Harehills Cemetery Chapel sits at the heart of our community in Leeds, a historic and peaceful place that offers solace and reflection to those who visit. This beautiful chapel not only holds architectural significance but also resonates with profound communal and cultural memories. Its potential sale by Leeds City Council as part of an auction process, scheduled to end on 14 October, threatens to irreversibly change the character and sanctity of the cemetery grounds.

The chapel is more than just a structure; it is an integral part of our collective heritage, providing a tangible connection to the past, and a place for our community to come together during times of remembrance. The proposed guide price of £175,000, if realised, could see this sacred place repurposed for non-consensual developments, possibly as housing, amidst graves of our loved ones. Such a development would be both insensitive and inappropriate, disrupting the tranquillity of the cemetery.

Our immediate goal is to urge Leeds City Council to halt the sale, providing a much-needed pause to this rushed process. We request that the chapel be designated as an Asset of Community Value. This designation is vital as it grants the local community and stakeholders the time and opportunity to formulate a feasible plan to preserve and maintain the chapel, ensuring it remains a beacon of heritage for future generations.

By coming together, we can create a viable plan which might include restoring the chapel and opening it for community events, exhibitions, or as a local history resource centre, ensuring ongoing civic engagement.

Harehills is a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood, rich in history and brimming with potential. Allowing the sale to proceed without giving the community a fair chance to retain this piece of our heritage for public use is an affront to local identities and aspirations. Let us protect our shared history and ensure that the chapel remains a cherished landmark within Harehills Cemetery.

Time is of the essence, as we only have until the 14th of October to make our voices heard. Sign this petition to show your support in asking the Leeds City Council to give the community the chance it deserves to preserve our chapel. Together, we can safeguard Harehills Cemetery Chapel for everyone who cherishes this significant symbol of our community heritage.