Your Leeds local election 2018 A to Z: Middleton Park

THE CANDIDATESBlake, Judith - Labour Party Dixon, Wayne Alan - Social Democratic Party Gagen, Kathryn Elizabeth - Liberal Democrats Groves, Kim Susan - Labour PartyHerdson, David - Conservative Jessop, Rita - Conservative Lamb, Gareth Andrew - Conservative Truswell, Paul Anthony - Labour
Opening of Phase one Cycling Hub at Middleton Park, Leeds.Martin Ogden is pictured.1st December 2017 ..Picture by Simon HulmeOpening of Phase one Cycling Hub at Middleton Park, Leeds.Martin Ogden is pictured.1st December 2017 ..Picture by Simon Hulme
Opening of Phase one Cycling Hub at Middleton Park, Leeds.Martin Ogden is pictured.1st December 2017 ..Picture by Simon Hulme

MIDDLETON PARK - KEY ISSUES AND NUMBERS

Middleton park ward sits in the inner south Leeds area and includes Belle Isle and Middleton in its boundaries.

It’s a working class heartland, with a population dominated by young families and a large number of council tenants.

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The average age in the ward is 35.7 years. More than a third of residents are in the 25 to 49 age bracket. But a quarter are 15 and under. Therefore family and children’s services are a vital factor for voters. There are seven primary schools based in the area, and one secondary school.

The average house price in the ward is just £99,000, almost half the citywide average. Almost 90 per cent of residents are white British in ethnicity.

A fifth of working age residents in the area are on one or more welfare benefits, 20.7 per cent against an 11.7 per cent city average. Almost one in 10 young people aged 16 or 17 is NEET (not in education, training or employment) and this is again significantly higher than the city average.

On the campaign trail, speeding in residential streets has emerged as the surprise talking point in the build up to the 2018 local elections. Despite the rollout of 20mph zones, it seems many motorists are not paying heed.

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There is also concern about a creeping rise in anti social behaviour, which is partly blamed on a lack of youth facilities in the area.

This is despite the fact that a brand new £1.2m ‘urban bike park’ and cycling hub was recently launched with the promise of a “fantastic range of family friendly facilities”.

But word on the doorsteps, according to one campaigner, is that local children are not using the park, and it’s in fact youngsters from outside the ward - who can afford to buy bikes - who are travelling in to use it.

However this is disputed by others, who say the free to access facility has been welcomed and is growing in popularity with local youngsters.

>What else matters to voters in Middleton Park and will help decide which boxes you tick on Thursday? Email [email protected].