to connect people with what’s happening in their part of West Leeds. Every reader contribution, big or small, helps us to do that.
For as little as £4 a month (£1 a week) you can support us – and it only takes a minute.
Or set up a standing order with your bank: Contact us on Paywestleedsdispatch@gmail.com if you’d like to do this.
A crowdfunding appeal to raise £15,000 for a lifeline minibus for older people in Armley has been launched.
Elderly help group Armley Helping Hands has launched the appeal as its existing minibus is starting to age and a new one is needed to provide door to door services in Leeds 12.
Armley Helping Hands CEO Dawn Newsome said:
“The transport service is vital in enabling our service user to participate in community activities with in their community and enjoy their retirement years.”
A small grants programme for residents and businesses in the Kirkstall Valley who want to to maintain or improve the local environment is open for its second round.
The first round of applications led to an interactive awards evening, during which four grants were awarded along with knowledge, contacts and mentors to support projects in the Kirkstall Valley Area.
Award winners included:
Julie Botham – Bramley Bloomers Edible Beds
Current plan is to source three areas in Bramley that the community can access and maintain to grow vegetables and benefit from.
They will use sustainable and eco friendly methods of growing and work across generations, to learn from and inform their work.
Angela McConnell – Broadlea Better Community
Residents and Tenants Association
Running a series of workshops throughout August to build Bug Houses with families who usually attend the homework club.
These will then be put in gardens to look after the wildlife in the area of the Broadleas.
The Bug Houses will be checked on a regular basis with the children and find out which insects are living in the Bug houses and to teach the children all about the insects and Bugs that we don’t see everyday.
Grace Hills – Eden Crescent
Grace has been engaging the community in Eden Crescent and teaching children how to grow things such as trees, plants and vegetables.
Grace is going to use this funding along with her neighbours to continue planting to combat climate change and working together to shape the neighbourhood and make it greener.
Nicola William, Armley
Nicola is working along with the community to encourage the hedgehog population to recover.
She will be running workshops to build sustainable hedgehog homes and also sharing the importance of creating access routes, introducing plants that attract bugs, footprint tunnels (which help record hedgehog activity) and hosting garden habitat seminars to educate and encourage communities.
Nicola has already attended Kirkstall Festival with an estimated attendance of 25,000 to share her knowledge.
A spokesperson for Kirkstall Valley Development Trust said:
“We are really proud of their achievements so far and are looking forward to seeing how their projects take shape and hearing the feedback to the next round of applicants in October. “
Applications for the next round of awards in October
are now open. Proposals from people of all ages, especially those who are new
to the world of grant funding and applications, are very welcome.
Applicants can apply via the grants scheme website. People who have any questions, or who would like some support with the application process, can e-mail getinvolved@kirkstallvalleygrants.org or call Open Source Arts on 0113 246 8975.
The scheme is sponsored by Power to Change, and co-ordinated by Kirkstall Road-based Open Source Arts and Kirkstall Valley Development Trust (KVDT), Kirkstall Valley Grants officially launched in June 2019.
Community space
KVDT has signed the lease on itscommunity space – the unit next to Pure Gym on Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park.
Local business Eco-Loft has fitted toilets for free and Abbey Museum has donated furniture. Electrics and water are being sorted but the group needs help to decorate.
If you can help with that or have any projects / activities you would like to deliver in the Unit from September, contact Adele Rae on adele.rae@kvdt.org.uk – 07900 986570
