Pedestrians can finally cross a hazardous North Leeds road safely thanks to the installation of a new pedestrian crossing.
The new crossing on Chapeltown Road, opposite Chapel Allerton Hospital, was eventually included as part of a series of transport improvements to Chapeltown Road as a result of pressure from local councillor Eileen Taylor and her colleagues Mohammed Rafique and Jane Dowson.
The crossing at Chapel Allerton Hospital was not included on the original plans for the transport corridor improvements but Taylor managed to persuade the council that one was desperately needed to provide safe passage for people accessing the hospital.
Labour Chapel Allerton councillor Taylor said:
"Many hospital patients get off the bus opposite the hospital and were previously faced with the dangerous task of crossing the road to get to the hospital. It was an unacceptable situation."
Residents' road safety campaign pays off
A country road is to get a 30mph speed limit after five years of pressure from local residents and funding from a local councillor.
Moorland Road and Occupation Lane form a narrow country lane on the outskirts of Bramhope, with a 60mph national speed limit currently in force from the junction with Moor Road to the junction with Old Lane.
Concerned residents have been campaigning for years to get the speed reduced and made a deputation to the Council in January, claiming the narrowness of the road and the speed of traffic made it a danger for pedestrians, horse riders and the nearby scout camp.
Now, thanks in part to a donation from Conservative Adel & Wharfedale ward councillor Barry Anderson, a 30mph speed limit is to be introduced along the length of the lane.
Anderson said:
"For years residents have been campaigning to get the speed limit along this road reduced, and I have supported their calls for a 30mph limit. I am pleased that now the funding is in place the scheme can go ahead, making the road safer for local people.
"With the proximity of the scout camp grounds and the road being used by walkers, joggers and horse riders, residents were concerned at the high speed limit."
Anderson's contribution comes from his MICE (Members' Improvements in the Community) funds. The council's March executive board approved the scheme to lower the speed limit in the area.
Traffic orders to put the breaks on problem parking
Restrictions on problem parking in east Leeds have moved a step closer this week with the publication of proposed traffic orders, to the satisfaction of local councillors.
The proposals set out various waiting restrictions on several streets in Cross Gates, including the Ring Road, Manston Drive, Manston Crescent, Manston Grove, Manston Gardens, Church Lane, The Drive and Park Avenue.
Affected residents are being encouraged to respond to the proposals and their views will be then be used by the council's Highways department to reach a decision on whether to bring the parking restrictions into practice.
The latest proposals are the result of a long fight by Crossgates and Whinmoor Labour councillors Pauleen Grahame and Peter Gruen.
Grahame said:
"The publishing of these orders is an important step in the legal process and we want as many residents as possible to respond so that the Council can hear the voice of local residents loud and clear."
NEET achievement in Leeds
In the past 12 months the number of Leeds youngsters classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) or "Not Known" (no record of their circumstances) status has significantly reduced, according to the latest figures.
Since July 2009, the number of NEET children in the city has declined from 1764 cases to 1638 or 9.1% to 8.8% and the number of children in the "Not Known" category has been almost halved from 1,900 to 965.
Conservative Wetherby councillor Alan Lamb, who up until May was Lead Member for Children's Services, has welcomed the news.
"Whilst having just one child in the NEET or "Not Known" category is one too many, there is no escaping the fact that these figures are excellent news, particularly in the context of the recession when our most vulnerable families and their children are under particular strain."The progress made in the last 12 months in this area is nothing short of miraculous. Especially when you consider there has been no movement on these figures, both locally and nationally, in the last 10 years."
Councillor visits East Keswick road works
Harewood Tory councillor Matthew Robinson visited East Keswick this week to see at first hand work being done on a busy local road.
Repairs are currently under way along Main Street in East Keswick, with street repairs also taking place along some residential roads including Hollybush Green in Collingham.
Robinson said:
"Main Street in East Keswick is a key route for buses and residents, and these repairs will be of great benefit to the local community and those who visit East Keswick once they are finished.
"The last administration had a good record of investing in road repairs across the city, and I will continue to argue for our roads to receive the necessary funding to keep them up to scratch."
The work comes as both national and local government are discussing cuts in their budgets ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review scheduled for later this year.
A councillor has praised a local business for providing free health checks to local residents at the One-Stop Centre in Garforth.
Health checks praised
The Garforth branch of Lloyds Pharmacy set up a mini-surgery at Garforth Library and One-Stop Centre last week to conduct basic health checks on passing residents.
Trained healthcare professionals were on hand to undertake procedures such as blood pressure and heart rate tests to help determine health levels among visitors.
Garforth and Swillington Labour councillor Mark Dobson said:
"The feedback I have received from local residents about this service has been fantastic. This type of service brings peace of mind to many people and may also be literally life-saving to people who have not realised they have a problem."
Rugby team kitted out
The under 13s rugby team at Oulton Raiders will be dazzling their opponents on the pitch next season after Liberal Democrat Rothwell councillor Don Wilson joined forces with the local Lions to give the talented youngsters a brand new kit.
Wilson is a keen supporter of Oulton Raiders, who have over 300 junior members. He was delighted to donate £400 of his MICE money to help buy the kit, which was then matched by Rothwell and District Lions.
Last year Wilson helped secure a massive £625,000 transformation of Oulton and Woodlesford Sports and Social Club. Since then the Oulton Raiders' players have benefited from extra changing, physio and kitchen facilities. The work also extended the rugby services so that six teams can play at any one time.
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