One suggestion that has been made (again) is that Yorkshire Post newspapers might run a feature on how bad the situation has become and what little support there has been from the local councillors.
LAWRRAG has had mention in a positive light in the YP/YEP on a number of occasions in the past and although newspaper stories are short-lived, this has a lot going for it, particularly at the moment:
• There have been recent articles and letters in the YP newspapers about councillor’s payments, and entitlements. ‘Outrage’ seems to be a common thread.
• Local councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Lib Dems in Leeds and as such sits on the executive management board of Leeds City Council. (The surprise and bewilderment at this was best dealt with in the 18 June 2010 posting)
If this is to be followed up is there anyone willing/available to contact the Yorkshire Post? Your chance to become the Press Officer. It is our experience that if YP is to run a story they will want a photograph of ‘concerned’ looking residents, do we have volunteers?
Monday, 9 August 2010
More HGV Traffic?
(Double click on the image to be able to read text) The Yorkshire Evening Post, Saturday 7 August 2010, ran the above article about a proposed waste incinerator development on 'the former Skelton Grange power station site in south-east Leeds near junction 44 of the M1'. This is in addition to the electricity-generating waste plant proposed for Cross Green.
Whether you accept that south-east Leeds should be the dumping ground for the city, county, or the north as a whole, the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish that are going to be incinerated are going to be taken in by road!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Reply from Alec Shelbrooke MP
It's pleasing to be able to report that Alec Shelbrooke MP responded to our communication the same day it was sent, a far cry from from the approach of the local councillors!
The main body of Alec's reply reads:
"Please forgive me for not getting back to you since the election, I have been a bit overwhelmed and I have got behind on a few things. My efforts to try and get this solved from a Council point of view were not successful at the time, however, I do intend to now lobby Cllr Keith Wakefield, to try and get the HGV ban in place that we spoke about. I will also meet with the Transport minister and try and do some "behind the scenes work".
I'm still with you on this, but I wont really be able to get in with anybody until we get back into the full swing of things in October. I will try and meet Keith Wakefield before then."
Thank you Alec.
The main body of Alec's reply reads:
"Please forgive me for not getting back to you since the election, I have been a bit overwhelmed and I have got behind on a few things. My efforts to try and get this solved from a Council point of view were not successful at the time, however, I do intend to now lobby Cllr Keith Wakefield, to try and get the HGV ban in place that we spoke about. I will also meet with the Transport minister and try and do some "behind the scenes work".
I'm still with you on this, but I wont really be able to get in with anybody until we get back into the full swing of things in October. I will try and meet Keith Wakefield before then."
Thank you Alec.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Letter to Alec Shelbrooke MP
Dear Alec
It is now six years since the start of our campaign, well documented on our blog site, www.lawrrag.blogspot.com, and one year since you brought along the then Shadow Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill, to meet with us. It is also five and a half years since Leeds City Council heads confirmed that there was a serious problem with speeding along Leeds and Wakefield Roads.
Both Robert Goodwill and yourself were scathing of the ‘efforts’ of Leeds City Council, and our councillors, and supportive of our cause, and indeed you made certain local road safety commitments in your pre-election manifesto.
In the six years that the campaign has run, through equal measures of arrogance and ignorance, Leeds City Council heads, officers, and councillors have simply ignored all government guidelines put in place to protect communities from the issues we face, and have shown nothing but contempt for the rights and concerns of scores of local residents.
The intervening six years have seen traffic volumes rise, average speeds increase, noise levels increase, higher numbers of HGV vehicles, and as of now probably a five-fold increase in the number of night time HGV vehicles speeding through the area. Despite there having been two complaints to the office of Local Government Ombudsman, planning consent continues to be given to major developments that have a direct HGV impact upon the area. There is no reason whatsoever why this traffic shouldn’t be restricted to using the direct motorway links. Prior to the opening of the East Leeds link road we suggested that this would result in even more high speed, and HGV traffic, we were told by the ’experts’ that it wouldn’t ………….. IT HAS!
The things that haven’t changed during the six years are the very guidelines and recommendations cited at day one, put in place to protect communities.
Those of us that read your manifesto and have met with you were probably looking forward to some positive action, however given the governments recent, and frankly unbelievable approach to road safety funding, and the decommissioning of speed (safety) cameras, we appear to be worse off than before!
We have seen that Leeds City Council has no idea of the scale of the problem, and the councillors don’t care. The burning question is:
WHAT AS OUR MP ARE YOU GOING/ABLE TO DO FOR US?
We look forward to you earliest possible response.
We have refrained from sending this to members of the Leeds City Council executive board members as it would simply be passed down the line to one of their excuse mongers (it always has before).
On behalf of LAWRRAG
It is now six years since the start of our campaign, well documented on our blog site, www.lawrrag.blogspot.com, and one year since you brought along the then Shadow Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill, to meet with us. It is also five and a half years since Leeds City Council heads confirmed that there was a serious problem with speeding along Leeds and Wakefield Roads.
Both Robert Goodwill and yourself were scathing of the ‘efforts’ of Leeds City Council, and our councillors, and supportive of our cause, and indeed you made certain local road safety commitments in your pre-election manifesto.
In the six years that the campaign has run, through equal measures of arrogance and ignorance, Leeds City Council heads, officers, and councillors have simply ignored all government guidelines put in place to protect communities from the issues we face, and have shown nothing but contempt for the rights and concerns of scores of local residents.
The intervening six years have seen traffic volumes rise, average speeds increase, noise levels increase, higher numbers of HGV vehicles, and as of now probably a five-fold increase in the number of night time HGV vehicles speeding through the area. Despite there having been two complaints to the office of Local Government Ombudsman, planning consent continues to be given to major developments that have a direct HGV impact upon the area. There is no reason whatsoever why this traffic shouldn’t be restricted to using the direct motorway links. Prior to the opening of the East Leeds link road we suggested that this would result in even more high speed, and HGV traffic, we were told by the ’experts’ that it wouldn’t ………….. IT HAS!
The things that haven’t changed during the six years are the very guidelines and recommendations cited at day one, put in place to protect communities.
Those of us that read your manifesto and have met with you were probably looking forward to some positive action, however given the governments recent, and frankly unbelievable approach to road safety funding, and the decommissioning of speed (safety) cameras, we appear to be worse off than before!
We have seen that Leeds City Council has no idea of the scale of the problem, and the councillors don’t care. The burning question is:
WHAT AS OUR MP ARE YOU GOING/ABLE TO DO FOR US?
We look forward to you earliest possible response.
We have refrained from sending this to members of the Leeds City Council executive board members as it would simply be passed down the line to one of their excuse mongers (it always has before).
On behalf of LAWRRAG
Friday, 18 June 2010
How to succeed in politics?
The last posting didn't quite tell the whole story in that there has been a major change locally -
Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Leeds, and as such sits on the executive board of Leeds City Council.
Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Leeds, and as such sits on the executive board of Leeds City Council.
This is the same councillor Golton who to date has ignored every government guideline with regard to planning, highways, and transport, that has been put before him, and has managed to be fobbed off time after time by non-elected council officers (See earlier postings).
Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Leeds, and as such sits on the executive board Leeds City Council.
It doesn't matter how many times you read it, it's true.
Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Leeds, and as such sits on the executive board of Leeds City Council.
Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Leeds, and as such sits on the executive board of Leeds City Council.
This is the same councillor Golton who to date has ignored every government guideline with regard to planning, highways, and transport, that has been put before him, and has managed to be fobbed off time after time by non-elected council officers (See earlier postings).
Lib Dem councillor Stewart Golton is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Leeds, and as such sits on the executive board Leeds City Council.
It doesn't matter how many times you read it, it's true.