Leave Campaign in Morley for EU Referendum

Leave Campaign Bus in Morley

I was involved with the Leave referendum campaign last week when the Leave bus brought campaigners to Morley to listen to what Morley Folk has to say.

Although the rain poured down there was a very positive reaction towards the Leave Campaign with many Morley Folk confirming their intention to support Brexit.

The Leave Campaign has broad support across the political spectrum with Labour big hitters such as Kate Hoey, Frank Field, Austin Mitchell and Gisela Stuart joining with Boris Johnson and Michael Gove from the Tories and Nigel Farage from UKIP. Leave also has the support of some Trade Unionists who see the EU as an undemocratic and unaccountable organisation as does the Communist Party of Great Britain!

On the In side you have the bankers – Goldman Sachs and the others along with Tony Blair, David Cameron and George Osborne, the bosses union the CBI, the International Monetary Fund and others who have benefited and got rich because of their association with the European Union.

It’s clear Brexiteers are in favour of Europe but not the European Union – an organisation that hasn’t had it accounts audited for many years. The EU is unaccountable and undemocratic foisting on voters much of what they don’t want or need. Our destiny is better in our own hands rather than in the hands of self-seeking bureaucrats.

I’ve campaigned for years for decision making to be brought back down to a local level with decisions taken as close to the communities that are impacted upon by those decisions. A vote to Leave is the only consistent position I can take as I genuinely believe in bringing power back to the people – a concept entirely alien to the army of faceless bureaucrats that run the EU.

Keep Laneside Farm a Greenfield Site campaign

Persimmons proposal for 550 homes on Laneside Farm Greenfield site

A Planning Application for 550 houses for a Greenfield Site at Laneside Farm in Churwell has been lodged by Persimmons Homes.

Morley Borough Independent Town and City Councillors are opposing this application for 4 separate reasons. The first is the levels of highway congestion on Churwell Hill and the associated increase levels of pollution. Our second reason for opposition is that local primary and secondary schools are already full and cannot accommodate the additional 137 primary school children and 55 secondary school children this site would generate. There are presently less than a dozen spare places in primary schools across the Morley wide area. Our third reason is that the local health centre cannot cope with the additional 2000 + patients this site will generate putting more strain on an already busy local health service. The fourth is that this is a valuable Greenfield site which offers a positive “greenbelt” barrier between Churwell and Morley.

The Development is likely to be modelled on Persimmons Daisy Hill site with the majority of homes likely to be 4 bedroomed executive style housing with as little affordable housing for local people that the Developer can get away with. This will still leave over 2,000 on the Morley housing waiting list without offering any real hope for residents needing a home at an affordable rent.

You can help to oppose this application by attending a Public Meeting at Morley Town Hall on Tuesday 7th June at 7pm to discuss residents’ concerns.

We hope we can count on your continuing support to keep Laneside Farm a Greenfield site. We believe in putting people first - not Developers profits. We recently defeated Persimmons with an application they lodged for housing on a Greenfield site at Churwell New Village and beat McDonalds at Tingley to prevent a fast food takeaway next to Woodkirk High School. Together we can win this campaign!

Outdoor Table Tennis on its way!

A project to deliver an outside table tennis table outside Morley Sports Centre has commenced with the initial construction work being undertaken last week. The proposal, a joint project between Morley Town Council and Leeds City Council, will provide a robust table, bats and balls for table tennis to be played outdoors.

Cllr Judith Elliott says “We have previously supported a temporary outside table last year which was very popular amongst young and not so young residents who enjoyed playing table tennis out of doors. We decided to look for a partnership deal with Leeds City Council to deliver a permanent provision.”

The outside tennis table will be similar to ones provided by the National Trust and other organisations which allow people to play table tennis at any time without a cost. Morley Town Council are jointly financing the £2000 cost with Leeds City Council

Cllr Judith Elliott added “We are always looking at new ways to encourage all residents, young and old, to become more active and to keep fit. This proposal will mean the sport become more accessible for everyone as residents will be able to play for free.”

McDonalds Public Inquiry

I sat at the Public Inquiry dealing with the McDonalds take away planning application at Tingley for 4 days last week. We represented local residents as a Rule 6 Party which gives us the right to ask awkward questions of McDonald’s experts on Planning/Highways/Noise Nuisance and Public Health.

McDonalds were represented by a Barrister who presented their case with reports from his experts who all confirmed that there was not a problem with placing a McDonald’s Drive-through Take-away at this residential location. It is clear to me that some of the reports from McDonald’s experts were questionable but – as they have deep pockets – they can make sure any reports they have fully support their scheme.

To give credit the Leeds City Council, they also had a barrister putting their reasons for refusal who did an excellent job and used different independent reports to show that McDonald’s case was flawed.

What struck me – as I tried to do my best Perry Mason impression – was the patience of local residents who turned up day after day to listen to some fairly dry and involved evidence – and just how difficult it is with some Developers for them to appreciate the impact their Development has on local communities.

We put the case about the negative impact on Public Health having a burger bar next to a high school along with Highways concerns and the impact on the quality of life of local residents. All was carefully recorded by the Planning Inspector who will make a decision on the application later in the year.

I hope with all the efforts put in by campaigners, the community and local councillors that the decision to refuse the Planning Application is upheld.

MBIs back Community Orchard Initiative



MBI Councillors supporting the community orchard initiative


This blog often focuses on the politics of an issue and promotes a political view many people find provocative which, on some occasions, promotes heated debate.

Last Thursday I was involved, along with my MBI colleagues, with a community initiative that has unanimous support from everyone and was welcome by many varying and different groups.

The initiative was the planting of a community orchard in Dartmouth Park – the idea of the Friends of Dartmouth Park Group with support from Churwell Environmental Action Volunteers, local schools - both primary and secondary - Parks Staff and Councillors from different parties.

The project looks at planting fruit trees which, when they flourish, will make free fruit available to local residents both young and old.

The weather was excellent and the overwhelmingly positive approach adopted by everyone was a pleasure to be part of. I hope we can see further development of such a scheme across Morley as - in these health conscious days - free fruit for the community is something we can all sign up to!

Labour votes for fewer Police on Morley Streets

Labour backs reducing Police Officer numbers in Morley

Our proposal for an additional 22 Police Community Support Officers for outer areas in Leeds was voted down by Labour Councillors at Leeds City Councils Budget Meeting last Wednesday. Our proposal would see City Centre Parking Charges increased to cover more police community support officers on local streets.

We are disappointed that we did not get the backing of other councillors for increasing the number of PCSOs patrolling Morley’s Streets. It’s a double blow as the Leader of Leeds City Council also announced that they would reduce the number of PCSOs paid for by the Council for Morley from ten down to six. PCSOs have made a significant contribution to reducing crime levels in Morley and the reduction in their number is a step backwards.

The number of PCSOs is to be reduced in most outer areas in Leeds which is proving controversial as the Police and Crime Commissioner confirmed an underspend of £5 million on his staffing budget.

The PCC not only has a ring fenced budget and is increasing the precept all Morley residents pay to the Police, he has also underspent his staffing budget by over £5 million this year. There is no justification for cutting Police numbers in the Morley area and we will be campaigning for a Policing fair deal for Morley.

Morley Town Council increased its community safety budget by over 20% to £64,000 a year to support Policing levels across the Morley Town Council area. It’s clear that our commitment

to Morley Folk is much deeper than Labours!

Budget for Siegen Manor

MBI Councillors campaigning to save Siegen Manor

Morley Borough Independent Councillors will formally raise an amendment to Leeds City Councils Budget, due to be debated on Wednesday, to save Siegen Manor Older Persons home in Morley from closure. The home, which has many elderly and disabled residents, is presently subject to a consultation process due to be concluded in June this year.

We are amending the proposed budget to prevent Siegen Manor from being closed. Our proposal would see a general increase in parking charges which will raise enough money to prevent the closure of Siegen Manor and two other homes across Leeds.

A decision will be taken on Wednesday on whether to raise £5 million for Adult Social Care with a 2% levy on Council Tax bills.

We have been campaigning with residents and their families for months to prevent Siegen Manor from closing. We have found a realistic and affordable alternative to closure which would keep the home open until better extra care accommodation is available in the Morley area. The additional money generated from the 2% levy can be used to improve Adult Social Care in Morley and across Leeds.

We have campaigned with the local MP Andrea Jenkyns and the families of residents to raise a petition opposing closure with over 1200 signatures.

Our budget amendment offers a realistic alternative to closure and I hope we will gain the support of Councillors across the Leeds City Council area to keep Siegen Manor open as closure will have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of all the residents there.