Water week! (Sorry.)
Last week we brought you two dispatched from very different bodies of water. The first was the shores of the River Wharfe in Ilkley, where tensions have flared between those who live there, and the massed ranks of incomers turning up in the sunshine. Dmitrijs Kovalenko wasn’t very impressed by our writer’s sympathy with the litterers: “Cry me a river.” [Pun intended Dmitrijs?] “As someone coming from poverty of the 90’s post-USSR realm I can assure you that affluence has nothing to do with the ability to pick up your rubbish and take it to the nearest bin.”
Then yesterday we brought you Brad’s long read on whether Leeds Dock can pull itself out of its funk, and find a new purpose now its owner has gone into administration and no-one seems to want to fill the empty offices. Adam Clarkson, until recently a resident on the docks, gave us another piece of the picture. “The residential buildings are feeling very tired. Most of them are around 20 years old now and don’t feel like they’ve had any investment in them in that time. Stained carpets in the hallways, dated decoration, broken lifts, and dodgy fire alarms.” George Sykes added: “I think the best option is to focus on what it does best and go all in on young professionals.”
It’s great to see the comments section becoming a hive of thoughtful discussion – if you’re a member then make sure to exercise your special privileges and share your views. And if you aren’t yet – wouldn’t now be a great time to support the tiny crew of the good ship Exchange?
Now on with your Monday briefing. Cowboy builders are going to be “out of business” vowed Prime Minister Andy Burnham with the launch of a new scheme this month — that will provide comfort to the likes of Ryan Ward who was left in a horrendous and potentially life-threatening position when trying to improve his family home. There’s also been another fire at Dalton Mills and emotional words from a mother after her son’s killer was sentenced at the end of last week.
The round-up:
🏠 A father in Meanwood has spoken out against cowboy builders after his family, which included a baby at the time, were “trapped” in their home which could collapse in on itself “at any moment”. Ryan Ward spoke to the BBC about a £90,000 cellar excavation and extensions project at his home that was left incomplete and in an “unbelievably dangerous” position as the builder was on the verge of going bankrupt. A wall was taken out during the works and was only held up by a small number of supports. Other builders “didn’t want to take on the liability”, says Ryan, but thankfully Pinnacle Builders director, Graham Nash, came in to save the day by making the house structurally sound.
🟢 There were heated discussions in the Leeds council chamber last Wednesday on… you guessed it, new appointments within the Leeds Greens. Councillor Lou Cunningham (Armley) was voted through to replace Councillor Ed Carlisle (Hunslet and Riverside) as Chair of the Environment and Housing Scrutiny Board. This comes with an extra allowance of £23,000. Tory Whip Councillor Stevenson said his group would abstain on the vote and added they “think it is a decision solely for the Green group in this case.” Councillor Mothin Ali spoke to the chamber prior to the vote, saying: “Can other parties really look me in the eye here and tell me they’ve never had disagreements with colleagues? Like all political parties, we also have newer members who don’t fully understand the council constitution or the relevant legislation”. Laughs at this quickly turned into ire when Cllr Ali took great pains to say: “But we’re working to educate them, like we’ve had to educate Reform quite a lot”.
🔥 Dalton Mills has been hit by fire yet again and crews are still there this morning. The blaze erupted on Saturday evening and 12 fire engines were deployed to the scene at 8pm. It is understood it was the last standing building at the site that was caught alight. Those living nearby had to be evacuated. The former textile mill (and Grade II-listed Victorian building) has been blighted by fires over the years, many of which have been started deliberately. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service told The Exchange this morning that the cause is “still under investigation”. Tina Archer said on Facebook: “It’s totally shameful that this place has burnt again.” Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley & Ilkley, said in a video on X: “I have been calling on our local authority to secure this site as best as possible for years now.”
However, Bradford Council has hit back in the past, stating it does not own the site and has “limited powers in terms of securing it”. It was given up to the Crown Estate after the company which previously owned it was dissolved via a compulsory strike-off in 2021 and effectively became ownerless as it was subjected to an arcane law called escheat, reported the Bradford T&A last year.
⚖️ A mother who had to carry her little boy in a coffin after he was killed by an uninsured driver told the court during sentencing that “it’s hard to parent when you have been killed inside”. Seven-year-old Jack was hit by Nathan Shaw in Longfield Avenue, Golcar at about 6pm on August 30. He was given emergency treatment but sadly died shortly after. Shaw, 35, of Tudor Street, Huddersfield pleaded guilty to causing death while driving uninsured and two charges of perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Leeds Crown Court last Thursday, as well as being disqualified from driving for just under five years (57 months).
The big picture:
This abandoned mill in Calderdale has attracted some strange new inhabitants. You can see the rest of this stunning set on Stuart Brown’s Instagram feed, where he often captures nature’s takeover of derelict places.
Data points: Cancel culture
In exciting news, from this Sunday if your train is cancelled you can automatically switch operators, free of charge, to carry on your journey. But where will this have the most effect?
We’ve dug into recent cancellations data at West Yorkshire’s five most popular stations. It’s a bit all over the place, but in Leeds, cancellations have crept up in recent months — in July, 4.2% of services were cancelled, and it’s heading in the wrong direction.
But the real shocker is Wakefield Westgate, where a big spike has led to 8.8% of services being cancelled in the most recent month. If you drill down into the operators, this is all being driven by Northern Rail, with 12% of services through the station cancelled.
We’ll ask Northern what’s going on, but in the meanwhile if we have any rail fans in the audience who can shed any light, then let us know in the comments.
Home of the week:
Wanting a grand entrance? Your prayers are answered with this converted barn in Brighouse whose front arch presumably could once have comfortably accommodated a horse and cart. Original beams throughout, one of which has been cleverly adapted to give the master bedroom — one of five — a sort of four-poster setup. All very imposing for your £450,000.
Things to do:
☕Up your coffee game at Haus Coffee & Plants in Wakefield with their Latte Art Workshop, led by champion barista BAYREESTA. For the price of £16.96 (that had better include a coffee) they will show you how to do all the jazzy stuff that makes your coffee so Instagrammable. The event starts at 6pm Friday.
🕵️♂️ Learn about a spy in our midst with a fascinating-sounding history talk about Fryston man Tommy Drew-Brooke, who after serving in the First World War, went on to work with British intelligence and the mysterious-sounding “Camp X” in Canada. The talk, by David Smith, is at Pontefract Masonic Hall on Tuesday and starts at 7pm. Tickets £3.96.
🍷Explore beyond your sauv blanc with Once Upon A Vine in Horsforth, who have lined up a tasting of Austrian, Hungarian and Central European wines for Tuesday at 7pm. “Mostly unpronounceable, but very drinkable!!” say the organisers, who will also provide some cheese and charcuterie for your £46.21 ticket.
