Latest news with #TracyBrabin
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding secured for county's £2.1bn tram project
A project to bring trams back to West Yorkshire has received a major funding boost from the government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that £2.1bn of local transport funding would be allocated to the county. According to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the grant would mean "spades in the ground" by 2028, with the first trams operating before the mid-2030s. Following the announcement, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "It is time for trams. Today is a huge moment for our region." The first phase of the £2.5bn mass transit programme is expected to see the creation of two tram lines. A Leeds line will run from St James's University Hospital through the city centre to the White Rose Centre, while a Bradford Line will connect Bradford and Leeds city centres. Brabin said the funding meant that "other vital projects" could also go ahead, such as new bus stations for Bradford and Wakefield. That would "help us create a better-connected region that works for all", she said. The combined authority is expected to publish its preferred route options for the tram system later this year, with a full public consultation planned for 2026. According to the authority, the scheme would improve local transport for 675,000 people and benefit West Yorkshire's most deprived communities. James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "Delivering a tram system will transform connectivity across our city, and between Leeds and Bradford, bringing jobs and opportunities within easier reach of thousands of local people." Today's announcement is a big leap forward for those who have long campaigned for trams to return to West Yorkshire's streets. But political leaders will understand voters' scepticism after the failure of two previous schemes. The proposed Supertram network was given the go ahead by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in 2001. Early building work got under way, but the project was cancelled by Transport Secretary Alastair Darling in 2005 due to rising costs. A proposed electric bus system with overhead wires, known as New Generation Transport, was then promised - before it was also axed after a planning inspector ruled it was "not in the public interest". The new tram network – being called a mass transit scheme - is a region-wide proposal serving Leeds and Bradford initially, with the ambition to extend it to other towns and cities in West Yorkshire. The money pledged by government today will allow work to start. But with an estimated cost of at least £2.5bn, additional finance will be needed. Meanwhile, the government has also allocated £1.5bn of local transport funding to South Yorkshire. About £530m of the money is expected to go towards renewing the county's tram network, providing a fleet of new vehicles and modernising tram stops. A £350m cash injection is also expected to see the reform of bus services, with franchised buses operating in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham by 2027, and across the whole of South Yorkshire by 2029. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard called the investment "game-changing" for communities. "It will mean new and better buses, new electric vehicles, integrated ticketing and better information," he said. "It will mean new trams and better tram stops and lays the foundation for extending the tram network. "It will mean that our young people will be able to get to jobs and opportunities; that we can all access services, see friends and family, or go for a day, or a night out, without worrying how to get home." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Chancellor to announce £15bn for transport projects 'Two thirds' support Leeds to Bradford tram route Plans for West Yorkshire tram system published West Yorkshire Combined Authority
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin says grooming victims need action, not more inquiries
West Yorkshire's elected mayor Tracy Brabin has again rejected calls for a new public inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the region, saying police resources must be focused on delivering justice and support for comments follow a BBC Newsnight investigation broadcast earlier this week, which featured women who were groomed and abused in towns and cities including Bradford and politicians again urged the mayor to back a fresh inquiry, arguing that survivors continued to be failed. But Ms Brabin said multiple inquiries had already taken place and that action must now focus on protecting women and girls from ongoing harm. "I will not use resources that are so limited on repeated inquiries," she said at a meeting of Bradford Council on Tuesday, after being quizzed by leader of the opposition Conservative group Rebecca said there had been multiple local inquiries already - and plenty of chances for politicians to have their say, but added: "The answer, surely, is to ensure that historic victims of CSE get justice, but also that we put resources into those perpetrators who are harming children and women today now as we sit here."We should make sure that there is no room for anyone to hide."Ms Brabin, who has previously spoken publicly about being a survivor of sexual violence herself, also highlighted the work of West Yorkshire Police's dedicated CSE unit, set up in 2016 to investigate historic said more than 200 offenders had been jailed for a combined total of more than 2,000 years. The unit's funding, previously cut, was recently reinstated by the current government, she said. 'Abuse absolutely everywhere' Ms Brabin said the law now required professionals to report suspected sexual exploitation, following years of what she called a "blind eye" being turned by "far too many people".She said she and her deputy mayor for policing and crime Alison Lowe - who is also a survivor - would "leave no stone unturned" in pursuing justice for mayor also warned that the profile of offenders and victims, and the "whole landscape" of sexual violence and misogyny was changing, and that responses must reflect this."Part of our challenge, and the West Yorkshire Police's challenge at the moment, is that boys of 14 are raping young girls," she said. "It is not just necessarily groups of older men who are exploiting young women. We cannot be caught out by looking in the rear-view mirror."This is not one problem for one community or one city. It is absolutely everywhere." Ms Brabin was speaking in the wake of repeated calls for a fresh inquiry, including by Keighley and Ilkley Conservative MP Robbie Moore recently met with Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, presenting her with new research."There is an overwhelming case for a full inquiry across the Bradford District, yet we have shockingly never had one," he said."To make matters worse, senior leaders in Bradford Council and across the West Yorkshire mayoralty continue to reject these calls."This shows that the government's current strategy is fundamentally flawed. "It allows local inquiries to be voluntary and therefore hands the power to refuse these inquiries to the very authorities that victims say failed to protect them in the first place." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Funding secured for West Yorkshire's £2.1bn tram project
A project to bring trams back to West Yorkshire has received a major funding boost from the government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that £2.1bn of local transport funding would be allocated to the to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the grant would mean "spades in the ground" by 2028, with the first trams operating before the the announcement, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "It is time for trams. Today is a huge moment for our region." The first phase of the £2.5bn mass transit programme is expected to see the creation of two tram lines. A Leeds line will run from St James's University Hospital through the city centre to the White Rose Centre, while a Bradford Line will connect Bradford and Leeds city said the funding meant that "other vital projects" could also go ahead, such as new bus stations for Bradford and would "help us create a better-connected region that works for all", she said. The combined authority is expected to publish its preferred route options for the tram system later this year, with a full public consultation planned for 2026. According to the authority, the scheme would improve local transport for 675,000 people and benefit West Yorkshire's most deprived communities. James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "Delivering a tram system will transform connectivity across our city, and between Leeds and Bradford, bringing jobs and opportunities within easier reach of thousands of local people." Analysis: Spencer Stokes, BBC Yorkshire business and transport correspondent Today's announcement is a big leap forward for those who have long campaigned for trams to return to West Yorkshire's political leaders will understand voters' scepticism after the failure of two previous proposed Supertram network was given the go ahead by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in building work got under way, but the project was cancelled by Transport Secretary Alastair Darling in 2005 due to rising costs.A proposed electric bus system with overhead wires, known as New Generation Transport, was then promised - before it was also axed after a planning inspector ruled it was "not in the public interest".The new tram network – being called a mass transit scheme - is a region-wide proposal serving Leeds and Bradford initially, with the ambition to extend it to other towns and cities in West money pledged by government today will allow work to with an estimated cost of at least £2.5bn, additional finance will be needed. Meanwhile, the government has also allocated £1.5bn of local transport funding to South £530m of the money is expected to go towards renewing the county's tram network, providing a fleet of new vehicles and modernising tram stops.A £350m cash injection is also expected to see the reform of bus services, with franchised buses operating in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham by 2027, and across the whole of South Yorkshire by Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard called the investment "game-changing" for communities."It will mean new and better buses, new electric vehicles, integrated ticketing and better information," he said. "It will mean new trams and better tram stops and lays the foundation for extending the tram network. "It will mean that our young people will be able to get to jobs and opportunities; that we can all access services, see friends and family, or go for a day, or a night out, without worrying how to get home." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
£50k funding offered to encourage West Yorkshire 'active travel'
Community organisations have been urged to apply for funding of up to £50,000 to become "active travel hubs" in a bid to get more people walking, wheeling and cash would be used to create one-stop shops for people to access everything they needed to get around under their own power, according to West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).That would include equipment, training and group activities, as well as advice and support on routes, a spokesperson Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "We are encouraging people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling as a way of getting around, leading to healthier and happier lifestyles." "This will help us achieve our net zero ambitions and create a cleaner, greener West Yorkshire," Ms Brabin explained."I'd encourage all community organisations eligible to apply for this funding to come forward and get involved." 'Fantastic initiative' A previous £50,000 grant from WYCA's active travel hubs programme helped the creation of the Shipley Active Travel Hub in funding meant a manager could be employed to run the hub, the workshop could be renovated, bikes for cycling lessons could be bought and equipment for bike maintenance classes could be hub now supports hundreds of people to get out and about in the local Aylmer, the hub's manager, said: "We had a vision for an active travel hub in Shipley to make it more accessible for people to get out and about by bike or on foot, and the funding we received helped bring that to life."It's a fantastic initiative that has helped us provide all sorts of walking and cycling activities, from adult cycling lessons, bike maintenance classes and group rides, to cultural initiatives – and the people in our community have really benefited." Since 2022, WYCA has funded 26 organisations across the region as part of the walking and cycling hubs initiative, investing more than £1m over the next round of funding was now open for social enterprises, registered charities, community interest companies, local authorities and private limited companies registered in the UK to bid for up to £50,000 and expand the existing network, a WYCA spokesperson qualify for the funding, an organisation must be able to show it was committed to developing walking, wheeling and cycling in the community, they deadline for grant applications is midnight on 29 June. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Further Bradford City Village details released
New images and details of Bradford's City Village development have been released. The vast regeneration project will create about 1,000 new homes, with the bulk on the Oastler Market and Kirkgate Shopping Centre sites. Work is set to begin in autumn with the demolition of Oastler Market, with construction of the homes due to start in the spring. A fresh public consultation on the plans has been launched, with Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin calling the scheme a "game-changer" for the area. Plans show 64 two and three-bedroom townhouses will be built on the northern Oastler site. The first phase will also include 33 townhouses around Chain Street, with later phases including more than 300 apartments on the southern half of the Oastler site. Approximately 400 apartments are set to be built on the Kirkgate Shopping Centre site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The project has £13.2m of in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority alongside £30m of government funding via Homes England. Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council leader, said: "City Village shows the direction of the city centre for the next 10 years – quality housing, more public green spaces and a shift away from an over-reliance on traditional retail. "Our vision is to create a healthy, sustainable and community-friendly neighbourhood." Simon Dew, development director, said: "Bradford is investing at an unprecedented level in its transport and public infrastructure, as well as major capital developments, to drive future success and realise its full economic potential." Residents have been asked for their views on the plans ahead of the submission of a planning application for phase one, with the consultation running until 18 June. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. New images of 'City Village' plans released More than £13m pledged for city development Nearly £30m unlocked for 'City Village' works Bradford Council
