South Leeds Life Many many congratulations to Leeds United on gaining promotion to the Premiership it’s great news for our city and let us all hope this will be the start of a new era of success in the top flight The Holbeck Viaduct Project is a great idea It wants to take a redundant railway viaduct that runs from just close to Leeds City Station all the way to Gelderd Road One of the advantages of the project is that it would help shorten the walk from the railway station to Elland Road on match days With the plans to significantly extend the capacity at Elland Road it would be really good if more supporters could make their way there by public transport including by walking along the Holbeck Viaduct Will Network Rail agree finally to dispose of it How would you sort out landholdings along the way How will the project deal with the fact that the viaduct passes over one railway line and several roads What are the legal and insurance challenges how can the project raise sufficient funds to meet the cost of maintaining the viaduct in the years ahead Everyone at the meeting realised that these questions will have to be answered but the most important thing is that this is a brilliant idea that has been kept alive for nearly a decade thanks to the persistence and determination of those who came up with it can’t wait to get up there and see what a wonderful thing it will be The Government has passed emergency legislation – the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act – to save British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Government had “no choice but to act” to save the plant said it had been suffering financial losses of around £700,000 a day New supplies of coking coal and iron ore to keep the blast furnaces going have now been secured the most important thing about what’s happened is that society has realised that having the capacity to make steel is absolutely fundamental to any country and to any economy It’s not called a strategic industry for nothing millions of workers got a pay increase worth up to £1,400 a year through the boost to the National Living Wage Nye Bevan – the man who created the National Health Service – once said that “socialism is the language of priorities” Being in government is indeed all about making choices and the rise in the National Living Wage is a really good example of that I do not generally attempt to report on my sporting efforts mainly because they are so undistinguished but I did rather enjoy my trip to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland recently On this occasion I opted for a putt of about 4 feet and before addressing the ball I asked the golf professional what percentage of putts of that length a pro golfer would expect to make His answer was a bit daunting so you can imagine my inner pride when I managed to sink both putts that this was as good as it was going to get so I retreated from the green in haste the world’s greatest golfers will grace the course And after his magnificent win at the US Masters there are great hopes right across Northern Ireland – and indeed the whole of the United Kingdom – that Rory McIlroy may prove to be victorious once again He represents the Leeds South constituency Email: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk  |  Website: www.hilarybennmp.com South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation or even better taking out a supporters subscription Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Find out how to become a Sponsor here South Leeds Life is regulated by IMPRESS and adheres to its standards code However, if you feel we have breached the code in any way and wish to make a complaint, please submit your complaint, in writing to the editor Our complaints procedure is available here Administrators login Find a Church | Safeguarding  | Digital Learning Platform |  Vacancies | Contact Us  Parents of children with additional needs in the Leeds area have been getting together and helping one another as part of a support group being run by St Luke’s Holbeck ‘SEN-TASTIC’ is a parent support group for families with children with additional needs responding to their own families’ needs and the needs in the community around them.  there are many parents raising children with complex needs who struggle as they advocate and care for their kids.  ‘SEN-TASTIC’ started to create a safe place for these parents to share experiences and socialise together.  met Emma and Penny through our diocesan Additional Needs Learning Community which they are part of and supports those who work with those with additional needs Jo went along to a recent SEN-TASTIC coffee morning so she could see the impact the group was having.  Jo said: “It is wonderful to see how St Luke’s has identified a need in their community and how God has guided them to meet it in such a beautiful way.  “The church is a place where families under pressure can find support and acceptance.” there are parents who have experience in applying for Disability Living Allowance and looking to get their child an EHCP (Educational Health and Care needs assessment); they share the lessons they learnt along the way to others who are just starting out.  The group invite organisations such as Leeds SENDIASS SEND Navigators and local councillors in to give advice.  Parents of SEND children can struggle to make time to look after their own wellbeing so recently Emma and Penny invited a specialist in mental wellbeing to deliver a session for the group as well as organising a wonderful family Christmas party and a visit to the farm at Temple Newsam.  Those who attend SEN-TASTIC are from all different walks of life and different faiths Emma said: “It is our Christian faith that prompts us to care for these parents and families.  “We don’t preach at them about Jesus but we do invite them and their families to join us at church on Sunday.  “We hope they experience something of Jesus’ love for them when they come to SEN-TASTIC.” a mum who attends the group said: “These people are my family.  “I don’t have family here in this country and I’ve struggled so much but these people have shared their lives with me and they look after me.” are applying for funding for St Luke’s to respond to the increasing need for one-to-one support coaching and to expand the SEN-TASTIC sessions to more than once a month.  To find out more about SEN-TASTIC, please click here To find out more about our Additional Needs Learning Community, please click here Privacy notice  Back to top E-newsletters Sign up Contact Us Tickets & Hospitality Matches Shop LUTV Foundation More... xemailLeeds United’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Cardiff City on Saturday will be dedicated to South Leeds-based charity who have been working closely with the club for a number of years as they continue to support some of the most disadvantaged people in the local area Leeds United club legend Eddie Gray stopped by one of the charity’s wellbeing breakfast events volunteers and the people the organisation supports to hear their stories and more about the charity Holbeck Together provide a variety of services and activities to support the community that is just a stone’s throw from the stadium keeping people of all ages socially and physically active whilst promoting healthy lifestyles and choices and offering affordable food to those most in need To continue supporting some of the most isolated people in our local area and to continue the incredibly vital work they are doing every day the organisation relies heavily on donations Therefore the charity will be hosting a fundraising event around the ground at the weekend with special guests also presenting in some of the stadium lounges Speaking at the recent wellbeing breakfast Eddie was quick to praise the important work being delivered by the charity: “It is just about the people,” Gray explained “It is nice to come down and see how they are doing I think it is a great thing that they do here They put this on and it is for the community and the people that live local talk to them and probably make new friends here added: “We are based in the heart of Holbeck and we provide key support where people experience consistent poverty we endeavour to deliver a busy schedule of community support services and health and wellbeing activities for people just like the breakfast event we have thrown this morning “Holbeck remains one of the most deprived areas in England and any help we can get from the incredible Leeds United fanbase will go so far in supporting so many people who really need it Our relationship with the club has a profound impact on the work that we carry out it is a football club with its heart in the community and our continued work with the Leeds United Foundation also provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for young people living so close to the ground.” Some of the other events the charity host and deliver More about Holbeck Together can be found here and if you are able to donate, please visit: https://www.holbecktogether.org/support-us/ Map Mind the Gap: Join the Place North Viability Gap Campaign The design of the building would reference the brick warehouse style found throughout Holbeck The developer’s plans for a 27-storey tower on Springwell Road would add another 391 BTR apartments to Leeds’ latest hotspot named because of the site’s adjacent position to thoroughfare Whitehall Road the wider project team consists of project manager Buro Four and three-bed flats and 7,000 sq ft of amenity space for residents the one-acre site is home to Evolution House a two-storey office building and is along from the recently completed Springwell Gardens development Phase Two of Springwell Gardens is currently in the planning stage for a 30-storey Leeds City Council will consider the plans at a meeting next week with the recommendation to defer and delegate the decision Read our comments policy The 65 affordable-home development is three miles from the city centre and was brought forward in a £13.1m land-led deal in partnership with Together Housing Contractor Bowmer & Kirkland topped out on the 368 BTR apartments last April and has now handed it over for occupation completing phase one of the £300m regeneration scheme Register for free Yorkshire property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay updated on the latest news and views in Yorkshire property views and opportunities in Yorkshire property By subscribing, you are agreeing to Place Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Stand Up to Racism looking for relatives of people who were at Battle of Holbeck Moor Stand Up to Racism is searching for family members of the 30,000 people who stood up to Oswald Mosley in Leeds at the Battle of Holbeck Moor in 1936 as a blue plaque is unveiled in the city on Sunday The event was one of the biggest anti-fascist demonstrations in UK history, occurring a week before the Battle of Cable Street in the East End of London The plaque, installed by Leeds Civic Trust marks the occasion when a rally of 1,000 Blackshirts the leader of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) were outnumbered thirtyfold by anti-fascists who gathered ready to protest in Holbeck Moor Mosley had come to Leeds on 27 September to spread a message of antisemitism but had been banned from the Jewish area of the city in West Yorkshire by police and his attempts to address the crowd on top of a van were drowned out by loud singing and shouting among the counter-protesters A violent confrontation followed as the Blackshirts marched back towards the city Mosley and his supporters were pelted with stones by the counter-protesters yet only three arrests were made from the crowd of 30,000 View image in fullscreenMounted police among the crowds at the fascist rally in Leeds in September 1936 Photograph: Fox Photos/Getty ImagesThe group Stand Up to Racism who was at the event as a child: “For the rest of her life she remembered the hate written all over the faces of the young Blackshirts had not reckoned on ‘the men of Leeds’: a huge crowd had gathered on Holbeck Moor and was waiting injuring some of the marchers and Mosley too.” whose grandfather of the same name walked from Batley to Holbeck Moor to stand up to Mosley said: “The miners’ group grew in numbers walking through Hunslet where many engineering plants still operated Mosley famously himself sporting an injury visible the following week at Cable Street in London The blue plaque installed by Leeds Civic Trust Photograph: Leeds SUTR“I’m told that all the participants claimed it was their missile which hit him.” Most of Leeds’s blue plaques commemorate individuals or buildings “but this one is different” “It tells the story of how the people of Leeds rose up to oppose the rise of fascism in the United Kingdom This event made national news at the time and was an important statement of defiance as world war two approached It is a story that deserves to be better known and I am delighted that we are able to support this blue plaque.” Sam Kirk of Stand up to Racism said: “Mosley was stopped from whipping up racism in Leeds by the sheer numbers of people opposing him He was sent a clear message that he was not welcome.” which were stopped in part due to anti-fascist demonstrators greatly outnumbering potential rioters “When the far right try to divide us and turn people against those seeking asylum or who are of particular religions they should be given the same message today Let’s commemorate the past and ensure that Leeds remains fascist free now and in the future.” Those with memories to share should contact Leeds Stand Up to Racism on Facebook or email sutrleeds@gmail.com Leading build-to-rent provider PLATFORM_ has officially revealed the name of its 10th – and first mixed-use – development in the UK will become a 1.3 million sqft neighbourhood in the South Bank area of Holbeck incorporating over 1,350 new homes 160,000 sqft of Grade A office and commercial space all set around a new public square Drawing its name from the location on Sweet Street West as well as the historic surrounding green spaces Sweetfields will be a vibrant addition to the ongoing regeneration of the South Bank area of Leeds as part of the city council’s vision to expand Leeds city centre to the south along with investment partner Housing Growth Partnership broke ground on phase 1 of this new destination in 2024 commencing the delivery of 451 new high-quality homes for rent the public square and reinstatement of the historic Commercial pub once owned by Leeds United icon Peter Lorimer As well as becoming a neighbourhood with a range of amenities restaurants and businesses of the Temple district Holbeck Urban Village and the planned British Library North development Leeds Station is only a 7-minute walk away Employers in the local area already include Jet2 SD Worx as well as flexible workspace options at x+why and the Marshall’s Mill creative hub Alongside the first phase residential development completing at the start of 2027 two new office buildings provide a unique opportunity for businesses seeking a substantial base in Leeds offering 90,000 sqft and 45,000 sqft respectively with average floorplates of 15,000 sqft and an ability to cater for occupiers seeking 5,000 sqft and above Targeting BREEAM Excellent sustainability accreditation and providing access to parking business lounges and amenities across the wider neighbourhood this workspace will be attractive to a wide range of organisations and their employees creative industries or professional services The commercial spaces are being marketed by appointed commercial agents Knight Frank “Sweetfields is an area that is steeped in local history and we’re delighted to pick up its story and create a new chapter by bringing homes jobs and businesses back to a site that has been vacant since 2008 designing and now building out the site reflects our commitment to creating a vibrant new neighbourhood to support delivery of Leeds City Council’s economic “The Sweetfields name is the first step in bringing the site to life and attracting a wide range of residents as well as retail creating a neighbourhood that people from across Leeds and beyond can enjoy the benefits of.” Partner and Head of Development at the Leeds office of Knight Frank commented: “This is a very timely and welcome mixed-use development in an historic area of Leeds which is enjoying significant regeneration The continued inward investment in the city from major occupiers has put pressure on the housing and workspace supply and there’s no doubt that Sweetfields will ease this problem “One of the most important trends in Leeds right now is the rapid growth of higher educational establishments which are producing talented graduates who want to live and work in the city There have been concerns that the current housing stock cannot cope with this demand “Professor Catherine O’Connor of Leeds Trinity University which has just opened a new campus in the heart of the city is right when she says that the retention of highly qualified graduates in Leeds is vital to the local economy Sweetfields is exactly the right development With a masterplan by Leeds based architects DLG two- and three-bedroom Build To Rent (BTR) apartments to the city from early 2027 and extensive outdoor space and roof terraces incorporating exercise areas developer and operator and asset manager of institutional-quality rental communities across the UK with a delivered portfolio and pipeline of over 4,000 apartments across 12 UK towns and cities Over the past 12 months it has received 12 awards including “BTR Specialist of the Year” at the prestigious EG Awards and specific awards for each of its recently completed developments in Glasgow as well as its Nurturing Neighbourhoods ESG strategy With a focus on sustainability and supporting the communities in which it operates PLATFORM_ targets that 25% of the businesses they work with for operational assets being local businesses PLATFORM_ is also targeting all its buildings being net zero in operation by 2030 For further information on Sweetfields and office leasing opportunities, please visit www.sweetfields.co.uk or contact Eamon Fox (eamon.fox@knightfrank.com) at appointed commercial agents Knight Frank This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of PLATFORM_ Apart from a mention of a grocery store will there be a post office or bank or doctors surgery or dentist for the people who will eventually live here The funding will be put to work across the inner city area Whitehall sign-off is required before the city council can trigger the programme to invest in community assets and home improvements Under the Levelling Up Fund programme run by the previous Conservative government LCC had successfully applied for support for the Heart of Holbeck project The local authority is working with re-form Landscape Architecture on the project This is to be invested across three main projects: the relevant council officers now have clearance to get on with the job of finalising designs and procuring construction contracts Improving health is at the centre of the project The Holbeck & Beeston ward ranks 25th out of 33 in Leeds across nourishment with high rates of preventable premature death an improved Brown Lane East would link the improved park with the new Holbveck sports hub Pocket parks could be introduced across the area Originally put forward unsuccessfully for LUF round 2 the project was re-entered when the government announced a third round in late 2023 LCC was informed in May that its bid had passed through the validation stage – following clarifications that had been sought by Whitehall – but final sign-off for the funding was to have come in July/August a timeline that was scuppered by Rishi Sunak’s calling of a General Election that his party subsequently lost A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council is working closely with partners including Holbeck Together to develop the plans for the Heart of Holbeck project after the bid was formally entered into the Levelling Up Fund – Round Three in May “The project aims to support the long-term health and resilience of the Holbeck community by delivering much-needed investment into key assets including Holbeck Moor Park as well as improvements to the older terraced housing stock This will form part of our wider ambitions for regeneration in South Leeds to realise its social and economic potential for the benefit of residents “In anticipation of delivering the project as soon as possible subject to confirmation of the funding and necessary approvals an update report on the project was presented for discussion to the council’s executive board in July The report was well received by the executive board and with our partners work will continue to develop the Heart of Holbeck plans as we await further updates from the government.” Leeds United has released images showing the future design of the stadium with plans settling on a capacity of around 53,000 Countrylarge has applied to build 100 townhouses at Aire Place Mills in Leeds’ current development hotspot joining neighbouring Glenbrook and Latimer developments xemailLeeds United recently played host to a special Christmas event for older members of the local community that are supported throughout the year by Holbeck Together Holbeck Together is a charity that is close to our hearts with beneficiaries all based within the shadows of Elland Road The club and the Leeds United Foundation have worked closely with the local charity for a number of years across different projects and it was fantastic once again to help support those who need it most especially at what can be a difficult time of the year for people suffering with loneliness and social isolation The local residents in attendance at the festive lunch were also joined by various staff from the charity and some of their trustees with entertainment and plenty of food and drink on offer said: “We are getting into the winter period ahead of Christmas and Leeds United for many years have put on this wonderful lunch for our local community in Holbeck just a stone’s throw away from Elland Road Primarily it helps to support older people who might not have a Christmas with family they might be alone and have family that have passed away so it really is a fantastic thing that they can all come together here “Leeds United are very close to the heart of Holbeck and the community really does suffer with deprivation and coming together today has a huge impact in ensuring no one is left out at Christmas or made to feel more isolated Knowing that just around the corner a local football club cares about their local community is really special and it’s been fabulous celebrating today with a real feeling of belonging during the festive season.” Holbeck Together was established as a Neighbourhood Network Scheme back in 1992 to support older people living in the local community and since then the charity have massively expanded their network to provide a variety of services activities and opportunities for people from all generations in Holbeck If you would like more information on the fantastic work being done by the local charity or if you would like to show your support to Holbeck Together, please click here Creative and musical minds are being sought by Beeston & Holbeck Councillors to come up with the perfect jingles and slogans to combat littering and dog fouling in their ward of Beeston and Holbeck Inspired by the ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ campaign that’s been running for forty years in the Lone Star State with support from locals such as Matthew McConaughey and Willie Nelson Annie Maloney and Shaf Ali are looking for the ideal phrase to tackle the blight of litter in Beeston and Holbeck Anyone with a slogan, jingle or an image for a billboard in mind should email Andrew.Scopes@leeds.gov.uk “Reading about the ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ campaign – which reduced litter on highways by over 70% over three years – made me wonder if there’s a similar phrase that could do the same for our patch of Leeds “I know that my fellow residents of Beeston and Holbeck are a creative bunch and I’m sure that many will be up for the challenge of coming up with the right slogan to instil pride in our community and combat the blight of littering in our area.” This post is based on a press release issued by Beeston & Holbeck Ward Councillors Just inside St Matthew’s Community Centre there is a wonderful local spot to meet your friends over coffee and a light bite to eat It has just undergone a make-over so it’s a great opportunity to pop by and try it out “We’re thrilled to share our revamped café with the community,” says Elissa Newman “It has recently undergone a bit of make-over thanks to local organisations Seagulls Paint and GME Painting Contractors We wanted to offer a space that creates a welcoming and cozy atmosphere for everyone to enjoy and we look forward to seeing lots of regular and new customers popping by.” With profits from the community café supporting the activities advice and support provided by Holbeck Together it’s a great way to show your support and contribute to your local community teas and cold drinks alongside an expanded selection of cakes and light snacks including hot sandwiches You can also pre-order and collect your refreshments by calling 0113 245 5553 This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of Holbeck Together Police are warning of the dangers of illegally modified electric bikes after the rider of one was sentenced over a collision which caused the death of a man in Leeds was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today (10 March 2025) for causing the death of 51-year-old Vincent Cullinane by careless driving in relation to a collision in Leeds city centre on 21 April 2022 Mr Cullinane had been riding his pedal cycle on the pavement in East Street when he was involved in a collision with Diallo who was also riding on the pavement Diallo had modified his pedal cycle with an after-market battery making it a motor vehicle under road traffic legislation This type of ‘powered transporter’ falls outside of the definition of an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) that can be legitimately ridden without being classed as a motor vehicle Mr Cullinane suffered serious injuries and remained in a critical condition in hospital until he died 19 days later on Tuesday 10 May 2022 The incident was investigated by officers from West Yorkshire Police Major Collision Enquiry Team was charged in October last year with causing death by careless driving driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence He pleaded guilty to the offences at a hearing on 20 January this year Today he was sentenced to seven months imprisonment He was also given a 15-day rehabilitation order and 200 hours community service and disqualified from driving for four years and until an extended test is passed “Vincent Cullinane’s family have been left absolutely devastated by his death in a collision which shows very clearly the dangers and risks of illegally modified electric bikes “These ‘powered transporters’ are classed as motor vehicles by definition and are subject to all the same legislation as cars and motorbikes “The unregulated power they produce and the speeds they can achieve create clear potential risks to the safety of others “Anyone using such a vehicle faces being prosecuted for driving without insurance and without a licence and having their vehicle seized “The illegal riding of this modified cycle led to Vincent sadly losing his life and we hope this case will highlight the potentially tragic consequences of using an illegally modified electric vehicle.” This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Police Photo: A modified cycle seized recently in Belle Isle The same rules apply to private e-scooters unmodified or not Seven months sentence suspended for causing a man’s death he must have known the adaptation on his bike was illegal and the fact it caused a man’s death is terrible A man who masterminded a violent robbery in Leeds where rare Porsche parts were stolen has been jailed after being tracked down by tenacious detective work over a four-year international manhunt Wahseem Fazal tried to cheat justice by fleeing the country after he was charged over the armed robbery at a specialist car repair business in Water Lane led to five other people being jailed for a total of 55 years in 2019 for their roles in the conspiracy Relentless enquiries by the officer in the case eventually led to Fazal being extradited back to the UK from Greece in 2022 had been repairing a red Porsche Carrera GT had taken ownership of some parts for the car in settlement of a debt owed by the previous owner of the vehicle had visited the premises earlier that month to arrange to sell those parts to the car’s existing owner The offer was declined but during their time at the garage they became aware of where the other Porsche parts were being stored out of view at the business Shortly after 3:30pm on Saturday 26 September 2015 two other men visited the workshop and asked about the cost of a car repair They returned to a white van parked nearby which was seen on CCTV driving back and forth waiting for the area to clear of other people The van then reversed up to the roller door of the unit and the two men entered and confronted the victim One aimed a revolver at his head and threatened him demanding “the red parts” The victim was pushed back onto an office chair and his hands bound with cable ties While the two robbers returned to the workshop the victim tried to escape but was threatened with being shot and was grabbed and forced back into the office He was pistol whipped about the head causing injuries and was struck with a machete causing a deep laceration to his left side what appeared to be bullets fell from the weapon onto the floor He was gagged and blindfolded with duct tape and taped to a chair The pair then loaded the Porsche Carrera GT parts The victim managed to free himself from the chair and raise the alarm with a member of staff at a neighbouring business who contacted the police and ambulance He needed stitches to the wound to his side and other treatment for the injuries to his head Enquiries by detectives showed the white transit van shown on CCTV had distinctive marks on the roof was found to have been on false plates at the time of the offence It was picked up by cameras on the M62 westbound after the robbery It was circulated on police systems and was stopped some days later and found to be a hire vehicle being driven by people unconnected to the incident Further enquiries showed the van had been hired on the day of the robbery by Owen Walcott An expert in vehicle identification confirmed that it was the same vehicle as shown on the CCTV from the scene of the robbery Checks with the van hire firm identified Walcott who had initially turned down a more identifiable sign-written van and waited for a plain one to become available Phone enquiries showed a number linked to Walcott had contacted a Porsche garage in Manchester just days after the robbery The caller had asked for prices for numerous Porsche Carrera GT parts and the dealership was able to provide officers with a full list of those due to the type of car being relatively unique This matched the list of items stolen in the robbery Further enquiries linked Walcott and Fazal to the offence along with Walcott’s brother Harry Mahoney They were arrested in December 2015 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery Additional work by detectives linked three others who were identified as the two who had carried out the robbery Incriminating text messages were discovered on their phones discussing the offence All six were charged to appear at Leeds Magistrates in November 2018 but Walcott and Fazal failed to attend court and went on the run Protracted enquiries located Walcott in Bulgaria and he was detained by the Bulgarian authorities in March 2019 and extradited back to the UK Painstaking work to locate Fazal showed he had left the UK by Eurostar in November 2016 and had been with Walcott in Bulgaria in 2017 before moving around between Tunisia The manhunt faced delays during the Covid pandemic but was reinvigorated in summer 2022 with information suggesting Fazal was in Athens DS Coates liaised with the Greek authorities through Interpol and identified an address for him He was arrested in Athens and brought back to the UK in October 2022 under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement warrant He was due to stand trial in June last year but entered a guilty plea to the offence of conspiracy to commit robbery His co-conspirators had previously been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in 2019 As we reported was jailed for 13 years for the robbery conspiracy with concurrent terms for Section 20 assault and possession of an imitation firearm; Kai Kennedy was given 12 years and six months for the conspiracy with concurrent terms for Section 18 assault and possession of an offensive weapon; Harry Mahoney was sentenced to ten years and nine months for the conspiracy; and Owen Walcott was sentenced to 13 years for the conspiracy The others are continuing to serve their sentences was sentenced to eight years and ten months “Fazal’s imprisonment today finally brings to a successful conclusion an investigation that originally began eight years ago “This was a very serious offence during which the victim was put through a terrifying ordeal as part of a carefully planned and orchestrated robbery which was motivated purely by greed “This has been a lengthy and challenging investigation where Detective Sergeant Coates has continued to demonstrate a commendable amount of tenacity in her relentless pursuit of those involved most notably Fazal as the main person behind it “He tried to evade justice by leaving the country and relocating around Europe and Africa in the hope that he could avoid having to answer for his actions “The extensive efforts that eventually paid off and saw him brought back to the UK to face justice should clearly illustrate to wanted offenders that their debt never goes away.” the charity that works with young people in Beeston and Holbeck has found its own home in Holbeck and is in the process of getting it ready to open next month The Loft is located next to Slung Low’s Warehouse in Holbeck and Jamyang Buddhist Centre on Crosby Road The former warehouse space is being transformed into activity and meeting spaces there will also be a teaching kitchen and greenhouse space Re:establish have teamed up with Open Source Arts to develop and manage The Loft and have set the date for an opening party – on Thursday 20 March 2025 They just need some help with the final push to decorate the building are invited to lend a hand every Thursday between 10am and 7pm and every Saturday between 10:30am and 2:30pm The team are also keen to hear from people and groups who would like to use the space. Have you got an idea for a project, but nowhere to run it? The space is free for people trying out new ideas. Contact: phil12@reestablish.org.uk Even if you can’t help with the work, you are welcome to join the opening party, which is also a celebration of Re:establish’s 10th anniversary, on Thursday 20 March from 6-8:30pm. Reserve your ticket here The community transport service is also there to help those with mobility difficulties stay active The transport service plays a vital role in ensuring that local people can participate in activities and outings that they might otherwise find difficult to attend – whether it’s popping out to Holbeck Together’s activity programme at St Matthews or enjoying a day trip to the seaside check out Holbeck Together’s latest newsletter or visit the website at holbeck together.org “I love the fact that Holbeck Together’s transport offer enables me as a wheelchair user to get out and about and enjoy group trips It also means I can retain some independence by going on the weekly shopping trips.” Minibus for Hire: A Flexible Option for Groups if you’re a local organisation or a community group you can also hire the minibuses for your own events ensuring safe and comfortable transport for everyone The Community Transport team already work with a number of organisations on a regular basis across the city who hire the buses for their activities and outings The fleet includes two fully-equipped VW Crafter minibuses each with capacity for up to fifteen passengers plus the driver These minibuses are also fully accessible for those with mobility challenges with the ability to accommodate two fixed wheelchairs once the three rear seats are removed The dedicated drivers also work closely with clients to customise routes ensuring that each trip meets the specific needs of the group As a charity terms and conditions apply to use of the minibus by external organisations but the friendly team at Holbeck Together can talk this through with you when you enquire please contact Holbeck Together on 0113 245 5553 This post is based on a press release issued by Holbeck Together As previously reported the award-winning Build to Rent developer PLATFORM_ has collaborated with renowned international street artist Kid Acne to create a major new landmark for Leeds The art installation will transform the historic Commercial Inn in the heart of Sweetfields a significant new 1.3 million sqft neighbourhood on Sweet Street in the South Bank area of Holbeck Spearheading the international Street Art movement Yorkshire-based Kid Acne has exhibited large-scale artworks across the globe for over twenty years from Rome and Los Angeles to Beijing and Paris His iconic work has headlined campaigns for some of the world’s leading brands Kid Acne’s artwork will breathe new life into The Commercial Inn at Sweetfields where PLATFORM_ are working to bring this historic venue back into use after many years of neglect the mural is an important addition to the city’s cultural scene “The mural covers two elevations of The Commercial Inn which I tried to feed into the composition breakdown to make a lot of those things disappear When I’m painting on a big scale like this mural I really try to keep that energy and rawness of the original sketch – that’s the hardest bit “The piece marks a tide change for the area – the start of something new and different and there’s a network of artists across them all projects like this really help to bridge that gap a little more.” The artwork depicts Kid Acne’s signature ‘spirit animal’ characters and the words ‘Positive energy activates constant elevation’ run across the mural which the street artist hopes will resonate with the audience and the headdresses are inspired by Maurice Sendak’s ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ The kids in animal costumes are a way to show different emotions and different temperaments Each individual character is the size of one of my regular pieces that I paint so to have that many in a row on the side of The Commercial Inn is really cool It’s like an army of different personalities from different walks of life.” Sweetfields in Holbeck will become a 1.3 million sq ft neighbourhood incorporating over 1,350 new homes and 160,000 sq ft of Grade A office and commercial space PLATFORM_ and its investment partner Housing Growth Partnership broke ground on Phase 1 of this new destination in 2024 Sweetfields is PLATFORM_’s tenth development and its first mixed-use neighbourhood Kid Acne’s mural will occupy the northeast corner of the site and the façade of The Commercial Inn for approximately two years The Commercial Inn was built between 1831 and 1844 and was the first headquarters of the ASLEF railway union It was previously owned by Leeds United icon Peter Lorimer  “Sweetfields is an exciting new development that will transform the local area and we’re pleased to be working with a world-renowned Yorkshire-based artist to help bring life back to The Commercial Inn on what will be such a significant aspect of the site Close collaboration with Kid Acne and Leeds City Council has enabled us to deliver something iconic to enliven the area while we develop Sweetfields.” With a masterplan by Leeds-based DLG Architects two- and three-bedroom BTR apartments to the city from early 2027 Residents will enjoy facilities including a gym children’s play areas and pet-friendly facilities The first phase will include two new office buildings offering 96,000 sq ft and 45,000 sq ft of space secure underground parking and access to an extensive landscaped campus operator and asset manager of institutional-quality rental communities across the UK with a delivered portfolio and pipeline of 4,200 apartments across 12 UK towns and cities Taking a local approach at all its developments PLATFORM_ targets that 25% of the businesses it works with at Sweetfields will be Leeds-based PLATFORM_ is also targeting all its buildings For further information on Sweetfields, please visit www.sweetfields.co.uk  This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of PLATFORM_ a Remembrance Service was held in Holbeck Cemetery This has become a tradition over the last few years thanks to the tireless work of Angela Gabriel BEM who organised it once again The service was conducted by Rev Alistair Kaye Holbeck with refreshments afterwards at St Mary’s Church It was a well-attended event honouring all those who have died in war and with prayers given for peace and the community Councillors Andrew Scopes and Shaf Ali (Labour Beeston & Holbeck) attended the Remembrance Service in Holbeck Cemetery “It was a real privilege to be part of the Remembrance Service on Sunday and it important for our community to have the opportunity to pay our respects and thanks to those who have died in war The community have been treated to a poppy display knitted by local residents and put up in the Cemetery by Angela Gabriel BEM and Councillor Andrew Scopes This post is based on a press release issued by Beeston & Holbeck Councillors the Battle of Holbeck Moor didn’t feature on the curriculum unlike other very famous battles like Waterloo But what happened on the Moor that day was a very significant event in the history of South Leeds In the 1930s Oswald Mosley was the leader of the British Union of Fascists who was guest of honour at his second wedding Mosley decided that he would come to Leeds to try and stir things up and gain support His plan was to march from the Leylands – an area near Sheepscar where many Jews who had come to Leeds to escape the pogroms of Eastern Europe had settled the Leeds City Watch Committee banned this swastikas were daubed on Jewish houses and Jewish people were attacked on the streets the fascists – about 1,000 strong – marched through the city to Holbeck Moor to hold a rally There they were met by some 30,000 anti-fascist demonstrators Mosley had thought he would find fertile ground for his brand of politics in working class Holbeck trade union and Communist movements from all over Leeds had other ideas So occurred – on 27 September 1936 – the Battle of Holbeck Moor Mosley tried to address his supporters using a megaphone cries of protest and the singing of the Ref Flag Before long things turned violent as stones were thrown and fights broke out Mosley and his Blackshirts were forced to flee and the battle was over The police only arrested three people out of the very large crowd and the sentences that were handed down were very light The Leeds Mercury newspaper reported the event as follows: Oswald Mosley Hit on the Head with a Stone There were violent scenes at a Fascist demonstration addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley on Holbeck Moor Fourteen people were injured and had treatment at Leeds Infirmary and the Dispensary and one of the injured was detained in the Infirmary suffering from serious abdominal injuries by stones with which the Fascists were freely pelted both during the meeting and at the beginning of their return march to the city Sir Oswald Mosley was among those struck by stones the much better-known Battle of Cable Street took place in East London where Mosley was once again prevented by a huge crowd from marching A large mural depicting what happened was painted on the side of St George’s Town Hall and a red plaque in Dock Street also commemorates the events of that day (now to be joined by a blue plaque in Holbeck) I was part of a large crowd that gathered on Holbeck Moor to mark the 88th anniversary of that day and to unveil a Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque which will be affixed to the side of St Matthews Church that overlooks the Moor and what was so special about the occasion was that it was attended by some of the descendants of those who were there on the day Inside St Matthews there was a display about those forebears and their lives and why they were so determined to be there and cry “They shall not pass.” is that it is by learning where we have come from that we can move forward those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it people were attacked simply because of who they are And that is why we should remember what happened on that September day 88 years ago on Holbeck Moor Richard Burgon MP and Fabian Hamilton MP unveil the blue plaque Imagine you are starting out as a young scientific researcher You have an idea and want to test it in a laboratory Step forward a new company based in Holbeck called QuickLabs which has been created to solve this problem by hiring out equipped laboratory space in very flexible ways to research startups I visited the firm the other way and saw the concept in action If you think of office space needed by a new business there are lots of places now where you can hire a desk or a meeting room or someone to take your phone messages when you’re starting out but for research scientists it’s been rather different unless you’re part of a university or have a persuaded a big company to back you Britain has an extraordinary reputation for scientific and engineering research and discovery The UK’s research strengths can be counted in the number of Nobel Prizes that have been won A few years ago I went on a tour of a research laboratory in Cambridge They split us into two groups and both the tour guides who took us round had won the Nobel Prize Just think of the inventions that we have given to the world the pneumatic tyre and graphene to name but a few But it doesn’t always follow that we are equally good at turning these inventions into commercial products And that’s where people with ideas come in who can industrialise what they have developed It’s great to think that in the heart of our community there’s one enterprise that is thinking about how it can help others to do precisely that I don’t know who invented quad bikes when they’re speeding down your road or churning up a football pitch at the hands of a balaclava-wearing rider who for some inexplicable reason thinks that this is a reasonable thing to do And it causes a lot of distress in our community I recently met with the councillors from Middleton Park ward and the the West Yorkshire deputy Mayor for policing and crime to discuss what more can be done to deal with this menace We agreed that the first and most important thing is for people to report what they have seen I know that some say “What’s the point and nothing ever seems to happen,” But that doesn’t mean that the police aren’t looking into the reports that other people are making in order to try and identify those responsible so that they can be prosecuted and have their bike confiscated The second thing that can be done is to give the police greater powers and here I’m very glad to be able to report that the new Police and Crime Bill will give the police greater powers to seize quad bikes without warning I visited Holbeck Together recently for a catch up about the Heart of Holbeck project it will refurbish the grade two-listed former St Matthew’s church These will ultimately become the home of Holbeck Together and provide a multi-use social and events space and a health and wellbeing activity programme it will introduce much-needed energy efficiency upgrades to 240 back-to-back homes over £15 million will be invested in the local community Holbeck Together was recently awarded a match day at Elland Road which was a huge privilege and much enjoyed so I think they’ve now become a lucky mascot How’s that for the power of community partnership I paid a visit to Elland Road this week to hear from Angus Kinnear The proposal is to build two new stands to take the capacity from 37,645 to 53,000 Leeds United has an extraordinarily loyal fan base with 20,000 people currently on the waiting list for season tickets The fact that the club’s new owners want to put this investment in is a real sign of confidence in the future and given United’s current position at the top of the Championship we are all hoping for a return to the Premier League next season It’s not just the additional capacity that these proposals are about They also involve looking at the land around the ground to see what development opportunities there are One of the biggest issues will be how all these additional fans will travel to and from the ground Local residents currently face problems with match day parking so the more supporters who can walk or come by public transport the better We should also have an eye on the future Leeds mass transit system with one of the two routes most favourably received in the recent consultation stopping outside Elland Road The club are going to hold a series of roadshows and consultation events in the spring so that the public and the local community can have their say But my view is that this is absolutely the right thing to do for a club whose name and history – and I trust its future – are synonymous with the pride and success of our great city Gordon Strachan is the latest Leeds United legend to be celebrated with a public mural The Scot captained United to promotion to the top flight in 1990 before holding aloft the First Division Championship trophy two years later he appeared 197 times for The Peacocks between 1989 and 1995 The mural, painted by local-based artist Kieran Bradshaw, was organised by Leeds United Supporters Trust (LUST) and sponsored by two overseas supporters groups – Leeds United Atlanta (part of LU Americas) and LUSCOS (Scandinavia) The club is a popular stopping off point on the way to Elland Road and it’s not uncommon to hear Norwegian being spoken in the bars This is the 16th mural LUST have undertaken adding to several others popping up in and around the city The Trust ae hoping to get Gordon Strachan to officially unveil the mural in March when members of the supporters’ clubs are over in the UK Leeds City Council has today welcomed confirmation of £15m in central government funding for two major cultural projects Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has committed £10m to help breathe fresh life into Holbeck's historic Temple Works building paving the way for it to become the home of a new British Library North A further £5m in funding has been confirmed in support of plans to create a National Poetry Centre at the landmark Trinity St David’s Church on Woodhouse Lane “The British Library North project aims to create a world-class space for learning exhibitions and events that would unlock the huge potential of Temple Works and boost the ongoing regeneration of the wider Holbeck and South Bank areas “It is therefore really welcome news that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has confirmed that this £10m of funding is now in place to support the process of bringing the Temple Works building into public ownership and back into use “We have worked hard in recent months with partners including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Homes England and the British Library itself “Together we were able to emphasise the importance of the scheme and the economic and social benefits it would bring to Leeds not least through engagement and connections with local communities “We were very pleased to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister to Temple Works last week so she could see first-hand what this remarkable heritage asset is all about “We will now continue to work alongside partners on detailed plans for the full funding design and development of a project that remains a complex and challenging undertaking but one that offers a major regeneration opportunity for both Temple Works and the surrounding area “The council also welcomes today’s confirmation that £5m in funding for Leeds’s proposed National Poetry Centre is now in place to add our voice to the widespread support for this project which is being led by the National Poetry Centre Charitable Trust with the University of Leeds and poet laureate Simon Armitage.” Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services A new Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque has been unveiled to record the events of 1936 when 30,000 Leeds residents rallied against the British Union of Fascists on Holbeck Moor On 27 September 1936 Sir Oswald Mosley and 1,000 Blackshirts of the British Union of Fascists marched from the city centre through Beeston to Holbeck Moor to hold an open air rally Their intention was to stir up antisemitic racism in the city They had been stopped from marching through the Leylands district around North Street where much of the Leeds Jewish community lived Many of the Jews in Leeds had fled persecution and pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe Now they faced Fascism and soon their families would face the Holocaust Mosley was met on Holbeck Moor by 30,000 Leeds residents who repeatedly sang The Red Flag to drown out his speech The fascists withdrew under a hail of stones The plaque has been nominated by Leeds Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) who organised a Crowdfunder to meet the costs It has been supported by many local trade union branches and community organisations including Holbeck Moor FC Beeston Festival and Beeston Hill Community Association “Most of our plaques commemorate individuals or buildings but this one is different It tells the story of how the people of Leeds rose up to oppose the rise of fascism in the United Kingdom This event made national news at the time and was an important statement of defiance as World War 2 approached “We are delighted to be sponsoring this plaque to commemorate Leeds’ biggest anti fascist event One week before The Battle of Cable Street it set an example attacking hotels where those seeking asylum are staying But like Holbeck we have also seen people turning out against them sending a strong message that they are not welcome We must continue to campaign against those like Tommy Robinson that want to encourage division Thousands will repeat these huge rallies in London on 26 October this year Four words link the three plaques across the country that commemorate some of these events: They Shall Not Pass.” “I’m delighted that The Battle of Holbeck Moor is being recognised as a significant moment in the history of our area It feels like a really relevant moment for this Blue Plaque to be unveiled and to celebrate how Leeds united against fascism.” As part of the project SUTR have traced family members of some of the 30,000 Janice Heptonstall’s mother Muriel Lucas was on the Moor in 1936 she was a young witness to the event rather than an active participant so for her its importance was the impact it had on her developing understanding of the reality of Fascism – an understanding that would of course be deepened over the following nine years “For the rest of her life she remembered the hate written all over the faces of the young Blackshirts injuring some of the marchers and Mosley too “She would for ever remain proud that Leeds had turned back Mosley.” Jeremy Wallis’s mother Sylvia Wallis was the daughter of a Communist Party organiser and was also at the rally “During the conflict she hid under parked vehicles as mounted police charged around an experience that left her with a lifelong fear of horses” he said Sylvia is thought to have worked at the Avro aircraft factory in Yeadon during the war Mick Fitzpatrick’s grandfather walked from Batley with a group of miners from Gomersall Birstall and Howley Park mines “The miners group grew in numbers walking through Hunslet where many engineering plants still operated Like many others they picked up stones and half bricks (easier to lob) and aimed them at the Fascists “Mosley famously sported a visible injury the following week at Cable Street in London I’m told that all the participants claimed it was their missile which hit him” explained Mick The unveiling ceremony on Sunday 29 September was attended by about 200 people Hilary Benn MP (Leeds South) was joined by colleagues Fabian Hamilton MP (Leeds North West) who unveiled the plaque and Richard Burgon MP (Leeds East whose grandfather protested on the Moor in 1936 Other speakers included Martin Hamilton from Leeds Civic Trust; Jeremy Wallis and Janice Heptonstall from families connected to the event; Jane Aitchison President of Leeds Trades Council; and Sam Kirk from Leeds Stand Up To Racism Lewis Pugh performied his song ‘The Battle of Holbeck Moor’ whilst 200 cup cakes were distributed The event closed with Gary Kaye leading the singing of ‘No Pasaran’ Main photo: Families of some of the 30,000 protesters hold up photos of their relatives with the Blue Plaque the charity shop based inside St Matthew’s Community Centre is gearing up for Christmas and is appealing to South Leeds Life readers to have a toy tidy out before the festive season The team at the shop say they often get donations after Christmas as people have time to switch toys around with new presents they also know that for many people trying to buy good quality nice Christmas presents for their children and family can be a stretch at this time of year if you’ve been meaning to clear out that toy cupboard or any other items before Christmas you can pop your donations down to St Matthews Community Centre The shop is open every Monday between 12-2pm Wednesday between 12-2pm and 10-2pm every Tuesday You can drop your donations at any time during the week to St Matthew’s Community Centre A new Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque is to be unveiled on Sunday (29 September 2024) to record the events of 1936 when 30,000 Leeds residents rallied against the British Union of Fascists on Holbeck Moor On 27 September 1936 Sir Oswald Mosley and 1,000 Blackshirts of the British Union of Fascists marched from the city centre to Holbeck Moor to hold an open air rally But they were met on the Moor by 30,000 Leeds residents who repeatedly sanf The Red Flag to drown out Mosley’s speech The plaque has been organised by Leeds Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) who organised a Crowdfunder to meet the costs It is a story that deserves to be better known and I am delighted that we are able to support this blue plaque “Mosley was stopped from whipping up racism in Leeds by the sheer numbers of people opposing him He was sent a clear message that he was not welcome When the far right try to divide us and turn people against those seeking asylum or who are of particular religions they should be given the same message today Let’s commemorate the past and ensure that Leeds remains fascist free now and in the future.” Previous studies have mainly focussed on the event itself rather than the people that attended From Janice whose mother was a young teenager to Jeremy whose grandfather helped mobilise people and whose mother also a young teenager attended to Mick whose grandfather walked from Batley to be on the Moor that day Whilst we are still trying to find more people the stories of those we have found are part of the proud history of Leeds There will be a display on the day of their stories and we will hear from some of the relatives at the unveiling The unveiling will take place at 2pm on Sunday 29 September on Holbeck Moor “Whilst many such ceremonies have a large cake to celebrate the plaque we have chosen to have many small cakes with a uniquely designed topper to share amongst the attendees It was not the few people who threw stones that prevented Mosley from projecting his ideas on Holbeck Moor but the 30,000 that drowned him out It was the many that defeated him so the many can have cake at the unveiling!” This post is based on press releases issued by Leeds Civic Trust and Leeds Stand Up To Racism Main photo: Police horses amongst the crowd on Holbeck Moor Detectives investigating an incident in Holbeck in which a 16-year-old boy was shot and stabbed have arrested two men A 22–year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including attempt murder and possession of a firearm has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender The arrests follow the execution of search warrants at Cottingley Springs travellers site in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday 23 October 2024) West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are continuing to investigate the incident in Cambrian Terrace which happened at about midnight in the early hours of Sunday The victim was attacked by a group of males and received injuries that included machete wounds to his leg and arm and injuries to his left arm that were consistent with a shotgun discharge His injuries were not considered life threatening and he was released from hospital after treatment The victim was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in relation to the incident and has since been released on conditional bail Detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone who witnessed any part of the incident or who has any relevant dashcam or doorbell footage that could assist the investigation Anyone with information is asked to contact HMET via 101 quoting Operation Pushcart crime reference 13240557245 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat Information can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Detectives are appealing for information after a 16-year-old boy was shot and stabbed in an incident in Leeds At 12.08am on Sunday (13 October 2024) officers were called to Cambrian Terrace where the victim had been found seriously injured Officers attended and he was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that included machete wounds to his leg and arm and injuries to his left arm that were consistent with a shotgun discharge His injuries are not considered life threatening and he is continuing to receive treatment The incident is being treated as attempted murder and detectives from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team have launched an investigation The victim is believed to have been attacked by a group of males near to where he was found Officers are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area and witnessed any part of the incident Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: “The criminal use of firearms on our streets is something we will always treat extremely seriously and we are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances and to identify those responsible “Although the injuries the victim has received are not life-threatening this attack could easily have had fatal consequences and we are treating it as attempted murder “We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed any part of this incident particularly anyone with relevant dashcam or doorbell camera footage or who has any information that could assist the investigation “We recognise that an incident of this nature will cause understandable concern in the community and we will be continuing to liaise with our colleagues at Leeds District who will be maintaining an increased presence in the area to reassure people.” Anyone with information is asked to contact HMET via 101 quoting Operation Pushcart crime reference 13240557245 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat As a club we pride ourselves not only being able to offer low cost football but by being able to do things for the local community and others And although we can’t help everyone we try to do what we can where we can Every year we always donate to Ingram Road Primary School this year we donated gifts to be given out to children that maybe not as fortunate as other Every year we do this as part of our relationship of working with the school We’re hoping to increase this next year and build relationships with other schools This year we also donated spare selection boxes to the children’s ward at LGI so at least the children would have something to open but we wanted them to also know that we as a club have them in our thoughts and we hope it brought a little smile to their faces Our club secretary Chris along with our Under 9s coach Jordan and their children went along to the hospital on Sunday morning (22 December 2024) to hand out the selection boxes Everyone at Holbeck Moor JFC would like to wish everyone associated with the club and the wider community a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year We encourage anyone living or working in South Leeds to use this website to tell their news. You can either use the Create an article for South Leeds Life page, or email us at: info@southleedslife.com A former school site in Leeds is set to be transformed into a state-of-the-art community sports hub Proposals for the new development – on land in Holbeck once occupied by Matthew Murray High School – were approved yesterday (Thursday June 6) at a meeting of Leeds City Council’s south and west plans panel Work is now expected to start next year on the council-led project which will include three full-size artificial grass football pitches two multi-use games areas and a two-storey building with facilities such as changing rooms The building will also be home to a GP surgery and pharmacy with these services contributing to the wide-ranging health and wellbeing benefits that the development as a whole will bring for local residents Other elements of the scheme will include the creation of a children’s play area and improvements to a portion of existing green space at the site which covers 6.3 hectares and sits off Brown Lane East and Ingram Road footpaths and a segregated cycle route are also planned along with a 267-space car park and dozens of bike storage bays The scheme is one of three new sports hubs planned for Leeds as part of the national Parklife programme which aims to deliver improved facilities for grassroots football using funding from the Football Association Media & Sport and the Football Foundation charity Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care “This is a key milestone for a scheme that underlines our commitment to the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Leeds not just for residents in Holbeck but also those in surrounding areas and indeed the whole of south Leeds its facilities will be affordable and accessible for all providing more opportunities for the kind of physical activity and exercise that has really important health benefits “It will also have a positive social impact by bringing people together whether that’s through participating in sport or simply spending time in its attractive outdoor spaces “I look forward to seeing the development taking shape and eventually making a lasting difference to Holbeck and Leeds.” Funding for the scheme will be provided from a range of sources with the bulk coming via external grant support the new hub will be leased on a long-term basis to a not-for-profit trust and managed by an outside operator Profits generated will be invested back into improving other community football facilities across Leeds where there is currently a shortfall of full-size artificial pitches around 5,000 football matches in the city have had to be postponed due to natural turf pitches being left waterlogged or otherwise unusable Parklife hubs are also planned for Thorpe Park in east Leeds and Woodhall Playing Fields near Pudsey with another already up-and-running at Bodington Playing Fields in Adel the Leeds Trades Union Council hosted a performance of ‘The Lions of Rotherham’ by Breakout Arts an original play written and directed by Karen Mulcahey the President of Leeds Trades Union Council explained why they decided to host the play; “Having just unveiled the Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque on Holbeck Moor to remember the time when 30,000 Leeds men and women chased Oswald Mosely and his black shirts out of town – it seemed important to remember that shortly after that some brave Brits went to fight fascism in Spain too just like our grandparents did we need to keep defeating the fascists whenever they rear their ugly hate filled heads!” It tells the story of four men who left Rotherham in 1936 to join the International Brigades in Spain fighting against the fascists led by Franco is laying waste to the fair fields of Spain … Let us stop the beast in its tracks.” Despite having very minimalist props and set it really captured the experiences the fighters in the International Brigades went through; fear On either side of their time in Spain the play showed us some of the background and post war life of the men sadly just three of them afterwards as one of them was killed in battle Their early lives were defined by many challenges and changes including poverty and migration and in the aftermath they continued to campaign for good causes for example as trade unionists with the last of the four passing away in 2000 I definitely took away from the play what the writer and director intended; “… the strength and optimism of the men and their families and supporters … The play is for those who keep fighting who see injustice and stand against it.”