Taking account of the rate at which plots in the cemetery are being used, Councillors have resolved that from 1st April 2026, they will now only be available for use by persons living in the parish at the time of their death or recent death. This measure is to enable cemetery provision to be available for parish residents for the foreseeable future. Full size plots for burials have not been sold to non residents for some years. This decision suspends the sale to non residents of half and quarter sized plots used for the interment of cremated remains. The Council will continue to make provision free of charge for ashes to be scattered in the memorial garden at the cemetery.

Yorkshire Water have provided the following information concerning their works which are currently requiring one way traffic management on the A61 immediately to the north of Harewood village.

Unfortunately, there is a blockage in the syphon sewer in the village of Harewood. In order to prevent pollution impacting the local watercourse and environment, we are tankering whilst conducting the needed remedial works.  

In order to conduct these essential works as safely and efficiently as possible, we are attending site under two-way traffic lights on the A61, enabling us to carry out the work on Fitts Lane Access Road.  

We do appreciate how disruptive traffic management measures can be and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all local residents and road users for their continued patience. We are proactively looking to remove the traffic management measures as soon as it is safe to do so and they are no longer required, to improve traffic flow.  

Again, we apologise for any disruption and are working hard to resolve the issue, returning the sewer to normal operation, as swiftly as possible.  

Leeds City Council Forestry Department are planning to remove or prune the trees infected by Ash Dieback disease along A659 Harewood Road night closure on Saturday 17th January between 19.00 and 5.00 in the morning next day.

In order to carry out the works safely there will be full road closure in place on Harewood Road between junction with Lumby Lane and Crabtree Lane.

A diversion route will be available via:

• For eastbound traffic: A659 Harewood Road, A61 Harrogate Road, A6120 Ring Road Moortown, A6120 Ring Road Shadwell, A58 Wetherby Road, A58 Leeds Road, A659 Harewood Road
• For westbound traffic: A659 Harewood Road, A58 Main Street, A58 Wetherby Road, A58 Leeds Road, A6120 Ring Road Shadwell, A6120 Ring Road Moortown, A61 Harrogate Road, A659 Harewood Avenue

Essential access to properties and emergency access will be maintained at all times.

The location of the works is shown at link to

https://one.network/?tmi=GB42888281

Give the Gift of Safer Roads this Christmas

Over 7200 unsafe drivers have been caught thanks to members of the public over the last year.

West Yorkshire Police run Op Snap which allows road users to upload video recordings of bad driving through an online submission form.

The recordings are reviewed by the police to see if an offence has been committed and whether it will be possible to progress with action against the offender.

Submissions continue to rise with 11,096 pieces of footage being sent in over the last year, a 12.3% increase on the year prior. Action was taken against drivers in 65.7% of the submissions, equivalent to 7,295 drivers.

Drivers across the county are being encouraged to get involved and consider buying a loved one a dash cam this Christmas.

The gift idea comes from West Yorkshire Vision Zero, the region’s road safety partnership, along with a new compilation video showing some recent incidents –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD5WUekp7rI.

A van carrying an extremely unsafe load as well as dangerous overtakes of a cyclist and horse riders are featured.

Paul Jeffrey, Head of Casualty Prevention and Police-led Prosecutions, West Yorkshire Police said: “Members of the public often feel frustrated when they witness bad driving, and Operation Snap empowers them to take action and help us to enforce the law.

“Last year police officers on patrol in our communities issued 38,848 fixed penalty tickets for traffic offences, and safety cameras detected over 285,000 speed and red-light offences.

“All of these measures are in place to help prevent collisions and the avoidable loss of life on our roads. By working together with the public via Op Snap, we aim to tackle poor driving and contribute towards achieving Vision Zero.”

Alison Lowe OBE, Chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership and the region’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “West Yorkshire Vision Zero seeks to end road death and serious injury in the county by 2040. Crucially, everyone has a role in that.

“We are extremely grateful for the public support for Op Snap. You are making a real difference.

“We want to ensure that there is no place to hide for dangerous drivers, and every dash cam brings that closer.”

To ensure the best outcome, footage submitted to Op Snap should include:

·  The offending vehicle’s number plate, this must be visible.

·  It must be moving video, photos can’t be used.

·  The incident should be reported as soon as possible and no later than 10 days after as there are certain time limits in legislation which must be complied with.

·  The footage should include the whole incident and wherever possible, should include 1 minute prior and 1 minute after the alleged offence.

Find out more about Op Snap.

You can also show your support for keeping everyone safe on our roads by signing the Vision Zero Pledge. Pledges can be dedicated in someone’s memory which will be added to our memorial webpage.

West Yorkshire Police are warning of some of the latest criminal tricks that can defraud people of their money. Special vigilance is advised at this time of year.

Three new warnings have been issued and details of the schemes and how to avoid them can be read by clicking on the links below.

Winter Fuel Payment Scams

Black Friday Scams

Theft of motorcycles using banking scams

Message from West Yorkshire Community Alert

A bit early for Christmas I know but this is something that is becoming an issue all over the UK and one you need to be aware of.

We’re seeing a rise in a scam called gift card draining, where criminals steal money from gift cards before you even use them.

How it works:

Scammers tamper with cards in shops—recording the card number and PIN, then resealing the packaging. Once you buy and load the card, they quickly drain the funds online.

We believe blank cards are being stolen from stores, tampered with, then replaced in the store. The criminals then just wait and see what is loaded up.

Protect yourself:

• Inspect cards for signs of tampering.
• Buy from secure displays or behind the counter.
• Register your card online immediately, if possible.
• Avoid third-party sellers offering discounted cards.
• Never pay bills or fines with gift cards—it’s a common scam tactic.

If you’re affected, report it to the retailer and Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Surge in Fraudulent Calls from Impersonators Claiming to Be Police or Banks

The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Economic Crime Unit is urging the public to remain vigilant following a recent surge in fraudulent phone calls targeting residents in the West Yorkshire area, including those living in and around Leeds.

Over the past few days, a growing number of reports have been received from individuals who were contacted by fraudsters posing as Police Officers or representatives from their Bank. These criminals are using sophisticated tactics to gain trust and manipulate victims into revealing sensitive financial information or withdrawing funds.

Scammers typically initiate contact through an unexpected phone call, claiming to be from your bank or the Police. They may assert:
• A fraudulent transaction has occurred on your account.
• Your bank card is compromised and needs replacing.
• You must assist in a covert investigation by withdrawing cash or purchasing high-value items.

The YHROCU Fraud Protect team would like to remind the public of the following important facts:
The Police or your bank will NEVER:
o Ask for your PIN number or passwords.
o Request that you send your card via courier.
o Instruct you to withdraw or transfer money for an investigation.

Protect Yourself:
• Never share personal information: Even if the caller seems genuine.
• Verify unexpected requests: Hang up and call the organisation back using a verified number (e.g. from your bank statement or official website).
• Be sceptical of urgency: Scammers often create pressure to make you act quickly. Take your time to assess the situation.

Support Your Loved Ones:
Please share this information with parents, grandparents, neighbours, and anyone who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams. A quick conversation could prevent someone you care about from becoming a victim.

People in the UK lost £1.2bn to fraud in 2022, the equivalent of £2,300 every minute, according to bank industry group UK Finance. It said around three million scams took place, with frauds involving payment cards being the most common.

Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks.

To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Action Fraud website at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Harewood Parish Council is hosting the Harewood Children’s
Tennis Coaching sessions run by Shadwell Tennis Club on Thursday afternoons from
3.15pm to 4:30pm, commencing Thursday 11 September until further notice. Please note
that the court will not be available for public use during the children’s sessions.

The National Emergency Alert test will be happening later this month. The UK government is testing the system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm. Your mobile phone or tablet will vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent. The alert message will confirm this is a test and that you do not need to take any further action