Lib Dem Councillors Welcome Massive Road Safety Scheme For Harehills

12.00.00am GMT Wed 28th Dec 2005

A huge swathe of Harehills is to benefit from one of the largest road safety schemes ever implemented in Leeds. An area extending up to half a mile on each side of Harehills Road between the Fforde Greene and Ashley Road, which up to now has suffered from high accident rates, is set to become a huge 20mph zone accompanied by traffic calming measures.

Cllr Alan Taylor (Lib Dem, Gipton and Harehills) said "This is very good news for the local community, which will have real benefits for children and the elderly living in Harehills. Road safety has been a problem in this area for a long time, with some extremely serious accidents over the years. We have campaigned long and hard for a scheme like this, so of course we're absolutely delighted to see something being done. What particularly pleases me is that it will be a comprehensive scheme covering the whole area, rather than just a case of adding one or two token speed humps."

Cllr Akhtar (Lib Dem, Gipton and Harehills) said "I'm really pleased to see more investment planned for Harehills, which up until the past 18 months or so had been terribly neglected. I'm sure this traffic calming scheme will save lives, as well as complementing the regeneration activity that we have planned for the area. In order to make sure that the local community can have their say over the proposals, an information leaflet and questionnaire is to be sent to all residents over the next few weeks."

Notes to editors:

1. The scheme is estimated to cost a total of £447,800, with work programmed to take place in August 2006 following a consultation exercise. Electronic copies of maps of the areas covered by the scheme are attached to the e-mail version of this press release.

2. Children at Harehills Primary School have been involved in designing the 20mph signs.

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.