Friday 23rd September – Restless Leg Awareness Day

Happy Friday Garforth – Do you suffer from restless legs?  I didn’t know it was a syndrome!  Well according to my little source of information it’s a very common syndrome and there are things that can help and we have them, right here in Garforth!

Regular exercise, stretching and massage – we have it all here – http://www.themaindeal.co.uk/keep-me-fit–healthy.html
 

Well what a fabulous weekend I had with my other family; the girls I have grown up with, some since I was 3… Every year we get together and let our hair down, not inappropriately of course, but to remember who we are……. OK, we acted like big kids for a whole weekend! 

As you know, I took some goodies from our new local business, The Gin Shack….  and it went down very well indeed; must practice pouring 25ml into a glass and not 100ml…. add more tonic!

I’m fairly new to, Gin and I have been introduced to it my a lovely local expert…Rebecca,  If you too want to try it for yourself,  you can join, The Gin Shack’s ‘ POP UP NIGHT’ on 21st October at Quirky Ales… see you there

#WOTS (word on the street)
 
DO WE NEED A DOMINOES?  Push the wrong one and they’ll all fall down!

Well after last week’s post, the C5 that was needed to change use of shop, is here in application form with LCC, so the rumours were right!
 
https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OD68S2JBGPA00

Personally, and in my opinion, we have enough take away’s offering Pizza, why do we need another? 
 
A fair few of you feel the same and a few feel that a Domino’s would be a great addition to our high street, including someone in Sherburn in Elmet! However, I think long term about things and the impact it will have on our high street and our independent businesses, which to be fair, most of our takeaways are… independent.  Therefore, this is my objection that went into planning yesterday.
 
I run a local company in Garforth which helps independents be heard and seen and helps connect the community to the businesses of the place they chose to live.  For this application to be looked at never mind considered, I feel most disagreeable especially when LCC make the following points
 
1)    It is against the Council’s recently adopted Core Strategy to introduce additional takeaways into main shopping areas. These are more appropriate to neighbouring areas. 
2)   “Main Street’s future place in the hierarchy and the role it will be able to play, particularly taking into account potential growth in this area, may need significant reassessment.”
3) As posted in the YEP – Councillors look to limit the number of new hot food takeaways set up in the future.  A supplementary Planning document could be drafted in order to try and curb the concentration or clustering of takeaways in areas where unhealthy food choices are prevalent (we already have 6 options in Garforth of hot takeaway food)
4) A report to the Development Plan Panel said ‘Obesity is one of the most important public health issues currently being addressed in the country and in Leeds.
 
Garforth is in a state of flux with the opening of a new supermarket and linked retail outlets opposite the existing Tesco’s supermarket half a mile from the main shopping area. This was not included as a retail area so its unanticipated change of use puts pressure on Main Street.
 
Similarly planning permission at Thorpe Park for 221,000 sq ft of leisure, hotels, cafés and restaurants plus 194,000 sq ft of retail space including a new food store (again when Phase 1 planning permission was given there was to be no retail.) This will again put pressure on Garforth Main Street and this pressure on Main Street is identified in the Impact Studies submitted before planning permission was given.
Along with waste issues and rubbish on streets which the traders have been trying to make a conscious effort to keep Garforth tidy following the guidelines through LCC.  Delivery drivers will only bring more traffic.  Footfall will not increase by a large percent as with pizza, it’s something that’s generally not ordered until dinner/supper time.
Dominoes arriving in Garforth brings no benefits whatsoever, Dominoes isn’t bringing a choice or something different, it’s bringing a branded pizza.  Please look at keeping the balance right and adhering to the changes you are trying to insure on a high street.
 
Should you wish, you can object by the 5th October on the link above.

In case you didn’t know Strikes Garden Centre opened today, so I went for a nosy…… obviously!
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What a really nice place it is and it’s on our doorstep, how lucky we are.  I had a good nosy round, and took only a few pictures as I didn’t want to spoil the many elements of surprises the store has, from cookware, to quirky items, to gifts and art and lots of great seasonal items in the run up to Christmas,  and as you will see in the pictures, some very large items. #mykindofwineglass  The staff were all very helpful, kind and very welcoming to all the customers and I must say, very knowledgeable.  It’s extremely light and bright and the cafe is really comfortable with lots of seating areas,  most of the produce in the cafe is sourced fairly locally, and after speaking to the catering and retail manager, we may be able to do something even more local with some of our great Garforth produce too, here’s hoping.  Jane the Catering Manager hinted that there would be looking at adding craft session for children and parties in the not too distant future.

But the fabulous news is, THE TRAIN IS COMING BACK……….  yes you heard it here first.  It’s not the original train of course (that was least seen on the M6) But there will be a train, the Retail Manager had not realised how loved the train was and how, over many years it gave lots of children and adults pleasure when coming to the garden centre,.  Obviously,  course it’s not going to happen over night, but I think their plans of adding the train in at some point may have just been pushed further into their plans, so well done Garforth people who visited today,  I think the train question was asked about such a lot, that is has given them food for thought.

YES, FATHER CHRISTMAS is coming back too, with Santa’s breakfast and lunch options…..  I did suggest, as I have done on social media before that the log cabin would be a great grotto, but the catering manager, Jane said they have plans for this; with a little cheeky smile, it must be exciting!  #watchthisspace

I look forward to a meeting with the Managers in the next few weeks to see if there is any possibility we can get cross marketing with our local independents and work with you, the community

NEW BIZ….
Looks like we are also getting a new business, it will be moving into Vogue bar!  Rumour has it, it’s a sunbed and
E-Cigarette shop!  Just waiting confirmation on this……. Not sure it’s something that will fit long term on Main Street as we already have a great choice of safe sunbed options with Shine and a few of our other beauty salons! 
 

Thus far, I’ve only had one person come forward to help out with getting Olio, The Food sharing revolution off the ground, as mentioned in a previous blog,  Olio is a great APP which allows unused food such as fruit from your apple tree at home to food at local greengrocers, to be used within the community.  Again, please have a look, in order to get this off the ground we need more than 1 volunteer. http://olioex.com/  contact me on Christine@themaindeal.co.uk

This Sunday we have Garforth in Blooms, Bulb Planting day, meeting at 9.30am at the Welfare Hall, go plant and come back for bacon sarnies.
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Come on Garforth Community, let’s get planting……………

Lots of things to think about in this weeks blog… Go think, Go do

Until next week……………

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