New regeneration hub opens in post-flood Kirkstall

The Team Kirkstall Regeneration Hub will officially open today to offer a one-stop shop where home and business owners can drop in for advice about flood prevention.

The centre, on Kirkstall Road, has been set up by Phil Marken of Open Source Arts with input from the Environment Agency, Leeds City Council and BAM Nuttall.

City council leader Coun Judith Blake will unveil the facility, which is home to information about the current flood alleviation scheme and will give residents the chance to contribute ideas and feedback about the plans. Staff will be on duty on Mondays from 12-5pm and Wednesdays from 9am-2pm.

Phil Marken, who also organised volunteer clean-ups after the Boxing Day floods, said:

“The Team Kirkstall Hub is the next step for Open Source Arts, to help regenerate Kirkstall after the floods. The Hub will be used to host a broad spectrum listening space, where the whole community are invited to come and share their thoughts about what makes Kirkstall a great place to live and work, and what would make it even better.

“Thanks to the volunteers and local people who helped clean up after Boxing Day, and who have got stuck in with the fortnightly clean-ups this summer, we are a much stronger and more active community than 12 months ago. This centre gives people the chance to have a real say about the future regeneration potential in their community - as well as information and giving input to the second phase of Leeds’s flood alleviation scheme.”

Phase two of the scheme will focus on the River Aire’s catchment, and will look at both natural and engineered flood management solutions. Methods under consideration include debris dams, embankments and bypass channels in Kirkstall.