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What does Cross Gates sculpture have to do with Manchester United?
What have Manchester United got to do with the Cross Gates roundabout gates row?
The answer, according to two leading lights behind the scheme, is the colour of the monument was changed at the eleventh hour – over fears it would be defaced by Leeds United fans.
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Coun Pauleen Grahame (Lab, Cross Gates and Whinmoor) and leading local businesswoman Kirsti Cale claim they were told by a city council officer the planned red, black and white colours were too similar to that worn by Leeds's deadly rivals.
Ms Cale said: "I was told that Leeds fans would be disgusted it was in Manchester United's colours. My jaw dropped to the floor, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
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"It was too late by then because the gates had already gone in, the blue, silver and white ones that are there now. The first I knew of the colour change was when I saw them on the roundabout."
Ms Cale took on the campaign for a monument after the death of her mother, Jennifer, in 2005.
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Both women have said the community needed a striking local landmark to welcome visitors. But Ms Cale said the unexpected change to the colour scheme led to a string of negative comments from local people.
As reported on Cross Gates Today, one of those has seen a practical joker add his or her own 'welcome to Cross Gates' sign to the roundabout.
She said: "There have been a lot of complaints, but it is worth remembering that people were consulted and at a public meeting only four people commented negatively. Hundreds were in favour of the original plans."
Ms Cale, who runs Arts and Flowers, in Austhorpe Road said many complaints had stemmed from people thinking their council tax had been spent on the monument.
The exact cost of the structure has yet to be publicly confirmed.
"We had to bid for that money from the regeneration fund. It wasn't from peoples' rates," Ms Cale said.
The story's final turn seems to be on its way, as Coun Graham has confirmed the gates WILL be painted their original colours.
She said: "Work is due to start on September 21. Three 'Welcome to Cross Gates' stones will be added to the roundabout, the gates will be painted their proper colours and they will be floodlit at night."
Asked her reaction to the football rivalry fears, Coun Grahame said: "I had never heard such a load of rubbish in all my life. I had to ask the officer if they were being serious."
No-one from Leeds City Council was available for comment.
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
