Aire Action Leeds is a partnership of organisations concerned with promoting improved appearance, richer wildlife and wider active use of the Leeds waterfront. If you have web access you can read its pages at www.aireactionleeds.org.uk. You will see there that it is concerned to improve the experience of all those who walk along the Leeds waterfront, for exercise or on their way to work. The main members are large organisations such as Leeds City Council, British Waterways, Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and businesses with waterfront interests, but it also involves voluntary organisations. It recently won the Partnership of the Year Award in Leeds City Council’s Community and City Pride Awards, 2007, for its efforts in cleaning up the river from Kirkstall to Thwaite Gate.
In January 2008 it formed three working groups to develop its programme in Communication & Publicity, Planning & Policy and Stewardship. These groups are formed by a much wider range of organisations and stakeholders are open to input from others who are interested in the waterways and waterfront.
The Leeds waterfront is an extremely important artery for walkers in Leeds, and the Leeds Group Committee agreed on 15th January, 2008, that we should be closely involved with promoting improvements. (Many of you will recall that we were involved with the Eye on the Aire initiative, which has now ended.)
How can RA members help? Here are the sorts of things which the Aire Action co-ordinator would welcome help with:
providing input/knowledge on access points,suggesting interesting routes, monitoring footpath conditions, reporting wildlife observations, reporting poor visual appearance (litter, graffiti).
If you feel that you can help me with any of these, let me know (lee.davidson@which.net or Lee Davidson, 15 The Turnways, Leeds, LS6 3DT, Tel 0113 275 78928).
LEEDS WATERFRONT FESTIVAL
Members of Aire Action Leeds newly formed Publicity & Communications Group have decided to go for it and hold a Leeds Waterfront Festival at Brewery Wharf on Saturday 14 June, 2008. Details are still being confirmed so keep an eye on the events page of www.waterscape.com for details as they emerge. If you are interested in being involved with the organisation of this event, please contact Ruth Bull on 0113 281 6804 or email at ruth.bull@aireactionleeds.org.uk .