February | 2023 | Caring Together in Woodhouse and Little London

Leeds City Council are planning major changes to the A660 as it comes through Headingley and Woodhouse.

If you want to look at these plans and give your thoughts there is a public consultation until Saturday 5th March

You can see the plans and have your say online by  visiting this link or there are a number of drop in events around the area (note first one is today)

Thursday 16 February 2023, 3-7pm, St Chad’s Parish Centre, Otley Road, LS16 5JT.
Tuesday 21 February 2023, 3-7pm, HEART Centre, Bennett Road, LS6 3HN.
Saturday 25 February 2023, 1.30-4.30pm, St Augustine’s Wrangthorn Church, Hyde Park Terrace, LS6 1BJ.
Tuesday 28 February 2023, 10am-3:30pm, Room 6, Leeds University Union, Lifton Place, LS2 9JZ.

The aim of the plans are to address a high number of casualties along this route whilst providing safer, alternative travel options for Headingley and Hyde Park’s residents.

From LCC News : “Connecting Leeds, Leeds City Council’s Highways and Transport team, is asking for people’s thoughts on proposed improvements to the A660. The £10.4million plans, funded by Active Travel England, focus on the A-road from Shaw Lane junction (home to restaurants Salvo’s and Heaney & Mill) up to St Mark’s Road in Woodhouse (near to the University of Leeds’ Parkinson Building).

The A660 is a main road into and out of the city centre for motorised vehicles and people who walk, wheel or cycle, as well as a popular route for students living in the area accessing university and college campuses. It is one of the busiest cycle routes in Leeds with over 1,000 cyclists using it daily, however, it suffers from a high casualty rate with 172 casualties happening along this road during 2016-2021.

The proposed highways treatments to A660 Otley Road, Headingley Lane and Woodhouse Lane follow on from works that are currently being delivered to A660 Otley Road from Lawnswood roundabout to Shaw Lane junction. This was previously consulted on in March 2022 and is also funded by Active Travel England.

The current consultation focuses on:

A reduction of speed from 30mph to 20mph along the A660 Otley Road between Shaw Lane and St Michael’s Road.
Safety improvements where the A660 meets North Lane, Victoria Road, Hyde Park Road (Hyde Park Corner), Clarendon Road and St Mark’s Road junctions.
Continuous crossings along the A660 with other junctions, to give pedestrians and cyclists priority.
A diagonal crossing facility at North Lane junction, Leeds’ second diagonal crossing.
2-metre wide segregated cycle lanes both inbound and outbound along most of the route.
Widened footways along the route
Improved bus stops and shelters, including relocating some stops
Merging infrequently used bus shelters.
Closure of St Michael’s Road and Regent Park Avenue to motorised vehicles to prevent rat-running.
Improved landscaping and spaces along the route, including a more pleasant environment around the War Memorial on St Michael’s Road.”

This may mean some of you will become eligible and in other cases some of you may not as you had done previously.

How is the scheme different from previous years?

One of the main changes is that households who meet the eligibility criteria are now guaranteed a payment. Previously, the scheme operated on a first come, first served basis, with only a limited number of discounts.

In addition, those who qualify no longer need to make an application. The discounts are made automatically.

However, the use of a high energy score for properties means that some of you may be less likely to qualify than in the past. In addition, fuel companies will no longer have the discretion to extend the discount to other groups who don’t get one of the means-tested benefits. In the past, some energy suppliers would allow families in receipt of Disability Living Allowance to apply, even if they were not on means-tested benefits. [Information sourced from: https://contact.org.uk/…/new-warm-home-discount-scheme…/]

If your property has a high energy cost score. You will only qualify if the government considers your property to have high energy costs.

In looking at this issue, the government will look at three main factors: the property type: its age; and its floor area. This will be made based on information about your property held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Where there are changes you are being asked to contact the helpline but we are being informed that when trying to make contact it can take ages to get through. We have even tried ourselves and it does take some time so please do persevere as you will get through at some point. They have said the best times to call are about 4pm.

I have noted below further information that might help. And as always if you need to get in touch with us then please do.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/warm-home-discount/