Be Safe this Summer at the Reservoir

It has been very warm the last few days and understandably people have wanted to cool off.

Please DO NOT swim in Ardsley Reservoir, it may look calm and still from the surface but the water is cold and there are under currents.  Every year young people and adults drown swimming in lakes, reservoirs and rivers during the summer months.

There are strong under currents at the Reservoir

There is plenty of evidence that shows that young people are swimming in the reservoir this week, we have lost count of the number of pants and socks we have found, we have even found some very nice towels! I am sure that some parents must be wondering were all their kids undies are going.

Please watch this video, it is upsetting but it could save a live.   Reservoir safety film – one last breath

The reservoir is also used for drinking water.

Please be safe this summer, have a water fight or eat a lolly instead!

 

Burnt Books

Sadly the little library on Haigh Moor Road has been cleared twice in the last fortnight and the books and leaflets have been taken and used as bonfire fuel.

This is very upsetting for the people who have worked so hard to set it up for the use of the commnuity.

Last night Friday 22nd June 2018 one of the young lads involved in the latest “book clearance” mistakenly left some person items behind, so if you know of  a young person who is missing a rucksack, his house keys and his mobile phone please do contact the police who now have them.

The little library will continue on as before and always welcomes visitors to take a book and leave a book.

20 MPH plans

You may have noticed reccently that many Leeds City Council signs have appeared on lamposts in our community.

notice

This is to inform residents of the proposed 20 mph roll out on our streets.  Everyone now has an opportunity to register comments, these can be postive, negative or suggestions on the plan, please note that the date listed on the posters is incorrect, the correct deadline is 15th July 2018

If you would like to comment the address is Mr RA Hartley, development team, Legal Team, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR

20mph plan

 

Community meeting 19th June 7pm

The next community meeting organised by West Ardsley Action Group, is Tuesday 19th June 7pm at the community centre which you can find in Hilltop School carpark.

The agenda will include road and traffic issues, rubbish, recent reported crime and the ongoing planning objections at HaighWood site. if you have anything you would like to raise please let us know, you can use the contact form from this site or you can contact WAAG via their face book page.

Everyone is welcome-  please bring a bottle of water with you as it may get quite warm in the hall!

The New Defib is coming!

The Hare and Hound Public house are very pleased to announce that the village defibrillator will soon be installed, and everyone is invited to the grand opening.  Invites are also being sent out to Andrea Jenkins our MP and our local ward councillors.

The community have raised over £2,000 in order to secure the defibrillator and it is a much needed resource for West Ardsley.

The ribbon cutting will take place on Thursday 5th July 7pm at the Hare and Hounds, Batley Road, so please do come and see what the community have achieved together and why there maybe a red phone box involved!

 

Leeds Little Free Library

Have you heard of the Leeds Little Free Library?

The Leeds Little Free Librarys were started by Carrie Frank and they are funded by the Leeds Art council along with a donation which was raised by the community.  Each Library box has its own unique art work.

It is a wonderful resource in the community for book lovers

Did you know we have our own little free Library in West Ardsley? that right we do! its on Haighmoor Road near the brow of the hill, and everyone is welcome to take a book and leave a book- for free!

The book selection is rotated on a regular basis with childrens books on the bottom shelf and books for the grown ups on the higher shelf.

Happy Reading!

The bins have arrived at the Reservoir!

New bins have arrived at the reservoir and have been placed in strategic positions both for our use and ease of emptying by LCC refuse service.

New rubbish Bin at the kissing gate

There is now an additional bin at the end of the car park, and a further one at the kissing gate entrance to the reservoir.

Turn right towards the “windy side” and you will find 2 new bins opposite Reservoir House and the last new addition is in the corner next to the over spill.

A huge thank you to Yorkshire water and Leeds City Council who have worked together to arrange this.

We do hope that this will be a positive improvement and the bins get used on a daily basis.

It is very disheartening that after recent litter picks and placement of bins that rubbish is still being left on the floor; but now we have 7 bins rather than just 2 we really hope it will make a difference and help keep our local environment in tip top condition.

 

Mini Litter pick

Mini Litter pick at the Reservoir

Some of the rubbish collected

On Sunday 27th May a few locals gathered in the sunshine at the reservoir to tidy up some of the mess left by others.

5 of us (plus one small person) collected approximately 15 bags of rubbish. This rubbish consisted of a lot of cans, disposable barbeques and far too many full dog poo bags.

It’s so nice to see so many people using the local facilities and walking around our lovely reservoir and it’s a shame that not everyone respects it.

LCC worker marking the pavement

As well as our newly elected councillor Ben Garner,  joining us we also had the support of 2 lovely chaps from the council who helped fill bags and they also sprayed some dog poo signs on the paths. There are now quite a few orange signs around the village, lets hope it deters people from leaving dog muck everywhere.

Cllr Ben Garner litter picking at the Reservoir.

A huge thank you to those who came and it’s nice to meet more people who live near by, the community spirit keeps on growing.

Please watch the events calendar for more tidy up events coming in the next few months. Everyone is very welcome.

Keeping West Ardsley Neat and Tidy

We have kindly been given some litter picking equipment for use in our community, by Leeds City Council, a huge thank you to Robert Finnegan for arranging this.

We have Leeds City Council bin bags, litter grabbers and some very fetching hi-vi vests!

We think it’s important that we take a pride in our community, after all, anti-social behaviour such as littering leads to more anti-social behaviour.

in the very near future we will be arranging community litter picks in various locations around our neighbourhood, including the reservoir which unfortunately has been left in an unpleasant state after the bank holiday weekend.

If you know of any areas that needs particular attention please do let us know, this week we will tackling the track at the bottom of Haighmoor Road which is part of the Leeds Country Way. unfortunately, some dog owners think it is acceptable to bag the poop and then hang those said bags from trees and fences.

Please do let your children and young people know the importance of taking litter home with them or using the nearest bin, as they will grow into adults who respect where they live.