Aireborough Voice

16/04/2026

Next ACS Community Meeting on Tues. 28th April

16/04/2026

Next Friday at 6pm FREE Civic Society walk:

27/03/2026

Next Civic Society talk on Tuesday - ALL WELCOME

02/02/2026

NEW LIDL STORE _ YEADON

Proposed Highway Works: TO CREATE AN ACCESS TO THE PROPOSED LIDL AND HAWORTH LANE ZEBRA AND HAWORTH LANE / QUEENSWAY MINI ROUNDABOUT

APPROVED UNDER PLANNING APPLICATION 25/02836/FU and APPEAL APP/N4720/W/25/3374143

I wish to bring to your attention the proposed highway works that are required by the planning consent for the new LIDL

The attached plans show the location and proposed works, which comprise:

The proposed access
zebra crossing on Haworth Lane,
the mini-roundabout at Haworth Lane / Queensway
the school bus stop on Haworth Lane (number 450 16890) will be removed. WYCA have confirmed is not used by regular or school services.

02/02/2026

27/11/2025

Consultation meeting on 1st and 4th December 2025 for a merger between Yeadon Westfield Infant and Junior Schools.

25/11/2025

Cllr Alan Lamb has revealed the potential for 90% of Leeds' Green Belt to be reclassified as Grey Belt which makes it vulnerable to housing development. He has called upon LCC to lobby the Government about this potential destruction their new Planning Policies are bringing about - was this really the intention ?

Following the discussion at the Full Council meeting earlier this month Alan has written an article in the Yorkshire Post to explain things further. Not everyone will be able to access this online, so Cllr Lamb has copied the article on his page here https://www.facebook.com/CllrAlanLamb/posts/pfbid02QMSRKsWheziRkdmQrJxuHukerY49Vp5DSUGzPqin62M4an5yrjjY8pmaeKQiYQsil

'For decades, green belt policy has provided the strongest protection in the planning process'

19/11/2025

"THOUSANDS OF ACRES AROUND LEEDS THREATENED BY 'ALARMING' POTENTIAL OF RECLASSIFYING THEM GREY BELT."

When ANDF members saw the new National Policy Planning Framework's (NPPF) policies on classifying Green Belt sites as Grey Belt, we saw immediately there would be issues over the need for the Green Belt to 'strongly' fulfill one of three of its five purposes. The key is how 'strongly' is interpreted. This was confirmed in subsequent legal cases around the country, including Leeds, were Green Belt sites were given planning permission because they did not meet the 'strongly' criterion.

This issue is now haunting the Leeds Local Plan Green Belt Review, which LCC is currently undertaking to meet its declared housing target up to 2042.

It was announced at Full Council last week by Cllr Alan Lamb, that Development Plan Panel had received a briefing by Planning Officers that indicated up to 90% of the Leeds Green Belt would likely fall into the Grey Belt category - thus becoming available for planning applications and allocation for housing sites - subject to the usual sustainability considerations.

In other words, the Leeds Green Belt would lose its statutory protection of only being used in 'exceptional circumstances. That was the protection we won our High Court Case on in 2020 when Leeds made an error of law in calculating the land supply against housing target and all allocated Green Belt sites had to return to the Green Belt.

The consequences of Leeds potentially losing its Green Belt are serious for the future of the City. Because of this, Cllr Lamb suggested to Full Council that LCC worked cross-party to lobby the Government to change the NPPF. At the moment, we are sorry to say, that the Council have turned that offer down, instead accusing Cllr Lamb of “speculation and conjecture presented as conspiracy.”

But, Leeds Planning Officers are correct, there is a huge potential under the new Government planning rules that Leeds may have to reclassify its Green Belt as Grey Belt. Here is and example of what Planning Consultant are telling their clients

Implications for Developers and Stakeholders
For landowners and developers, Grey Belt classification offers a route to securing planning consent in locations that would previously have been very difficult, provided that proposals:
• Are site-appropriate, reflecting local character and infrastructure capacity.
• Demonstrate a net gain in sustainability credentials, such as biodiversity enhancements or low-carbon design.
• Incorporate community engagement early in the design process to mitigate potential objections.

The issue has now gone national and been picked up by MP's. We suggest that residents of Leeds lobby their Cllrs and MPs to work together to lobby Government.

For background information, you will find the Full Council session in the comment below. The item on the Green Belt starts at 1:55 and the response from Cllr Pryor Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council & Cabinet Member for Economy, Transport & Sustainable Development is at 3:03.

You will also find a message from Cllr Pryor on the page of the Rawdon & Guiseley Ward Councillors listed below Whilst other information can be found on the page of Cllr Alan Lamb listed below.

Thousands of acres around Leeds threatened by ‘alarming’ plans to reclassify them as grey belt land

17/11/2025

ACS Talk: TUESDAY 25th November, 7.30pm at Rawdon Community Library-
The film 'A History of Aireborough' will be shown at Aireborough Civic Society’s November meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25th November at Rawdon Community Library. It dates from 2002 and was produced by local historian Mark Saville, who sadly passed away quite recently.
The film begins over 3,000 years ago with a local Bronze Age site. It then visits our local Roman road, followed by the events of 1066. We then find out about the major families, the lives of locals in Medieval times & the importance of Kirkstall Abbey & Esholt Priory to the people in this area.
Sheep and textiles then changed everything culminating in the Industrial Revolution, many factories - and the population grew rapidly.
Finally, we reach modern times (2002). Since then, there have been many changes and the amount may surprise you.
As far as I am aware this film is the only one ever made about Aireborough.
After the interval (no ice-creams I'm afraid, just tea/coffee & biscuits) we hope to premier a short film about Thwaites Watermill in South Leeds. Sadly, this important industrial museum was closed by Leeds City Council last spring to save some money. A member of our Rawdon Local History Group visited the mill on its last day, and made a film about the mill and its history.
Thwaites Watermill
I attach the ACS publicity poster. We have put copies in local libraries.
It would be much appreciated if you are able to put details on social media sites and please pass these details on to anyone who might be interested.