Topcliffe Lane Parking Plan

Morley Town Councillors have welcomed the publishing of a traffic regulation order that begins a legal process to bring a new highways plan to Topcliffe Lane in Morley. The plan, which follows a long period of consultation with residents in the area, will now go out to formal consultation which is likely to lead to its implementation early in the New Year.

Cllr Judith Elliott said “Publication of the traffic regulation order – which is the start of the legal process to bring this plan to reality – is most welcome. This means that, barring legitimate legal challenges, the new proposal will be implemented in the New Year.”

The plan includes residents parking permit schemes on some of the cul-de-sacs along with limited waiting times for parking outside residents home and an extension of yellow lining preventing parking at any time.

Cllr Robert Finnigan said “Residents have raised their concerns for many years about parking problems on Topcliffe Lane. Residents report being abused by motorists parking cars on Topcliffe Lane who work on the adjacent industrial estate. The parking on Topcliffe Lane has been so severe on some occasions that buses and emergency vehicles could not move up and down the road. This plan will address most of these anti-social parking issues.”

The new plan should be implemented early in the New Year and a review will be undertaken 6 months after implementation to see if additional measures are required.

SIDS working

Morley Town Council financed SIDS (speed indication devices) are working well according to feedback from local residents. The devices, in place on Glen Road, Scotchman Lane and Glen Road, indicate the speed motorists are travelling at and are proven to slow down drivers.

Cllr Jim Aveyard, Chairman of the Town Councils Highway Committee said “We have financed SIDs across Morley and we were keen to get residents views on what impact the devices had had in their communities. The feedback from residents was generally positive with many believing it had slowed traffic down. Other residents believe more work needs to be done to slow traffic down. We have taken this on board and will explore further options.”

Other residents on Scatcherd Lane and Scotchman Lane have also welcomed the introduction of the devices.

Cllr Robert Finnigan said “The devices do two things. They give instant feedback to drivers and this often leads to a reduction is the speed they are travelling at. The devices also monitor on, a long term basis, the speed of motorists and this data can be used it evidence the need for further action – such as permanent safety cameras.”

Morley Town Council are looking to roll out the SID programme to other locations including Magpie Lane, Westwoodside in Churwell and Rein Road.

New CCTV coming to Churwell Park

Churwell Environmental Volunteers working on the scheme

Morley Town Council is working in partnership with Churwell Environmental Volunteers to bring an additional CCTV camera to Churwell Park. The scheme – which is being financed by Morley town Council – will bring a further camera to the park to oversee the newly refurbished children’s play area.

Cllr Robert Finnigan said “I am grateful for the work the Churwell Environmental Volunteers have put into this scheme in bringing this additional camera to the park. This will keep park users safer and will also mean that play equipment is less likely to be damaged or vandalised.”

CCTV cameras were introduced into Churwell Park a decade ago and have led to reduced vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Finnigan said “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Churwell Volunteers who do excellent work across the Churwell area. The finance for this scheme has come from Morley Town Councils Community Infrastructure Levy Fund and we will be looking to use this fund on a programme of improvement works across Morley.”

Free WIFI scheme for Morley Town Centre a step nearer

The free WIFI programme for Morley Town Centre took a further step forward following a meeting between Councillors and Leeds City Council Street Lighting staff. The scheme – to be financed by Morley Town Council – has the support of local Councillors and Morley MP Andrea Jenkyns and aims to be operational early in the New Year.

Cllr Robert Finnigan, Chairman of Morley Town Centre Management Board said “We have brokered an agreement with Leeds City Councils Street lighting Team to attach the hardware needed to bring the scheme to Morley Town Centre on the lamp standards on Queen Street. This should provide what is needed for free WIFI to be offered to anyone visiting Morley Town Centre.”

 The free WIFI scheme will be used to promote Morley Town Centre, providing news on events and offers from local traders to increase footfall as well  as developing a digital platform for the future aiming to include click and collect options from Morley Town Centre businesses.

 Cllr Finnigan said “We have had excellent support from our MP, Town and City Councillors and Leeds and Morley Councils. We hope to have the full scheme operational early in the New Year.”

 

MBIs to debate Housing Target and Universal Credit

Laneside Farm lost to Developers

Morley Borough Independent Councillors will take part in two controversial debates to take place at Leeds City Councils Full Council Meeting this Wednesday.

The first relates to a reduction of the Leeds City Councils Planning Housing Target which will also lead to a vote on a proposed no confidence motion in the Labour Administration by Tory Councillors. This follows Labour Councillors setting of the Core Strategy Housing Target of 70,000 new homes and then agreeing to an early review to reduce the number.

Morley Councillors have campaigned since 2007 to reduce the housing target which covers the City up to 2028. They believed the target was too high and would lead to the loss of many Greenfield sites in Morley and across Leeds.

Cllr Tom Leadley – who has battled to reduce the housing target for over a decade said “The 70,000 plus target was never realistic or achievable but gave developers an option to build on Greenfield sites and ignore previous developed brownfield ones. This has led to the loss of many Greenfield sites in Morley including Owlers Farm, Low Moor Farm and Laneside Farm – all important Morley Greenfield sites. The decision to revise the housing target to reduce it downward will not help Morley as these sites have already been granted planning permission.”

Over 2,000 new homes have been granted planning permission across Morley over the last 5 years but no new schools or other infrastructure proposals have been agreed to cope with the increased demand on local services.

A second debate will be held on the Governments Welfare Reform Flagship – Universal Credit.

Cllr Robert Finnigan, a former welfare rights worker for over 30 years said “The principle of Universal Credit is a sound one with the rights and responsibilities of claimants clearly laid down. The Labour Administration in Leeds wants a pause in its introduction but we are backing Labour MP Frank Fields proposals to make Universal Credit work better.”

Morley Councillors are backing Frank Fields proposals to make Universal Credit payable on a fortnightly basis – rather than after 6 weeks and are also backing the removal of rent payments from Universal Credit with payments being returned directly to Landlords.

Cllr Finnigan said “The Labour Administration seems to have no proposals as to how to make Universal Credit work better. We back Frank Fields proposals which make work pay, keep roofs over claimant’s heads and make it more manageable for those on low incomes to cope.”

 

Dartmouth Park Plan Welcomed

Plans for a new play area and multi-use gym area for young people were unveiled to a meeting of the Friends of Dartmouth Park Group this week. The plans – funded by Housing Developer contributions – will see a new children’s play area introduced along with a teen zone for young people on the space of a disused tennis court.

Cllr Judith Elliott said “This regeneration plan has been a long time coming but we are delighted it is now to be implemented. We have campaigned for many years – along with the Friends of Dartmouth Park Group – for these improvements to be introduced and the plan will be implemented over the autumn and winter months."

Over £200,000 has been found to support the regeneration project with footpaths also to be improved.

Cllr Wyn Kidger, who attended the meeting said “Dartmouth Park is one of the jewels in Morley’s Parks crown and this improvement plan will be welcomed by young and old alike. The Friends Group deserve a lot of credit for battling with us to bring these improvements and I am pleased we are going to finally get the work undertaken.”

Morley Mayors Charity Channel Challenge

Morley Mayor Cllr Robert Finnigan has been delighted at the response from local groups following his call to take on the Mayor Charity Channel Challenge. The challenge – to be held at Morley Sports Centre on Saturday 21^st October at 2pm at Morley Sports Centre, will involve teams rowing the equivalent distance of crossing the Channel - 33,300 metres - on rowing machines as they compete against each other to be the first “boat” to make the crossing. The event is raising funds to support West Yorkshires two Children’s Hospices, Martin House in Leeds and the Forget Me Not Fund based in Huddersfield who deal with children from across the region suffering from life shortening conditions.

 Cllr Finnigan said “The response from groups taking up the challenge has been fabulous. We have a team from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation taking part along with teams from Morley Sports Centre, Morley Firefighters, the Different Gravy Wine Bar, the Yorkshire Teachers Rugby League team and of course the Mayors own team. It’s a long and sweaty physical challenge which will take around 3 hours but the support with sponsorship has been brilliant.”

 The event at Morley Sports Centre will also include a bun sale with bottled water for the competitors being provided free by Morley Morrison’s.

 Cllr Finnigan said “Both hospices do an excellent job with supporting families who are facing exceptionally challenging circumstances. We are hoping to raise over £1000 to support the work they do and I would encourage Morley Folk to attend, support the rowers and give generously to both these excellent charities.”