West Park petition reactivated

In view of the removal of the West Park Centre from the agenda of the last Council Executive Board meeting, the Petition Controllers have agreed to reactivate our petition.

Please click and sign:

http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=38

 

Here's some pics of Colin Jones and Diane Paterson, on 11th November 2008 cutting the ribbon to announce the arrival from Java of the new gamelan, several thousand pounds in the donation, two years in the ordering, making and shipping, and now residing, all boxed up in a room at Farnley Park, who didn't realise that the cupboard that would house a gamelan was actually the size of a small room.

It would be nice to open the boxes again.

 

 
 
 
 

 

The West Park Centre in The YEP again: Centred Valued Near and Far

Letter: Centre valued near and far

Published on the 24 June
2013
13:48

Published 24/06/2013 13:48

                                                    

Regarding West Park Centre. When Corporate Services/Asset Management [and the very name does not suggest public accountability] decides to ignore public need and public opinion, I ask myself who is running this city – a couple of back room boys and girls, or our elected representatives?

And this is the question I put at the Local Council Area Committee at the Cardigan Centre last December, as one councillor after another spoke in the West Park Centre’s defence.
Each councillor spoke in favour of retention, repair and re-opening.
Each one got it; they got that the charities that are our top orchestras and choruses and top Special Needs music organisations are rather more than nice little extras added to the riches of the Leeds cultural scene.
The West Park Centre is not a local community centre, although many of its much valued volunteers were/are local.
It is an inclusive arts centre; it is a city-wide, and at times Yorkshire-wide, and it is situated very conveniently close to Leeds ring road within the safe spitting distance of a parade of shops who open from early morning till late at night.
Recently one organisation [YAMSEN: SpeciallyMusic] has become rather more than Yorkshire wide.
In May a group of five masters degree students of Music education in Seoul National University in Korea emailed to request a meeting with us, and especially “ hoping to see multi sensory classroom, Rehearsal Room, studio and the Main Hall.” They wrote they are “trying to adapt UK’s education system of SEN and learning strategy of ArtForms & YAMSEN to Korean special music ed [ucation]”
So, if the Executive Board decides on Wednesday to accept the recommendations of a small group of unelected officials, whose job it is to manage assets, and who has failed dismally, over the space of seven months, to place satisfactorily several massive users of the centre, it won’t be just the people of Leeds that they let down.
Victoria Jaquiss FRSA

West Park Centre in the Paper again

Letter: Work of West Park must continue elsewhere

Published on the 24 June
2013
13:44

Published 24/06/2013 13:44

 

I am writing on behalf of the groups that used the West Park Centre, but particularly the special Educational needs group.

The only good reason for closing it would be to have a better building.
The car parking facilites were good and the expertise of the staff there very very good, which was reflected in the excellent way that things were taught, and the relaxed atmosphere it created for the users/customers.
It brought many people into contact with each other, and had good storage facilities.
I do hope that the work can continue in a good venue.
Liz Brightwell

If, after seven months of looking, the Council organisation dedicated to housing people and organisations can't find anywhere better, or even as good, then I suggest that the work of the West Park Centre should continue in the West Park Centre.

West Park Centre Housing the "Arty Elite"

Published on the 21 June
2013
12:50 Published 21/06/2013 12:50

 

Delay can only make a decision more painful
The question of West Park Centre in Leeds is undoubtedly a thorny one. The centre, a former school, has for some years had a new life as a base for arts and community groups. Now the recommendations are that it needs to be either renovated or demolished.
There are those who are vocal in its support, and there are those who say that is the problem.
Supporters of its demolition say it is a building used only by the arty elite and renovation would not be justified. Either way, a decision needs to be made, so its withdrawal from the agenda at a meeting of Leeds City Council executive board is only making the process more painful.

                                                *                *                        *

I like this Comment in YEP last week. This was the first time in all of this hoo-haa that anyone had publicly recognised the immense value that the West Park Centre was to the Arts in Leeds. In this humble, inauspicious flat roofed little 1950s ex-school, Leeds Symphony Orchestra, Leeds Festival Chorus and Leeds Youth Opera [and the rest] found their perfect permanent home. And here, others like Northern Ballet found a good temporary home, until something swankier [and, oh dear, a lot more expensive] came along.

Seven months later, no Council officers have come up with anything better. Leeds Symphony Orchestra leader, Martin B, checked out 39 possible venues very early on in these past seven months, and guess what?  Nothing compares.

What happens when Classic FM comes to Leeds again next year and says, "Could you do this?" and Fiona K, ic Leeds Festival Chorus, answers, "Well, we don't have the rehearsal space anymore? What happens then, then?

Does Leeds become a cultural desert, mocked by the other northern towns because it can't look after its principal orchestras and choirs in the manner to which they had become accustomed? And they wasn't asking for something posh in the city centre. The West Park Centre did, and it did very well.
 

West Park in the Paper Again

On Wednesday 19 June there were two letters in the Yorkshire Evening Post:

Letter: Groups are left to pay price of centre closure

Published on the 19 June
2013
12:00

Published 19/06/2013 12:00

 

‘The Forgotten Ones’, ‘The Homeless Ones’, ‘The Faceless Ones”’.

All of these can apply to YAMSEN and all its members since Leeds City Council at a stroke, without thought for the “users”, on Friday November 2 2012 announced the immediate closure of West Park Centre.
This was supposedly a ‘temporary’ measure because the ‘electrics were unsafe’.
Seven months later we at YAMSEN are still homeless even though the cost for repairs to the electrics is, I understand, well within the capability of the council’s budget irrespective of Government cuts.
The longer the centre remains empty the greater the risk of vandalism and the possibility of further costs.
What does this closure mean to us?
Remember that we provide a large and varied amount of experience in music and associated activity to many hundreds of children and adults with moderate and profound learning disabilities throughout Leeds and Yorkshire.
We have a large amount of specialised and valuable equipment and instruments scattered (for safe keeping) in a lock-up in Holbeck, various schools and private houses – all most inconvenient.
In spite of this, like the true professionals we are, our excellent work continues.
Neither have we allowed our annual programme of events to be affected (and these are many) nor our weekly classes, choir rehearsals and workshops.
We have achieved this through hiring rooms attached to different churches and a social club – at considerable expense.
Why?
Because we believe in our aims and we speak for all those many hundreds we serve who cannot speak for themselves.
All we ask is for West Park Centre to re-open both for YAMSEN and the many other community groups who, like us, have made it their home for very many years.
Name and address supplied

and

Letter: Seven months... and no repairs

Published on the 19 June
2013
12:20

Published 19/06/2013 12:20

SEVEN months of ‘temporary’ closure and as yet no repairs have been carried out on West Park Centre.

So much undervalued work, benefiting vulnerable children and adults with Special Needs is/was carried out there, in what had become, over the years, a valuable arts and music resource for people throughout Leeds and beyond, shared by many varied groups.
One of the main users, the Yorkshire Association for Music and Special Educational Needs exists – and is run mainly because of the regular and committed help of a large group of volunteers.
At the moment most of our activities are reduced due to lack of suitable alternative premises. In the case of YAMSEN, the lack of storage space for musical instruments, materials AND a Sensory Room has adversely affected the scope of activities we are able to offer.
We eagerly await news that at least a part of the centre will be renovated so that the building can be ‘reconnected’ to the people of Leeds.
A Gilliam, (YAMSEN committee member)

The West Park Centre Fell off the Agenda

Well, that was relief that they brought Agenda Item 18 forward; because that item was suddenly off the agenda; and that item was the Proposed Demolition of the West Park Centre, because of "new information".  We wondered what new information that could be. We had been bombarding the YEP with letters. Here's the first one:

Tuesday 18 June:
On Wednesday, Leeds City Council’s Executive Board will consider a recommendation that the West Park Centre is demolished.

In November 2012, this extremely popular and well-used building was unilaterally closed by the council’s Asset Management team – without warning, and without consultation.
There was no suggestion that it was surplus to requirements – even their scandalously one-sided ‘options appraisal’ (a disingenuous, misleading piece of work that does those who concocted it no credit whatsoever) acknowledges this.
Whilst there are no serious plans to replace West Park, it should be treated as a going concern.
Meanwhile, the closure continues to cause disruption and devastation to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
It has been suggested that the building’s many users could simply be rehoused elsewhere.
If this is the case – show me the building that would provide perfect rehearsal, performance, office and storage space for the schools’ music service (a service, incidentally, that is one of the jewels in Leeds’s crown, judged outstanding by the Federation of Music Services – how much of that could be attributed to the excellent facilities it has long enjoyed at West Park?).
A building that can accommodate, at a peppercorn rent, organisations like Irish Arts, Blah Blah Blah, Paperbirds, Leeds Youth Opera – all of which contribute immeasurably to the cultural life of the city; and charities like YAMSEN and Musical Arc that provide a unique service to vulnerable children and adults.
A building with two huge gymnasia available to a huge range of sports and fitness groups, as well as being the home of the schools’ PE and Sports team.
We have that building – it’s called West Park.
The council should take note of the overwhelming tide of opinion, and make the right decision – to reopen West Park as soon as possible.
M Warwick, LS16

After practising at West Park choir and band played Leeds Town Hall 2006

Council Should re-open West Park Centre, not Demolish it

Letter: Council should reopen West Park Centre, not demolish it

Published on the 18 June
2013
13:52

Published 18/06/2013 13:52

1 comments

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On Wednesday, Leeds City Council’s Executive Board will consider a recommendation that the West Park Centre is demolished.

In November 2012, this extremely popular and well-used building was unilaterally closed by the council’s Asset Management team – without warning, and without consultation.
There was no suggestion that it was surplus to requirements – even their scandalously one-sided ‘options appraisal’ (a disingenuous, misleading piece of work that does those who concocted it no credit whatsoever) acknowledges this.
Whilst there are no serious plans to replace West Park, it should be treated as a going concern.
Meanwhile, the closure continues to cause disruption and devastation to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
It has been suggested that the building’s many users could simply be rehoused elsewhere.
If this is the case – show me the building that would provide perfect rehearsal, performance, office and storage space for the schools’ music service (a service, incidentally, that is one of the jewels in Leeds’s crown, judged outstanding by the Federation of Music Services – how much of that could be attributed to the excellent facilities it has long enjoyed at West Park?).
A building that can accommodate, at a peppercorn rent, organisations like Irish Arts, Blah Blah Blah, Paperbirds, Leeds Youth Opera – all of which contribute immeasurably to the cultural life of the city; and charities like YAMSEN and Musical Arc that provide a unique service to vulnerable children and adults.
A building with two huge gymnasia available to a huge range of sports and fitness groups, as well as being the home of the schools’ PE and Sports team.
We have that building – it’s called West Park.
The council should take note of the overwhelming tide of opinion, and make the right decision – to reopen West Park as soon as possible.
M Warwick, LS16

In Yorkshire Evening Post today

“The Forgotten Ones”, “The Homeless Ones”, “The Faceless Ones”.

From: Irene M Peace

 

YAMSEN:

SPECIALLYMUSIC

12^th June 2013

West Park Closure

Dear Councillor Wakefield,

“The Forgotten Ones”, “The Homeless Ones”, “The Faceless Ones”.

All of these can apply to YAMSEN and all its members since Leeds City Council at a stroke, without thought for the “users”, on Friday 2^nd November 2012 at 4.00 p.m. announced the immediate closure of West Park Centre. This was supposedly a ”temporary” measure because the ‘electrics were unsafe’. Now, seven months later we at YAMSEN are still homeless even though the cost for repairs to the electrics is, I understand, well within the capability of the Council’s budget irrespective of government cuts. The longer the centre remains empty the greater the risk of vandalism and the possibility of further costs.

What does this closure mean to us?  Remember that we provide a large and varied amount of experience in music and associated activity to many hundreds of children and adults with moderate and profound learning disabilities throughout Leeds and Yorkshire.

We have a large amount of specialised and valuable equipment and instruments scattered (for safe keeping)  in a lock up in Holbeck, various schools and private houses – all most inconvenient. In spite of this, like the true professionals we are, our excellent work continues. Neither have we allowed our annual programme of events to be affected (and these are many) nor our weekly classes, choir rehearsals and workshops. We have achieved this through hiring rooms attached to different churches and a social club – all at considerable expense to us.

Why? Because we believe in our aims and we speak for all those many hundreds we serve who cannot speak for themselves.

All we ask is for West Park Centre to re-open both for YAMSEN and the many other community groups who, like us, have made it their home for very many years.

West Park has excellent facilities for all users – large rehearsal/performance rooms, adequate storage, smaller rooms for classes and other activities, disabled toilets, large free car parking area and the centre is geographically well situated for all users.

I hope that as a councillor elected to work on behalf of the community as a whole you will give this request your serious consideration.

I remain

Yours sincerely

 

Irene M Peace

President and founder member YAMSEN

Demolition! We Don't Think So! Sign This Petition

 

Message received from the people below.

 

A few hours ago Leeds City Council published the agenda for the meeting of the Executive Board (made up of senior councillors) which is due to take place on Wednesday the 19^th. Item 18 on the agenda is a recommendation that the West Park Centre is demolished. (The agenda can be viewed here: http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=102&MId=6163&Ver=4).

 

This has come out of the blue and is a huge shock to us and to local residents and users of the centre.

 

We need to show the Council how strongly local people feel about this. Please sign our petition which you can find here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ybIwE1pg7P6201tTSPqMqTXSGfd1gJhMmDin1zaMKww/viewform

 

Please pass this petition onto as many people as you possibly can.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Greg Mulholland MP, Councillor Judith Chapman, Councillor Sue Bentley and Councillor Jonathan Bentley

 

PS. You can find out more detail here: http://gregmulholland.org/en/article/2013/696594/leeds-city-council-recommend-demolition-of-west-park-centre