Rather than do separate posts for a number of updates, we have started an Aireborough Voice Grapevine – based on the idea of overturning rumours that tend to take on a life of their own sometimes – like the ‘fact’ Wetherspoons are to take on The Regent !

GENERAL CHANGES

Chicanes on Queensway

The money to take the Queensway chicanes away has been secured, and the process will start week beginning 30th November 2015.  The chicanes are to be replaced by speed table pedestrian crossing points.   Initial work will be on the surrounding areas,  to prepare pavements and drainage, and there will be temporary traffic lights in working hours.  The actual road blockage will be removed early in the New Year. Further queries contact The Highways Helpline on the above telephone number. (0113224410)

The Regent, Guiseley

Plans for this to become two retail units, but keeping much of the look of the building, were passed earlier in the year.  The porch will go and the front windows lowered.  The rumour that this is to become a Wetherspoons is not correct – and that has come straight from Wetherspoons themselves.

Guiseley Christmas Lights

The workgroup put together by Stuart Andrew to enhance Guiseley’s Christmas Lights started on the process too late to secure sponsorship for this year, due to the General Election and issues.  However, plans are well in hand now to enhance the lights around Towngate in 2016 and have a Christmas Event eg market and switch-on.  In the following years, light enhancement will be expanded to other areas.  Leeds City Council no longer run Christmas Light programmes and events, these have to be taken on by local people.  There is already a small team which is chaired by Stuart Andrew MP,  but it could do with more enthusiastic and innovative people who want to make a real difference to the area.

Springhead Mill Development

Developers erected a fence between the houses on the Springhead Mill Development and Springfield Park earlier this year.  This is not in line with planning permission, and the Developers have agreed to take it down.  This should happen any week soon, before Christmas 2015.

Tarmac Pavement Around Guiseley Wells

The unsightly tarmac installed on the footpath opposite Guiseley Wells is to be removed and replaced with paving – York Stone it is hoped !!   Conservation area bollards are to be put in to stop parking on the pavement – but if you have any better ideas get intouch with Cllr Graham Latty Graham.Latty@leeds.gov.uk or ourselves at aireboroughnp@gmail.com  – could this be made into a tiny pocket park for instance?  The changes are to be done by the Developers of Springhead Mill.   It was not done initially as LCC Highways had not stipulated that the footpath should be paved !!

Yeadon Library and One Stop Shop

The Library upgrade is now open and provides new services and facilities along with the addition of a one stop facility to access all Council services

Aldi (and Sainsburys)

The Aldi stores in both Yeadon (where Homebase is) and White Cross (behind the Weatherby Whaler) will be going ahead.  The White Cross. store will probably be developed first.   There will also be a Sainsbury’s local on the A65 in Menston, next to the Golf Shop.

Community Meeting Room – St Oswald’s Church, Guiseley

St Oswald’s now has planning permission to develop some fascinating ‘character’ semi-derelict houses behind the New Inn for Church use as a Sunday School and Meeting Room – this should be an enhancement to the conservation area.  Planning details here 15/05693/FU

Yeadon Sailing Club – New Clubhouse

Yeadon Sailing Club has applied for permission to demolish its current clubhouse and build a new one, for use by the Cub and the local community.  Details here 15/05602/FU

 

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Leeds Site Allocation Plan

The consultation for this finished on 16th November,  LCC are now hard at work inputting the response into a digital format, and analysing the information.  It is thought that over 10,000 responses were received from across the City, with 3,400 of those on the on-line form.  An initial report on the level of response will go to Development Plans Panel in January 2016.    The Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum,  co-ordinated a response based on the emerging Neighbourhood Plan,  and sustainability assessments from housing site specific groups; these will all be published during December on the website.   The overall response from Aireborough is not yet known, but from copy responses received by different groups, it will run into the hundreds.   In total, the Forum ran 8 pop-ups to help people with their response, and with the help of Darren Sanderson Photography, we also put on two Photographic Exhibitions to demonstrate the value of the local landscape.  We are now looking for locations to display Darren’s Photographs on a temporary basis – if you have an idea do get intouch.

Aireborough Neighbourhood Plan – We Have A Draft Green Masterplan

The Forum has been receiving help from Planning Consultants AECOM on preparing the Green Masterplan Framework as a base for the Neighbourhood plan:  all good plans start with this.   The Masterplan is now in draft form, with some final touches being made.  We will be involving local people in designing this Framework in more detail early in the New Year.  The Neighbourhood Plan, as an emerging plan, carries weight with the Planning Inspectorate when it comes to looking at site allocations, so it is important that 2016 sees the plan make real progress, and we are asking people to spare as much time as they can to help.  This is important for both resource and to ensure that it is a community plan.  The ANDF Pop-Ups will be used again to get local input.  On Tuesday 1st December we are taking part in Local Giving’s match funding event – if you donate £5, that will be increased to £10 – the money will be used to fund our pop-up events and leaflets.  Our account is here https://localgiving.com/charity/aireboroughdnf.

Housing Needs Survey

This is another important element of the Neighbourhood Plan, and if you have not filled in a questionnaire yet, we encourage you to do so,  along with friends, family and neighbours.  You will find more information here.

Assets of Community Value – 15th Airedale Scout Facilities 

One of the abilities given to local groups under the Localism Act 2011 is to nominate assets of community value, with the intention that should they be sold, the community will have chance to raise funds to purchase them.  With that in mind the Forum has worked with the 15th Airedale Scouts to list their camping and event field (next to the scout hut at Greenbottom) as an asset of community value.  This followed the withdrawal of a planning application by the Diocese of Bradford.   Discussion between the Scouts and the Diocese are now ongoing as to the future and tenure of the land.

Airport Link Road Consultation

The consultation on a proposed route for a proposed airport link road is now underway.  It is due to end on 24th January 2016.   The consultation is to look at options for a business case/feasibility study for the link road – however, the objectives appear to be confused, and a rail link is much preferred by local MP’s.   More details here.

Bradford Core Strategy Consultation

What Bradford MDC are planning for their area affects us in Aireborough.  Currently Bradford are consulting on changes to their core strategy which will include 2,500 houses to be built from Menston to Addingham along the A65, before 2030.

600 in Menston
700 in Burley in Wharfedale
1000 in Ilkley
200 in Addingham