Recycling bikes for young cyclists

Children at Castleton Primary School will get a big surprise when they take part in a course of cycle training and bike maintenance this week.

The children are taking part in a level 2 cycle training course, which will be delivered by the council’s road safety team. The programme aims to give young people the skills and knowledge they need to become safer cyclists out on the roads.

Unbeknown to the children, something a little bit special will be happening on the course this week. The police recover dozens of bikes each year and surprisingly many of these are never reclaimed. Rather than auctioning them off or selling them for scrap, the police have decided to donate ten bikes to children on this course. Each bike has been checked over and is fit and safe to ride.

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Date: Thursday, 12 March, 10am
Venue: Castleton Primary School, Green Lane, Armley, Leeds, LS12 1JZ
Event: West Yorkshire Police donate ten bikes to children undertaking cycle training at Castleton Primary School

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Level 2 cycle training is an all day programme that starts with a bike safety check and moves on to complex manoeuvring in the playground. Children are then taken outside school to learn how to manoeuvre safely on the road. Finally the day is topped off by a guided cycle ride to enable the children to test their new skills under supervision. The children are also taught about the importance of personal safety gear.

The training does not result in a pass or fail; it is a programme designed to teach cyclists new skills and good practice so that they can become safer cyclists.

Councillor Andrew Carter, council leader and executive member for transport and travel said:
“We are always delighted to have the opportunity to work with the police on the proactive things we are doing to improve road safety in the city.

“We understand that the police cannot give away recovered bikes every week, but it is great that these will go to good homes. Although not new, the bikes have been checked over by our cycle team to make sure that they are roadworthy, and I know that they will be looked after and well used by their new owners.

“The children have learned some excellent new skills today, and we wish them many years of safe cycling.”

Chief Inspector Elizabeth Belton, of North West Leeds Division, said:
“It is great that these bicycles will now be put to good use helping children to learn how to ride safely. We haven’t been able to identify their rightful owners so they were due to be disposed of through property auctions.

“It is really important that children have the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike and how to stay safe on the roads, and we are happy to support the work of the road safety team by donating these bikes."

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office, 0113 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk

Garforth can get face-to-face and get involved with community safety

People in outer east Leeds are going to get the chance to get involved in the safety of their community – by getting face-to-face with the people who help police it.

The North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership is holding a community safety event at Garforth Community College, Lidgett Lane, on 11th March from 6pm to 8pm.

The aim of the event is to involve residents in the area in community safety work and to ensure their concerns and priorities influence the work delivered through the North East Divisional Community Safety Partnership (DCSP).

From 7pm until 8pm there will be a ‘face the people’ session with senior police officers addressing the meeting and taking questions. Local councillors will jointly open this part of the event with senior officers from West Yorkshire Police’s North East Leeds Division.

The event has been organised by Leeds City Council’s Outer East Area Committee, in partnership with West Yorkshire Police, as part of the council’s programme to improve services for local people.

All residents in outer east Leeds are invited to attend, which includes the wards of Garforth and Swillington, Kippax and Methley, Temple Newsam and Cross Gates and Whinmoor.

From 6pm ‘til 7pm there will be an opportunity to visit stalls providing advice and information from the following:
• West Yorkshire Police (Crime Prevention Officers and Neighbourhood Police Teams)
• West Yorkshire Fire Service (including Arson Task Force)
• Neighbourhood Wardens from Outer East Leeds
• Safer Leeds
• Anti-Social Behaviour Unit
• British Transport Police
• Probation Services ‘community payback team’
• Aire Valley Homes
• Leedswatch
• Youth Council from Garforth Community College
• Environmental Enforcement Team
• Neighbourhood Watch

All those attending will be asked to complete a feedback form which should help identify issues that the DCSP will endeavour to address through prioritisation and service planning.

If you would like to attend or require further information please contact Martin Hackett on 3950705.

Cllr Les Carter, Leeds City Council’s Executive Board member for community safety, said:
“Events like this are a good way for the police and their partner agencies to inform the public what they are doing and for getting feedback from the community as to how they can improve their service.
“I would encourage everyone who takes the safety of their neighbourhood seriously to attend and have their say.”

Keith Parker, chair of Leeds City Council’s Outer East Area Committee, said:
"An important part of policing and keeping neighbourhoods safe is interaction with the community.
“I know the police and partners within North East Leeds are committed to this event and hopefully this will be a springboard for greater interaction with the public."

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact;
Michael Molcher, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: michael.molcher@leeds.gov.uk