Councillor Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) has championed the Local Letting Board Code since its introduction in 2006. The changes to the scheme mean that from 3 January 2013 tighter regulations will be placed on putting lettings adverts in the windows of homes across the ward.

Commenting on the scheme Cllr Hamilton said:

“The lettings code was first introduced to tackle the growing number of letting boards that were being put up to advertise properties. I have been pleased at the impact that the scheme has had over the years in eliminating large unsightly letting boards in the Headingley area. However, we need to keep looking at how the code can be improved and these new changes are to be greatly welcomed. By restricting advertisements in property windows it will tighten up controls in the area and help to improve the appearance of the ward.”

On Saturday, a new sculpture was officially unveiled at the entrance to the HEART centre in Headingley. Councillor Martin Hamilton and Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland went along to mark the event – part of the popular Celebrate Headingley weekend.

Martin Hamilton and Greg Mulholland in front of the new sculpture

The future of Headingley was the subject of a story in the Yorkshire Evening Post today. Councillor Martin Hamilton told the paper that the number of students living in the area is starting to decline, leaving properties which had been converted for multiple occupants empty. He said that Leeds City Council should be doing everything in its power to bring these empty properties back into use for the families, young couples and elderly people who are now moving into Headingley.

You can read the full story here on the Yorkshire Evening Post website.

Councillors have approved proposals for the redevelopment of the former Leeds Girls High School site in Headingley.

The meeting of Plans Panel west took place on 16 August, whereby Councillors also agreed to explore options to bring properties surrounding the site back into use as affordable family homes. The Council will investigate how it can work with partners in the area to regenerate the housing using financial contributions from the developers of the former School site.

Councillor Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) said:

“The approval of this scheme gives some certainty about the future of this site, and it is better than the one dismissed by the inspector on appeal”

“It is still regrettable that the Inspector’s decision meant that the Council had no choice but to allow building on the tennis courts on the site – but at least the revised scheme provides a reasonable amount of greenspace.”

“I am however delighted that the panel have supported the option to explore an off-site contribution for affordable housing.  This will mean that a number of landlord owned properties can now be used for families and couples – this begins the process of rebalancing the community in Headingley”

Local Labour Councillors are going round telling people that anyone who wants a Brown Bin in Headingley can have one. This just isn’t true!

Council officials have confirmed in meetings with Councillor Martin Hamilton that they will only introduce a garden waste collection service to a couple more streets this summer. All other streets will not be considered for garden waste collections until March next year at the earliest. Even then there is no guarantee that the Council will be able to provide a collection to every household that wants one.

Councillor Martin Hamilton (Liberal Democrat) said: “The situation is now a complete farce. Labour councillors are running round telling people they have ‘delivered’ brown bins and Council Officers are saying that the opposite is true!”

Local MP Greg Mulholland said: “Unfortunately this is what we have come to expect from the Labour-run Council. It is obvious that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.”

Sign our petition!

The Headingley Liberal Democrats are running a petition calling for Brown Bins now for people who want them. If you would like to sign it, please use our Contact form to let us know.

Councillor Martin Hamilton with local resident Penny Goodman of Grove Lane
- one of the few residents to have received a brown bin.

Sunday August 5th saw huge crowds of people pouring into Leeds city centre for the city’s seventh annual Pride event. Liberal Democrats from across Yorkshire and Humber marched as a group in the Pride parade to celebrate the party’s unequalled record in standing up for LGBT equality, and let our constituents know how proud we are to represent them on the City Council and in Parliament. You can see some pictures from the event, including the placard which we carried for Headingley, below: