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I would like to take this opportunity to make known my disgust at the proposals to turn Royal Park School in Hyde Park, Leeds, once a vibrant focal point of the community, into yet more (unnecessary) student accommodation.
I moved to Leeds in 2002 to study and have lived here ever since. Even during my time of study, I was shocked and appalled at students' complete disregard for local residents, with excessive noise, litter, and traffic all proving problematic.
I have always made an effort to integrate myself into the local community rather than seeing it as an inconvenience. I have helped out with, and performed at, several local events, and always try and support local businesses.
As I am sure you are aware, there is already an excess of student accommodation in Leeds (despite what the cowboy property agencies tell us).
If the Royal Park school is turned into student flats, it will confirm everything that I suspected about local government; that it is ineffective, cynical and acting purely out of self-interest, with no regard for the people that it is supposed to represent.
Greg Surmacz, email
I have just learned that a decision has been taken to convert Royal Park School into yet more flats.
Us local residents had understood that serious consideration was being given to turning the school into a community-resource, and serious thinking is going on locally as to how to do that.
Are we to be let down again? Surely our local councillors, our elected representatives, should have more say in the matter than the council's employees?
A Green, Grosvenor Mount, Leeds
I am writing in support of the Royal Park Community Consortium bid for lease of Royal Park school.
I believe the city council would be wasting a real opportunity should they reject the RPCC bid. The school could be a flagship project in a city which has seen massive investment in other areas of the economy.
Community projects are absolutely vital, especially in areas like Hyde Park (and Royal Park) which have such transient populations. Students support the RPCC bid. Local residents support it. Local businesses support it. Local community groups support it. Of course the project is far from easy and significant fundraising is needed – but what a great challenge!
T Salmon
I'm a student at the University of Leeds and I'm really upset at this since Hyde Park has a large amount of empty houses, designed for students and it doesn't make sense to have more in the area.
Also, I read that the council is seeking to limit the amount of student houses in the area around Headingley, Hyde Park and Woodhouse and to create new areas for students in different parts of the city, in order to balance student and non-student accommodation. Backing the plans for more student flats goes completely in the opposite direction to the council's own policies.
In an area where the amount of burglary is high and the few young people living nearby have very few spaces to develop different skills (like sports, arts or crafts), having a community centre would prove to be beneficial, since it will steer young people away from crime and drugs.
David Santa Maria, Quarry Mount Terrace, Leeds
The Royal Park School, which has remained abandoned and unused by the council for the past 4½ years, is not a building that should be subjected to the wants and whims of enterprise in this area.
Hyde Park, being a student area with a surplus of student accommodation, does NOT need further investment in small apartment blocks.
Neither, with the adequate facilities of the Sainsbury's Local, the 24-hour Co-operative and BestOne, does it need yet ANOTHER nation-wide convenience store.
The idea to commercialise this building, while not only enraging the residents, will have the effect of putting certain independent corner-shops out of business.
If this is the purpose of the council, in an economic recession, to further hit local businesses hard, then you can expect an even further increase in the unemployment benefits pay-out.
Sarah Plant, Hyde Park, Leeds
If there's one thing this area doesn't need, it is more student accommodation. As a non-student resident, I am increasingly aware of the buildings left empty due to the surplus of student homes, something only increasing with the rise of new student blocks.
Furthermore, there is a massive amount of energy from the community to turn this space into a real asset. It would be unthinkable to let this opportunity go to waste.
Jesse Harris, Sholebroke Avenue, Leeds
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