Latest news with #WestYorkshireCombinedAuthority
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bus and bike lanes planned for busy city roads
Plans have been revealed for new bus and bike lanes along a major route in Leeds. The A6110 outer ring road and A643 Elland Road, linking the south of the city to the centre, are used by more than 38,000 people every day, according to Leeds City Council. The council said its proposals aimed to tackle "long-standing issues", including traffic jams and a high rate of crashes. A public consultation on the plans has started and people have until 8 July to have their say. The proposed changes include upgraded pedestrian crossings and bus stops, a new bus lane and segregated two-way cycle lanes. Since 2019, a total of 26 collisions have been recorded along the route, resulting in 31 casualties - including one fatality. It is hoped the alterations will help reduce carbon emissions and make bus services more reliable - in addition to supporting a strategy known as Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2040. As the route forms part of a potential tram line to the White Rose shopping centre, the council said it would be working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to ensure the work complemented future plans. Two drop-in events will be held in the coming weeks to allow people to find out more about the plans: Thursday 19 June at Churwell Community Centre (15:00-18:00 BST) Thursday 26 June at Cottingley Community Centre (12:00-15:00 BST) Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's deputy leader and executive member for transport, said the proposals were a "vital step" towards improving travel. "This initiative is part of our commitment to make our city more inclusive, healthy and sustainable," said Pryor. "We urge everyone that uses this route, whether you walk, cycle, drive or take the bus, to share your views and help shape the future of this area." Views on the plans can be submitted on the council website. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Leeds City Council
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK city 200-miles from London gets £35m boost with new lines launched
The multi-million pound expansion of a West Yorkshire rail station has opened and was marked by new services to London's King Cross station A new rail platform has officially opened with its first new direct services to London. The expansion of the now four-platform station in Bradford was made possible by substantial government funding. The brand-new platform - Platform 0 - at Bradford Forster Square Rail station opened on Monday, May 19 with the first new LNER services. The platform enables more trains to run between Bradford and London Kings Cross between Monday and Saturday. Beginning this week, around seven direct trains a day will run from the station to the capital – with more services expected to be added in December. This includes a morning northbound service that arrives in the West Yorkshire city at 9.52am. The previous government announced funding for the new platform back in 2024, promising to support Bradford for its 2025 City of Culture year. The platform expansion was made possible thanks to £35million of funding from the government. Members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority were given an update on the platform, prior to its opening. The report into rail services present to the committee at their last meeting said: 'May will also see the introduction of the much-anticipated step-change to Bradford's London trains, increasing on weekdays from just two per day to seven, and from one to two on Sundays (further increase to six on Sundays from December) – though at the time of writing this is subject to final confirmation.' The report continued: 'This is enabled by the opening of the new Platform 0 at Forster Square. LNER's expanded services to Bradford mark a significant boost in connectivity, supporting the city's UK City of Culture celebrations while driving economic growth and opportunity across the region.' In the lead up to the opening of Platform 0, Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe shared: 'This is £35m of investment from the Government and we have only got that because Bradford is City of Culture. We'd have never got this if not for that.' Hinchcliffe continued: 'We made the case that if you want to make sure the world is connected to Bradford, you have to make sure trains come here. There will be seven trains a day from London to Bradford and back again. This is a real sign of success for the City of Culture.' Hinchcliffe confirmed that the new LNER trains will also benefit Shipley and will begin stopping off at the station's lengthened platforms in August. In preparation for the platform opening, the entire community got involved to present the station in the best possible light. A team of volunteers working with Bradford City Community Foundation and Peer Action Collective worked alongside staff from Northern, LNER, ISS, and Bradford Council to clean up the station. Volunteers spent the day picking up litter in the station, car park, and surrounding area. The station team also cleared the overgrown green space next to Platform 1 in preparation for the planting of a community garden. When the new platform was announced, plans also outlined a new roof canopy, passenger furniture, information screens, CCTV and lighting to be installed in the railway arches. The development involved a land purchase east of Platform 1.
Metro
16-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
£14,000,000,000,000 plan to fix the north of England's 'broken' rail network
The proposal comes ahead of the government's spending review next month (Picture: Shutterstock) A £14billion plan to transform Yorkshire's old railway system has been proposed by a former home secretary. Yorkshire's Plan for Rail, put forward by Lord Blunkett, calls for increased capacity at Leeds, Sheffield and York stations, a new through-station for Bradford and a mainline station at Rotherham. Other proposals include electrifying the line between Leeds and Sheffield and increasing the frequency of services for places such as Scarborough, the Esk Valley, Penistone Line and Wakefield district's Five Towns. But this all comes at a cost. The first phase of improvements would need £2.4billion of government investment from now until 2030. This is in addition to the £2.5billion needed for a tram network in West Yorkshire and extension into South Yorkshire. A map of Yorkshire's plan for rail (Picture: West Yorkshire Combined Authority) One plan is to increase the frequency of services between towns and cities in the north (Picture: PA) This plan comes ahead of the government's spending review next month. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will decide which infrastructure projects across the country will get funding. At a time when there are calls to improve the transport system in the north of England, Lord Blunkett's review could persuade ministers and civil servants. Lord Blunkett has said that this will be 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to improve connectivity and unlock economic growth in the region. If the investment goes ahead, it could add £20billion to the region's economy over the next decade and help generate 83,000 jobs and the building of 210,000 new homes. The review has been launched alongside West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith in Leeds. Lord Blunkett said: 'Yorkshire has been punching under its weight for far too long, and with the White Rose Agreement, external and this infrastructure plan, the three Mayors are determined to reverse this historic trend. There are calls for better connections between the north and London (Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire) 'It's been a pleasure to be asked to pull together this credible and affordable plan, which presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve rail connectivity, and unlock economic growth and opportunities for all.' Ms Brabin said the rail network in Yorkshire is 'no longer fit for purpose' and investment is needed to help the younger generation. Mr Skaith said: 'In York and North Yorkshire, that means two trains an hour between York and Scarborough, upgraded stations at Malton, Seamer and Scarborough, and a new station at Haxby. 'We need to push forward with the transformation of York Station to maximise the benefits of York Central, one of the most significant regeneration sites in the country.' Mr Coppard said better connections to London, improved stations and more trains are needed. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
£1.5m boost for Huddersfield-Sheffield rail line improvement plan
A total of £1.5m has been awarded for the development of plans to improve journeys on a busy train route linking South and West Council was awarded the government cash to work on its proposals to speed up travel on the Penistone Line, including the revamp of stations on the route, many of which are journey from Huddersfield to Sheffield was expected to take "well under an hour" once work on the planned £48m upgrade of the line was complete, according to the authority.A council spokesperson said: "It's all part of our plans to make the Kirklees economy stronger and greener for future generations." In 2023, Kirklees, Barnsley and Sheffield councils, together with local MPs and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, made a successful Levelling Up bid to the government for the multimillion-pound overhaul of the line between Huddersfield and initial £1.5m would enable the council to take plans forward and draw up a business case for the works, the Kirklees Council spokesperson said. 'Major project' Over the coming years, the project would include improvements to several "key" Kirklees rail services and stations serving Lockwood, Berry Brow, Honley, Brockholes, Shepley, Stocksmoor and Denby Dale, the spokesperson plan was also to increase speed along the line and upgrade the rail infrastructure - including doubling sections of track - to allow two trains to travel on the northern section of the line every hour, in both directions. The improvements would in turn boost the local economy for people living along the length of the route, according to the Crook, Kirklees Council's cabinet member for transport and housing, said: "The Trans-Pennine upgrade is in full swing and will improve our connections with towns and cities across the north of England. "The Penistone Line project will make similar improvements to our connections between Huddersfield and Sheffield."This is a major project for our whole region, so it's vital to get the planning right."Crook added that the £1.5m funding "will help us get on with the job to make rail travel quicker and more comfortable for passengers, as well as bringing jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EV charging points approved for 20 car parks
At least 20 car parks in the Kirklees district will be fitted with new electric vehicle charging points after plans were given the go-ahead by the council. The points would be located at council-run car parks, aimed at residents with no off-road parking, the authority said. The £2.5m project was being funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and was the first phase in improving infrastructure for electric vehicles across the region, a spokesperson said. Councillor Moses Crook, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "These new chargers mean that if someone wants to make the switch to an electric vehicle, it will be a more practical option." Installation of the charging points was expected to begin later this year, the council said. Meanwhile further expansion into on-street locations was planned for later phases of the scheme. Kirklees Council said it hoped to begin the installation process this summer [Getty Images] Crook said the pilot scheme was "a critical step in making electric vehicles more accessible". "We know many households without off-street parking are currently limited if they have an electric vehicle," he added. The initiative was also part of the local authority's plan to become net zero and "climate ready" by 2038, a spokesperson said. Councillors had previously heard that chargers would need to be installed in three priority locations before the others could be put in. These were on Spring Wood Street in Huddersfield, New Street Car Park in Honley and Shaw Cross Community Centre in Dewsbury. EV points would then be installed in Batley, Birstall, Dewsbury, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Netherton, Denby Dale, Cowersley, Skelmanthorpe, Emley, Liversedge and Moldgreen. The council said although it did not intend to charge for the use of parking bays while charging, the authority or EV leaseholders may eventually decide to introduce a payment or require a permit for the bays in future. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. More on this story Related internet links
