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It's not often that West Leeds hits the national headlines, but recently the car-sharing 'high-occupancy' lane on the Stanningley bypass has been held up as a national model.
As someone who lives close by, over the few years since it was introduced it seems to me to have worked reasonably well.

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Occasionally the traffic lights aren't working, and if I'm in the slow lane I do resent the solo drivers chancing it in the 2-plus lane, but it has been a positive change.

Overall, though, I can't see a way around introducing park and ride from beyond the outer ring road to cut congestion in the morning and evening rush hours.

Even so, it is encouraging to see the 'high-occupancy' lane being praised by others. Car-sharing is catching on in a way I believe the working from home option never would.

Intake High School were welcomed to Parliament last week as part of the preparation for a new Academy college.

Staff, governors and pupils met with t he new investing body, 'Edutrust', to go over plans andideas. They look promising.

My dream remains for the talented youngsters to put on music and entertainment in Bramley Shopping Centre at the weekends as part of their work re-energising the local community. It could well happen as part of the revitalisation of the shopping centre.
Pleural plaques is a debilitating lung condition caused by contact with asbestos.

After the Armley asbestos saga, I'm now leading the campaign to get a Law Lords' decision to release insurance companies from their obligations to pay compensation overturned by the Government.
A meeting with Justice Secretary Jack Straw got a sympathetic hearing.
He will press the Prime Minister to get the whole Government behind restoring justice to asbestos victims.

Last but not least, fuel poverty: campaigning to get rip-off utility companies to stop overcharging on fuel bills has been stepped up.

I'm hoping for encouraging news on the subject in the forthcoming budget. Watch this space.