Belle Isle, Leeds

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Belle Isle is a large, early twentieth-century council estate, 4 km (3 miles) to the south of Leeds City Centre, West Yorkshire, England.

Like much of South Leeds Belle Isle was a deprived area, but this has since changed and is now becoming more popular like neighbouring Middleton. There is also a large roundabout in the area called Belle Isle Circus. This forms part of the main hub of local traffic in south Leeds.

The name Belle Isle derives from the distinctive bell shaped early coal mining pits of the area. Belle Isle is also French for "Beautiful Island"

Belle Isle is also referred to by locals as the "Speed-Bump Capital of England" as in early 2005 the local council installed approximately 390 speedbumps and speed camerasinside a 2 miles (~3 km) radius. It is a fact that you cannot drive through Belle Isle without either going over a speed bump or by passing a speed camera.

[edit] Entertainment

It is the site of the popular Belle Isle Working Men's Club, which hosted many regional and national stars during the 1970's club boom. The club burnt to the ground in 2000, but was subsequently rebuilt.

The celebrity and model Nell McAndrew was born and brought up in Belle Isle. Also it is the home of up and coming Leeds band "The Isles" [1]