By John Baron
A Pudsey community group has expressed disappointment over the delays to the proposed mass transit system in West Yorkshire.
As WLD reported yesterday, the first services could be be delayed until the late 2030s following a government review. One line is proposed to run through West Leeds to connect Leeds with Bradford. Another route would run past Elland Road to the White Rose Centre.
The Greenside Greenway group are looking to transform the former railway line through Pudsey by making low-energy travel such as walking and cycling easier for all. Part of the route could be used as a line for the mass transit system linking Leeds and Bradford.
In a statement, the group told WLD: “Greenside Greenway are disappointed to hear of the extended timelines for delivery of mass transit in West Yorkshire.
“We have long campaigned for the preservation and utilisation of the historic Greenside tunnel as a community asset, either as a greenway or part of a wider mass transit scheme.
“While taking at face value the assurances from both the West Yorkshire mayor and national government that the mass transit scheme remains a priority, delays to the scheme only increase the risk of other developments on the potential route.
“We are seeking assurances from both WYCA and national government that the proposed mass transit route utilising Greenside Tunnel is protected from development until a final route decision is made.”
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has said that it may be the late 2030s before people start making journeys on trams, several years later than originally planned. The business case and route planning will now be undertaken sequentially rather than in tandem, thus adding years to the project.
Greenside Greenway’s concerns were echoed by civic watchdog Leeds Civic Trust.
Trust director Martin Hamilton said: “This is yet another disappointment to add to the disappointments over the last 40 years that has meant that Leeds remains the largest city in Europe without a tram system. Leeds Civic Trust has supported the idea of a tram system throughout that period.
“Reading between the lines, it is clear that this decision has been heavily influenced by Whitehall, and whilst the Mayoral authority must put on a brave face, the city’s experience with HS2 shows that when major infrastructure schemes are kicked into the long grass, they are less likely to happen.”
Mr Hamilton said a key lesson must be learned.
“Across the rest of the world, major transit schemes are delivered far quicker and more cheaply when decisions and fundraising are made at a local level,” he added. “They are not subject to a change in priorities that inevitably come with a change in national government and are not so reliant on central government handouts.
“Meanwhile, as with HS2, our city is faced with more years of planning blight. Developers unable or unwilling to make a move until they have certainty about the precise routes to be taken by the tram and major public realm aspirations (for example City Square) unable to be taken forward until routes through the city centre are confirmed.
“Leeds Civic Trust continues to believe that Mass Transit is vital part of the city’s overall transport story and will continue to support the Mayoral Authority in its delivery.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin yesterday confirmed she was fully confident that the system would happen and reiterated her pledge to have ‘spades in the ground’ by 2028.
Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said: “With virtually no notice councillors were asked to a briefing, supposedly an update on the Mayor’s Mass Transit Plans. We were not even given 24 hours’ notice.
“I asked for the briefing in writing, and what I discovered was that the notes were virtually an exercise in glossing over the bald facts and making a string of excuses.
“It was likely to be in the late 2030s – maybe 14 years away – from us getting the scheme. So much for ‘spades in the ground by 2028’, which the Mayor has repeated over and over again. The only spade she is likely to put in the ground by 2028 is if she volunteers to help me plant my potatoes.
“Over these next years the costs are going to escalate, escalate, and escalate.
“This whole issue of a Mass Transit, first for Leeds and then for the whole of West Yorkshire, has become a never ending saga. People are right to ask will it ever happen, what will the cost finally be, and does anybody at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, from the Mayor down, know what they are doing?”
In a statement released yesterday, Ms Brabin said: “We are clear that mass transit will have a transformational impact on the region and the UK’s economy and I welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for the people of West Yorkshire.
“While the new timeline helps offer certainty for the scheme, I am also pleased that ministers have committed to working with us to cut red tape and put tracks on the ground as quickly as possible.”
Funding for the scheme was initially allocated by Leeds West and Pudsey MP Chancellor Rachel Reeves during the June Spending Review, with West Yorkshire given £2.1bn to spend on transport projects between 2027 and 2032.
Leeds is the largest city in Europe without a light rail or mass transit network.
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Once again, city’s in the UK that aren’t London, get nothing, meanwhile one of Londons 15 or so underground lines is getting a £2.5B upgrade, no delays and thats on top of £20b or so the cross rail cost.
https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/piccadilly-line-upgrade
Simon. Too true! The Crossrail project then over ran by millions, with their Mayor Khan threatening to pull the plug and abandon the the project unless money was forthcoming. Then there was another 2 billion for another hole under the Thames. Meanwhile, us “up North” so to speak have to just accept what is thrown at us. ? About time we took them to task? When you consider that there are more people in Yorkshire than in Scotland, and our GDP matches or even better theirs, perhaps we should have a “Barnett Formula” for the county??