West Leeds Dispatch

By Jill Stocks This weekend is the 16th Yarnbury beer and music festival at Yarnbury RFC and crowds are expected once again to support this popular local event. The festival began with a low key Thursday night session and continues today and tomorrow with a full programme of entertainment. This afternoon is a corporate afternoon before opening to the public at 5pm with Abba night starting at 6pm.

West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, has been appointed to the House of Lords. The appointment was announced as part of the Government’s Political Peerages List published yesterday (Thursday, July 16). Alison Lowe was the first black female Leeds city councillor, representing Armley ward from 1990 to 2019. She has served as West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime since 2021.

By John Baron The speed limit will be reduced on a busy stretch of a Calverley road, after council highways chiefs signed off the plans. The speed limit will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph on Carr Road between Calverley and Greengates, which carries around 18,000 vehicles daily. The road already features sections of 30mph and 40mph speed limits and it is hoped the changes will help improve safety.

By Don Mort, local democracy reporter Libraries in the city are set to cease lending out iPads after devices became obsolete and some were stolen. Leeds City Council said it would save cash by ending its tablet-lending scheme at libraries and community hubs. The devices could be borrowed for up to eight weeks with a 5G data allowance to help people struggling to get online.

Every fortnight we publish a list of the latest licensing applications related to the seven council wards in the West Leeds Dispatch patch. The council’s licensing department regulates activities that require a licence, such as selling alcohol, providing entertainment, event notices and taxi licence applications. They also ensure that licensed premises and individuals comply with the law and protect the public.

By James Bovington Until now kickboxer Callan Burke was typical of a generation of young people who’ve enjoyed combat sports training and competing on a semi-professional basis without having the ambition to do so either full-time or professionally. Since he’s been training at Team Fu Martial Arts in Burley, the 29-year-old from Swarcliffe views things somewhat differently. “I turned 29 this month,” said Callan, “and I know I’m good at combat sports.

By John Baron Ambitious multi-million pound plans to improve the sustainability and long-term viability of Grade II Listed Bramley Baths have been submitted to Leeds City Council. The Broad Lane building, which dates back to 1904, currently hosts a swimming pool, gym and studio area for classes, and had been community led since 2013.

One of the largest archaeology companies in the UK has relocated their Leeds office to Springfield Mills in Farsley as their base for UK-wide geophysical surveys. AOC Archaeology has moved into one of the premier units at Gaunts’ new The Bostock Building at Springfield Mills in Farsley.

Children at a Kirkstall Road nursery have been getting creative by making their own pizzas, supported by their own in-house chef. Youngsters at Bright Horizons Leeds Day Nursery and Preschool were encouraged to cook up a treat. The activity mirrors the nursery’s approach to nutrition, where children are encouraged to explore meals through colour, smell, texture and conversation, without pressure to taste or finish what’s on their plate.

By Jill Stocks A new youth group has started in Horsforth aimed at easing the transition for pupils leaving year 6 and starting high school in September. The Leeds Youth Service Year 6 group, which is free to attend, started at the Brownlee Stone Centre on Town Street six weeks ago and will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Tuesday evenings helping pupils to get ready for the challenge of high school in a friendly environment with support from youth workers.