SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

From the BBC Look North website 22 April:People in Leeds are being asked for their views on the future of Yorkshire's oldest trading building as it celebrates its 300th anniversary.The city council plans to restore the First White Cloth Hall as part of a £2.6m scheme to rejuvenate Kirkgate.To mark the anniversary public consultation has started online to give people the chance to comment on the draft proposals.Face-to-face consultation with traders takes place from 26 April to 17 May. The Labour-led city council said it was working with the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and private property owners to make major improvements to the Grade II-listed cloth hall and other properties in need of restoration along Lower Kirkgate.'Great chance'It is hoped work on the project will start in summer 2013. Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield said: "This is a great chance for the people of Leeds to have their say about protecting the future of the oldest street in the city. "Generation after generation of local people have walked down, shopped and done business in this very street at the heart of our city."The First White Cloth Hall is a very important part of the history of Leeds and I'm delighted at plans for its restoration."It is the oldest surviving cloth hall in Yorkshire and played a key part in transforming Leeds into a centre for international trade. The city prospered around the growth of cloth making which began as a cottage industry hosted in a makeshift open market.The west wing of the cloth hall had to be demolished earlier this year after the collapse of the building next door. The council envisages the redeveloped site being a base for small retailers, linking in with Leeds Kirkgate Market and the recently refurbished Corn Exchange.

We covered this a bit earlier on the skulls thread, and surrounding area here.http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ssage=2575    

Phill_dvsn wrote: We covered this a bit earlier on the skulls thread, and surrounding area here.http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ssage=2575     I think the BBC link was poted too wasn't it? It made Calendar last night with some interesting 'on-site' shots of wooden hoarding and rooftops - shame they weren't as pro-active as folk on here in capturing it from the beginning.

chameleon wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: We covered this a bit earlier on the skulls thread, and surrounding area here.http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ssage=2575     I think the BBC link was poted too wasn't it? It made Calendar last night with some interesting 'on-site' shots of wooden hoarding and rooftops - shame they weren't as pro-active as folk on here in capturing it from the beginning. To be honest anything of any importance, or interest in Leeds gets mention or covered on S.L first. In some cases followed a few days later by the papers

Anyone else been sent a consultation questionaire by e-mail about the "Lower Kirkgate Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme?"    

Si wrote: Anyone else been sent a consultation questionaire by e-mail about the "Lower Kirkgate Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme?"     Not here mate

If you go to the Guardian Leeds web site, the consultation document is available to complete on-line. It is part of the fourth item on today's blog.

Thanks, Dalehelms.This is the letter, Phill.I think I must have been added to their mailing list because I e-mailed them a while back, stating SecretLeeds' interests in the area - skulls, plaque, etc.    

Latest in this long-running saga:http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... _1_4011525

Some info on the proposed redevelopment of the White Cloth Hall in the Y.E.P today.http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 49Although looking at the photo you have to ask yourself is what is left of the ramshackle building worth saving. It's also rather ironic it's a Bradford demolition firm sign up on the fencing, Bradford are good at knocking things down and leaving big holes