Transport schemes in frame for £1bn fund

IMPROVED links to Leeds Bradford Airport and the Aire valley Enterprise Zone are among the projects that could be backed by the new £1bn transport fund to be created in Yorkshire in an effort to boost the regional economy.

Better parking at stations, extending the planned Leeds trolleybus network and a series of road improvement schemes are also being considered.

Councils in the Leeds City Region are taking the first steps to create the new fund which was agreed with the Government as part of the wider ‘city deal’ announced earlier this year.

The fund will see councils in the City Region pool funds alongside cash from the Government to be spent over the next 10 years to build an integrated transport system in the area.

A new bypass and park and ride scheme for Wakefield and improvements to Bradford Forster Square and Bradford Interchange stations are among the schemes on the list that will be considered by a new ‘combined authority’ made up of councillors from across the City Region.

In a separate move, senior councillors in Leeds will next week approve the next steps in the development of the NGT trolleybus system.

Earlier this year the Government agreed to spend up to £173.5m supporting the scheme with the council and Metro paying £57.1m.

A report to be considered by councillors next week will warn that a funding gap still has to be filled to meet the overall £250.6m cost.

The current timetable for the scheme would see construction starting in late 2016 with services beginning at the end of 2018.

The first routes will extend north from the city centre to Holt Park and south to Stourton. Adding a further link to the Aire Valley Enterprise Zone is one of the projects that could be backed by the new transport fund.