SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

There is an article in tonights YEP that First are closing the bus garage on Kirkstall Road and moving to a new purpose built site in Hunslet.It's a shame that the article in the paper is accompanied by a great photo showing loads of old double deckers lined up overlooking the river at....the old Sovereign Street depot, with Leeds Bridge clearly visible in the background!

It must be seven years now, that the Kirkstall depot is to be closed and replaced by a new depot in the east Leeds area saga, has been carrying on.But has anybody else noticed how First Leeds has been "asset stripped" lately, with relatively new buses dissappearing, to be replaced by much older junk from other First Group companies, but at least they now have shiny front wheeltrims!!! ( Apart from those giant roadhogs, the Purple Worms, one of which has already self ~ combusted due to a design defect)It would also appear that First has recently discovered that repainting the buses can actually make them look a little smarter, they would look even better if they discovered a wonderful invention for improving surface imperfections, its called "Filler"!!!!I wonder how much money Moir Lockhead has made from the sale of Kirkstall Depot, and how much of it will be invested in the bus operations of Leeds, rather than contibuting to the shareholders dividend??

They're moving to a site which is to be purpose built just off South Accommodation Road, right smack bang under where the link road is being built. There's been all sorts of problems with opposition to 24 hour opening despite no one actually living anywhere near the site (yet!!) and they couldn't start building work apparently until one of the supports for the flyover was built.I think the idea was to merge two depots (Kirkstall Rd and possibly Bramley??) into one site but in true First group incompetent style the site is too small.I don't know what sort of impacty it'll have on our place as we do a lot of repair work for their staff with us being "just round the corner" give or take a half mile.

I've heard the site is too small as well. It's laughable isn't it? I still can't get my head around the fact that Leeds is a larger city than the 1970's. Yet in those days we had Seacroft, Bramley, Torre road, Soveriegn street and Middleton garages (was Headingly still going and anymore I've missed?)How do they cram all these buses in these days?    

spongebob wrote: They're moving to a site which is to be purpose built just off South Accommodation Road, right smack bang under where the link road is being built. There's been all sorts of problems with opposition to 24 hour opening despite no one actually living anywhere near the site (yet!!) and they couldn't start building work apparently until one of the supports for the flyover was built.I think the idea was to merge two depots (Kirkstall Rd and possibly Bramley??) into one site but in true First group incompetent style the site is too small.I don't know what sort of impacty it'll have on our place as we do a lot of repair work for their staff with us being "just round the corner" give or take a half mile. I'd heard that it was Cherry Row depot, as First lease that one off British Telecom, whilst they own Bramley, but, having said that, Bramley depot could be worth money, I wonder how many apartments could be built on that site?? Hmmm?!

Slightly off topic, but I must say that Leeds buses are absolutely filthy compared with those up here in the north east. I'm not saying that all buses don't get dirty during their 'shift', but here they wouldn't be allowed out of the garage in the state I've seen Leeds buses first thing on a morning. And when I say first thing I mean the first bus at 05:30 which I used to use regularly. Bad management.

Well in true First Group fashion, they've certainly picked the right time to be disposing of property haven't they?Developers are pulling up the drawbridge as fast as they can and no-one will lend money to anyone, but lets press on regardless! The news that the planned new garage is too small is hilarious.Looking further back into the "assetts", the bus companies used to be owned by us, as they were run by the local council. These were then amalgamated into Metro and on deregulation passed into the hands of Yorkshire Rider, who became Badgerline and ultimately First Group. Did any money change hands for these premises / vehicles etc and if so where did it go?On the subject of rubbish old buses rearing their heads, I've noticed this on the flagship 4 route, which is now meant to be exclusively bendy bus purple slugs. There have been some really ratty old single and double deckers on this service of late. Given that Metro is subsidising them to the tune of six figures a year, I'm surprised nothing has been said.

The other depot is the Cherry Row one, just spoke to my dad this evening about it as he's one who's making the move from Kirkstall road. Can you believe they haven't even sorted out a work rota yet for the maintenance side? Sums up the company really I suppose.I thought Cherry Row had shut ages ago but apparently not.Also asked about any known plans for the site but he doesn't know of any, there's a whole lot of land that's going to be lying derelict soon as they're knocking down the chemical place next door (was it part of Yorkshire Chemicals as well?) and I think the Arla foods site on that side of the road is now vacant too.

First are clueless fools. I live on the 33/33A route and the buses still run out of fuel occasionally despite the route being shortened - no through route to Ilkley any more. The buses apparently run out of fuel because the drivers don't have a fuel gauge, but also because First sold the depot and fuel bunker in Otley when they took over Sovereign. Everything will be centralised at the new depot which is completely useless for a city that is the shape of Leeds - the Leeds-Ilkley,sorry Otley and Leeds-Wetherby services are among the longest in the country. But do Metro do anything about it? Nope. They can't, but they should be able to.Will the government do anything about? Of course not. First are business, and can do what they want, which is pretty much what is wrong with public service in this country. I'll stop.

As a lifelong bus employee (44 years) and enthusiast I am in total despair at the state of the industry and the incredible misconceptions which abound. I've been retired now for seven years, having willingly worked right up to a late turn on my 65th birthday, bit I am so glad that I am out of it now.The main trouble is that epidemic disease called "marketing." It is now totally out of control and gets dafter every day. The emphasis is on new buses and zany colour schemes and advertising, internal and external. The vehicles are so cluttered with vynil tripe, which nobody notices, and sickening two faced "we value your custom" based slogans that the appalling levels of comfort and service are overshadowed. Most new buses are utterly disgraceful in standards of construction - within weeks or months of entering service suspension (rear in particular) is out of order, the "ergonomic seats" are ridiculous and totally uncomfortable, and the body structures are obviously inadequate with thumping, thudding and rattling everywhere. Then there is the appearance of SOME of the staff - yellow safety jackets worn all day (only supposed to be used on garage premises), failure by some to EVER look at or speak to a passenger, treating us with obvious utter contempt, and above all this latest arrogant and dangerous habit of one palm (no fingers) on the steering wheel while the other hand is draped over the cash counter with hand hanging free - even on tight corners in busy streets.Also I am furous at the blinkered letters about "old junk" buses - just because they are mid-life or even elderly they need not be "junk" if maintained properly. The chief victims of this criticism in Leeds are the dual door Volvo Olympians. These grand vehicles are still comfortable (proper seats), powerful enough and with very smooth gearboxes AND that essential feature for timekeeping and passenger flow if properly used - a centre exit opposite the staircase. Now, however, because Metro consider them unsafe after the awful fatal accident in the Bus Station, they are having their centre exits removed at enormous cost per mid-life vehicle. The accident occurred with a nearly new SINGLE DOORWAY bus !!Its time Mr. Lockhead and some "First" middle management and a few of the manufacturers' top brass came around in disguise and had a ride or two in the real world - they would be in for an awful shock !!