RARELY is the promise of a new children's play area something to get overly excited about - except perhaps for the youngsters themselves.
However, the fact that designs for a new city living development in Leeds are set to include a play area is a sign that the city is moving in the right direction.
Architects behind the ISIS regeneration project on the waterfront at Granary Wharf a
re keen to factor in the facilities in a bid to appeal to families.
It's a smart move.
Now that the days of the buy-to-let bonanza appear to be behind us, it's more important than ever to make the city centre an attractive place to live.
Not just for party-loving twenty-somethings, but families keen to settle down and make their homes there.
Encouraging families to live, work and play in the city centre can only be good news for Leeds in the long-term.
But that means providing the sort of facilities they would expect to have within easy reach. Things like shops, doctors and somewhere for their children to play.
It is about creating communities where people want to raise families.
Not just being a base for a transient population keen to give city living a try because it's handy for the best bars and clubs.
A play area is a small step. But at least it shows we're heading in the right direction.
Relaunch Hope A WATERBUS is a great way to get Leeds moving.
So it's a pity a weekday service between Clarence Dock and Victoria Bridge has been shelved after failing to pull in the punters.
We still think it was the right idea - just maybe at the wrong time.
With exciting new shops, restaurants and a casino headed for Clarence Dock it could well be worth resurrecting a few months down the line.
No doubt the continuing weekend services for shoppers and visitors will get busier and that could easily spill over to the weekdays too.
It may have hit the rocks for the time being but the weekday waterbus isn't sunk just yet.
It's a Deal LEEDS United are set to leave the Premier League for a second time.
The city's women's team are changing their name after signing a sponsorship deal with Leeds Carnegie.
Having struggled since cash-strapped Leeds United were forced to pull the plug on funding it's great news for the ladies.
Here's hoping the new deal lifts them to even greater heights.
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