Residents win cash to make their streets people friendly

The money, which has come from the government's Home Zone Challenge scheme, will be used to make the area close to Littlemoor Primary School more people friendly and less traffic orientated.

Traffic will be discouraged from using the four streets - Gladstone Road, Derby Road, North Street and Park Street - and measures will be taken to cut down on anti-social behaviour.

Distinctive gates could be put up at the entrance to streets - to make people aware they are entering a residential area - and the distinction between pavement and road blurred.

Ken Spence, of North Street, who organised the bid, said: "I'm delighted and all the residents I have managed to speak to so far are also delighted, we'll be having a party and inviting everyone to come along."

Mr Spence said it would now be up to Leeds City Council to work together with the residents to come up with a detailed scheme and have it in place by March, 2005.

"One of the most positive things about this is the way it has got the community together and got us talking to each other, we have created a community where there was not one before."

The Rawdon scheme was one of just 61 chosen across the country to benefit from the £30 million government funding. Aireborough MP Paul Truswell pressed Leeds City Council to submit the bid and then lobbied ministers responsible for the decision.

He said: "Littlemoor Comm-unity Group have done a tremendous job in compiling the bid with the council. It is always difficult to know exactly what impact your lobbying as an MP has had on any process like this, but what I do know is that the Littlemoor bid was up against stiff opposition from around the country and managed to come up trumps."

But he added the bid was supported by a wide section of the community. "There was wide support and the obvious determination and ability to make it work.

"I'm proud that a neighbourhood in my constituency has been able to achieve this, and would congratulate everyone involved," said Mr Truswell.

There are around 110 houses involved in the scheme. The aims will be to bring in measures to remove traffic from the area and to improve the appearance of the streets - so creating a greener environment.

Vandalism, anti-social behaviour and other criminal activities will be deterred with the bringing in of measures such as better street lighting. There will also be better parking for residents and improved access between the houses and Littlemoor Park.

Councillor Elizabeth Minkin, executive board member with responsibility for development and sustainability, said: "We are delighted to hear that we have been successful in our bid which will mean we can transform the environment for the benefit of 110 households in the Littlemoor area, turning local streets into public spaces which residents can enjoy in safety.

"It is essential that we involve as many people as possible in this project. Therefore, the next very important stage will be a programme of extensive consultation so that we can come up with a scheme which will benefit the whole community."

l Over the country, 237 Home Zone schemes were applied for by 110 local authorities to the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Leeds submitted applications for three schemes, but only the Rawdon scheme was successful.