Headway aims to let local residents know which way we're heading in & around Headingley. Local community associations have got together to share & circulate information – Cardigan Triangle, Far Headingley, Headingley Network, Kirkstall Village, Moor Parks, North Hyde Park, South Headingley & Turnways.
We'd be pleased if other associations joined us. Everyone is invited to send us any news that matters to Headingley. Headway is an initiative of Leeds HMO Lobby, the collective campaigning for local housing balance.

Here's how it works: Latest news is published on an ongoing basis on the Headingley Community website. The printed version of Headway comes out every quarter. Anyone is welcome to send us items for either or both of these. Anyone is welcome to be on the mailing list.

A New Vision
Headingley and its companion communities are at last heading the right way! For years, our homes have been besieged by landlords riding on the demand for seasonal second homes for students. But as we have reported in recent Headways, the tide is turning, and hundreds of student houses and thousands of bedspaces are unlet. Family buyers are returning (see inside]. What we need now is not only on-going resistance, but also positive promotion of our neighbourhood, to encourage its revival. Again, the community has taken a lead. Previous plans for Inner NW Leeds have been roundly criticised for their lack of vision – but the area Committee has taken this criticism to heart, and the latest Area Delivery Plan includes a commitment to develop a Vision for the Area. Indeed, a Draft is already in circulation for comment. Leeds HMO Lobby's contribution is the proposal of Leeds Left Bank as a positive image. l We live on the left bank of the River Aire, rising scenically from the valley to the Otley Road ridge. l Like the Left Bank in Paris, we host the city's universities, which should be an asset to our Area. l And one of our great strengths is the number of our creative and community grassroots groups (like HDT), 'left' in a broad sense. For more on the Vision, contact Area Management (see p2]. The Vision is not just a matter of words - the new Area Delivery Plan also includes broad planning and housing strategies to bring it about.
Leeds HMO Lobby

The Planning Perspective
The new Local Development Framework for Leeds allows for 'Area Action Plans' where there are particular local problems. The city already has some, and Leeds HMO Lobby has called for one for Inner NW Leeds. So the Area Delivery Plan has agreed to 'undertake work on the creation of an Area Action Plan'. Such a Plan can bring together the policies we have now into an overall strategy, including l Neighbourhood Design Statements and Conservation Area Appraisals to protect the environment we already have, l a review of the Area of Housing Mix, to control new development, l guidance on major developments like Leeds Girls High School or Tetley Hall, l district centre developments in Headingley and Kirkstall (like Headingley Renaissance), l the Letting Boards Code, and so on.
Leeds HMO Lobby

The Housing Outlook
Leeds has an Affordable Housing Strategy for the city – but it takes no account of the particular problems in Inner NW Leeds. Again prompted by Leeds HMO Lobby, the Area Delivery Plan is committed to 'the development of a Housing Strategy for the Area.' Its aim will be, not only to provide affordable housing, but also to restore the balance of housing in the Area to something like normal. A key proposal will be a Community Land Trust to enable the local community to intervene in housing matters. Policies can include l ensuring publicly-owned properties are available for families, l putting empty properties back into use, l licensing all HMOs (not just the larger ones), l supporting sales to family buyers, l helping family buyers to convert HMOs, l getting affordable housing in new developments, l banning any more multiple occupation, l making publicly-owned land available, and so on.
Leeds HMO Lobby

Carry On Campaigning!
* The twentieth issue of Headway completes our fifth year of publication. And our publisher Leeds HMO Lobby has also celebrated its seventh birthday – it first met on 29 February 2000.
* And we are not alone! Leeds HMO Lobby has played a leading role in developing a National HMO Lobby, which now numbers some fifty groups in thirty towns. And this year, our campaigning has been joined by two new networks. The Councillors Campaign for Balanced Communities held its first meeting in Nottingham in February, and several of our local councillors attended. And at Westminster, a new All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable & Balanced Communities Group was set up in March, and its Vice Chair is Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds NW. We hope that these three networks working together may be able to persuade the government to give councils the powers they need to control HMOs.
* Letting Boards Letting Boards in & around Headingley have been covered by a new Code since January 2006, which limits their size, style, location and numbers. The Code is compulsory in Central and South Headingley, and enforced by the Council (report illegal Boards to Andrew Crates, Community Planning Officer, see p4). It is voluntary in the rest of Headingley and surrounding neighbourhoods, and enforced by landlords: report illegal Boards to Adele Lakin, NIC offices, tel 0113-231 0210, email alakin@nicgroup.co.uk The Code has had an enormous impact, making those who ignore it all the more obvious – and a number of agencies have been fined for doing so, a total of some £12,000 so far. Top of the league for fines were Morris Properties, Leeds Student Homes, The Sign of the Rose, Richmond Properties and Providence Properties.

New Mailing List for Headingley Residents
The Headingley Community web site has launched a new emailing list for Headingley residents. It is for all the everyday things of living in Headingley, for example, advertising upcoming events, finding a plumber, organising social events, finding & offering help, swapping stuff, running a club, just general chat and neighbourliness. One message, sent to the emailing list will be automatically forwarded on to all the members of the list. As a member, you get an email from whoever has posted a message. All Headingley residents are welcome to join, you just need access to an email address. Log in to the web site www.healheadingley.org.uk (create an account if you are not already a member of the site) and go to the Mailing Lists page. Here you can ask to be subscribed to the mailing list. You can leave whenever it suits you. We hope the mailing list helps you to feel part of, and contribute to, the community more easily.

The Heal Headingley Team
Leeds Girls High School The School currently occupies four sites on Headingley Lane and Victoria Road, but these are to be sold when it joins the Boys School in Alwoodley. In partnership with the Council, the School is currently preparing a Draft Planning & Development Brief, which will be published soon, and all residents & groups will be invited to comment. Then outline planning applications for redevelopment of the sites will be prepared, and again, comment will be invited. The aim of this process is to engage with the local community at an early stage and establish the key principles of development. The School remains committed to ensuring that the land & buildings are reused and redeveloped in a responsible and sustainable way. Once permission is granted, the School will begin marketing the sites for sale. (The Elinor Lupton Centre is a listed building, and will be considered separately.) Contact Steve McBurney, tel: (0113) 2808047.
GVA Grimley, for LGHS

Over-Run by Students – Again! Last year, without any consultation, Leeds Met imposed their 'Great Student Run' on the local community. They agreed not to do anything further without consultation. But here we are again! Another 'Great Student Run' – and again, no prior consultation at all. No-one objects to a healthy event which brings people together. But again, this is a Run for Students. And again, it reinforces the branding nationally of Headingley as 'studentland'. Why can't Leeds Met stage a 'Great Headingley Run' for all? Meanwhile, even though it has signed up to an agreement not to increase students in the Area of Housing Mix, Leeds Met has put in plans for nearly 500 student beds at Beckett's Park.
Area Committee The four wards of Inner NW Leeds are Headingley, Hyde Park & Woodhouse, Kirkstall and Weetwood. The twelve councillors make up the Area Committee, meeting six times a year. Meetings are open to the public, and the next is on 28 June. Ward Forums report to the Committee - if you would like details, contact the North West Area Management Team on 0113-395 2826.

Headingley Development Trust
Headingley Development Trust is playing a leading role in the revival of Headingley and its companion communities. The AGM on 27 February packed out the Yorkshire College of Music & Dance on Shire Oak Road. The Trust is working hard to make it both possible and desirable to live in & around Headingley.
Putting back the heart in Headingley!
May and June will see a number of events organised by Headingley Development Trust to raise money and awareness of our aim to take over Headingley Primary School as an Enterprise and Arts centre – the 'Heart' project. We have till the end of June to make our case watertight, and part of that involves demonstrating the community's support. We already have 532 members, and must therefore be one of the largest organisations in the area, but we are aiming to get our message out to more people, both in and around Headingley, by organising the following events: l May 3rd Headingley Quiz in Arcadia; l May 25th Dance at Meanwood Working Men's Club; l June 13th A Recital for Headingley at the Elinor Lupton Centre (see back page for details].
We look forward to seeing many of you at some or all of these events, where you will also be able to find out more about the trust's work, and purchase shares in the Heart project. Keep an eye on the website for further news and events.

Homes in Headingley
Housing in Headingley is dominated by rented second homes, because for many years, family homes have been bought up by landlords. It's encouraging news therefore that one local estate agent at least reports that the trend is reversing. In the first quarter of 2007, the Headingley Branch of Manning Stainton has sold more houses to families than to landlords. Some families have even bought from landlords. The HeadingleyHomes option is designed to support this trend - it finds family buyers for vendors who don't want to sell to the rented sector. It's an initiative by the Trust, supported by Manning Stainton. (Their office is on Otley Road, tel 274 8646.) Meanwhile, the Trust is exploring the possibility of setting up a Community Land Trust, to intervene directly in the housing market, in particular, working with developers to provide affordable homes under Section 106 Agreements. In the longer term, the trust is working with the Area Committee on its Housing Strategy (see front page], jointly organising seminars with stakeholders.

Neighbourhood Design Statement
The Trust has been commissioned by the Area Committee to prepare a Neighbourhood Design Statement (NDS) for Headingley. A NDS is an analysis of the character of the local environment, carried out by local communities, which helps the Council to make decisions about future developments. The new NDS will be a companion to the Far Headingley NDS, and it will continue from Shaw Lane down to Woodhouse Moor. It will be carried out with local community associations, and with the support of a professional consultant. Look out for publicity soon. If you would like to be involved, contact your local association – Cardigan Triangle, Headingley Network, SHCA or Turnways (contact details on back page]. The Area Committee plans to fund NDSs throughout Inner NW Leeds, so there will be more to come, in other neighbourhoods.
Natural Food Store
A lively vibrant community needs a range of shops to meet its needs. Over the past 20 years the range of shops in Headingley Centre has declined massively - and this was one of the reasons for setting up the Deli Market. But the owners of the Natural Food Store on North Lane are thinking of retiring. Will yet another Headingley shop become a take-away or letting agency? For the first time the answer is in our hands. HDT has launched an initiative for the community to buy out the shop, by setting up an Industrial & Provident Society to run the business. Each share will be £100. If you would like to see the business continue and develop, then we hope that you will consider investing in this new venture, to secure the future of the shop and to share in its future success. Do consider making an expression of interest to enable us to assess whether there is sufficient community and customer investment for us to proceed. For more information and an expression of interest form, please look on our website, or call in at the shop or contact Rachel Harkess (0113 275 6652). We will be delighted to answer any queries you might have.
For more information on Headingley Development Trust, visit the website at www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk, or write to HDT at 20 Woodland Park Road, Leeds LS6 2AZ.

Neighbourhood News
Beckett's Park Residents Group First Annual General Meeting, 7.30pm, 11 April. The Beckett's Park Residents Group is a new group looking to bring together people living in the general area of Beckett's Park incorporating the area inside St Anne's Road, Batcliffe Mount and Drive and St Chad's Drive. If you live here and have an interest in local issues such as traffic, landlordism, the local park, developments at Leeds Met or concerns about Headingley in general, why not join us? We aim to have meetings that involve people as fully as possible. Contact beckettsparkresidents@hotmail.co.uk or call or text 07 772 817 531.
Deli Market is at 9.00-12.30 on the second Saturday of each month, 14 April, 12 May, 9 June, in the Rose Garden, North Lane (opposite the Community Centre).
Headingley Network AGM Janet Douglas 'Before the Suburb: Headingley as a Village' and Nigel White 'Headingley Community Website', 2-4pm, Sunday, 15 April, Headingley Library
Little Woodhouse Community Forum on Housing, Policing and Planning in Little Woodhouse, 7pm, Tuesday 17 April, Civic Hall, Chair Cllr P Ewens
Café Scientifique Prof Martin Conway (Leeds Uni) 'Memory for Life: how it works & how we lose it' 7.45-9.30pm, Monday, 30 April, New Headingley Club, St Michael's Road, entry £2. Hosted by HDT. For mailing list, contact chris@headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk
Headingley Quiz in Arcadia, 8.30-9.30pm, 3 May, prize donated by Arcadia. Brush up your local knowledge!

South Headingley Community Association
Annual General Meeting
7.30pm, Tuesday, 22 May, Cardigan Centre
Dance to the Mike Booth Big Band with 'glam' support band, 8-11pm, Friday 25 May, at Meanwood Working Men's Club, Stonegate Road. Tickets £8, from Oxfam bookshop.
Recital for Headingley, starring David Greed (violin), leader of the Opera North orchestra, and Martin Pickard (piano), repétiteur for Opera North and Glyndebourne, 7.30 pm, Wednesday, 13 June, at the Elinor Lupton Centre, Headingley Lane. Tickets £10 (£8 concessions), from Oxfam bookshop or HDT, 2 Grove Lane, LS6 2AP.
Open Gardens Sunday, 17 June. Tickets from Oxfam bookshop. A Celebrate Headingley event.
Headingley Network Quarterly Meeting on campaigns, website, Celebrate Headingley, 7.30pm, Tuesday, 19 June, venue tba
Area Committee 7pm, Thursday, 28 June, venue tba.
Kirkstall Festival Make a note in your diary, Saturday, 14 July. This year, we are one of the events involved with the Celebrate Leeds 2007, and amongst the many new and regular attractions, this year we will have knights on horseback jousting! If you know of a group, adults or children or both, who would like to take part in the parade which precedes the festival, contact me on Leeds 2785987.
John Liversedge, Kirkstall Festival.

Planning Problems? Ask Andrew! For advice, contact Andrew Crates, Community Planning Officer, 247 8027 or andrew.crates@leeds.gov.uk
Contact Headway by email at hmolobby@hotmail.com. To join your local association, for Headingley Network (central Headingley) contact Lesley Jeffries (tel: 274 1011), for South Headingley contact Sue Buckle (tel: 278 2296), for North Hyde Park contact Chris Webb (tel: 275 1030), for Far Headingley contact Donald Hood (tel: 275 5575), for Kirkstall contact John Liversedge (tel: 278 5987), for Moor Parks contact Kate Henshall (tel: 274 1550), for Cardigan Triangle contact Peter Spafford (tel: 275 4199), for Highburys contact Ian Oldroyd (tel 294 5621).
Headway is published by Leeds HMO Lobby, c/o Cardigan Centre, 145 Cardigan Road, Leeds LS6 1LJ, website www.hmolobby.org.uk/leeds,
it is supported by the North West (Inner) Area Committee, covering Headingley, Hyde Park & Woodhouse, Kirkstall and Weetwood, and it is printed on recycled paper by Edwin Harmer, 67a Raglan Road, Leeds LS2 9DZ

* The next issue of Headway is due to be published in July 2007.