I arrived at the school at midday, just minutes after the jumble sale had begun. Already the hall was busy with people browsing through piles of jumble. This amazing turnout at what for many people is lunchtime, shows how much this building means to local people, and how determined they are to save it. Whilst the punters browsed through piles of jumble, a small army of workmen and women worked tirelessly in the background, helping to restore the building so that it can once again become the centre of this closely knit community.
Watching all this activity, I thought about the disconnect that exists between Leeds City Council and the people of Hyde Park and Woodhouse. We pay our council tax like everyone else, but what do we get in return ? A local authority which ignores our wishes, sells off assets to developers at bargain basement prices, spends large sums of money on its own pet projects, whilst at the same time cutting services to local people.
This train of thought was ended by a friend telling me that I really must take a look at the cake stall. Laid out on a pink table cover was an array of the most delicious looking home-made cakes. People who come along here this afternoon, will be glad they did for more reasons than one.
