Life beside busy Leeds roundabout is ‘so dusty it stains curtains’

Leeds residents have opened up about what life is like next to one of the city’s busiest roundabouts, which sprays so much dust over their homes that it ‘stains the curtains’.

Seacroft Roundabout is in a residential area on the outskirts of Leeds, connecting the Ring Road with the A64 and other major travel routes across the city.

But despite the noise, some locals claim to love the nearby area’s “rural” greenery, while others have attacked the “loud boy racers” who roam around there.

Leeds City Council has described the neighborhood as a “relaxed mowing area”. There are several trees growing on it but hearing birds chirping around the roundabout would be a challenge.

DJ Sammy “Dreadlocks” Glynn, 61, a member of the reggae dub collective Iration Steppas, has lived in a roundabout house for eight years.

But even if there is “a lot of noise”, he likes the area and is often amazed by the greenery it offers.

Sammy, a grandfather of five, said: “To be honest, I like it. For me, this is the landscape of the city. I don’t mind a little peace and quiet. But it’s nice to hear a little life, I don’t mind. I see many vehicles.

“We see horse-drawn carriages as some travelers live nearby, funeral homes and everything. The only time I really get out of here is when I’m doing a little work or getting my car. Otherwise I’m behind.

‘There’s a lot of noise up ahead. But you can’t hear it inside. And outside in the garden it is much quieter in the evenings.”

Sammy’s neighbor Ron Dixon has lived there for 40 years and is concerned that the sheer amount of pollution across the street may have caused him asthma.

He claims the amount of dust kicked up by the roundabout was so great that it covered his house and car and even soiled his curtains.

Ron, a grandfather of six, said: “What worries me is the pollution. I have asthma. If we leave the upstairs windows open, the curtains get stained. Also, there is a lot of dust in the house and sometimes it can feel a bit oily.

“Sometimes I’m standing at the gate and I see the traffic coming off York Road and they’re coming around them at 40mph. You can see there is a roundabout! Why do they do that? It doesn’t help anyone.’

Dog walker Ann Kershaw, 62, also lashed out at the “boy racers” speeding around the roundabout.

She admits it makes her nervous and worried about the safety of her dog, a nine-year-old Husky Akita cross named Tia.

Ann, a grandmother of one, said: ‘There’s so much going on, so much that there’s been an accident just recently. There are many bikers and young racers racing around. They use this road as a racetrack. The traffic is pretty heavy.

“I have to admit if Tia misses, I’m very wary in case a car goes off the road. It feels pretty precarious. I’ll be honest with you, I’m a bit nervous because I don’t trust the drivers how they drive.”

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