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4th April - COUNCIL LEADER PRAISES GARFORTH’S YOUNG PEOPLE
At the Council meeting this week, in response to a question on promoting the participation in democracy by young people, I praised the schools and colleges who took part in local democracy week, the Youth Councils, School’s Councils and the young people’s scrutiny panel.
I particularly mentioned pupils from GarforthCommunity College, who produced a manifesto which was published in the Yorkshire Evening Post and voted for by both pupils and members of the public. I was pleased to welcome a delegation of young people from GarforthCollege to the Civic Hall, when one of them became Mayor for the day and donned the mayoral robes. They then came and presented their views formally to the City Council and returned their visits by visiting them at GarforthCommunity College. These young people are a splendid example and the seriousness with which they approached the issues that they debated is to be applauded.
Councillor Andrew Carter
Leader of the Council, Leader of the Conservative Group
20th February - What this Council is Doing for Garforth
I have just read Councillor Tom Murray’s account detailing all the work he is campaigning for in Garforth and it all looked a little familiar.
With Cllr Murray asking for work to be done at Glebelands Recreation Ground he must be even more out of touch with his local area than I thought. As reported in the local paper, which clearly is not delivered to Cllr Murray, we announced improvements to Glebelands in December 2005. In consultation with local councillor Cllr Mark Phillips, we recognised that the main issue with the park is the damage caused by vehicles, making the surface unsuitable for its proper use. To prevent this we have invested in the car park area to ease congestion, create more spaces and rail off the park itself.
As for facilities for young people, plans for a teen zone at Barley Hill Park are well underway, providing a multi-use games area so whether cricket or basketball is their choice – all young people have somewhere to go. These projects have been underway for some time and the improvements to Barley Hill were submitted to Executive Board back in November as part of the Town and District Regeneration fund. This fund seeks to put some money back into the outlying areas of the city that have been starved of investment for the last 20 years and to create spaces for relaxation, play and exercise for young and old alike.
So, I say to Garforth residents, when your children have a play area, a skatepark and sports pitches to practice on, don’t thank Councillor Murray, thank this administration at Leeds City Council for reversing the prejudicial spending policies that have denied young people these facilities for so long.
Cllr Andrew Carter
6th September - Prison Rumours
I have been very concerned to have received rumours from various sources that building work was imminent in connection with the proposed prison site at Garforth. I asked senior officials to make contact with the Home Office without delay which they have done. The Home Office have confirmed that no decision has been taken as regards the building of new prisons or the sites for the proposed new prisons as yet. Well, at least this clarifies the situation at the moment. However, what we have not yet established is whether or not the Home Office has dropped the idea of the site they wanted in Garforth and as long as that clarification is not available we must be vigilant. Cllr Andrew Carter (Conservative)
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