New road changes will “kill” small businesses and be the final nail in the coffin for the once idyllic "small village" of Meanwood, according to a launderette owner and dry cleaner.
Abdul Aziz, who’s owned Bright Wash Laundrette & Dry Cleaners since 1985, says Leeds City Council proposals would be the final death knell for trade in the Leeds suburb - which he claims has already gone downhill.
The 65-year-old has thrown fury at plans to completely transform the Stonegate and Meanwood Road junctions, removing it even further from the small village he knew in the mid-80s.
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Complex plans involve narrowing the roads for wider footpaths and cycle lanes. Then making various side-roads one way only entry for drivers onto the major road.
The grandfather-of-three said: “I’ve owned this shop for over 35 years and it’s an absolute nightmare now. Having people to come to the business with their cars, it’s a nightmare.
“Once they’ve made these changes, if it happens, then we’ll have to pack up and go. Once there are all these new measures, who’s going to bother coming down to do their laundry? If people can’t get here, they are going to find alternative ways.”
'It’s not Meanwood anymore'
The dry cleaner is longing for simpler times when Meanwood was a village and people “people loved each other”.
Abdul can now only afford to hire two staff members and pay them each "£200 a week". He was employing four members in his heyday when the launderette was bustling with customers, who'd nip to The Beckett pub, get their shoes fixed at the cobblers or pop into the Post Office, now all closed down for many years.
He’s claimed the once “small village” has changed into simply a “commercial place”.
Abdul said: “Meanwood used to be a small village, it’s extended by a few properties on this side and now there’s heavy traffic on the road. The road is narrow and they want to make it even narrower.
“It used to be a small village round here. You see all the council flats across the road, there used to be The Becketts pub on the corner. People would take their laundry in and go for a pint. They’ve changed it into a big massive complex with b***** flats.
“Meanwood, it’s just changed. It’s not Meanwood anymore. Unfortunately, the roads have narrowed, congestive, and that’s all they’re doing more of. They’re not doing anything else. I don’t know what their motive is behind, to stop motorists from going down the road?”
“Meanwood has become a commercial place, it once was a village. Now there are small bars around the corners, the shopping has totally changed.
“We used to have a cobbler, a beer and wine shop that changed into a William Hill, we used to have a post office and chemist, but they’re all gone. The Post Office has become Meanwood Supermarket. That was a different sort of time, people loved each other, we had a different sort of society.”
Leeds City Council says in its plans that new measures, which restrict vehicle movements and add cycle lanes, would be brought in to “improve safety for pedestrians crossing the roads”.
The council has been asked for comment in response to concerns from the Meanwood community.
A council spokesperson said: “Linked to a planning condition in the area, a sum of money was given to the council to introduce traffic signals on the Green Road /Meanwood Road junction.
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"During the development of these proposals it became apparent that the signalisation of this junction could not be done in isolation and a wholistic review of this area was undertaken, which concluded that a larger scheme was required.
"This scheme aims to formalise and control vehicle movement by signal control, provides betterment for pedestrian by the introduction of formal crossing points, looks provide a safer and more pleasant environment for pedestrians through the introduction of wider pavements and provides segregated cycle facilitates.
"Businesses have already been consulted directly about the proposals and the responses are at the present time been evaluated.
"A public ‘drop in’ session was also held last week for members of the public to view the proposals and leave their comments. This was extremely well represented with over 600 visitors attending. In parallel to this consultation, is an online opportunity for those locally who were not able to attend the drop in session to view the plans and leave their comments.”
Leeds residents have until February 14 to submit their feedback, which can be done here.
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