Harehills in the 1970s: The angry residents of Bayswater Row
“When the other Bayswaters were resurfaced we were left out”
They were fuming and quite rightly.
When Leeds Corporation decided to resurfaced the Bayswaters - ten streets in Harehills - in the early 1970s they mysteriously left one untouched.
The angry residents of Bayswater Row were left demanding to know why grass was still growing though the cobblestones of their road while all the streets surrounding it boasted new surfaces.
Their complaints prompted a promise from Corporation bosses to investigate.
Residents sent a petition to the Lord Mayor, Alderman Albert Smith demanding that something be done about the state of the road. They also outlined complaints about dirty gutters, rubbish collections and smelling drains.
Petition organiser Trevor Wilkinson told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “The people in this street are fed up with having nothing done. When the other Bayswaters were resurfaced we were left out. The dustmen come every week but they never seem to come on the same day so you don’t know when to put the rubbish out.”
On top of the complaints Mr Wilkinson said the street was never swept, grass was growing though the cobbles, the drains remained uncleaned and cul-de-sacs between the houses were piled up with rubbish.
Resident Edgar Yates said: “This street is a damn disgrace. I have lived here 47 years but can’t remember the council coming once to tidy up. And it is not that the people are dirty. We sweep the pavements in front of four houses and swill down the flags. I can’t even put soda and disinfectant down the drains in summer to get rid of the smells.“
Eddie Collins, a driver with two young children, was worried about them having accidents.
“The holes are so big that the kids can’t help falling over. They are always coming in with cuts and bruises and one day I’m scared there will be a serious accident.”