Bonfire burns itself out Labour Councillors Stuart Bruce and Judith Blake (Middleton Park) have reacted angrily to the news that there will be no bonfire held in Middleton Park in Leeds, this year. The annual bonfire in Middleton Park attracts many hundreds of local residents but has been cancelled by the ruling Liberal and Tory Groups this year due to the actions of a small minority last year who engaged in threatening and disruptive behaviour. Local Labour Councillors and Friends of Middleton Park have put in an enormous amount of effort into the area to help deal with issues such as anti-social behaviour and vandalism so that such events can be held in Middleton Park. Sadly these efforts have not been recognised with those running the Council cancelling the event with little or no consultation with ward members. Councillor Stuart Bruce (Middleton Park) said:- "I find this announcement made at the last minute, badly timed and above all the wrong decision! Banning Middleton Park bonfire due to problems last year is very unfair to all the hundreds of law abiding people who turn every year to enjoy themselves. "Calling off the event doesn't increase safety in the area whatsoever, instead it makes it worse as now you could have any number of people staging there own unsupervised bonfires in the park. "Surely a better solution is just improved co-ordination and communication between all involved parties on how to avoid and deal with the unfortunate circumstances witnessed last year. I do not believe cancelling the bonfire is the answer." Councillor Judith Blake (Middleton Park) said:- "We all have to make sure local families and park staff are not put in danger. We need to put in adequate security and policing rather than putting the whole area at risk by cancelling this annual public firework and bonfire event."

8.10.05 11:53 Permalink / comment

Councillors campaign to retain local park’s historical feature Middleton Park Labour councillors Stuart Bruce, Judith Blake and Geoff Driver have appealed for public support to help save the lakeside cottages and café from being demolished. fficeffice" />  The future of the historic landmark in Middleton Park is in doubt as it has fallen into dereliction and has become a target for vandalism, with one possible option being to remove it altogether.   The Middleton Park Labour councillors are backing the Friends of Middleton Park in opposing its demolition and have written a letter to the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post calling on the public to support their campaign.   The lakeside cottages and café are believed to date back to the early 18th century, and had a variety of uses including being a classroom, a rest room and a bandroom. Reduced to three cottages from the original six, the central section was used as a café serving residents to the park with residential cottages on either side, until the building was vacated in 1998.   The cottages have since fallen into a state of disrepair, having become a target for anti-social behaviour and an arson attack in spring 2002. Despite security measures being put in place, the cottages continue to be subjected to attacks.   Discussions are currently ongoing over the fate of the building, which is owned by Wade’s Charity but was leased to Leeds City Council a century ago.   Middleton Park Labour Councillor Stuart Bruce said:    “We are totally opposed to losing yet another major landmark in Middleton. The Tories have made a lot of noise about pretending to save the Mansion in Roundhay Park, which wasn’t even under threat of demolition, yet are happy to preside over the desecration of Middleton Park.”   Fellow Middleton Park Labour Councillor Geoff Driver added:   “I am sure local residents will feel very disappointed that an important piece of the history of Middleton is under threat like this.   “The cottages date back almost 300 years, so we need to do all we can to try and keep them for the benefit of present and future generations of local people. If the public get behind us and the Friends of Middleton Park, we can hopefully stop the demolishers moving in.”   Middleton Park Labour colleague Councillor Judith Blake said:   “This is a very emotive issue for local residents and we are opposed to another historical feature being removed. With enough public support I feel sure our voice can be heard, so I encourage anyone who feels strongly about keeping local landmarks such as this to show their support and help us try and save the lakeside cottages.” Cllr Judith Blake, Cllr Geoff Driver and Cllr Stuart Bruce outside the lakeside cottages and café in Middleton Park

24.8.04 17:15 Permalink / 3 Comments / comment

The Swamp at Belle Isle gets community makeover The swamp at Belle Isle will be finally banished from the minds of local people next Friday (12 March 2004) as the finishing touches are made to a new community park. The Swamp has been a well known eyesore for people living in the Broom Road area of Belle Isle for a number of years. Now thanks to 18 months of hard work the swamp has been transformed into a pleasant pocket park for the local community to enjoy. The area has now been completely landscaped with a footpath, attractive shrubbery, stone carvings and a large grass area complete with football goals. Putting in the final touches on Friday will be children from Broomfield Special School who are planting a selection of bright and colourful plants. Councillor Stuart Bruce (Labour, Middleton), Chair of Hunslet and Middleton Community Involvement Team, said: "Regeneration projects like this help to improve the quality of people’s lives. By transforming the eyesores that appear in many inner city areas we are making Leeds a much more pleasant place to live and enjoy. Regeneration of the swamp was made possible by funding from the Leeds City Council administered SRB5 Local Regeneration Fund and Hunslet and Middleton CIT, as well as donations from Barclays Sitesavers, Green Leeds and Living Space. Much of the design and hard work was done by local organisations including South Leeds Homes, Belle Isle North Estate Management Board, Brooms Community House, Groundwork Leeds and South Leeds Area Management. Funding has also meant a new project ’Regen LS10’ can begin. The project’s aim is to improve the local environment in Hunslet, Belle Isle and Middleton.

11.3.04 10:15 Permalink / comment

Councillors give backing to Environment Task Team project Hunslet and Middleton Community Involvement Team has backed plans which will see New Deal trainees working to improve the local environment and assist the elderly and disabled over the next 16 months. The CIT has agreed to give £5,000 funding to the project, which will see the trainees becoming part of an Environment Task Team which will clean rubbish from targeted communal areas in Middleton, Belle Isle and parts of Hunslet. The team will also tidy gardens of elderly and disabled residents, as well as clearing gardens and pathways of empty properties. They will take part in monthly community clean-ups, as well as carrying out basic improvements to properties such as painting and decorating. Managed by Leeds South Homes, the project will see the unemployed New Deal trainees recruited and given training to also promote ideas to residents to improve the environment within the area. Board director of Leeds South Homes Councillor Stuart Bruce (Labour, Middleton) said: “This is a great idea which will be of major benefit to the whole community. Not only will the environment look better, it also will help the New Deal trainees to learn new skills at the same time which could lead to them finding long-term jobs and careers. “Helping the more vulnerable members of the community is also a wonderful idea, and by promoting the importance of the environment to residents and especially youngsters it will hopefully make a major difference in these areas for the future.”

19.12.03 17:25 Permalink / comment

Exciting news Don't say that you don't hear the most exciting, ground breaking news here first. The Leeds South Homes housing office at Rothwell One Stop Centre has new opening times from Monday 5 January 2004: Monday 8:30 to 16:00 Tuesday 8:30 to 16:00 Wednesday 8:30 to 15:00 Thursday 8:30 to 18:00 Friday 8:30 to 17:30 You heard it here first!

21.11.03 19:20 Permalink / comment

Councillor warns against cruel hoax chain letter NEWS RELEASE Councillor warns against cruel hoax chain letter Campaigning Councillor Stuart Bruce (Labour, Middleton) is warning Leeds residents not to be taken in by a cruel hoax letter pretending to be from John Craig, a seven year old boy suffering from cancer. Victims of the hoax usually receive a letter from a friend asking them to send a card or compliment slip to John Craig so that he can achieve his ambition to enter the Guinness Book of Records for receiving the most cards or compliment slips sent to him. Councillor Bruce, who runs NetworxPR a public relations company, used to provide public relations advice to Royal Mail in the late 90s and says at that time John Craig used to receive approximately 3,500 letters a week from people who had been duped. The hoax originated in the late 1989 when Craig Shergold was diagnosed with cancer and the UK media and the American Make-a-Wish charity publicised his desire to be in the Guinness Book of Records. Craig received successfully received treatment for his cancer and made a full recovery, as well as appearing the Guinness Book of Records. However, the cards and compliment slips keep coming. There are now several variations on his name including Sherwood, Sherfold and Sheford, as well as John Craig. The address for John Craig in Carshalton, Surry is the same one as for Craig Shergold. "People shouldn't be taken in by this cruel hoax which is preying on gullibility of well-meaning people," explained Councillor Bruce, "I would advise anyone who receives this request to simply put it in the bin."

19.11.03 11:59 Permalink / 323 Comments / comment