Alwoodley Ward

Neil Buckley with Cllr Ronnie Feldman

After a long and distinguished career representing Alwoodley residents on Leeds City Council, Councillor Ronnie Feldman has recently announced that he will be retiring in May 2012 and will not be standing for election.

In 40 years of service Councillor Feldman has had many achievements and highlights and has had the rare opportunity on serving on almost every committee on the council.

Councillor Feldman said, “Of the many highlights over the past 40 years, the stand out honour was to serve as Lord Mayor, together with my wife Ruth, as my Lady Mayoress.”

Following Councillor Feldman’s announcement, Neil Buckley was selected to contest the Alwoodley ward at next May’s local elections.

Neil and his wife, Lyn, who is the current Chairwoman of the Leeds North East Conservatives, have lived in Alwoodley for 29 years.

Some will know Neil as Chairman of Alwoodley Ward Conservatives. He also serves as an active Parish Councillor on Alwoodley Parish Council.

Neil has worked in manufacturing, allied to the construction industry for most of his working life.  He intends to step down from his job in order to represent you on Leeds City Council to the best of his ability.

Following his selection Neil, paying tribute to Councillor Feldman said “It is a tremendous   honour to follow in Ronnie’s footsteps and be selected to stand in the Alwoodley seat. I intend to take nothing for granted and will fight a vigorous election campaign – and hope as many local residents will support and work with me as possible. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity of working with Alwoodley Councillors Peter Harrand and Dan Cohen”

Image Slaid Hill in Bloom – Cllr Dan Cohen with members of Slaid Hill in Bloom

Working with local residents and Slaid Hill in Bloom, Councillor Dan Cohen has successfully challenged the planned 12.5m tall mobile phone mast at the junction of Wike Ridge Lane and Wigton Lane, this followed the rejection of a 20m mast on the same site last year.

Councillor Dan Cohen said “The proposal, last year, for a 20m mast on the same site was, quite rightly, rejected after a good deal of local resistance to the project. This new proposal was no different.”

“Local people have volunteered their time and energy, especially the members of Slaid Hill in Bloom, to make sure that the gardens around the site are beautifully maintained. If this mast had been permitted it would unavoidably damage the attractive appearance of the area people have worked so hard to create.”

“There is a field nearby that is an ideal site for a mast, so residents were baffled as to why this application was made. I hope the phone companies will now take up the offer by planners to find an acceptable site for this mast so that it can be sited for everyone’s benefit”

A new Council Area Manager hopes to improve local leaf clearing this autumn.
With autumn starting early leaf clearing is likely to be an issue throughout the next few months. With Alwoodley one of the leafiest wards in the city there is much work to do.

Councillor Dan Cohen said, “Last year the service was not up to standard. This year I’m delighted to say that we have an excellent manager covering environmental services in our area who is overseeing a huge review of the long failing cleaning services in the area.”
Alwoodley Councillors have supplied a list of the streets which are usually worst affected. Councillor Peter Harrand explained “We can never collect all the leaves, the cost would be enormous, but I want to overcome the weaknesses we saw last year and I’m confident our new Area Manager will do all he can to improve things.”