Karen Bruce: Labour Party councillor for Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton on Leeds City Council

Rothwell bonfire and fireworks a great success

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Karen Bruce

The Rothwell bonfire and fireworks last night was a huge success – despite the torrential rain, which didn’t appear to put a downer on people’s fun! I haven’t had any official estimates yet, but to me it looked like at least half of Rothwell was out to enjoy the display. There were crowds of people thronging the streets walking to Springhead Park from right across Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton.

I’d just like to repeat the thanks I said last night when I lit the bonfire and did the count down for the fireworks. The Rothwell bonfire and fireworks were only possible because of the fantastic work of the Leeds City Council staff, the usual dedication and commitment of Rothwell and District Lions and last – but definitely not least Al-Murad Tiles without whose generous sponsorship we might not have had a display this year.

And finally, another thanks – to you, the people of Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton who young and old turned out once again in a massive show of community spirit.

Posted in Carlton, Oulton, Rothwell, Woodlesford | 1 Comment

Council is outbid for Victoria allotments

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Karen Bruce

Local Labour Party campaigner David Nagle and Councillor Karen Bruce inspecting the Victoria allotments site

Late yesterday afternoon I received the devastating news that Leeds City Council had been outbid in its attempt to buy the Victoria Road allotments. All that I know at the moment is that despite the council putting in a very competitive bid somebody else offered more and that the higher offer has been accepted.

Ever since I discovered the allotments were up for a sale I’ve been lobbying council officers, the leader of the council and the executive councillor in charge of leisure to ensure the council bought the allotments to protect the allotment holders.

The site has been leased by the council from the estate of Lord Mowbray since 1908 and has been used as a community allotment ever since. We still don’t know who the new owner is going to be and what it or they plan to do with the site. My priority will be to work with the local community, allotment holders and local Labour Party campaigners to ensure that the land can continue to be used as an allotments for ever.

It won’t be easy for the new owner to develop the land or change its use as that will require them to get planning permission which won’t be easy to obtain. In Leeds we have something called the ‘Unitary Development Plan’ which is basically the framework and rules that have to be followed in making planning decisions. The plan says that land that is currently used for allotments can only be changed if their is an alternative site available locally or that there is already sufficient green space. This means any initial planning application for say development of housing is likely to be be turned down/refused.

However, the danger is that the owner can appeal this decision and then the decision will be taken nationally. The Conservative/Liberal Democrat government is currently ripping up the planning law that protects our environment and the likely result could be to make it easier for developers to build new houses on previously protected land.

But the important thing is we’re not giving up. I’ve already got the support of Councillor Adam Ogilvie, the executive board member for Leisure, who said: “It is very unfortunate that the Victoria Allotments have been sold to another bidder, despite the very competitive bid which was submitted by the Council. However we are determined to do all we can to convince the new landowner that the area should remain as allotments.”

Update on Victoria allotments, Rothwell (karenbruce.co.uk)

Posted in Environment, Labour Party, Leeds City Council, Liberal Democrats, Rothwell | Tagged Victora allotments | 1 Comment

Bonfire night in Rothwell Friday 4 November

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Karen Bruce

Image via Wikipedia

It’s almost Bonfire Night and in Rothwell we’re gearing up for the community bonfire and fireworks display. Yorkshire has a huge connection with the original gunpowder plot – Guy Fawkes was born not far away in York .

I’m delighted that I will be lighting the bonfire this year. The fire will be lit at 7pm with the firework display at 7.30pm. The event is being organised by Leeds City Council supported by Rothwell District Lions Club.

Rothwell District Lions Club are actively involved this year as every year. The Rothwell Lions do a marvellous job on behalf of the community. The Lions Club Motto is ‘We Serve’. In the case of Rothwell District Lions, this is to serve and support our local community, organising and helping out at events such as the Rothwell Carnival, the annual May day Duck Race and the Rothwell Park Bonfire. Every December the lions escort Father Christmas on his sleigh visiting homes in the area.

We’re hoping for a record turnout in Springhead Park for 2011 so I hope to see you all there for what’s sure to be a marvellous display for all the family to light up the skies of Rothwell once again!

Posted in Family, Leeds City Council, Rothwell | Tagged Fireworks, Guy Fawkes Night, Leeds City Council | 3 Comments

Update on Victoria allotments, Rothwell

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Karen Bruce

Karen Bruce at Victoria allotments Having been contacted by allotment holders from Victoria allotments, Rothwell when the ‘for sale’ sign went up I wanted to go to the allotments as soon as possible to re-assure allotment holders of my full support, which I did last week. The allotments, which have been leased by the council since 1908 from a private land owner, houses 75 allotments that have been rented by devoted allotment holders for a century.

The Yorkshire Evening Post report on the Victoria Allotments in today’s edition.

Since hearing of the allotments being put up for sale, I was determined to do all I could to get the council to buy the land so that the allotments could be saved by lobbying the executive board member for Leisure and the Leader of council. The council has until Friday to express an interest in buying the site. Parks and Countryside department which includes allotments and the planning department have both recommended that the council buys the allotment site. The deadline for bids is Friday 28 October when we will hear if the council has made a bid and been successful and I will be having further talks to ensure everything possible is done to secure the allotments for the council and that the Victoria Allotments are safe.

Posted in Environment, Health, Leeds City Council, Rothwell | 1 Comment

Representing Rothwell on LCC outer south area committee

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Karen Bruce

This week I attended my second outer south area committee meeting. The area committee consists of all of the councillors for the four outer south wards of Rothwell, Ardsley and Robin Hood, Morley South and Morley North. This includes my Labour councillor colleagues from Ardsley and Robin Hood – Lisa Mulherin, Karen Renshaw and Jack Dunn and from Morley South Neil Dawson. There are five Labour councillors on the area committee, five Morley Borough Independents – and two Lib Dems. The area committee meetings move around the area – the last one was in Rothwell and this one was in Thorpe.

At the start of every area committee meeting there is an ‘open forum’ which is a good opportunity for members of the public to make representations or ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the area committee. There were no members of the public at this particular meeting and so no matters were raised.

Councillors heard presentations, received reports and asked questions on our various subjects including Parks, it was interesting to discover that Springhead Park has the most visits by far than any of the parks in the outer south area with 1,732,000 annual visits according to the 2009 residents survey. Of the nine parks listed, the second most visited was Scatcherd Park with 633,000 followed by Drighlington Moor Park at 619,000. It’s great to see just how popular our Springhead Park in Rothwell is. The top reasons residents gave for visiting Springhead Park in Rothwell was excercise, relaxation and play.

Committee members approved funding for improvements to both Springhead Park, for resurfacing work at park entrances and to Woodlesford Park, towards the project which is being spearheaded by the Oulton and Woodlesford Action group which I’m very happy to support to make various improvements to the park. The group are doing some fantastic work – they’ve only been going for a year and have already had their first fun day and have masterminded a plan to improve the park for people in Woodlesford and Oulton to enjoy! I look forward to working with them to see the plans implemented.

Posted in Environment, Family, Leeds City Council, Oulton, Woodlesford | Comments Off

Launch of Woodlesford Park Fun Day

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Karen Bruce

Had fun officially opening the Woodlesford Park Fun Day yesterday. The Woodlesford and Oulton Residents Association did a brilliant job in organising the event in its first year. With the support of local businesses, the Fire Service, Aire Valley Homes and the Leeds City Council to name but a few the Fun Day saw a really good turn out, and glorious sunshine for the first couple of hours! Local families really seemed to be enjoying the day and the children were queuing for the face painting. I think that this could mark the beginning of a very successful annual event for Woodlesford folk and I will certainly support the group in any way I can to build on this and make it an even bigger event and a greater success next year and in future years.

Posted in Family, Oulton, Woodlesford | Comments Off

New Rothwell ‘drop in’ advice sessions take off

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Karen Bruce

This morning I held another of my new style councillor advice sessions, which I started back in June, in the foyer at Morrisons in Rothwell. It was a good session with many local people stopping to talk about a range of local issues. PCSO Niccolo Sto Tomas joined me so he could help constituents with any issues concerning crime or anti-social behaviour. The sessions are proving popular with residents many who perhaps wouldn’t go out of their way to go to a traditional councillor’s surgery but who appreciate that I’m there and available to talk to in passing to raise any concerns whilst they go about their daily business. I received some lovely supportive comments like “it’s about time we had a Labour councillor in Rothwell” and “I voted for you”. Whilst it’s nice to have such comments as the elected representative for Rothwell I am available, of course, to all my constituents in Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton whenever they may need help or advice. It was good to talk to constituents who were off to do their shop or had just finished their shop, then it was time for me to go into Morrisons with husband Stuart and daughter Esme for our shop.

Posted in Community safety, Crime, Environment, Family, Housing, Labour Party, Rothwell | Comments Off

Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team – we need it here for good!

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Karen Bruce

The 20% cuts to the policing budget is of great concern to my constituents in Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton. Our concern has grown after this week’s riots and disruption. I was at a meeting with Chief Constable, Sir Norman Bettison on Wednesday, he has an incredibly difficult job to do to be forced to make these cuts on behalf of the coalition government and trying to protect the service we receive especially on the frontline with our Neighbourhood Policing Teams. Sir Norman couldn’t give an assurance that there would be no cuts to the Neighbourhood Policing Team numbers, not surprisingly. I asked Sir Norman whether he could give an assurance that we would retain the Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team base at Rothwell Police Station and was given an assurance that we would have a police station in Rothwell with the NPT based there.

I wholeheartedly agree with Jack Dromey MP, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government, that it would be folly to go ahead with these cuts at this time. Let’s hope this coalition government sees some sense and reflects on the unprecedented cuts to the policing budget and the effect that it could have, and at the same time as slashing the rest of public spending.

Posted in Carlton, Community safety, Crime, Oulton, Rothwell, Woodlesford | Comments Off

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