£38.4m green light for road improvements

KEY transport schemes across West and North Yorkshire involving £38.4m of funding have been given the green light to move forward.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority members approved the schemes which largely aim to improve connections between the region’s major areas from Harrogate to Calderdale and taking in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and its “five towns” and Kirklees.

They include a number of “active and sustainable” projects in which public transport plays an integral part alongside better routes for cyclists and pedestrians.

Getting the schemes on the

winning postcode move again amid the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak could play a serious role in getting the area’s economy moving again, councillors heard.

Coun Denise Jeffrey, who is Chair of the combined authority’s West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee, said the committee recommended their approval – and authority members backed their recommendations.

“There are 15 schemes here today and they are all good schemes.

“Hopefully, they will make a difference, supporting economic growth,” she said.

The authority also agreed to approve using £11.851m of Transforming Cities Funding to repay development costs already incurred by partners, and to draw down the next tranche of funding.

Authority Chair Coun Susan Hinchcliffe said it was important the authority had schemes ready for when Government gave clearance and getting them moving would benefit the economy.

“We just need to accelerate capital spending at the moment to get the economy moving,” she said.

Projects at the “eligibility” stage, which were approved and now move to strategic outline case stage, include a scheme to enable active and sustainable travel at Bishopgate in Leeds City Centre; a key corridor connection route for Bradford, Brighouse and Huddersfield along the A641; “Connecting Leeds”, which is another connection route running along the A61 South from South Leeds and through Wakefield; and an “active and sustainable interchange for Harrogate

which will also include routes between Harrogate and Knaresborough and Harrogate Rail Station.

Also, a Transforming Cities Fund scheme to enable active and sustainable travel across Skipton town centre; a Selby Gateway active and sustainable travel scheme; and an A639 “Connecting Leeds” scheme linking Leeds with the “five towns” of Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley, Featherstone and Normanton.

Projects at the “development” stage which were approved, which now move to outline business case stage, include the East Leeds Demand Responsive Transport scheme; the Cross Church Street, Huddersfield “City Connect” scheme; the Halifax Station Gateway scheme; and the Armley gyratory Leeds City Centre Package.