Your Leeds local election 2018 A to Z: Bramley and Stanningley

Bramley and Stanningley - key issues and numbers

Bramley, in west Leeds, is a predominantly white working class ward.

An economic profile of the area shows slightly higher unemployment rates and disability/long term sickness benefits claimants, than the rest of the city. There are also more single parent families than the citywide average. Poverty and deprivation remains an issue in some pockets of the ward, although there are other slightly more affluent parts. More than two thirds of the population is 16 to 64, with 14 per cent being 65 and over.

The impact of welfare reform on some of the area’s most vulnerable people is what is worrying grassroots support services.

One community worker told the YEP: “Bramley has massive potential. There are many people who have a nice quality of life, but there are also people slipping through the net. They are the ones we need to focus on.”

She said she is increasingly seeing people “getting to crisis point”, including a young couple sleeping rough after being evicted, and an older man who didn’t have enough money for basics like food and electricity.

She noted that on the whole, younger and middle aged people seem to be affected more than older people by financial issues, as the latter have often been savvy savers in their youth.

However increasing pressures on public services like the NHS are having an impact on the older generation. The “trickle down” effect of austerity on mental health is also a key concern.

“People want basic things like being able to go to the doctor and the doctor is able to see them,” the worker said.

“But they also want to feel safe in their area – and they want young people to have something to do.”

Young people in Bramley, fed up of a lack of youth activities, are currently lobbying for a skate park in Bramley Park.

And people power does work. One of the area’s biggest success stories is the community led-takeover of Bramley Baths from council management.

What will be the vote-winner for your votes in Bramley and Stanningley? Email [email protected]