Morley Bottoms Enforcement Plan

Councillors met with Enforcement Officer from Leeds City Councils Planning and Environmental Action teams to explore the options for a combined plan to improve Morley Bottoms. Following a walkabout to look at some of the untidy sites and building in disrepair, officers agreed to a plan to explore using their powers to get the area cleared up.

Planning Enforcement have powers to issue Section 215 notices under the Town and Planning Act 1990. This compels the owners of untidy properties to take action to tidy them up or face court action. Environmental Action Officers also have similar powers to have overgrown and untidy greenspaces cleared up.

The Enforcement Action team agreed to use their legal powers to issue notices to the owners of untidy building and greenspaces.

We are aiming to make more progress with the regeneration of Morley Bottoms and the action the Enforcement Team are to take will help to start the longer term project of clearing up the area.

Drighlington Football Scheme supported

Morley North Ward Councillors have backed a scheme which would provide the support Drighlington Football Club needs to play football at a higher level.

The agreement would introduce football style barriers along the length of both football pitches adjacent to Drighlington Meeting Hall. The proposal, which is to be supported by a £9,000 grant from the Football Foundation, will give the Club the potential to play games at a higher footballing level and advance into more senior football leagues.

We have been discussing this proposal since last February with the Parish Council, residents groups and other sporting groups in the village. A final decision had to be made by January 31st or the £9,000 grant would have been lost.

The barriers will be removed during the summer months which will allow full and open access for Drighlington Gala.

Some of the problems raised have been resolved and I am sure most residents will back this scheme which will assist Drighlington Football Club. The club provides a lot of support to children and young people from Drighlington and the surrounding areas, giving them positive opportunities and this work, supported by the Football Foundation grant, will help the club with their future ambitions.

Save Siegen Manor Street Stall

The campaign to save Siegen Manor from closure took to the streets this weekend when Morley Borough Independent Councillors set up a street stall to collect signatures on a petition opposing closure. The Older Persons Home is part of a consultation process run by Leeds City Council with closure the only option being put forward.

We set up our street stall outside the Town Hall on Saturday and got a lot of support from residents with the campaign to keep Siegen Manor open until better Extra Care Accommodation is available in the Morley area. New Council Tax Rules mean Leeds City Council can raise a further £5 million to support Adult Social Care from a levy on Council Tax and we believe some of this money should be used to keep Siegen Manor open.

Despite the cold weather councillors collected hundreds of signatures. The aim is to deliver over 1000 signatures opposing the closure of Siegen Manor to Social Service Chiefs in Leeds.

We think there are better options than the closure of Siegen Manor and this alternative option is what we will be putting to Social Services Officers before any final decision is reached.

Bruntcliffe Road Bus Service Victory

We have welcomed news of improved bus services on Bruntcliffe Road in Morley. The new services were introduced following an 8 year campaign between Councillors and local residents to have the bus service improved following the withdrawal of services along Bruntcliffe Road over several years.

We have been working for many years with residents and Metro to try and improve the bus services along Bruntcliffe Road. There are many older and disabled residents who live along this corridor who welcome this improved bus service. It should also serve the new development on Bruntcliffe Road and help those residents who don’t have access to a car.

The new services were introduced after a long series of consultation meetings with local residents and comes after an eight year campaign involving Morley Borough Independent Councillors and Morley Town Council.

We are delighted Metro have worked with us to resolve this problem and we are grateful to local residents for their support and their patience over the years.