Works around Headingley War Memorial completed in time for Remembrance Sunday

The area surrounding the memorial has been undergoing significant change, as part of Connecting Leeds’ £10.4m improvements along the A660, increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists and helping speed up bus journeys between Headingley and the city centre.

St.Michael’s Road was closed to general traffic in June, in order to provide a better location to wait for buses and for the space to be opened to the public, creating a setting that complements the War Memorial. In future, officers hope the space can be used as a place for local markets and for residents to sit and rest.

Before Sunday 9 November, the memorial bench was reinstalled and planters made ready with memorial crosses donated by nearby St.Michael and All Angels' Church. Additional work was carried out to ensure the site was fit for purpose for the Ashes rugby league test match at AMT Headingley Stadium on Saturday and Hinko Construction also mobilised a street cleaning team on Sunday morning to ensure the space was clean and tidy.

Originally created to remember those lost in the First World War, the Remembrance Sunday service is held every year on the second Sunday in November, the closest Sunday to Armistice Day on 11 November. Today, the service commemorates the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian men and women of two world wars and all the conflicts since 1945.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“Ensuring the space was ready for Remembrance Sunday was a considerable pressure, but I’d like to thank the council officers and our contractors who worked hard to ensure the memorial got the setting it deserves for Sunday.

"Remembrance Sunday is an opportunity for the residents to come together and reflect on the courage and sacrifices made by veterans as well as today’s service people who continue to serve with dedication and compassion.”

The scheme is being delivered in partnership between the council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with a £10.4m grant from Active Travel England.
Notes to editors

Find out more about the construction work along A660 at https://a660.commonplace.is/.