During a meeting with Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond this morning, Leeds transport bosses took the Minister on a tour of part of the route for the proposed Leeds NGT trolleybus network.

After the meeting, which Mr Hammond described to the Yorkshire Evening Post as 'constructive and useful', Metro Chairman Cllr Chris Greaves said, “Today was a welcome opportunity to ensure the Secretary of State was properly informed about the trolleybus network scheme directly by the people involved in developing it, and for him to see, first-hand, some of the route that it would serve.

Impressed

“Mr Hammond seemed impressed when we re-iterated to him that NGT is forecast to increase the annual GDP of Leeds City Centre by £176m or almost three per-cent, and create 4,000 additional city centre jobs plus a further 250 operating and maintaining the network. And he acknowledged that NGT would represent a transformational improvement in the quality of public transport in Leeds.

“During the meeting we also had the chance to remind Mr Hammond that the NGT scheme had emerged from Leeds being advised by the Department for Transport to develop a bus-based rapid transit system when Leeds Supertram was axed in 2005, with the clear understanding that if the scheme delivered a Benefit:Cost ratio of at least 2 to 1, it would be given the go-ahead.

NGT exceeds target

“The Government’s own figures, published as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review process, have shown that NGT exceeds this target, which is why we are now urging Mr Hammond and his colleagues to make good on the DfT’s commitment and let us get on with the scheme.

“In addition to these positive discussions on NGT, we also took the opportunity to re-state our firm support for the Government’s proposed high-speed rail route through Yorkshire as well as highlighting the importance of plans for new stations at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge, the need for more carriages to relieve peak time overcrowding on the local network and the short, medium and long-term future of the East Coast Main Line.”

Attractive & viable

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council's executive board member responsible for public transport in Leeds, said, “Together with Metro, the council is working hard to make the NGT system an attractive and viable public transport network.

"NGT’s ability to tackle congestion and reduce the city’s carbon footprint will help speed Leeds’ recovery from recession and boost its economy. The ability to move quickly and easily across the city is essential and the NGT will enhance the region’s ability to compete on the national and international stage.”

Work is currently ongoing to prepare a ‘Best and Final Funding Offer’ (BAFFO) which focuses on detailed exploration of alternative funding sources and enhancement of the scheme’s economic case.

The DfT has indicated an early decision on NGT may be possible as the project does not require significant funding within the current CSR period. It is therefore intended to submit a BAFFO for NGT in Spring 2011.