Leeds Lib Dems ask :- Is Supertram still on track? (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Leeds Lib Dems ask :- Is Supertram still on track?

January 2, 2004 2:39 PM

Cllr Mark Harris, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council, is repeating his call for an urgent meeting between Council Leaders and the Transport Minister to dispel rumours that the Government is set to withdraw funding for Leeds Supertram.

Cllr Harris (Lib Dem, Moortown) said "Keith Wakefield, the Council leader, promised before Christmas that he would press the Leeds MPs to arrange an urgent meeting between the Minister and an all-party delegation of Councillors. Unfortunately this meeting has yet to take place, while all the time rumours grow stronger that the Government is set to go back on its promise to back the project."

"It's imperative that we get across to the Government just how vital Supertram will be to the future of Leeds. All of the Council's plans for tackling traffic congestion in the city hinge upon receiving Government funding for the scheme. If the economic progress that Leeds has made in terms of attracting investment in recent years is to continue we need to have Supertram."

"It's also vital that the Council gets the message across that the regeneration potential of Supertram will be massive. Some of the most disadvantaged communities in Leeds are set to receive a tremendous boost as Supertram will open up new parts of the City, attracting new employers. I fear that the delay in pushing the Cities case on an all party basis will prove disastrous."

"With so much at stake, I just can't understand why Leeds' Labour Council and MPs aren't doing more to secure the future of Supertram".