Leeds 'independent heaven' traders say what would make suburb even better

New parking restrictions, more local street art and helping vulnerable drug addicts were some of the ideas

Traders in Leeds' “independent heaven” have spoken about the ways the area, known for an eclectic mix of shops, could be made even better.

Leeds City Council is launching a scheme to improve all 33 wards in the city called ‘Love Leeds’. It aims to bring each community together to target issues facing each ward.

North Leeds' Chapel Allerton has been chosen as the first ward in the scheme which aims to harness “community and volunteer action”. Examples of possible improvements could be intensive environmental clean-ups, weeding, cleaning, and graffiti removal, along with improving highways, removing rubbish, work to tackle and prevent fly-tipping, clearing and cleaning community housing and health support and advice, such as pop-up blood pressure checks and health outreach work.

The programme will follow a rolling operating model, starting with engagement and consultation with local groups, stakeholders and residents in a ward to listen, understand and identify priorities for improvement.

Using a range of resident drop-ins and workshops, pop-up listening and engagement sessions and working closely with community, volunteer and third sector groups, the aim is to provide local opportunities for people to have a much stronger voice in how the area in which they live is looked after and improved.

Chapel Allerton cheesemonger Emily Webster feels there’s an area in front of the Co-Op that needs sweeping more regularly. While she says more work needs to be done towards Potternewton Park to tackle litter and graffiti, she feels there are more serious issues near the park involving drug abuse.

Emily, who works at George & Joseph Cheesemongers, said: “There’s a pathway that I walk home down and that is quite dirty. I’d say I don’t feel very safe walking down it. I’ve noticed it’s a pickup point for people who are drug addicts. There can be a lot of people loitering at the foot of the path and it can be quite intimidating to walk down."

Her colleague at George & Joseph, Sam Rothery added: “A way it [Chapel Allerton] could be improved is if there was a scheme to help move furniture. I’ve recently moved but I don’t drive so it would be cool if there was a scheme for people with big items that need to moved, I think it would help with the fly tipping. There should be more support systems around for people who are addicts.”

Butcher Danny Toye thinks big changes need to be made to the parking restrictions in the area. Danny, who works at Quality Butchers, said: “A bit ridiculous the parking around here. Customers come to the area to spend hundreds of pounds but if you park around here for more than an hour, you’ll get a ticket. It especially affects the elderly generation who can’t walk around at 100mph or a woman who want to get their hair cut in this area, it takes two hours. Put a meter around so you can pay for your parking, limit it to three hours.”

He also wishes the council would help with the upkeep of the buildings on the high street, rather than leaving it to “independent business struggling with increasing business rates and production costs, overheads”.

Art gallery sales assistant Elsa Bennett highlighted the work done by local group CA Spaces who make art in the area, including mosaic tiles on the pavement and colourful paintings along alleyways and bollards.

Elsa, who works at Smart Gallery, said: “Some of the grouting has come off or the pavement slabs are chipped, and someone has taken it upon themselves to refill it with a bunch of small colours and mosaic tile. It was a random creative idea.”

Sweet shop owners Dave and Liz Butterworth have described the area as “independent heaven” due to the vast mix of businesses on the high street – but they also think changes need to be made to the parking to help them.

Liz, co-owner of The Sweet Quarter, said: “I understand why there’s parking restrictions outside the shops, as otherwise people would just park there, go to work and leave their cars but I don’t think one hour is enough. It used to be two.”

She also likes the artwork by CA Spaces, she said: “It looks nice and people do stop and notice these kinds of things.”

Launching the programme, Leeds City Council executive member for environment Councillor James Gibson said: “We are delighted to be getting ‘Love Leeds’ underway, as it will bring services, community groups and residents together in a more integrated way than ever before to identify what people want to see and feel improved in their area, and to quickly get on and deliver it.

“The tagline ‘cleaner streets, stronger communities’ reflects the aim to not only make a difference residents will be able to recognise, but to strengthen relationships at all levels to provide a sustainable new way of working in localities across Leeds, with everyone pulling together to make things better. Let’s get started.”

Council services directly involved include Housing Leeds, parks and greenspace, highways, Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT), public health, Active Leeds, community hubs, waste management, jobs and skills and volunteering. Partners include West Yorkshire Police and third sector organisations.