Leeds in the 1980s: The story of the fight to save a neglected Roman road
Leeds in the 1980s: The story of the fight to save a Roman road in a city suburb
Residents of a new Leeds housing development were fighting to save a neglected Roman road which alongside their homes in the late 1980s.
One of the residents, June Norcliffe, is pictured in March 1989 walking on the 7ft-wide road which was overgrown and littered with dead trees, stones, rubbish and builders’ waste.
Mrs Norcliffe and her husband Roy from Austhorpe Gardens in Whitkirk were trting to get the road tidied up and properly recognised.
Mr Norcliffe said: “This heritage was frequently drawn to our attention by the city council and Hassall, the builders, when our properties were being put up.
“Indeed Hassalls assured me that the council had refused machinery access to our Roman road for fear of damage, but the council ordered the demolition of a small retaining wall which was preventing the embankment of a field caving in because, in their opinion, it was spoiling appearances.”
Mr Norcliffe said the road’s route was shown on Ordnance Survey maps and the Land Registry deeds.
He said: “I have heard older people talk of the Roman road and they seem quite proud of it. If this is our heritage, then it should be properly looked after. I have seen rats down there.”
Mr Norcliffe said he had written to his local councillor and complained to Leeds City Council’s environmental health department but had not yet received replies.