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First look at new £3.5m Leeds City Square plans

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Early redesigns of City Square in Leeds – which could see the pedestrianised area treble in size – have emerged, and are set to be discussed by councillors next week.

LDRS

Proposed changes would mean City Square would include woodland and water features, with the entire area between the Queens Hotel and Mill Hill Chapel closed to general traffic.

Leeds City Council is keen to redevelop the area around the railway station, as it claims such a traffic-heavy city centre discourages investment into the city.

This led to a strategy being published last year in which the council also planned to completely revamp the area around Leeds City Station.

Architects were invited to take part in a competition to redesign Leeds City Square using a building budget of £3.5m.

The winner is a submission from Leeds-based Re-form Landscape Architecture, whose design, dubbed "The Glade", is set to feature a "conceptual reincarnation" of the ancient Forest of Leodis on which the city is built.

A council report into the plans claims the site would offer "informal play" for children, with platforms and rock steps to climb and jump off, as well as a water feature.

The entire scheme is expected to have a total budget of £7m-£9.5m. It's hoped final designs and approval can be reached by May/June 2022.

Assisted suicide campaigner dies aged 65

Helena Wilkinson

BBC News correspondent

A paralysed man who challenged the law which criminalises assisted suicide has died, aged 65.

Paul Lamb/Humanist UK

Paul Lamb, from Leeds, was severely injured in a car crash in 1990 and was left with no function from the neck down aside from limited movement in his right arm.

He had lived with chronic pain as a result of his paralysis and required 24-hour care.

Mr lamb took on several legal challenges over the current law on assisted suicide, which he said breached his human rights. He said he wanted to be able to end his life at a time of his choosing.

Prior to his accident, the father-of-two worked as a builder and was a champion greyhound racer.

Following his death, Mr Lamb's carer, Francesca Hepworth, said: "For years, Paul grappled with his condition and faced increasing pain, discomfort, and distress.

"Paul was resolute in his belief that nobody should be forced to suffer, and determined to keep fighting to change the law."

Humanists UK, a national charity which worked with Mr Lamb, said his death was a "loss to us all".

Andrew Copson, its chief executive, said: "Paul Lamb was a tireless advocate for the right to die who dedicated his life to championing choice for those with terminal or incurable illnesses."

Leeds sign Saints back-rower Bentley

Assisted suicide campaigner dies aged 65

By Helena Wilkinson

BBC News

Friday's Yorkshire and Lincolnshire weather forecast

BBC Weather

This morning will be cloudy and dull, warm and muggy. Some occasional light rain is expected in Yorkshire throughout the day.

Meanwhile in Lincolnshire rain will turn very heavy with the risk of some thunder and lightening.

It will remain cloudy and warm into the evening, and the rain may turn heavier in some areas, with the chance of some thunder:

BBC

'I didn't think I did anything special'

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