Call for a review of transport in towns
CONSULTATION: The Government will today be urged to launch a national consultation and introduce extra funding to address a looming public transport crisis in towns.
In a Westminster Hall debate, South Yorkshire MP Caroline Flint will confront Ministers over poor services throughout Britain.
GROWING FRUSTRATION felt by residents living with the blight of anti-social behaviour came to a head yesterday as their ward councillors called on the city’s authorities to act.
Over the past six months, residents in Bardsey have seen incidents of vandalism, criminal damage and arson steadily growing worse. As councillors for Harewood ward visited the village in the wake of a gas main fire on Saturday, the message from those they represent was clear.
They detailed a catalogue of incidents, including youths throwing bottles filled with tomato ketchup at houses, trying to kick down front doors, and setting fences alight.
In a joint statement, councillors Ryan Stephenson, Matthew Robinson and Sam Firth yesterday said: “It is clear that a multi-agency approach is urgently needed to deal with the systematic anti-social behaviour that has plagued the village of late. Leeds City Council should be at the heart of this clampdown so we are now in discussions with the council’s leadership in order to progress this further.”
Coun Stephenson earlier said that residents understood the challenges facing police but things had reached a point where community cohesion could be damaged, adding: “Everybody in the area knows who’s causing it.”
Moving to reassure worried residents, Sergeant Iain McKelvey, of North East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team, said those concerns were being taken seriously by the force.
“There is significant work ongoing to combat anti-social behaviour and crime including regular patrols to prevent and disrupt it,” he said. “We also have a problem solving operation in place for the area, to help co-ordinate work by ourselves and partners to address the issues.”
A spokesman for Leeds City Council added: “We will be contacting local representatives to discuss what proactive steps can be taken through a multi-agency approach to tackle the specific concerns that have been raised in Bardsey.”