"If I won the lottery I would not move" - residents speak about why they love Seacroft

Seacroft spans the outer edge of Leeds but boasts one of the oldest village greens in the country, high rise tower blocks, outstanding graded schools and one of the highest crime rates in the city.

There is no industry that ‘defines’ the place, pubs have closed and anti-social behaviour is mentioned in almost every circle.

A quick Google search throws up several crime stories from indecent images to cannabis - and a historical look at a mass street party to celebrate the Royal wedding in 1981.

It has one of the biggest supermarkets ever built in Europe and a hotel built around a windmill.

It is hard to put Seacroft in a box.

But maybe that is what the locals want.

Speak to most people and regardless of some of these problems - they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

While some parts of Seacroft seem disjointed - it is bound by the A64, A6120 ring road and the north Parkway - there is also a strong sense of community.

One of the main hubs is the Seacroft Green shopping centre. This is where you will find a huge Tesco and budget shops such as Poundland and Fultons alongside popular brands Wallis and JD Sports.

The security guard tells me he has worked here for 16 years since the new complex opened but the main issue at the moment is homeless people who have been put up in The Britannia hotel during lockdown and who have drug and alcohol issues.

I pop into the betting shop within the centre where regulars seem happy to be back. The hotel is mentioned again.

Another punter, Albie Townsley, 61, was born and bred in Seacroft and has seen it change over the years. He grew up around the Kentmere area which is at the heart of the rows and cul-de-sacs of traditional council built semi-detached houses.

“My house is still up - believe it or not”, he says.

“I started off butchering, running a couple of pubs and now I am doing security. I have always liked it around here, it has got a name but I have never had any problem.

Some might ask why I like it but I think it is great. I feel comfortable here, I have no trouble, I have never had trouble. Life-long friends - they are still here.”

When asked if he thought the place had any “issues” his reply was not unexpected. It comes up if you ask the same question in most villages or suburbs.

He mused: “It is kids having kids that is making it worse. There are problems with the young ones messing about, there is no respect, they will just tell you to ‘f’ off. There is a gathering near the bus station but it doesn’t bother me.”

The Tesco security guard, Gary Morrell says the same thing. He said: “Our major issue, is there is nothing for kids to do. They hang around various places and get moved on, and they come back. It is not their fault, there is nothing for them.”

And what about what are still today the best community hubs. Your local pub?

Earlier this year and again last year, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported on how The Gate pub on Kentmere had become an eyesore and a blight for local residents after its closure a few years back led to vandals, rats and anti-social behaviour. It was eventually bull-dozed within a few days taking with it some memories of the good old days.

Mr Townsley added: “The Cricketers, The Red Lion. I go in the Beechwood club, that is still going. Seacroft WMC that is there. There is nothing really now for the pubs - if you get a lot of trouble in pubs they just shut them down.

“I would not dream of moving anywhere else now - even if I won the bloody lottery and there is not much chance of that.”

Over at Seacroft WMC there is the same affection for the place.

On a Tuesday afternoon there is a funeral taking place for a life-long member and one of the many large function rooms is catering for the mourners.

Usually closed on a Tuesday, due to COVID caused limited opening hours, the club opened especially for the wake.

In the bar area are a handful of regulars and a whole load more banter about whose round it was, while horse racing plays in the background on the TV.

One customer asks for a 50p piece for the snooker table.

“You know you wouldn’t have walked in if it wasn’t for COVID”, says the barman with a laugh. “The doors are open for ventilation, normally there is a stop at the door”.

I had clocked it already and while I was bringing myself out of the 1980s WMC scene, I found it totally charming.

There is something so refreshingly old school about Seacroft WMC, like it hasn’t been taken over by neon signs and gimmicks, QR codes and apps.

There is still a signing in book for guest visitors that are not members and still a time limit as to what times of day they can come in the club.

There is also very much the sense that Seacroft WMC is a stalwart in the community and when it comes to creating places for people - isn’t this the new trend for house-builders and developers again?

The club spokesman said: “It is a nice local community club for the people. Not a lot of trouble, we have got quite a strict management. Normally the doors are not wide open and there is a stop at the door. I have been here for 20 years - since I left school. I started as a glass collector so that is a lot of years service.

“We get lots of support from our local ward councillors, we have rugby, football, boxing club, an active ladies section. We open Thursday to Sunday. Today is an exception, we lost one of our life members so we have had a funeral. A lot come during the week to watch the racing, for a bet or to have a pint.

“For the people that live in Seacroft, there is a lot of negativity towards Seacroft but I don’t have any issues. I would not have gone anywhere else.”

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Thank you

Laura Collins