campaigning group...

Leeds: A City For All Ages

“Leeds, a City for All Ages”. Well, let’s take a look at this thriving city. A brand new arena is to be built, but of course by its very location it is hoped to attract younger people; there will be limited parking for disabled people (of any age) and the theory is that visitors coming in by train/coach will be able to walk from the train and bus stations quite easily .......

That is, of course, if you’re fit and able-bodied. Nightclubs abound in the city centre, and the pedestrianisation of most of the main city precincts means that public transport has to drop passengers some way away from where they want to shop.
New developments which have been put on hold have begun to be talked about again. The Eastgate site will be quite a distance from the main Leeds shopping areas, which again, unless there is an improved and adequate public transport provision, will make things very difficult for the elderly and infirm.

There are insufficient benches on which to sit, in and around Briggate, but, hey, what does it matter because the young, on the whole, don’t need to take the weight off their feet ! And heaven help anyone with a hospital appointment at the Leeds General Infirmary. But after all, Leeds is a city for all ages!!!

And of course, the biggest bugbear of all, the subject which affects people of all ages, is the lack of toilet facilities. Other than the ingenious “LavNav” guide issued by the NHS (see page 2 for details), there is absolutely no way of knowing where one can spend a penny, or, in some cases, ten or twenty!

Some of those which are available are difficult to get to, are sometimes filthy and often have a long queue to overcome before you can avail yourself of the services. Something really must be done to improve this situation, not just for older people, but for the general public at large.

Can Leeds follow in the footsteps of New York and become, as some people have envisaged, “the City that Never Sleeps”. Only when it caters for everyone will it be able to call itself a City for all Ages, or even, Leeds – the Ageless City.

Leeds Older People's Forum Campaign group is campaigning on issues related to the accessibility of Leeds city centre for older people, including the number and quality of public toilets. As part of this work the group are looking at the new Trinity and Eastgate developments.

We are looking for members so if you are interested contact Rachel Cooper at Leeds Older People's Forum (t: 0113 244 1697).