Transport plan to maximise benefits from HS2

A PLAN to make sure West Yorkshire maximises the benefits of a new high-speed rail line is to be drawn up by council leaders.

More than £1m is expected to be spent on developing the plan, which will look at how to connect the HS2 line to the local transport network.

The plan will be presented to the Government later this year and will be used to make the case for spending on transport improvements in the region.

The work will be done by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority after it agreed to draw up the plan at its annual general meeting.

Coun Keith Wakefield, chairman of the authority’s transport committee, said HS2 could bring major economic benefits and have wider impacts including apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

HS2 will connect Leeds to London via Birmingham with services due to begin operating in 2033.

Coun Stewart Golton, who leads the Liberal Democrats on Leeds City Council, said the study should also look at the impact on communities from construction of the new rail line.

“One of the aspects which is apparent is when you have a huge infrastructure project there is going to be disruption to that transport system,” he said.

At the same meeting, members of the combined authority voted to defer discussions over whether the organisation should change its name.

Consideration had been given to changing its name to the Leeds City Region Combined Authority but members decided any alteration should wait until discussions over a so-called ‘devolution deal’ to take over powers and money currently held by the Government are completed.

Combined authority chairman Coun Peter Box said he wanted a “speedy resolution” to the talks.