Decision on the Elinor Lupton Centre still pending

Yesterday, Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee met to consider Wetherspoons’ application to turn the Elinor Lupton Centre into a pub. However, they were unable to make a decision on the day due to the amount of information related to the application. The Yorkshire Evening Post has reported that they hope to announce a decision about the plans next week.

The Elinor Lupton Centre is a landmark Headingley building, so whatever decision the licensing committee make, it will have a major impact on our community.

Out on the doorsteps: streets along Headingley Lane

Penny Goodman and the Headingley Liberal Democrat team have been out on the doorsteps on Bainbrigge Road, Spring Road, Spring Bank Crescent, The Poplars and Orville Gardens. We spoke to residents about their local concerns, and asked them to fill out a survey showing their priorities for the area.

surveys-january-2017

Issues for residents in this area included cycle safety, anti-social behaviour, recycling and the appalling traffic jams every day from 4pm onwards along the main road. But perhaps the strongest concerns expressed were about the future of the Elinor Lupton Centre.

Wetherspoons, who now own this building, had their licensing application turned down last month, but we understand that they have now appealed against the decision. Residents are concerned that the original decision may be overturned, and in the meanwhile are angry and disappointed that the building has been allowed to become so run down and such a focus for graffiti.

If you have an issue which we can help with, or you would like to get involved in our local campaigning, do get in touch.

Mega-pub licence refused

The news came on Friday that an application to turn the former Elinor Lupton Centre into a licensed premises serving 500+ customers at a time has been refused. The full story is covered here in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

This is welcome news, given how strongly local people have objected to turning the Elinor Lupton Centre into a mega-pub. Headingley is already very well-provided with licensed premises, and the council has recognised their negative impact on local people through the Cumulative Impact Policy. This establishes a presumption against adding any new pubs to the area, and it is good to see that the policy was respected on this occasion.

Meanwhile, the building itself is now in an appalling state, and getting worse by the day. Local campaigner Penny Goodman has called on Wetherspoons, who now own the building, to take responsibility for its current condition and clean up the graffiti which is plastered all over it – but they refused. This is a Grade II listed building which could be a huge asset to our community. We can only hope that a positive use for the building, which respects the needs and interests of local people, can be found soon.

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