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Council ‘confident’ that £250 million Leeds NGT trolleybus scheme will go ahead

Leeds City Council is ‘confident’ that the NGT trolleybus scheme will go ahead, after a ‘strong’ case was presented during the public inquiry into the scheme for Leeds ended today after 72 days.

If approved, the system, which is supported by the council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, will see buses powered by overhead cables travelling along a largely segregated roadway passing the city’s universities, the First Direct Arena, Leeds General Infirmary Trinity Leeds, Brewery Wharf and New Dock.

The Inquiry Inspector, Martin Whitehead, indicated that he expected to take until May 2015 to deliberate on his findings and prepare his recommendations for the Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will assess his recommendations and subsequently announce a decision.

During this time a skeleton NGT team will continue with ongoing discussions with stakeholders.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member for the economy and development, said: “I am confident that a strong case for NGT has been presented and look forward to receiving a positive decision from the Secretary of State.

“NGT is an important element of our plans to improve the transport network in Leeds and the City Region and the sooner we can progress with building Line One, the sooner the significant economic benefits research shows it will generate will be felt.”

Councillor James Lewis, Transport Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “NGT proposals have been subject to significant public scrutiny for 72 days, having listened to the evidence we are confident that the case for the scheme remains compelling.

“Everyone recognises there is a problem that requires addressing along the proposed NGT routes and while a number of objectors have put forward options for alternative solutions, there is no evidence that any of these have been developed in enough detail to present a realistic, robust or affordable alternative to NGT.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .