We opened our doors at our new premises for an informal coffee afternoon last week. It was wonderful to see the place being used by members of the community with some stopping for a cuppa, some cake and a natter. We look forward to hosting some more in the future.
Rainbow Junktion Cafe is back for pay as you feel sit down meals. They will only be serving outside for the moment.
Mondays and Thursdays 12-2.30pm for the cafe – advice and signposting also available – 11.30am – 3pm
Fridays will be Food Share – groceries etc available for ‘pay as you can’ shopping 11.30am -4.30pm
Leeds City Council is encouraging residents and businesses to have their say on its draft Local Plan Update, which will set out the authority’s approach to planning policy and new development across the district over the next decade and beyond.
The draft Local Plan Update is titled ‘Your Neighbourhood, Your City, Your Planet’. Although it is not intended to deal with all planning issues, it will focus on ways to shape planning policy to reduce our city’s impact on the environment and help achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The draft plan is based around five topic areas:
Consultation on the draft Local Plan update will take place from 19 July to 13 September.
The dedicated website www.leeds.gov.uk/lpu is home to all the information contained within the draft Local Plan. This includes separate sections for the different topic areas, which are available in detailed and short formats.
This means people can read the whole draft plan or just the areas that are of interest, and can contribute their views using our online surveys whether they have read the documents in detail or having read a shorter, more summarised version.
After being cancelled for many months during lockdown, the Parkrun will be back on Woodhouse Moor from Saturday July 24th. Starting at 9am
For all the details, including how to register with Parkrun beforehand please see the website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/woodhousemoor/
Dear all,
Freedom Day? Well it’s not what I expected when we awaited its dawning some sixteen months ago. When we thought – and hoped – it would happen when a vaccine was found, I made my choice of tune to be played upon the day. Not ‘Freedom’ sung by Aretha Franklin nor ‘Freedom Comes, Freedom Goes’ by The Fortunes ( though this may be more appropriate) but ‘A Brand New Day’ from the Musical ‘The Wiz’. Playing it on Sunday a couple of times instead of Monday, being rather wary of what exactly dawn would bring, it would have been so perfect, if only it meant complete freedom.
Trains and buses in anticipation of many more passengers – the latter certainly increasing numbers onboard to full capacity – must have been quite disappointed. I travelled to town during the ‘morning rush’ to find the same numbers as before and thankfully all wearing masks. Walking around Morrison’s the only customers not wearing face coverings were, shall we say, probably amongst those who discarded theirs long ago. So far so good. A cuppa and catch up with a friend in M & S Cafe was enjoyed, observing how tables had been maximised but not the number of takers.
However, I got the gist that the majority of people are continuing with their daily routine as they have chosen so to do until now, never mind what our Prime Minister said was available to us in relaxing the rules. Certainly queuing to enter a nightclub at the midnight hour held no interest to me but there again I would have had to have been approximately 50 years younger to appreciate that.
My trolley will be at my side on the bus or train so I do not have to share a seat with a stranger, consequently I am nervous at the thought of sitting close to anyone unknown to me in a theatre – for the time being. One thing I did notice in town was the signage still indicating ‘keep left’ or ‘no entry’ plus the floor stickers at one or two metre intervals reading ‘stand here’ although it could be they are stuck fast by now and will stay for the remainder of time.
I’ve never been ‘pinged’ but without the App there’s no chance of that anyway, which is probably a good thing. I still don’t fully understand the workings of leaving one’s name and telephone number as surely the only way one can receive a call to “Isolate” is in the event of someone calling particular establishments to report a case, and how many actually do? We will probably never know with any accuracy.
The Country is in a mess now with short staffing through being pinged, even being referred to as the ‘Pingdemic’ but so far no-one has come up with a name for the rest of us who leave our details on a piece of paper with the assurance that after 21 days, all evidence will be destroyed. Rather like the disappointment of “if you haven’t heard from us within 21 days, your application has been unsuccessful”, except in this case no news is good news . So I will continue with my regular lateral flow tests, wear a mask, observe safety measures and carry on as though ‘Freedom Day’ hasn’t happened. What a joyous day it will be though when eventually I can play my favourite ‘Wiz’ tune “A Brand New Day” when all this is behind us. I may even join in with the Hoedown section.
Thursday 22nd July
12.30pm – 1.00pm
“With exotic far-flung locations and fabulous beachwear, our vintage adverts are a must-watch. Join us to explore our archive film collection.
This is a pre-recorded talk featuring original archive images introduced by our Archivist, who will be available to respond to questions during and following the talk.
Running time – 30 minutes.
Booking Details
Please book via our Eventbrite page. We’ll send out a link to the event on the day.”
The specialist gardens are opposite the Roundhay Fox pub on Mansion Lane, LS8 2EP. There are also specialist gardens in the Canal and Coronation Gardens off Princes Avenue by Tropical World. We had a look at these too after our cuppa.
The opening hours are: 9am to 3:30pm daily.
The final stage of lockdown easing happens todays so that most legal restrictions are no longer in place but health experts and the government are urging caution as we start to return to normality and reminding that covid is still very much around.
The main changes are means there are now no laws requiring you to wear a mask or social distance and limits on how many people can meet have been lifted.
However the guidance is:
To continue to wear masks in crowded and in indoor public spaces, on public transport etc. Businesses may still require you wear a mask when you enter.
To meet people outside where possible
Limit the contact you have with people you do not usually live with, including keeping the number of people and the time you spend with them low, and not getting too close to them.
What’s changing in England on 19 July?
Social distancing
No limits on how many people can meet
1m-plus guidance removed (except in some places like hospitals and passport control when entering)
Face coverings no longer required by law, although the government still “expects and recommends” them in crowded and enclosed spaces
Some shops and transport operators will still require masks
Events and gatherings
Nightclubs can reopen
Pubs and restaurants no longer table-service only
No limits on guests at weddings and funerals
No limits on people attending concerts, theatres or sports events
No restrictions on communal worship
Travel
Guidance recommending against travel to amber list countries removed. (Those returning from France to England, Wales and Scotland must still quarantine for 10 days)
Under-18s and fully vaccinated adults no longer have to self-isolate after visiting amber list countries
Other changes
Limits on visitors to care homes will be removed.
From 16 August, most Covid restrictions in schools – including “bubbles” – will end.
From the same date, fully vaccinated adults will not need to self-isolate after contact with a positive case.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
