During the 2008 Gipton ELFM broadcast - local MP George Mudie came down to the studio to talk about anything our listeners wanted. One of the questions that came up asked for his thoughts on the EASEL regeneration programme. He was happy to share his views…
The return of Eastern Promise.
Since 2005, ELFM have been tracking the EASEL programme - the massive regeneration initiative for East And South East Leeds. Well the Eastern Promise team of Jonathan Lindh, Eddy Walker and Adrian Sinclair are back to find out where the EASEL has got to.
On the programme are Maggie Gjessing (Regeneration Manager) and Peter Anderson Beck (Head of the Easel Project) - hopefully with news that, at long last, something is happening on the ground.
As the project swings into another round of consultation (this time as part of the neighbourhood planning process in Seacroft and Halton Moor), we also talk with Katie Hill from DesignLeeds - the School of Architecture, Landscape and Design at Leeds Metropolitan University - and Mike Dando from Yorkshire Planning Aid. What does all this consultation achieve - a real sense of community involvement or just a chance for a good whinge?
But there are difficulties too. Grand visions can cause very local problems.
There have been successes already – Neil Diamond talks about changes in Halton Moor – but will this happen in other areas like East End Park?
And just what is EASEL all about? Clips from Andrew Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council; to Steve Hunt, Director of Leeds East Homes; Stephen Boyle and Maggie Gjessing from the Area Management Team; to some views from the street…
