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Headway (issue 22) - October 2007
Click here to read the latest edition of Headway.
Headway aims to let local residents know which way we're heading in & around Headingley. Local community associations have got together to share & circulate information – Cardigan Triangle, Far Headingley, Headingley Network, Kirkstall Village, Moor Parks, North Hyde Park, South Headingley & Turnways. We'd be pleased if other associations joined us. Everyone is invited to send us any news that matters to Headingley. Headway is an initiative of Leeds HMO Lobby, the collective campaigning for local housing balance.
Here's how it works: Latest news is published on an ongoing basis on the Headingley Community website. The printed version of Headway comes out every quarter. Anyone is welcome to send us items for either or both of these. Anyone is welcome to be on the mailing list. Let us know if you are online, and we can deliver Headway by email.
Nurturing our Neighbourhood
A healthy community sustains itself – its residents keep it going. But our neighbourhoods largely rest, not on the foundations of a settled community, but on the shifting sands of a transient population. However, many are working hard to nurture our neighbourhood.
Good Looks
The most obvious sign of a thriving community is its appearance. Does it look cared for? Many of the neighbourhoods around Headingley suffer the squalor of a passing population. More basically, our built environment and green spaces are under threat from over-development by landlords, infill by developers, and sheer congestion by traffic. But our area has a wonderful heritage. To protect and preserve this, the Area Committee for Inner NW Leeds is supporting a programme of Neighbourhood Design Statements (NDS) which will provide guidelines for future development. Far Headingley has set the ball rolling – their NDS was published in 2005. Now Headingley & Hyde Park are preparing a NDS, and plans are in hand for Little Woodhouse and for Kirkstall. A key feature of a NDS is that it is adopted as official planning policy by the Council. Another is that it is developed by the residents of the neighbourhood. To do this, the Area Committee has commissioned Headingley Development Trust, which was set up by local residents. The Trust in turn has set up a Steering Group, based on local community associations (Headingley Network, SHCA, NHPNA, Cardigan Triangle, Turnways). And on 15 September, this Group organised a public launch of the NDS at Headingley St Columba's. Displays of maps and photos were on show, and about 75 residents attended. The NDS was formally launched by Greg Mulholland MP (Leeds NW), and the aims, scope and methods of a NDS were explained by Tony Ray, our Design Consultant. The next step is a Neighbourhood Questionnaire. This will be followed by a Training Workshop on 11 October. And then we will begin the survey of Headingley and Hyde Park, area by area. If you live in this area, and would like to be involved, complete and return the Questionnaire, to get onto our Contacts List. The Questionnaire is on the HDT website (log on to www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk, go to 'Projects' and follow the links) or ring 07 912 068 300. The Questionnaire can be returned by email, or by mail to Freepost RRLS-ZZLB-REXS, Planning Services, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds LS2 8HD (no stamp needed). The NDS is one way you can help nurture our neighbourhood!
Richard Tyler, Project Director, Neighbourhood Design Statement
Good Food
The monthly deli market in Headingley has just celebrated its first anniversary, with sixteen or so local producers offering high quality locally produced food. The aim of the market is to ensure that the community has access to good food and to support the livelihoods of producers, as well as reducing the environmental degradation resulting from the 'supermarket' approach, such as high distribution costs, excessive packaging and the need to use the car. Obviously people's shopping habits can't really change until the market is a weekly one – but that is somewhere down the line!
The logic to the offer at the market is this: we have core stalls, such as meat, fish and vegetables which come each time, and guest stalls with either extra food treats or seasonal produce, such as game and ewes milk products. This concentration on just high quality food led one recent non-Leeds shopper to say "this is the best market I've been to!" The market organising group is shortly planning the line-up for 2008. If you have ideas for stalls – or other ideas to make the market better, please email info@headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk. See back page for market dates.
Helen Seymour, Yorkshire Deli Market Headingley
Nurturing our Neighbourhood
In Good Heart
Here is a short summary of the latest developments involving the HEART project.
* HDT Board members met with leaders of Council on 5 September to lobby against the officers' recommendation to sell the building and reject our business plan.
* Over 60 emails were sent within 48 hours from HDT members supporting HEART, a very powerful response that made a big impact on councillors.
* Executive Board met on 11 September and agreed that officers and local Councillors would work with HDT to come up with a solution to finding the capital receipt required by the Council.
* We have convinced them of the value of the project to Headingley and they are impressed with the work done. They want to support the proposal, we just have to find a way of squaring the circle financially.
* Meetings have already begun. The timetable is extremely challenging. We will keep members posted on progress and proposals.
Jane Williams, HEART
A Good Display
The newly formed Headingley in Bloom group, has secured funding from Area Committee for its initial project. If you would like to be involved with the group in any capacity we would love to hear from you. We will need gardeners, people with ideas, designs or simply a desire to see Headingley bloom again! The first project will be to establish mixed shrub and flower beds on the grass verge on the opposite side of the road from the Arndale Centre, also later to plant up some containers with bulbs to go round the War Memorial. We will be having a day of action gardening on Sunday 4 November to start these beds. We need your help and any volunteers are welcome. Also we need donations of shrubs - most accepted, also possibly compost type material to dig in. Please email Brenda at b.frater@leeds.ac.uk to let her know if you can come. Also please let us know of anything you can donate. Hope you can make it!
Sue and John Griffiths, Headingley in Bloom
Good Looks 2
The Area Committee, working in partnership with the Headingley Renaissance Group, has been successful in obtaining 0.5m (75% of the funding requested) through the Town and District Centre's improvement scheme. The Group will be meeting again soon and hopes to be able to report back with dates and detailed plans of the improvements to be carried out at the War Memorial, at the Rose Garden and to street furniture throughout Headingley centre.
Martin Cook, Secretary, Headingley Renaissance Group
Twelve Good Men & Women
The Area Committee (our twelve local councillors) meets at 7pm, Thursdays, 18 October and 13 December, venues tba. Public welcome.
Good Food 2
The buy-out of the Natural Food Store from Chris and Sue Sharratt is going to plan. All being well, over 220 members will become the proud owners of the store on 15 October. Equity has been raised from the members, a small loan secured, the host of business transfer issues dealt with and an excellent manager appointed. The store will close on Monday 15 October for just one day to enable the full stock-take and valuation to be completed, and then over the next few weeks small changes may take place. It is hoped that the new cooperative will be formally launched in mid November with new branding and even a new name. Chris and Sue will continue to be involved with the shop on a part-time basis, to ensure transfer of knowledge and skills. If you are not a member and would like to be, just collect a leaflet when you do your shopping there, and join up! For more information contact info@naturalfoodstore.coop
Helen Seymour, Natural Food Store
Planning Problems? Ask Andrew! For advice, contact Andrew Crates, Community Planning Officer, 247 8027 or andrew.crates@leeds.gov.uk
Good Neighbours
Leeds University Union (LUU) has set up a Community Rep scheme with the following aims:
To improve communication and understanding between LUU students and settled Leeds residents and community groups.
To consult with residents and make positive changes.
To expand LUU's volunteering projects to target community needs more effectively.
To support students in the community with issues such as safety and security, housing and the environment.
We have recruited ten voluntary Union Community Reps (UCRs) who will each be concerned with a local community across the Headingley, Hyde Park, Burley, Woodhouse, Kirkstall, Meanwood and University areas. All residents can contact their local rep with their thoughts, problems or questions. The UCRs will take up their roles at the beginning of October and will start by attending residents' meetings and contacting community groups. They will be involved in consultations and community initiatives, help run campaigns and much more. Any group or individual who would like to meet their local UCR, or would just like to comment on the scheme should initially contact Katie Hughes at k.m.hughes@luu.leeds.ac.uk or 0113 3801295. In line with LUU's Community Strategy we aim to encourage a sense of responsibility amongst our students, and support them to help make positive changes in the community. The hope is that by 2009 LUU will be a better neighbour.
Katie Hughes, Leeds University Union
In Good Spirit
Over the summer, local residents celebrated their communities, at Kirkstall Festival in July, at Celebrate Headingley in September, and at Unity Day in August:
"This year I saw Unity Day from a different perspective as I was not involved in organising the event but only helped out. So I got a better overall impression. The music was more chilled and varied. As I wandered round, the atmosphere seemed very relaxed and the crowds represented all sections of the local community. It became clear as the day went on that there would be a lot of litter to clear and it was a big job on Sunday, but we sorted it all and most went for recycling. We hope to make this even more efficient next year. It was also very upsetting to find on the Saturday that the marquees had been graffitied. Unity Day will have to pay for this. But even though it is important to highlight these problems, they will not derail plans for what is an important annual event run by and for local people and enjoyed by thousands. My favourite moment was when I went to sit in a traditional tepee. Through the opening I could see and listen an acoustic group in the performance area - a peaceful and harmonious moment amidst the bustle around me. Liz Boyd" (If you want to join in with Unity Days activities, please ring Amit on 2933698.)
A Good Home
Balanced housing is the foundation for a sustainable community – but in & around Headingley, it is dominated by private renting. Headingley Development Trust is planning to take a step towards re-dressing the balance, by setting up a Community Land Trust. This is not an easy task! If you can help with professional expertise, contact richardt@headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk.
Knocking the Neighbourhood
For those who live here, the neighbourhood is a shared asset. For many who don't, it is a mere resource, to be strip-mined for private benefit.
Leeds Met Not content with branding Headingley as 'student-land' and with introducing teaching facilities (at the Stadium), Leeds Met plans to bring 500 students to new halls in Beckett's Park. Their plans have been knocked back twice at the Planning Panel – but still they are pressing ahead.
Parklane Properties Following Leeds Met's lead, Parklane Properties are now proposing a hall for 250 students at the Glassworks, the derelict factory by Burley Library on Cardigan Road. This eyesore certainly needs re(placing. But with yet more students?
Internal Migration There is currently a huge surplus of student accommodation, Unipol estimates about 3,000 empty rooms, mostly in shared houses. Yet decent homes for families are still being bought by landlords and parents, as students move location. Homes which should be available for the housing shortage in Leeds are instead being turned into seasonal second homes.
Leeds HMO Lobby
Neighbourhood News
Rosebank Millennium Green Trust: Annual General Meeting, 7pm, Monday 1 October 2007, at St Michael's College (now Mount St Mary's West site), St John's Road, Leeds LS3. The Trust is responsible for five and a half acres of "green countryside" on the doorstep of Hyde Park, Burley and Little Woodhouse.
Little Woodhouse Community Forum: Leeds Civic Hall, 7pm, Tuesday 2 October 2007, on the proposed Neighbourhood Design Statement for the Little Woodhouse Community Association area. For further information contact us on 0113 2459030 or c/o 7 Hanover Square Leeds LS3 1AP
Cafe Scientifique: Tuesday 2 October, Prof Chris Wild, Genetic Manipulation: the breakthroughs and problems; and Thursday 1 November, Prof Stephen Morley, Psychology of pain. 7.45-9.30pm, New Headingley Club, St Michael's Road, entry 2. Hosted by HDT. For mailing list, contact chris@headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk
Deli Market: is at 9.00-12.30 on the second Saturday of each month, 13 October, 10 November and 8 December, in the Rose Garden, North Lane (opposite the Community Centre). Organic vegetables, fish, cheese, mushrooms, meat (farm reared and organic), honey, bread, free-range eggs, cakes and baked goods. All these are local and sold by the producer. Also, guest stalls every month.
Woodhouse Ridge Action Group (WRAG): holds Action Days every month, meeting at the Ridge Terrace entrance at 10am, on 28 October, 25 November and 16 December. Come along, why don't you? Activities include graffiti management, litter picking, small tree management, with breaks for refreshments. See www.woodhouseridge.org.uk
Far Headingley Village Society: AGM, 7.30, Friday 16 November, at St Chad's Parish Centre. All residents of Far Headingley are warmly invited.
North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association: AGM, Wrangthorne Church 7.30, Wednesday 21 November.
Headingley Network is being re-launched:
* To update its membership list. All existing members are being sent a membership form with a request to re-confirm their details.
* To increase its membership. Although it has a very large number of members, the Network is aware that there is a new generation in Headingley who will want to steer it in new directions and build on the achievements of the past. Many existing activists have worked tirelessly for many years and now want to hand on the baton and simply enjoy the benefits of living in Headingley.
* To clarify the relationship between the Network and the many other community based organisations.
* To support Headingley Development Trust, The Transport Sub Group, Headingley Renaissance, The HMO Lobby and the many other existing and emerging activity and campaigning groups.
* To campaign specifically on issues relating to Licensing of alcohol and take-aways and on Planning issues (especially change of use).
* To promote Celebrate Headingley including the September festival, open gardens and other social and cultural events.
The Network's next meeting will be held at the Library/Community Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday 16 October. Please make every effort to attend.
Martin Cook, Membership Secretary, Headingley Network
Buying or Selling in Headingley? Go to HeadingleyHomes! Ring Clare Frieze at Manning Stainton on 2748646.
Contact Headway by email at hmolobby@hotmail.com. To join your local association, for Headingley Network (central Headingley) contact Lesley Jeffries (tel: 274 1011), for South Headingley contact Sue Buckle (tel: 278 2296), for North Hyde Park contact Annie Faulder (tel: 2758738), for Far Headingley contact Donald Hood (tel: 275 5575), for Kirkstall contact John Liversedge (tel: 278 5987), for Moor Parks contact Kate Henshall (tel: 274 1550), for Cardigan Triangle contact Peter Spafford (tel: 275 4199), for Highburys contact Ian Oldroyd (tel 294 5621).
Keep up-to-date by checking the Headingley Community website at www.healheadingley.org.uk. Anyone can post content on the website once they have registered and got a password. Internet access is provided free at Headingley Library, where help is available if needed.
Headway is published by Leeds HMO Lobby, c/o Cardigan Centre, 145 Cardigan Road, Leeds LS6 1LJ, website www.hmolobby.org.uk/leeds,
It is supported by the North West (Inner) Area Committee, covering Headingley, Hyde Park & Woodhouse, Kirkstall and Weetwood, and it is printed on recycled paper by Edwin Harmer, 67a Raglan Road, Leeds LS2 9DZ
The next issue of Headway is due to be published in January 2008
* Click here for previous issues of Headway.
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