2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Samuel Port)
Ten years ago, Shameless’ Frank Gallagher summed up why his estate was ‘a good home’ despite the fact it wasn’t ‘the Garden of Eden’ and listing the neighbourhood's problems. TV character Frank proclaimed in his guttural northern roar that his neighbours on the Chatsworth Estate would “lend you anything” and knew “first and foremost, the one of the most vital necessities in this life is they know how to throw a party”. That sentiment rings loud and clear through the streets of West Yorkshire’s biggest council estate.
Seacroft, in Leeds , has a population of about 18,000, over a 2.5-mile area and dates back almost a thousand years - it was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Residents have admitted it can be ‘rough’ with ‘bikes flying about and coppers all over’.
They spoke about gangs in the area too. But all held firm in the knowledge that ‘you get your good and bad areas' and that the ‘friendly’ residents all ‘have each other’s backs’. West Yorkshire Police has stated the force takes ‘negative behaviour’ extremely seriously and are proactive in the area.
Leeds City Council has also stated it has made £39m of investments in the area since 2019. Kye Lockwood, 27, who was released from prison recently, laughed as he admitted liking the fact so many people in Seacroft ride around on motorbikes. He said: “All my mates live in Seacroft so I come here all of the time.
It’s a council estate, a proper council estate so it’s a bit rough but everyone’s got each other’s backs.” He went on to describe himself and his pals as being like good Samaritans, who will help people out where possible. Kye said: “If me and my mates are out, and we see one of my mate’s mums struggling with their shopping, we’ll help them out.
We don’t even have to know them that much. It’s a homely community.” Widower Karen Hargreaves has said young lads on the estate have helped her out with her shopping bags if they see her struggling.
The former carer, who lives in a high rise flat, says the most touching moment was when the community came out to help her while her late husband Paul was ill. Her neighbours even helped arrange his wake after he’d died. Karen said: “Come and give it a try.
People can say it can be rough but you get your good and bad areas wherever you go. They’ve heard about gangs but I’ve had no bother with any of them, any of the people here.” Seventeen-year-old Desire Lwanba has ambitions to become a successful businessman.
He thinks Seacroft has provided a great home growing up with lots of access to parks and playing fields. Desire said: “The public access to all the parks and basketball courts, it’s great for all the kids. Everyone is so friendly around here.
“Recently, someone’s back garden was targeted by someone throwing bricks. Everyone was just helping them rebuild the house. It’s little things like that.
It’s chill, really, you can go about your business.” Plumber Paul Harrison, 50, says he practically ‘knows everyone’ around Seacroft. Paul said: “There’s no backstabbing like you get in villages.
Around here, we’re all the same.” He went on: “If you live here, you know everybody here. People say it’s rough, but I don’t think it’s rough.
Like bikes flying about and coppers all over but that happens everywhere.” West Yorkshire Police states it also has a number of initiatives in the area to curb anti-social behaviour. The force works with Safer Schools Officers and youth organisations to educate young people.
There is also a Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team dedicated to such work. Inspector Alastair Nicholls, who heads the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Behaviour that has a negative impact on the lives of people in the Seacroft community cannot be tolerated and we remain fully committed to proactively targeting those responsible and working to keep the community feeling safe.” Leeds City Council has said it's invested £39m in the area since 2019, which is over 10 per cent of the total council housing programme funding.
A council spokesperson said: “Seacroft has been designated a priority ward for the council, one of six of the most disadvantaged across the city, which allows for a greater focus of capacity and potential resource where appropriate. There is lots of positive work taking place across the ward which we hope makes a practical and discernible improvement to people living and working in Seacroft.” The council wished to highlight its main community partner ‘We are Seacroft’ (WAS), a local organisation formed from a number of local third sector partners in Seacroft coming together to work for the community, which is currently creating a Youth Board to get more young people involved.
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