Your Leeds local election 2018 A to Z: Morley North

THE CANDIDATESAldiss, Jason Karl - Conservative Party Clapcote, Steve - Labour and Co-operative Party Compton, Pete - Labour and Co-operative Party Dilworth, Christopher '¨James - Conservative Party Gettings, Bob Springfield - Morley Borough Independents Hutchinson, Andy - Morley Borough Independents Leadley, Thomas Adrian - Morley Borough Independents Leng, Johnathan Charles - Labour and Co-operative Party Mellor, Philip James - Liberal Democrats Singh, Louisa Mary - Conservative Party
31/7/15    Drighlington Library. (GL1006/71b)31/7/15    Drighlington Library. (GL1006/71b)
31/7/15 Drighlington Library. (GL1006/71b)

MORLEY NORTH - KEY ISSUES AND NUMBERS

Morley is a town which is possibly the most patriotic area of Leeds.

It is split into two wards which sit in the outer south area of the city.

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Morley North includes in its boundaries Churwell, Drighlington and Gildersome.

On the campaign trail, the main local issues people are raising are the perennial problems of litter, crime, dog fouling, potholes and speeding.

This is a proud and protective community with a good spirit, illustrated by regular action days and litter picks which have transformed the local area.

Other key issues in Morley North include the perceived lack of primary school places in Churwell and ongoing campaigning for a new primary school. There are currently six primary schools in the wider area and just one secondary.

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Locals have also been arguing for bespoke affordable housing schemes, especially as more than 2,000 new homes are planned to be built across Morley in the coming years.

Calls for a new car park to support Morley train station have also been a talking point and continue to be.

Community facilities are considered vital in Morley North.

A locally-led takeover of community centres in Drighlington and Gildersome is in discussion, and there is ongoing concern about ensuring there is enough policing resource to keep crime levels low.

According to a profile of Morley North prepared by Leeds City Council, there were a total of 509 crimes recorded in the ward in the year from April 2016 to March 2017.

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The crime rate per 1,000 of the population was 87.6, against a citywide figure of 107.4.

Voter turnout in the area was slightly lower than the city average of 34 percent in 2016, although it was higher than the city average in the previous years, when there was also a General Election on.

>What else matters to voters in Morley North? Email [email protected].