Welcome to week two of The Exchange. It's all feeling very exciting and new, but we're enjoying getting into it.
We loved the thoughtful comments that came in on Saturday’s long read about the tram (or lack of). “I sympathise with the WYCA's plight,” chimed in Matthew Main, “but in order to be credible we can't allow the ball to become stuck on our side of the court like this.” “Having arrived in this fine city in 1968, I've witnessed each of the tram faragos you refer to in this amusing and informative article,” said Max Farrar. A reminder that paying members can get stuck into the comments section, and should do so as often as possible.
Daniel Timms
It was also lovely to see lots pick up on social media. We want to have a big impact on the local conversation, and this really helps us to build up our audience. If you know anyone you think might find the story interesting then please send the link their way and encourage them to join the mailing list!
Patrick Reid
However, our decision to use the AI owl/tram/rose mashup image on Instagram as a light-hearted way to point people to the story drew a visceral response of deep hatred towards AI slop. Lesson learned.
Welcome! It's great to have you with us. To receive regular updates about everything in West Yorkshire, just sign up to our e-mail list below.
We’ve also received some lovely suggestions for prints that we should get up on our walls, including a very kind offer to drop one round. We’ll get a picture of our new office wall once it’s looking a bit less empty.
So, on with today’s edition, which tries to balance out our weekend with some good transport news, features top activities for the crafters among you and has a stunning semi-detached in Woodlesford.
The round-up:
⬛Tragic news in the Yorkshire Post on Friday, after a man fell to his death from height in Wellington Place, Leeds’ new office district. In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “Police were called by the ambulance service to a report of a collapsed male in Wellington Place, Leeds at around 7.16 this morning (June 5). It was established the man had fallen from a height and suffered serious injuries. Despite medical treatment he passed away at the scene. Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident remain ongoing by Leeds CID.”
🏳️🌈A flag protest has kicked off in Halifax after the Reform-led council made clear it would not fly the Pride flag over any council buildings during pride month, the Courier reports. Reform have instead said they will fly the Union flag every day of the year. Pride flags have since appeared on lampposts close to council buildings.
Council leader Daniel Sutherland said: “We are proud to fly the Union flag from the town hall throughout the year, to represent all the people of the borough, and we continue to celebrate Calderdale as a place where everyone is valued.” But Labour councillor Sarah Courtney argued that: “the Pride flag does not exclude anybody, it just signifies that everyone is welcome.”
🚂Some good news for train fans, after a national lottery grant of £233k was given to reopen the historic locomotive sheds at the Leeds Industrial Museum (BBC). The sheds have been closed since Boxing Day floods in 2015 left them submerged under 8ft of water. Visitors will be able to visit from next summer.
💩A bowling club in Horsforth is facing a particularly unpleasant issue: sewage flooding. The West Leeds Dispatch reports that recent heavy rain has caused foul smells and cancelled matches at the bowling green. It’s a recurring issue, with previous sewage spills blamed on blockages from fats and oils, and tree roots blocking water getting into the sewer. Local MP Katie White said: “I have written to Yorkshire Water demanding answers and a clear plan to fix this.” A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said that: “given the repeated nature of these incidents, we are looking at how we can make the sewer more resilient to help prevent future issues.”
🏗️Residents of Huddersfield are being given a chance to vote on a name for their newest public square in the former Queensgate Market building. The organisers have wisely opted to present a shortlist — Mill Frame square, Lions square, Queensgate square and Ramsden square — rather than making it open, preventing any Squarey McSquareface type antics.
🚋 If our long read on the tram left you hankering for more, then you might enjoy this piece from The Economist last year (paywalled). Titled “Must Leeds always lose?”, the article argues that “whenever a major infrastructure decision has been made, England’s third-biggest city has invariably been on the wrong end of it” and concludes that “Leeds is caught in a trap: too prosperous to pity, but still too poor to pay its own way.”
🚢The Economist article features the water taxis to illustrate the city’s tramlessness, though ironically not long after publication they too were cancelled. But in good news you might have missed… they’re back! A new company has stepped in to take over the service. Tickets are £3.50 to get from the station to the docks. (BBC News.)
Home of the week:
This seems a pretty good deal: £285k for a roomy semi in Woodlesford. It looks like it’s been done up recently, and has some gorgeous exposed brickwork and beams. Hourly trains into Leeds, a cocktail bar and a country park all within a very short walk. Give it a look.
Catch up and coming up:
If you’re new here, then a quick recap of last week. On Monday we covered the ongoing chaos at Kirklees council, where an extraordinary result has led to no party being able to take charge, over a month on from the local elections. “I signed up in an “I agree with this in principle” kind of way and did not expect to be 100% better informed about local democracy 3 minutes after the first email hit!” said Marykmac on Bluesky. We also had a fascinating piece about the Lee Gap Fair, which has convened in the historic parish of Woodkirk for almost 900 years, but looks like it might be ending this year after work on a new development started on the site.
Coming up this week we’ve got controversy over a massive new data centre and an investigation into whether the student housing bubble might finally be bursting. Unless, of course, something more urgent comes up. Keep an eye on your inbox.
The Exchange is a two-way street. It's not just us giving you news, but we want to hear from you about what you've seen going on in West Yorkshire. Many of our best stories come to us via readers. If there's something you think we should be picking up, send us an e-mail.
Things to do:
🤔Tonight is quiz night at Victoria Social in Headingley. Grab yourself a free ticket and 3-7 friends and enter a team. Winning prize is £45 bar tab. Book a spot here.
🧱Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary craft? Then pop to Drighlington on Tuesday evening, where you’ll be taught to make homeware from Jesmonite. If, like us two hours ago, you have no idea what that is, it’s a resin that you can use to make stunning marble patterned objects like soap dishes and cups. Tickets are £36 and you can get them here.
🧶If knitting and nattering is your thing, then go to The Albert in Hebden Bridge on Wednesday at 6pm. All other textile based crafts are also welcome. Open to all ability levels, £4. Tickets.
🪩Want to start your day with a rave? An unusual idea, but to try it, head to Habbibi, a rooftop space on top of Victoria Leeds, for 7am on Thursday. No booze, just coffee and good vibes. Tickets £11.55.
