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It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has died aged 99. He had been married to the Queen, former Patron of the Royal Society of Literature, for 73 years and was, in the words she used at the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, “my constant strength and guide”. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021 was a…

Easter is a holiday and festival when people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. For those who celebrate the Holy Week, Easter is a day that symbolizes the renewal of the hope that we nurture in our daily lives. The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ’s victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His…

The arts and culture sector in Leeds is set for a significant post-COVID recovery boost thanks to successful bids for important grant funding.

A new funding package to support an exciting programme of post-lockdown live events and performances across Leeds has been launched this week. The innovative Leeds Inspired LIVE grants scheme is aimed at harnessing the power of culture and the arts to help get the city safely back on its feet after the pandemic. Local groups and organisations will be able to apply for funding from £500 up to £2,500 to bring their colourful and imaginative ideas to life and encourage live audiences back into the city and local centres.…

People across Leeds are being given a reminder of the important role they still play in keeping the city, themselves and others safe as lockdown restrictions start to ease. With Leeds about to head into the Bank Holiday weekend and groups of up to six people from two households now allowed to gather outdoors, Leeds City Council is asking everyone to remember to do all they can to continue preventing the spread of COVID-19. The latest data indicates that virus numbers across the city stand at 119.9 cases per 100k people,…

Leeds City Council is encouraging residents to check their polling cards when they arrive this week, as a large number of polling stations have changed for 6 May elections. Over 70 polling stations across the city have moved to ensure voting can happen with Covid-19 safe measures in place. Voters are being asked to wear a mask and comply with other safety and social distancing measures. It is anticipated that only limited numbers will be permitted inside polling stations at any one time, which may mean queues are likely.…

Businesses are being encouraged to apply for new COVID-19 funding support as Leeds prepares for the next crucial stages of the country’s lockdown exit roadmap. One-off restart grants are now available from Leeds City Council to help eligible businesses with the cost of opening up after coronavirus restrictions are eased. Non-essential retail businesses that have had to close during the current national lockdown could receive as much as £6,000 worth of support, while affected businesses in the personal care, gym and…

Residents living in a number of properties in north west Leeds have had their sound equipment seized after failing to heed a series of warnings regarding noise nuisance. As part of ‘Operation Dimplemount’, following a warrant of entry being granted by Leeds Magistrates Court, a range of items were seized by the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) supported by West Yorkshire Police from residents living in four homes situated in the LS6 area of the city. Previously, residents living at 9 Glossop Street, 19 Wood Lane,…

A remarkable image captured more than 120 years ago has revealed the bizarre day Leeds residents constructed a huge archway from bread to welcome an aristocrat. The half-baked idea is just one of thousands of the city’s unique stories ready to be discovered in the newly-relaunched Leodis photo archive managed by the Leeds Libraries service. Taken in 1894, the photo shows the enormous arch built from a staggering 1,500 loaves of bread along Commercial Street. Residents built the arch to welcome George V, then Duke of…

In line with the lifting of national lockdown restrictions next Monday (29 March), the council-owned golf courses at Temple Newsam and Roundhay Park are set to officially reopen. Working with England Golf and government coronavirus guidelines, a number of measures will be in place to ensure golfers can enjoy their games safely. These include social distancing, providing hand sanitising stations for visitors and track and trace measures when booking and on-site. Next Monday will also mark the first time players at…

A housing estate in Holt Park is set to benefit from a major new green refurbishment programme totalling almost £9m. Part funded by Leeds City Council (£4.69m) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS - £4.18m), this significant investment of £8.87m will now be used to deliver a host of whole house retrofits to 190 flats located on the Holtdale estate, in north west Leeds. Forming part of the council’s continuing work to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in its housing…

BBC announced it plans to relocate a number of its national journalism roles from London to Leeds. Two BBC News teams will move to Leeds; the Learning and Identity team and some of the new UK Insight team. The move is part of the wider “BBC Across the UK” plan and aligns with the government’s commitment to ‘levelling-up’ the north of England and other parts of the UK. Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council said: “We are pleased to receive more great news for Leeds and the wider region today. The…

People with a passion for Leeds can listen to discussions about what the future holds for the city in a brand new episode of the Leeds in Conversation podcast, available next week. The podcast gives people the rare chance to listen in to debates and conversations about some of Leeds’s biggest issues, from culture and communities to the environment and economy. Leeds in Conversation launched last year and, after a successful start, is returning on Monday 29 March for a brand new series. Series 2 will see a diverse range…

Visitors to Leeds will be able to take advantage of free parking as part of the city’s efforts to get the high street buzzing again following the easing of national coronavirus restrictions. Leeds City Council announced that parking charges are being suspended in council-managed car parks and on-road spaces in the city centre and Otley for three weekends in April and May. The country’s lockdown exit roadmap means that, as things stand, non-essential retail businesses will be able to reopen on April 12, while hospitality…

It is with great sadness, Leeds United has learned of the passing of club legend Peter Lorimer at the age of 74 following a long-term illness. Peter made a huge 705 appearances for the Whites over two spells and is the club’s record goal-scorer, having netted 238 times in all competitions. After catching the eye at junior level in his hometown of Dundee, Leeds beat off a number of clubs to secure his services in May 1962. He made his Leeds United debut on Saturday 29th September 1962 against Southampton at Elland Road at…

Leeds City Council has welcomed plans for a new Northern Powerhouse Rail station in West Yorkshire. The proposed station would serve Bradford city centre from a six-acre site off the A650 Wakefield Road that is currently occupied by St James’s Wholesale Market. Revealing details of the plans, Bradford Council said the scheme would cut train journey times between Leeds and Bradford to just seven minutes. Bradford Council is calling for the station to be included on a proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail mainline route that…

Ahead of restrictions regarding social distancing and gatherings potentially easing over the next few months, Leeds City Council is once again asking residents to please take their litter home or dispose of it in an appropriate way if visiting a city park or green space. With parks and green spaces continuing to be open throughout all of the restrictions put in place to tackle coronavirus since March 2020, visitor numbers have increased significantly. This has led to a growth in the amount of litter being left, and with…

A tree-mendous total of 200,000 saplings have been planted in Leeds over the past year as part of Leeds City Council’s climate change ambition. To mark the International Day of Forests on Sunday 21st March, Leeds City Council is sharing its recent contribution towards the regional White Rose Forest. Launched last year, the Woodland Creation Initiative will see 5.8 million trees planted on council land over the next 25 years. Tree planting is proven to benefit the wellbeing of communities, support wildlife, and help tackle…

For the first time all races at AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds will start and finish in Roundhay Park, with all routes reaching the same finish line outside the park’s Mansion House. With a packed weekend of action on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June, British Triathlon have released the confirmed routes for all races on offer at the event following last week’s reopening of entries for the 2021 event. Staging the event in and around the park means that the organisers are able to create a Covid-19 Secure event area within the…