I have demanded that action is taken on a company running unauthorised HGVs including through the night disrupting residents of Fleet Lane, causing loss of sleep and noise nuisance. The issue had flared up again following recent complaints to me from residents and the lorries stopped for a short while after a visit from a planning officer.

But Ashcourt lorries were soon back up to their tricks, running lorries down Fleet Lane at all hours and carrying out an unidentified operation through the night which is disturbing residents in the early hours with HGVs thundering down Fleet Lane.  As there is no planning application and therefore no planning conditions I’m told that it is more complicated to resolve.

I am vehemently persisting in chasing action on this.  Ashcourt’s head office has now been contacted. The planning agent has been spoken to also and advised that working throughout the night is not acceptable and must cease.

I’ve also contacted the environment agency passing on the concerns of many residents who have contacted me on Fleet Lane and surrounding streets.

There is no planning permission on the site other than for the original use as a fuel storage depot. Although Ashcourt submitted a planning application they have been previously instructed to cease operations on the engineering works that were being carried out until the planning application was determined one way or the other. But it has obviously have started up illicit operations again.

The application, which states it is for the ‘creation of a development platform using imported construction and demolition waste, storage of imported inert waste plus engineering operations associated with remediation of the site’ is on hold as planning officers are waiting for further requested details.

I’ve instructed officers to keep pursuing this as it is not acceptable for residents to be disrupted in this way and a solution has to be found so that residents can have the peace and quiet they deserve especially through the night.

Frustration amongst residents who live in Woodlesford and Oulton where the HS2 line is proposed to run though is running high. The last consultation event produced more unanswered questions.   So I called for a select committee scrutiny inquiry to demand answers that residents badly need.

You need answers on HS2. As your local councillor I’m frustrated that we aren’t being listened to by those in power in London.

That’s why I support Ed Miliband’s demand for a parliamentary select committee to do a proper inquiry into HS2. I want to see the inquiry look into every single aspect of HS2 – the route, the compensation, the consultation, the cost and above all if it is the right solution to the needs of the country and people in living in the north of England.

Despite originally supporting HS2 Ed Miliband has demanded the inquiry because the HS2 route runs through his constituency. His constituents share the concerns that you – my constituents – have. I first highlighted it at the end of January here on the Rothwell News Facebook page.

I wrote to Alec Shelbrooke MP asking him to support Ed’s demand for an inquiry on 9 February and am still awaiting a reply. Given all the concerns and criticisms that you and I have raised I can’t see how he can refuse to support an inquiry. I’m not asking him to rebel against Conservative Party policy, just to pause and take stock. If he refuses to support an inquiry we have to question what the government, and he, is trying to hide.

HS2 doesn’t appear to care about the impact on residents like health, air pollution, noise and vibration, proximity, homeowners, flooding and subsidence, traffic, local rail disruption, local businesses or our green spaces. I believe residents have been misled and mistreated from the start. It is wrong and means that residents can’t trust the government or HS2 to deal with them respectfully.

I can’t support HS2 and in the latest consultation again put in my own strong objection after discussing the issues with residents at the consultation event at the Oulton Institute.. But it is the government that decides. That’s why a parliamentary select committee is the best way to get answers and hopefully action.

I’m proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with Wordsworth Drive and Sugar Hill Close residents throughout the long campaign to save their homes. This year will see a decision made whether the planning application goes ahead or not, which could be in the coming months. It’s wrong that residents were put in this limbo in the first place. It’s wrong that a private landlord has such power over tenants, many of whom have little or no rights. It’s wrong that people’s homes and part of our area’s heritage are under threat of demolition.

I put in my strong objection to the planning application soon after it was first lodged, and also submitted a more recent objection due to developments.  This whole issue is very close to my heart. There is a long standing link through previous Labour councillors and the shared history of the local pits and Labour activism. Residents have suffered over a long period due to Pemberstone and it isn’t right. The residents know that I’m fighting the planning application all the way, and will continue to do alI can on their behalf:

I’ve backed residents in various ways, I’ve worked closely with the Save Our Homes group throughout the campaign to come up with ideas and support the group to fight the demolition of their homes. Made sure a deputation of residents could speak at full council and I’ve spoken at full council in support of residents’ plight.

I organised for a lawyer to come to the estate to speak to the action group of residents to get initial legal advice.  I brought Chris Kitchen from the NUM to the estate, secured involvement from the National Union of Mineworkers.

It was a sight to behold residents marching to ‘Save our Homes’ through Rothwell. I Organised the march with residents and the NUM and proudly marched with the National Union of Mineworkers, residents of the estate, local community groups and the Rothwell Labour Party.

I brought the executive board member twice and Director of Housing and Communities to the estate to talk with residents. I’ve helped to secure media coverage on numerous occasions. Supported residents at meetings including when Pemberstone finally agreed to meet with residents.

As chair of the Outer South Community Committee, brought the issue to the agenda where the committee has put in its own objection to the planning application in support of residents as a formal committee of the council.  The committee also reiterated the request I and residents already made to the council to look into the possibility of buying the homes on the estate. Albeit with budget cuts, the council is cash strapped and depending on the planning decision, the land value would sky rocket if planning permission did get granted.

Together, we’ve made sure the pressure on Pemberstone is kept up to the maximum.  The residents group have done a fantastic job and have been courageous in fighting this together all the way. They have put a tremendous amount of work into the campaign on behalf of other residents.  I will be speaking at the plans panel in favour of residents and with a view to getting the planning application turned down at the planning meeting and will continue to speak with colleagues on the plans panel about the injustices that local people have faced and continue to face

We must stick to the goal. Together we can win this.

Cllr Karen Bruce and the Rothwell extra care group visiting other extra care schemes like Yew Tree Court

Great news for Rothwell as it has been confirmed that we are to get a new extra care housing complex.

Leeds City Council has appointed a delivery partner to build and run the new extra care home in Rothwell, which will be built at Windlesford Green on Holmsley Lane. The new partner was appointed after a rigorous procurement process and is made up of a group of social enterprises and commercial companies with specialist expertise in providing homes and care for the elderly.

The new care home is a relatively new type of home called ‘extra care’ which means that people can live independently in their own small homes on site while benefiting from specialist 24-hour care and support on site. Some have two bedrooms and couples can still live together in their own apartment when one may need care. The extra care home in Rothwell is one of just four new homes in Leeds. One of the other three is also relatively local as it is in the next door Ardsley and Robin Hood ward.

Building work on the four new extra care housing schemes will start towards the end of this year and all four homes will be open and taking residents by spring 2021. The new extra care home will provide homes for people with care needs, as well as shared facilities such as dining, activities and on-site access to 24/7 emergency and unplanned care.

The new extra care home is the result of years of work by me and a community involvement group that I set up to support the project. The involvement and enthusiasm of our extra care community involvement group ensured that Rothwell was one of the four wards picked for a new home as many areas in Leeds were also lobbying for new extra care homes.

I’ve been impressed with the passion and commitment of the Rothwell extra care group members and thank them for helping to make this possible. As part of the work we did, we visited two existing extra care schemes to help us understand how they could help local people.

I was impressed that people can have a proper home, with bedroom/s, living room, kitchen, bathroom etc but still benefit from excellent support and healthcare. Today many people don’t want to live in a traditional care home where they only have a small bedroom. Extra care means they have more space and somewhere private to welcome friends and family. It helps them to maintain their independence and remain healthier for longer.

The input of the Rothwell extra care community group helped inform the council’s tender process. It means that a key aspect of the new care home will be a community link aspect with a vision for an open inclusive space where older people living in the home can come together with people in the wider community, to provide a hub where community social activities, dining, coffee and more can take place rather than be isolated in a closed off care home.

The delivery partner is made up of the Home Group, Ashley House and Morgan Ashley. The Home Group is a social enterprise and one of the UK’s largest housing associations providing homes to more than 116,000 people. Ashley House specialises in delivering health and community-based construction projects, while Morgan Ashley is its specialist finance joint venture company with investment company Morgan Sindall.

The scheme is in the very early stages and the wider community as well as the Rothwell extra care group will be consulted and have your say before plans are submitted for approval.

I’m looking forward to seeing this great new addition for Rothwell.