Speed Reduction Plan for Drighlington

An additional speed indication device has been introduced onto Whitehall Road in Drighlington as part of a programme to reduce speed by motorists leaving and entering the village. The speed indication device, called a SID, gives drivers a warning if they are breaching the speed limit but also confirms their speed if they are driving at or under 30mph.

 Cllr Bob Gettings, who found the funding for the additional device said “We have had significant concerns about the speed vehicles are travelling on the Whitehall Road – especially when they are leaving Drighlington or are travelling towards the village from Leeds – and these devices have shown to reduce the overall speed vehicles travel at. They also collect data on speeding issues which could provide evidence to lobby Central Government for permanent solutions – such as permanent safety cameras.”

 Several SID devices are operating across the Morley area including in Gildersome, Glen Road and on Scatcherd Lane.

 Cllr Gettings said “We need a permanent solution for Whitehall Road and that means permanent safety cameras. We will continue to lobby for their introduction in Drighlington using the evidence will can collect from the SID devices. Speeding by motorists on Churwell Hill has been substantially reduced because of safety cameras and we believe this will have the same impact in Drighlington.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Churwell Park News

New play equipment in Churwell Park

New play equipment in Churwell Park has been shown with a new picture taken by Cllr Robert Finnigan. The new equipment – for younger children – follows a short campaign by Ward and Town Councillors to extend the recent refurbished children’s playground at the park.

 Cllr Finnigan said “I am grateful for the work of the Parks Department and the support from Churwell Action Group and Churwell Town Councillors. This new play equipment is what residents with children have been asking for over several months and I am glad we are able to deliver a great scheme reasonably quickly.”

 The new equipment will be open for full use as soon as the new fencing has been put in place.

Churwell Woodland Adventure

The Mayor of Morley, Cllr Robert Finnigan, attended the Churwell Woodland Adventure on Sunday along with the Mayoress, Lisa Finnigan, Deputy Mayor Cllr Roger Bell and Deputy Mayoress Christine Bell. The event, run by Churwell Environmental Volunteers, showcased the work the group had undertaking with delivering a woodlands railway along with other improvements to Clark Spring Woods in Churwell.

 Cllr Robert Finnigan said “It was an excellent event and the weather was delightful. The work the Environmental Volunteers have undertaken; the woodland railway, the dipping pond along with improvements to the footpaths and signage, is a tribute to their commitment to their local community. The Woods, often overlooked in the past, is now a thriving place of interest for local people, both young and old. It is an excellent community asset!”

 Residents were treated to trips on the miniature railway, an exploration theme at the dipping pond along with raffles, cake stalls and tombola’s.

 Cllr Roger Bell said “It was a privilege and a pleasure to attend. The Volunteers work hard all year round, with the support of their local community, to deliver a work programme that have transformed the Woods to a particularly special location.”

Topcliffe Lane meeting

Over 30 residents turned up at a meeting at Morley Town Hall last Saturday morning to discuss their concerns about parking problems they are having on Topcliffe Lane in Morley.

The meeting, called by Cllrs Judith Elliott and Shirley Varley, follows a review of the traffic management in the area and concerns raised by residents.

Cllr Judith Elliott said “We were grateful for such good turnout on a Saturday morning. It was a positive meeting and residents raised a lot of good ideas which we will be putting to the Highways Department for consideration.”

Residents told Councillors about the problems with parking close to their homes, the challenges both bus services and emergency vehicles had with getting down Topcliffe Lane because of congestion and issues of lorry drivers sleeping in their cabs outside their homes.

Cllr Varley said “We recognise the problems residents face and the Highways Section is exploring what practical options exist to allow better enforcement on Topcliffe Lane to keep traffic free flowing and to reduce the significant challenges residents have parking in the area.”

Proposals from the meeting including the introduction and extension of yellow lining down the lane along with the relocation of a bus and a loading bay and a residents only parking permit scheme.

Cllr Elliott said “We will be meeting Highways Officers shortly to discuss residents proposals and we have promised to meet residents at a further meeting. We will continue to work hard to find long lasting solutions to the problems residents are having on Topcliffe Lane.”

Labour betray Churwell

Leeds City Council has granted planning permission for a controversial planning application at Laneside Farm in Churwell. The decision – made by Labour Councillors at a Plans Panel Meeting last Thursday – means Developer Persimmons now has planning permission for 550 homes on the Greenfield site off Churwell Hill.

Cllr Robert Finnigan – who attended the Plans Panel meeting and spoke against the approval recommendation said “This is another example of Leeds City Council backing Developers instead of the local community. Almost 1000 local residents objected to this application along with the town’s MP Andrea Jenkyns, Morley Town Council and the Leeds City Council Ward Members who cover the Churwell area. It appears Leeds City Council is more persuaded by a wealthy developer than residents whose lives will be negatively impacted upon by this development.”

The planning report - which supported an approval decision - confirmed that there was not enough spaces in Morley primary schools to accommodate children generated by the site and proposed allocating places at primary schools in the Beeston area. The report also confirmed that the junction of Elland Road and the Ring Road was already loaded beyond its capacity and that the Development proposed by Persimmons would make problems of congestion worse.

Cllr Finnigan said “We had a sympathetic hearing from Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and MBI Councillors who all voted against this proposal. All of the Labour Councillors on the Panel voted to grant approval for this development despite the concerns of local residents. Morley has yet again been let down by Leeds City Council which has no interest in Morley other than to take more Council Tax from residents choosing to back a Developer who made over £350 million profit last year."

The 550 home development will be restricted to 240 new homes until a new primary school for Churwell is built and will need to contribute to a future proposal for a road improvement plan on the ring road.

Judgement Day

A decision on a planning application from the Developer Persimmons for 550 homes at Laneside Farm Churwell will be considered by Leeds City Councils Plans Panel next Thursday. The controversial application - which has attracted almost a thousand objections from local residents – will be considered by the Plans Panel with a Leeds City Council recommendation for approval.

Cllr Robert Finnigan led the Morley borough Independent Campaign against the application and is attending the Panel Meeting to speak against the proposal.

Cllr Finnigan said “This proposal – if approved – will lead to a loss of a valuable Greenfield site which provides a “greenbelt” between the communities of Churwell and Morley. We objected because of the significant impact this proposal would have on congestion on Churwell Hill, the lack of school and health centre places and the fact that most of the homes will be executive style housing not affordable homes for local residents.”

The Planning Officers report acknowledges the negative impact the site will have on traffic congestion on Churwell Hill and recommends an additional £1.5 million contribution to improve the junction of Elland Road and the Ring Road. The report also recommends that the site is restricted to a maximum of 220 homes until an additional primary school is provided.

Cllr Finnigan said “This site was supposed to be protected until at least 2028 and preserved as a Greenfield site. As a result of the failure of Labour controlled Leeds City Council to provide a 5 year land supply after agreeing an unrealistic housing target of 74,000 new homes by 2028 – developers are having a field day at the expense of local communities and local Greenfield sites. If this is agreed then it will bring the total of new homes agreed on Morley Greenfield sites to over 1200 new housing units without any additional investment in schools, health centres or roads.”

The campaign to oppose the development of Laneside Farm was also supported by local MP Andrea Jenkyns who raised her concerns about the application with the Planning Minister last week.

Cllr Finnigan said “I am delighted that Andrea has raised the overdevelopment of Morley directly with the Planning Minister. I know she opposes this development and supports a brownfield first approach where previously developed land should be used before turning to Greenfield sites. Leeds City Council has already granted enough Planning Permission for over 20,000 new homes across Leeds on mainly brownfield sites that have not yet been built and we all agree those sites should be prioritised instead of Greenfield ones.”

Labour cut community funding and CAB budget - but keep a tight grasp on their allowances!

A proposal by Morley Borough Independent Councillors to reverse cuts to Community Committees budgets and the Citizens Advice Bureau was rejected at a Full Council Meeting last Wednesday. The proposal, which would have seen Councillors special responsibility allowances cut by 30%, would have generated an additional £190,000 spending on local communities with an additional £50,000 to support local advice provision.

I am disappointed at the decision to reject our proposal. In these difficult times Councillors should be showing more restraint by accepting a reduction in their special responsibilities allowances which is paid on top of their basic allowance and can amount to an additional £20,000 a year! Community Committees need the extra cash to support initiatives from community groups within their wards and the advice service budget should be increased not reduced as many residents need this support when facing problems of bereavement, debt, benefit issues and other legal matters.

The Labour Administration in Leeds pays over £1/4 million in payroll loyalty payments to keep its Labour Members in line and backing the Leadership. As there have been 3 Councillors who have defected from Labour to Independent over the last week or so it would seem that Labour is falling apart both locally and nationally - regardless of what they pay their elected representatives!