I am somewhat surprised to read Mr Cockcroft's letter and would ask which park in Morley he has attended. I had attended Lewisham Park, he would know that a multi use games area (MUGA) is already in place and has been for some time. MUGAs are also in situ at both Churwell Park and in Drighlington, so to say that there are none in Morley is rather inaccurate.

Far from not providing play areas in Morley, my Morley Borough Independents colleagues have worked hard to introduce new play areas at Hesketh Lane in Tingley and the Hembrigg Playing Fields in Morley at a cost of almost £250,000.

Funding

Around £100,000 in funding has also been released for work to commence at Dartmouth Park, design work is will commence in September.

Since 2004 around £1 million has been spent on play areas and parks in Morley North and Morley South, a not inconsiderable figure, I am sure you would agree.

Regarding Mr Cockcroft's comments in connection to the closure of Morley Leisure Centre, in order that the work to provide a new, modern facility can be carried out as quickly as possible the now redundant centre had to be closed.

The provision of a new £16m sports centre in Morley is a major achievement for Morley and its residents.

The timing of the closure is in order to expedite the work required to provide Morley with a facility it has deserved for many a year.

Far from ignoring the needs of local residents, it is quite clear to all that the delivery of a number of play areas at a cost of around £1m and the provision of a new £16 million sport centre, is proof, if proof were needed, that work on leisure facilities in Morley has carried on apace since 2004.

Perhaps Mr Cockcroft needs to spend less time writing misleading letters to the newspapers and spend more time out and about looking at what is really going on.

Councillor Terry Grayshon, Morley ward, Leeds City Council


In reply to Robert Finnigan's letter in last week's YEP, despite our disagreement over the facts about the size of the new Morley sports centre, we do have something in common. We are both supporters of Friends of the Earth, so I will promise to donate £50 to that charity if he can say Leeds City Council are wrong when they wrote to me stating that the new sports centre will be smaller.

Are Leeds City Council giving out incorrect information?

The figure he quotes for the cost (£15 million) of building the new Morley sports centre must also be wrong! The John Smeaton Sports Centre, it may be slightly smaller, but it cost £5.7 million to build. Surely, inflation is not so high; it was only completed last year.

NIGEL Bywater, Airedale Terrace, Morley