A PUB which was bulldozed after it became a haven for drug dealers could be reborn as the focal point for an inner-city Leeds community.
A public meeting is to be held over the future of the site of the once notorious Hayfield pub in Chapeltown.
Residents from the Chapeltown Community Centre Action Group say a centre for residents' use is desperately needed at the heart of the community.
The group is offering to build and fund the centre themselves, if Leeds City Council provide the land, on Reginald Terrace.
Socialise
Residents met yesterday on the site, now grassed over, to launch their renewed campaign and urge people to attend a public meeting on September 21.
The Hayfield was demolished five years ago after becoming notorious for drugs and violence.
The neighbouring community centre was demolished soon after, with council bosses promising another would be built.
Ferley Cruise, of Chapeltown, who is in his 60s, said: "Chapeltown is nice, but it needs a place of its own where people can meet and socialise. There is no place for funerals, christenings, parties or weddings to be held.
"After a recent funeral, there were more than 200 people with nowhere to go. We had to go to a pub in another part of Leeds."
Another resident Rennie Lennon, also in his 60s, said: "If we are going to make progress in this community, we need a centre where we can hold meetings, get together and offer clubs for youngsters and all ages."
CCCAG spokeswoman Cath Muller said: "We have waited long enough for the council to let us know if there will be any space for a centre. We are willing to lease or buy the land.
“We plan to raise the amount through grants and funding. I would urge people to write to us or email individually."
Retired caretaker Lloyd Ruddock, 66, said: "We need a large place to hold a bash, there is simply nowhere around here. There may be the Mandela or West Indian Centre, but they are expensive to hire."
Mum of five Naseem Ashaq, 45, said: “There is nothing much for the local kids to do, a youth resource would be great.
“The council-owned land is getting a new state-of-the-art health centre, gym and GP surgery. There may also be a small police station and social services and housing offices, and possibly a library. We have been told by council bosses to be patient.”
She said they did not know exactly what the ‘joint service centre’ would include.
"For five years we have been told to wait until that’s clear, and then we’ll know whether there is any land left over. We don’t think this is acceptable."
Coun Mohammed Rafique (Lab, Chapel Allerton) said: "There is a demand for it and there was once a community centre here.
