Parts of Wakefield district could be left behind in West Yorkshire mass transit scheme

Last month West Yorkshire’s leaders set out how a new mass transit system “integrated into the urban fabric of every community it serves” could be built in the county by 2040.

The new mass transit system serving the county’s towns and cities could start construction by the mid-2020s as part of a wider programme of transport investment over the next 20 years, West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The authority, which leads projects on transport and economic growth for Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale, published its Connectivity Infrastructure Plan and Mass Transit Vision 2040 today and asked people to have their say.

But concerns were raised that parts of the Wakefield district, especially the Five Towns and South East areas, could be overlooked.

Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett said: “A mass transit system for West Yorkshire is long overdue. For too long, we have repeatedly had a raw deal on transport investment.

“But a key test for any new transport system must be that it works for all sections of our region. Whilst I am encouraged to see Featherstone included in the proposals, the plans do not address the imbalances which exist in the South Eastern region of West Yorkshire, including Hemsworth and South Kirkby in my constituency.

“I am disappointed that although these areas are noted as being a priority for economic support, they haven’t been included.”

He said these ares should be proritised as the scheme is built.

He said: “To help those areas where economic support is needed most, construction of this mass transit system would be best off beginning in outer areas where population is dispersed.

Improving connectivity in these areas first would then allow for construction to work towards our geographic centres and hubs”.

Though the plans for a mass transit system are still at an early stage, the authority has produced a map setting out how the system could look and how it would fit in with the existing bus and train network as well as bigger projects like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

And it sets out the possible technologies that might be used, including ‘ultra light rail’ which exists nowhere else in the country. Other options include a tram-train system like South Yorkshire.

Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper underlined that any scheme must offer a fair deal for her constituency.

She said, “We badly need more improvements to buses, trains and transport links in the Five Towns. Normanton still only has one train an hour into Leeds - that’s crazy and completely unfair.

"We’ve finally got new investment coming for Pontefract Monkhill as well as for Castleford station after long campaigning but Knottingley badly needs disabled access too. Yorkshire hasn’t had its fair share of transport funding for a long time and the Five Towns doesn’t get a fair deal either.

"There has to be proper focus on towns within the West Yorkshire plan.”