Leeds Labour council bin charges

As of today, the Labour-run Leeds city council will be charging residents for new or replacement black and brown bins. Anyone whose bin is stolen or damaged will need to pay the council £15.40 to secure a replacement. The new fees are listed on the council website, and the council’s briefing notice on the policy is shown below:

We can’t see how this policy will be anything other than a disaster in Headingley and Hyde Park. Here, many people live in terraced houses with no private space to keep their own bins. Instead, bins sit in bin-yards, or – more often – out on the pavement, so that it is often unclear which bin belongs to which property. Many local households also don’t have much disposable income, and would struggle to pay for a new bin. The result is bound to be that broken or stolen bins are not replaced, leading to a gradual fall in the number of usable bins available, disputes over who owns the remaining ones and rubbish all over the streets.

Once again, the Labour council has shown a total failure to understand the issues affecting rubbish collections in Headingley and Hyde Park, and our Labour councillors clearly haven’t done enough to speak up for the area and secure a system which will work for local people.

Parking problems on Moorland Road

A resident recently contacted us to report serious congestion problems caused by cars parking on both sides of Moorland Road, close to the University. Penny Goodman went along to investigate, and quickly saw the problem. Parts of the road have recently been resurfaced, obliterating the double yellow lines and other road markings. People are now taking advantage of this by parking on the new unmarked surfaces – despite signs saying that no parking is allowed at any time. The parked cars are then blocking the flow of traffic along the road.

After checking out the problem, Penny wrote to the council highways department to ask whether the road markings are due to be repainted. The reply was that they are, but not until next month after the whole road surface has been sealed with a layer of bituminous emulsion and chippings.

It is good news that the markings will eventually be replaced, but the long wait means that traffic problems are going to persist for at least another month, causing transport misery every day. Penny suggested that in situations like this, the highways department should consider painting temporary double yellow lines onto the road surface, for example with a spray-can, until the job is finished and proper ones can be restored. This would be quick, cheap and save weeks of serious traffic problems.

Tim Farron in Beckett Park

Tim Farron came to Leeds yesterday, and spoke to local people and news crews in Beckett Park. Tim said:

The Liberal Democrats are absolutely clear that our country faces an absolute democratic challenge if it becomes a one-party state on the 8th of June. What does that mean to your local hospital? What does it mean to local police forces? What does it mean to our local schools if you have a Conservative government in London with a colossal majority, able to take everybody here and around the country for granted? The British people need a decent and strong oppostion. The Liberal Democrats will be it.

You can see Tim speaking on BBC News here.

General Election imminent

Theresa May has today announced her plans for a snap General Election to take place on June 8th.

Responding, Tim Farron said:

“This election is your chance to change the direction of our country. If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is your chance. Only the Liberal Democrats can prevent a Conservative majority.”

Already in the first 20 minutes since her announcement, more than 500 people have joined the Liberal Democrats.

If you would like to join the Liberal Democrats, you can find out more and sign up here for only £12 a year (£1 for students, £6 for other concessions).

Sights of Headingley and Hyde Park: the village green

Have you ever noticed this little garden in front of St. Michael’s Parish Hall? It’s actually the last surviving fragment of Headingley village green. This green was originally common land, but after many years of encroachment it was eventually enclosed as private land in 1834.

The Parish Hall itself has its origins in a Town School, built on the green in the 1780s when it was still common land. The building we see today dates from the 1840s, when the original school was rebuilt to accommodate local population growth. It became a Parish Hall when St. Michael’s School moved to Wood Lane in the 1970s – now of course known as Shire Oak School after merging with the old Bennett Road school.

You can read more about our area’s history in Eveleigh Bradford’s book, Headingley: this pleasant rural village.

Council plan to charge for bulky waste collection

We understand that Leeds City Council will be introducing charging for the collection of ‘bulky waste’ from 9th May. The fee will be a flat rate of £20.

This is a significant concern in Headingley and Hyde Park, where sofas left in front gardens are already a persistent problem. That situation is hardly going to be improved by bringing an end to the free removal service.

The image below shows a list of Re-Use Providers in the city who will collect your unwanted furniture and ‘white goods’.

Taking your goods to the nearest Recycling Centre (Kirkstall or Meanwood Road) yourself will also continue to be free.

April surgery

Today, Leeds North West MP Greg Mulhollagreg-sainsburysnd is holding his regular MP’s surgery at Sainsburys in the Arndale Centre, Headingley. He will be there from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. for constituents to raise any issues which they would like his help with. No appointment is needed.

Full details of Greg’s regular constituency surgeries are available here. You can also meet with him by appointment on the third Friday of each month at the Cardigan Centre, Cardigan Road, Headingley.

Penny Goodman attends March for Europe

Yesterday, Headingley campaigner Penny Goodman went with thousands of others to March for Europe in central London.

Penny said, “I still think leaving the EU is a huge mistake which will make our country poorer. What’s more, the way it is being done is totally out of keeping the referendum result. It isn’t what the 48% who voted Remain wanted, while those who voted Leave were constantly told we could leave the EU but still keep most of its benefits, like access to the Single Market.

“That is now far from the reality. Theresa May is choosing to implement a reckless Hard Brexit which clearly won’t include Single Market access, and there is no sign of the £350 million a week promised for the NHS. Instead, it’s clear that the process of leaving the EU will be time-consuming and expensive, taking resources away from real issues in the NHS, schools and housing. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn is sitting back and letting it happen.

“I believe that both the Tory and the Labour parties are letting down the vast majority of moderate, sensible people in the UK who just want the best and brightest future for this country. That is their choice – but if they will not represent those people, the Liberal Democrats will.”