West Yorkshire Combined Authority
The WYCA plan county wide transport policy and strategy and control the financing of the network, amounting to millions of pounds in grants and payments. WYCA declare that their decision and planning for the county transport network will encompass Net Zero emissions by 2038; Decarbonisation; Clean air; A Green Revolution and Reduction of congestion. They acknowledge the many reasons to travel, including Employment, Education, Healthcare, Childcare, Shopping, Visiting, Leisure. Their stated ambition is a doorstep to destination alternative to the private car for everybody!!.
The WYCA are performing a wide ranging consultation on the future of transport in our region, covering both of strategy and policy across the 5 local authority areas in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield).
Please go to https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/connectivity for more information and to register your comments. Note that this consultation runs until 11th April 2021.
We would strongly urge everyone to make their views known on this important topic for for Wetherby, the transport strategy will be driven by comments from the public, and as discussed within the Leeds Local Authority plans below, there is currently no provision for public transport improvements for the Wetherby area. This issue has been highlighted recently in the Wetherby News and other local papers (Group says area has been ignored) and we might question how well the current draft proposals meet the latest government strategy - "Bus Back Better"
You may also wish to consider the following when responding to this consultation:
The WYCA plan county wide transport policy and strategy and control the financing of the network, amounting to millions of pounds in grants and payments. WYCA declare that their decision and planning for the county transport network will encompass Net Zero emissions by 2038; Decarbonisation; Clean air; A Green Revolution and Reduction of congestion. They acknowledge the many reasons to travel, including Employment, Education, Healthcare, Childcare, Shopping, Visiting, Leisure. Their stated ambition is a doorstep to destination alternative to the private car for everybody!!.
The WYCA are performing a wide ranging consultation on the future of transport in our region, covering both of strategy and policy across the 5 local authority areas in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield).
Please go to https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/connectivity for more information and to register your comments. Note that this consultation runs until 11th April 2021.
We would strongly urge everyone to make their views known on this important topic for for Wetherby, the transport strategy will be driven by comments from the public, and as discussed within the Leeds Local Authority plans below, there is currently no provision for public transport improvements for the Wetherby area. This issue has been highlighted recently in the Wetherby News and other local papers (Group says area has been ignored) and we might question how well the current draft proposals meet the latest government strategy - "Bus Back Better"
You may also wish to consider the following when responding to this consultation:
- There is little/no discussion about the outer North East of Leeds area, i.e. Wetherby area! Wetherby has been described by the Leeds Local Authority (LA) as a significant/major settlement and a designated town centre and transport hub, yet doesn't even appear on the map.
- Where are the plans for regular Public Transport links from Wetherby to and from Leeds, York, Wharfedale, Airedale, Harrogate etc?
- A coordinated transport policy MUST coordinate transport to adjoining areas - particularly in Wetherby which is at the outer edge of the WYCA controlled district
- Why are there no regular bus links in this area to adjoining towns such as Harrogate and York which would discourage car use?
- When will parking be made available adjacent to Public Transport links to discourage car use?
- Why is the A58 corridor not recognised in their plans as a major route?
- How will congestion in Wetherby and Collingham be addressed?
- Why is Wetherby not even marked on various maps and diagrams in WYCAs strategy documents regarding Mass Transit, Integrated Transport System, Pan North Rail Connectivity Plan?
- Have you been asked for your views, are you aware of any surveys, any information gather that might have guided decision making about Wetherby in relations to WYCA planning?
- There is no mention of Wetherby in references to the High Frequency Network (Public Transport). Nor is it mentioned as an area with poor access.
- Why are there no regular bus links in this area to the destinations acknowledged above to discourage car use?
LEEDS TRANSPORT STRATEGY CONSULTATION
A public consultation on a draft Transport Strategy for Leeds is also currently taking place, the Leeds strategy is a component part of the wider WYCA strategy above. This consultation follows the declaration of a climate emergency by LCC in March 2019. The vision is for Leeds to be a city where you do not need a car, with the ambition towards Leeds becoming a net zero city by 2030. The draft Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy sets out how it is proposed to achieve this.
A key factor in the success of the strategy will be the provision of improved bus services. Yet, paradoxically, for a strategy with such an ambitious vision, the current draft includes no prospect of better public transport for Wetherby and the outer suburbs of Leeds. It is important that LCC are made aware that in addition to providing efficient and regular bus services to Leeds and Harrogate, the current lack of bus services from Wetherby to York needs to be addressed to give people wider access for business, education, employment and hospitals and also to railway stations such as York and Cattal.
We would urge you make your views known in the consultation exercise that has been extended to 11th April 2021. To find out more about the plans and register your comments, please go to https://leedstransportstrategy.commonplace.is/about.
Better Wetherby have responded to this consultation- see this link
A public consultation on a draft Transport Strategy for Leeds is also currently taking place, the Leeds strategy is a component part of the wider WYCA strategy above. This consultation follows the declaration of a climate emergency by LCC in March 2019. The vision is for Leeds to be a city where you do not need a car, with the ambition towards Leeds becoming a net zero city by 2030. The draft Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy sets out how it is proposed to achieve this.
A key factor in the success of the strategy will be the provision of improved bus services. Yet, paradoxically, for a strategy with such an ambitious vision, the current draft includes no prospect of better public transport for Wetherby and the outer suburbs of Leeds. It is important that LCC are made aware that in addition to providing efficient and regular bus services to Leeds and Harrogate, the current lack of bus services from Wetherby to York needs to be addressed to give people wider access for business, education, employment and hospitals and also to railway stations such as York and Cattal.
We would urge you make your views known in the consultation exercise that has been extended to 11th April 2021. To find out more about the plans and register your comments, please go to https://leedstransportstrategy.commonplace.is/about.
Better Wetherby have responded to this consultation- see this link
