Summit to be held to mark start of new transport consultation for Leeds

A summit will take place this week which will mark the beginning of the biggest ever consultation about the future of public transport in Leeds.

Led by Leeds City Council, the event will take place at Leeds Civic Hall this Friday, June 10 and will be the first in a series of dedicated meetings and discussions that will be held in communities across the city.

Representatives from leading transport bodies across the city and the region are set to attend Friday’s event, including the council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and The University of Leeds.

A video presentation will also be given by the internationally renowned Sir Peter Hendy CBE, chairman of Network Rail, as well as a presentation from Professor Greg Marsden director, of the University of Leeds’s prestigious Institute for Transport Studies.

Key themes for the summit will include the latest position on future transport projects and an update on current work being undertaken around the city such as new park and ride sites, better cycle and walking routes and railway network improvements.

And ahead of the event, people in Leeds are also being asked to send in their thoughts and ideas about transport in Leeds to highwaysconsultations@leeds.gov.uk so they can be discussed during workshops.

The event will be opened by Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council.

Councillor Blake said: “This summit will, we hope, be the spark for a new, inclusive discussion that will give people in communities all across Leeds the chance to be part of planning for the future of public transport in their city.

“We know that public transport and how people get from A to B has become an increasingly pivotal issue for Leeds and in particular for our ability to continue to grow and capitalise on our economic success.

“We also know that the people of Leeds deserve better and what we have now is an opportunity to gather the full of range of talent and ideas from the people living, working and travelling in the city.

“It is imperative that we now work together as a city and region to ensure that the £173.5m that has been secured for transport in Leeds is put to the best possible use in improving journeys for local commuters.”

Following Friday’s summit, further transport consultations will take place at a series of dedicated community meetings that will give people in different areas of Leeds the chance to make their voices heard.

The information and ideas gathered through the consultation will then be used to inform a new business case that will be submitted to the Department for Transport later this year.

Cllr Blake added: “We hope that through this summit and consultation, what we can accomplish is and ambitious and realistic 30 year vision and plan for transport in Leeds.

“Above all else, that plan should be deliverable, and focus on the outcomes that we know are most important to the people of Leeds – faster journeys, more capacity, economic growth and better air quality.

“That will mean taking hard, robust decisions about what is needed and where- and that’s why it is so essential that we come together to build strong consensus, shouting with one voice to get the investment we need.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk