The Big Pay Back (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

The Big Pay Back

December 1, 2005 12:00 AM

Lib Dem Councillors Ralph Pryke and Penny Ewens recently attended a presentation by the Probation Service aimed at extending public knowledge of their Community Payback in Yorkshire scheme. In 2003 the scheme provided £2.7m worth of work in communities in Yorkshire and the Humber and that figure is increasing every year. In Leeds the work done includes maintenance of the Beckett Street Cemetery, work on the homes and gardens of elderly, cooking and serving in clubs and centres for the elderly and disabled and clearing up the environment. All the work is carefully supervised and only carried out with willing consent of those benefiting.

Cllr Penny Ewens (Lib Dem Hyde Park & Woodhouse) said "Environmental clean-up work has been carried out in one area of Woodhouse and the Housing Office has made a base available for the offenders working in the scheme to do more locally. I would very much like to see the scheme operate to help clear St Mark's Churchyard in Little London, and to work to clear up the litter and rubbish in the adjacent estates."

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.