Cllr Barry Anderson

When I had a look at the Traffic Regulation Order implementation I noted that the Council had put in some car parking spaces opposite Wood Hill Road on Tinshill Road and I felt this was dangerous, so I took it up with Highways. In the meantime other residents also brought this to my attention. Set out below is the response from Highways:

“Thank you for your email regarding the newly introduced bays at the above location. 

I do agree with your comments regarding the difficulty caused when exiting Wood Hill Road.  On paper the scheme catered for all our aims and did not impede road safety, however, in reality it doesn’t work and is a road safety concern.

As a result I have requested for two of the bays to be taken out leaving one space remaining that has no effect on the turning manoeuvres.  This should resolve the problem.”

Please find below a link to advise of service changes to buses in Leeds including some in the Cookridge area.

http://www.wymetro.com/NR/rdonlyres/C5306F80-9775-4B54-BF91-D8E4CA4A29B7/0/CT52_infoleaflet.pdf

Following investigations, the last Pedestrian Crossing Review supported the need for a new zebra crossing outside Ralph Thoresby High School on Holtdale Approach. Please find attached a copy of the draft plan zebra crossing showing a general arrangement of the proposed crossing. If you have any comments I would be grateful if you could let me know. Highways are also consulting with the emergency services, Metro and the school at this time.

As you are aware Leeds City Council has responsibility as a licensing authority under the Licensing Act 2003. Under the Act each authority is required to develop, consult on and publish a statement of its licensing principles every three years. They are now consulting on the third edition of the Statement of Licensing Policy for the Leeds area.

The Council is seeking the views of residents and organisations working in the Leeds area. You can access the revised policy document and a list of proposed changes on the Council’s website at:

 www.leeds.gov.uk/lpc

 The consultation period will run until 1^st October 2010.

 Residents and local organisations are invited to make comments on the revised document. This should be either:

In writing to Entertainment Licensing, Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds LS1 1UR

By email: entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk

Or by using the online form at www.leeds.gov.uk/lpc

Please find attached the link for the North West Guide to Summer Activities, compiled by North West Extended Services managers. Just click on the Activity Booklet once you have accessed the site.

http://www.nwleedsextendedservices.ik.org/p_Projects.ikml

The draft version of the Council’s Sustainable Design & Construction Supplementary Planning Document (Building for Tomorrow Today) is currently available on the internet at

 http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Business/Planning/Planning_consultations/Building_for_tomorrow_today__sustainable_design_and_construction__SPD_(LDF).aspx

 For public consultation until 1 September 2010.

 Please email comments using the consultation questionnaire to ldf@leeds.gov.uk  during the consultation period. In particular I would be interested in receiving comments suggesting additional case studies, photographs and / or diagrams to illustrate any of the guidance points.

 The document provides guidance on a number of different issues including:

• Site appraisal
• Design considerations
• Energy & CO2 emissions
• Water
• Materials
• Surface water run-off
• Waste
• Pollution
• Health & Wellbeing
• Management
• Ecology
• Climate change adaptation

 Once all comments have been considered, the document will be adopted by 31 December 2010.

 If you would like any further information on this document, please do not hesitate to contact me.

You may be interested in the attached which is the statement from the government on garden developments and the densities for future housing development.

If you would like a copy of the official Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) in respect of housing, let me know and I will forward a copy to you.

“DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 Previously Developed Land and Density

 The Minister for Decentralisation (Greg Clark):  I am today implementing the commitments made in the Coalition Agreement to decentralise the planning system by giving Local Authorities the freedom to prevent overdevelopment of neighbourhoods and ‘garden grabbing’.

 The impact of the old policy approach, set out in Planning Policy Statement 3, is that the combination of a national target for brownfield land, alongside the definition of gardens as brownfield land, has meant local authorities feeling forced into granting planning permission for unwanted development on garden land – simply to maintain the brownfield target.

To bring an end to these detrimental effects, we are today therefore removing gardens from the definition of previously developed land in Planning Policy Statement 3. 

We are also removing the requirement upon local authorities to have regard to the national minimum density for housing set out in paragraph 47 of PPS3. This policy has resulted in local authorities not having enough flexibility to set density ranges that suit the local needs in their areas – particularly for family houses.

I am today re-issuing Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) with the following changes:

- the definition of previously developed land in Annex B now excludes private residential gardens

- the national indicative minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare is  deleted from paragraph 47

Together these changes put power back in the hands of local authorities and communities to take the decisions that are best for them, and decide for themselves the best locations and types of development in their areas.

This reissued policy document sets out the Secretary of State’s policy on previously developed land and housing density. Local Planning Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate are expected to have regard to the policy in preparing development plans and, where relevant, to take it into account as a material consideration when determining planning applications.”

I have now received a report from the Council confirming the potential locations of phase 1 of the Dog Exclusion orders i.e. it is suggested by Council officers that it would be an offence to permit a dog to enter land from which it is excluded. The proposed phase 1 locations in Adel & Wharfedale are:

Holt Lane play area

Cookridge Lane play area

If you have any problems with this suggestion by Council officers please let me know. Use the link below to read the full report:

 http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Community_and_living/Animal_welfare/Dog_warden_service/Responsible_dog_ownership_scheme.aspx

I was asked recently at the Adel Association meeting the following question:

“Is there any further update on the trees that had been partially cut down within the car park and whether the trees would be replaced, and if so would they be replaced in the same location or just in the car park area somewhere.”

I have now received the following reply from the Forestry Section:

“with regard to the above matter we shall be replanting with 6 sweet chestnut standards during the autumn/winter 10/11. These trees will be located in the open area behind the original line of trees that had to be removed for safety reasons. I am also anticipating that there will be a significant amount of natural regeneration in this area now that the sunlight is flooding the area and indeed there are already signs of beech and oak seedlings developing.”

I trust this keeps you up to date.

Metro and West Yorkshire’s bus operators have introduced a new all-day MetroDay ticket, available now to buy on the bus. Costing just £5, the new ticket replaces Metro Bus DayRover. However unlike the Day Rover it is valid before 9.30am, on any bus in West Yorkshire. Passengers will be able to buy the new tickets, which will have MetroDay printed on them, on the bus and no photocard is needed. Although the tickets will also show the name of the company that has issued the ticket, they will be valid on all operators’ services. “MetroDay has been designed to make bus travel easier and more affordable, particularly for people who use a number of services run by different companies,” said Metro Chairman Cllr Chris Greaves welcoming the initiative. “And because it’s valid before 9.30am, those people who travel to work using different operators’ buses will benefit as well. “People have told us they want to be able to buy one ticket which they can use to travel all day on as many buses as they like no matter which company runs them, which is why Metro and the bus operators have worked successfully together to develop MetroDay. “Whether the bus journey is for work, leisure, education or just a day out, MetroDay is just the ticket.” Details of MetroDay and other money-saving MetroCard and DayRover tickets is available on Metro’s website at www.wymetro.com or from MetroLine on 0113 245 7676.