STOP THE TROLLEYBUS !

At today’s Council Meeting, delegates from residents’ associations based in both South and North Leeds gave their reactions, after attending the 72-day public inquiry into the proposed NGT Trolleybus Scheme. Mr Fitzimmons pointed to the lack of proper public consultation, the weakness of the NGT business case, based on out-of-date figures and how this could be an unjustified burden for local tax payers, the damage to the Whitfields pedestrian area, and the threat to the Stourton park-and-ride due to a lack of proper surveying. Martyn Thomas, speaking for all residents associations on the A660 from Hyde Park to the Ring Road, as well as the Federation of Small Businesses demonstrated by referring to evidence given by NGT and its consultants themselves, that the scheme was frequently in contradiction with the Council’s Core Strategy; that it would increase car use and pollution, reduce bus frequency and endanger bus services in outlying areas, mean a higher percentage of standing passengers, entail longer door-to-door journeys for many, and reduce the number of people cycling and walking