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Scheme will see 5.8 million trees planted across the city in the next 25 years. A large-scale new tree planting initiative, which forms part of Leeds’ ambitious programme to make the city carbon neutral by 2030, has been launched today with the first potential sites identified. The first saplings will be planted this winter, with the woodland creation programme set to see 5.8 million trees planted across the city in the next 25 years. To demonstrate the type of woodlands that will be planted in the future, one planted…

Leeds City Council has issued guidance for residents, visitors and businesses as hospitality and entertainment venues prepare to reopen this weekend. From Saturday July 4, restaurants, bars, leisure and entertainment venues can reopen as part of the latest relaxation of restrictions due to Covid-19. Working with representatives of the businesses concerned as well as partners and stakeholders, the council has been planning for the resumption of trading with a range of measures focused on supporting city centre…

Adopters across West Yorkshire are being urged not to miss out on additional support available during the COVID 19 pandemic. The regional adoption agency for the area, One Adoption West Yorkshire, has secured over £300k additional funding from the COVID 19 Adoption Support Fund, announced by the government in April. The Adoption Support Fund was extended earlier this year to pay for different types of therapeutic support for families whose adopted children may have already suffered trauma and be made more anxious owing to…

Leeds Armed Forces Day, Saturday 27th June. How you can get involved. People of all ages across Leeds are encouraged to celebrate the courage, dedication and commitment of the British Armed Forces, as part of Leeds Armed Forces Day on 27 June. Armed Forces Day is usually marked by hundreds of events across the UK, however due to Covid-19 these events have been cancelled so people are now being encouraged to celebrate from their own homes. In Leeds we are asking people to celebrate the armed forces throughout the week…

Charges for Leeds City Council car parks and on-street parking will resume from Saturday 4th July 2020, with some important changes in place. City Centre Parking  Payment via the machines will resume at our standard prices. Payment via the ParkMobile app will resume at a temporarily discounted rate of £1 per hour or £5 per day. People are encouraged to use this method if possible to avoid touching the machines. All charges will be suspended on Sundays and in the evenings. Outer Areas Of The City …

Financial cost of coronavirus shown in new reports. The Leader of Leeds City Council has called for urgent government support as the costs of coronavirus in the city approach £200million and threaten big cuts to services. The council released a series of reports today outlining its perilous financial position. The position has been significantly impacted by the costs of Covid-19, which have risen from £164.7m last month to now stand at £197.6m. Leeds has received government funding of £43.7m towards those costs from a…

Leeds Baby Bank work on a referral-only basis to provide vital support and urgent baby essentials for families in need. Leeds Baby Bank was set up in January 2017 by the Co-Founders who had a shared interest in supporting families in and around Leeds. Together with a passionate team of Trustees, volunteers and an army of amazing supporters, the charity has grown at rapid speed and helped provide thousands of families in need with essential items to ensure that their little ones are safe, growing and developing. We work…

Shops and businesses in Leeds to start reopening from Monday 15 June. Ahead of some shops and business reopening from Monday, Leeds City Council has issued further information on measures in place to keep people safe in the city centre. Following on from initial details released at the end of last month about what to expect when lockdown measures were eased, the council is keen to reiterate the advice and messaging around businesses and non-essential shops which are reopening from Monday 15 June. The priority…

A long-standing former councillor is to lead a city-wide review into statues and monuments across Leeds. Alison Lowe, chief executive of Leeds-based mental health charity Touchstone, who was the first female BAME city councillor and represented Labour from 1990 to 2019, has been appointed to the role as part of the council’s response to an ongoing debate around statues of some historic figures. The move follows actions by other local authorities across the country who have seen demonstrations and protests in recent…

Leeds City Council laid out ambitious plans to promote active travel. This includes an additional 100km of segregated cycle lanes, temporary widened footways and low traffic neighbourhoods. To ensure people feel safe making their everyday essential journeys, over the last few weeks footways have been temporarily widened using water barriers in the city centre and across a number of local town and district centres.  School Streets schemes have begun to be tested out at six Leeds primary schools from 1 June, restricting…

People across Leeds are encouraged to stand in solidarity with those peacefully protesting against racism and all other forms of prejudice. People across Leeds are being encouraged to stand in solidarity with those peacefully protesting against racism and all other forms of prejudice by taking part in 8for8 on Monday evening. The 8for8 initiative asks residents to perform one of the following gestures for eight minutes at 8pm on Monday evening (8 June): The Namaste greeting outside of the home, which is a gesture…

Inspectors carried out a comprehensive examination into services offered at the Roundhay Hospital, earlier in the year, including an unannounced inspection in March. They concluded that the facility should be upgraded to a ‘Good’ rating, having been classified as ‘Requires Improvement’ at the time of the last inspection in 2018. This means that 90% of all Spire Healthcare hospitals and clinics are now rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding,’ or the national equivalent in Scotland and Wales. The regulatory body examined whether…

A participant in an innovative Leeds City Council homeshare scheme has celebrated her 100th birthday this week. Joining family members and many other well-wishers to congratulate Roundhay resident Margaret Marshall on reaching the fantastic milestone, which included a special birthday card from Her Majesty, the Queen, were former Home sharers Holly and Jon, both students. Since 2018, first Jon, then Holly lived with Margaret as part of the Leeds Homeshare scheme, which matches older people that have a spare room and who…

Leeds City Council is allowing taxi and private hire drivers to install temporary safety screens in vehicles in response to the Covid-19 emergency. The council has a very strict policy on the installation of safety screens in private hire and hackney carriage vehicles. The council usually funds 50% of the cost of installing a permanent safety screen, up to £250 per vehicle, but each individual design must be approved before the council will allow them to be fitted. Due to safety concerns for both passengers and drivers…

Leeds School Streets pilot scheme launches on Monday, 1 June, with up to six Leeds primary schools taking part. Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary School, Pudsey; Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck; Cross Gates Primary School, Cross Gates; Thorpe Primary School, Thorpe; Clapgate Primary, Middleton; and Lane End Primary, Beeston are the first schools to take part in the pilot scheme. School Streets make roads outside schools into pedestrian and cyclist only zones at the times displayed on the signs and only during term time.…

Council leaders and businesses along HS2’s proposed eastern leg are calling for the Government to commit to progressing it at the same time as the western leg – aiding economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak while providing towns and cities with much-needed capacity and connectivity improvements. The HS2 East group also warns that any delay to progressing its construction will critically undermine both investor confidence in towns and cities and the Government’s plan to ‘level up the country’. HS2 East…

Co-ordinated by Leeds City Council, a scheme has been set up to provide thousands of free tickets, discounts and special events for NHS and frontline workers across the city as a special thanks for their enormous efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, a lot of Leeds’ cultural and sporting organisations have joined the scheme including Leeds United, Leeds Rhinos, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, first direct arena, Henry Moore Institute and Phoenix Dance Theatre. Several other local businesses and organisations have…

Leeds City Council has today been confirmed by the government to be a lead local authority on behalf of the Leeds City Region on the new national coronavirus test and trace services. The services are being overseen by chief executive of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan, in his new role as National Test and Trace Adviser. Commenting on the announcement, Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake said: “This programme is crucial to enabling the city to find a new, safe normal. We’re pleased to be part of the…

Leeds City Council provide update regarding the Lord Mayor of Leeds and this year's Mayor Making ceremony. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, legislation requiring councils to hold an annual general meeting has temporarily been lifted by government. As a result, this year’s Mayor Making ceremony, which is included as part of the Annual Meeting of Council each year, will not be taking place as is tradition this month. The continued pressures of coronavirus and restrictions in terms of social distancing and gatherings…