COUNCILLOR IQBAL AND WRAY'S REPORT TO beeston hill community association sept 2025

Tempest Road/Dewsbury Road Junction: The works will be on site from Monday September 29 and are planned to end on Friday 31st October. The works will include Lane 2 closures along this area of Dewsbury Road between 09:30 - 15:30, this is to minimise disruption outside of peak travel times. As well as the main central reservation works, there will also be some smaller works that will be introducing tactile and hazard paving installed to improve the safety of pedestrians with visual impairments. The locations for these will be at the junction with Harlech Road, and the signalised junction next to the fire station.

Cross Flatts Park Playgrounds: Work started on the 10th of September, and the work is expected to finish shortly.

Selective Licensing: The decision on where this is to go ahead is due to go before Executive Board on the 15th of October 2025.

Litter Picking Equipment Grants: We're still offering grants of up to £300 for groups doing volunteer litter picking throughout Hunslet and Riverside Ward. Please email light.addaquay@leeds.gov.uk for the one-page application form.

Dewsbury Road Begging: Targeted work has now limited the numbers of those begging, and the issuing of Community Protection Notices, Community Protection Warnings, and a small number of exclusion orders has had an impact, but there is still a small but active group. We are currently bidding for funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority for a dedicated support worker for Dewsbury Road and the surrounding area, who will work with the beggars and rough sleepers.

Bin Collection Issues: Several streets have continued to have missed collections due to parked vehicles on access points and back streets. We have been able to argue for several interventions to tackle this. These are at the internal consultation stage and not ready for public disclosure but are the culmination of nearly two years worth of lobbying.

Drug User Support: Officers are working on a focused support and intervention plan for the city centre, which will then outreach into Beeston and along Dewsbury Road. We’re unable to provide any more details at the moment as the project is still subject to getting funding, contractual terms and agreed governance. Details will follow once plans are confirmed.

Soliciting Activity: We know how important it is for residents to see action on the concerns raised about drugs, antisocial behaviour, and solicitation around Tempest Road. We're already taking steps to address these issues, and here are some of the initial actions agreed upon:

-- High-Level Meeting Scheduled: Local Councillors, the Executive Member, senior Safer Leeds officers, and West Yorkshire Police took place in August with a commitment to refresh the approach in the area.

-- Regular Community Contact Point: We're happy to confirm that partners at West Yorkshire Police - Leeds South have, as promised at a resident meeting several months ago, now started fortnightly drop-in sessions as Hamara Healthy Living Centre. The next two sessions are:

- 2nd of October between 10:00 -12:00

- 16th of October between 10:00 - 12:00

-- Partners are also looking at the viability of a women's only drop-in as well, but this is more complicated to staff, so may take long to arrange.

-- Early Morning On-Site Visits: Due to staff these have not happened yet, but there has been extra patrols and Leeds Watch Presence during the afternoon.

-- Clear Communication Plan: The first meeting to structure this plan happened earlier this month and a draft plan, with the help of LCC corporate communications, is being drafted. This will focus support, facts and harm reduction. Details to follow.

These are just the starting points, and a more detailed update will follow. Please know that Council officers, partners, and I are committed to doing more for our community. We will deliver on this promise.

General Antisocial Behaviour: This can be reported online at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/anti.../report-antisocial-behaviour.

Crime: If this is ongoing and/or a person is at immediate risk, call 999.

If not, please call 101 or online via https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/LiveChat or https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it, where you have an option to remain anonymous by place “x” in the contact detail fields.

Alternatively, you can contact Crime Stopper on 0800 555 111.

Soliciting: If you see anyone soliciting, please call the dedicated number on 07497386922.

Rough Sleeping: Please contact leeds.sos@cgl.org.uk with details. If you see anyone you believe is at medical risk or under the age of 18, please call 999.

Fire Work Issues: We know this is an ongoing issue for residents. It is illegal to let off fireworks after 11pm except on Bonfire Night (5 November), Diwali, New Years Eve and Chinese New Year.

Adult fireworks are Category 2 and 3 fireworks - they do not include things like party poppers. Category 4 fireworks can only be used by professionals.

The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.

If this is ongoing and/or a person is at immediate risk, call 999. They will need to know where the fireworks are happening to send out officers. For more information on fireworks, please visit bit.ly/WYPFireworks