NEW GENERATION TRANSPORT TROLLEYBUS SCHEME

That this House notes the £173 million New Generation Transport (NGT) trolleybus scheme promoted by Metro and Leeds City Council; feels that it is not the best option for improving public transport in Leeds; is concerned that NGT may not provide value for money in the long run due to shorter life expectancy of rolling stock, as one of the key aims of the project was reducing the number of people driving on the A660 corridor; is further concerned at NGT plans which imply that the reduction in car usage would be minimal; is particularly concerned, given plans to secure a legacy from the 2014 Tour de France going through Leeds, that NGT would pass along the most-cycled route in Leeds and that the NGT business case projects a decrease in cycling; further feels that scheme has been imposed on Leeds after the Labour government decided in 2007 that Leeds could only have a bus-based solution; therefore demands the public inquiry be allowed to consider not whether NGT should go ahead or not, but what the best public transport solution is for Leeds; while welcoming the government investment, also demands the £173 million be allowed to be used for the alternative decided on; further feels that ultimately Leeds must have parity with major cities such as Manchester, Sheffield and European counterparts; and therefore urges the Department for Transport and Leeds City Council to consider the views of local residents and urgently rethink their plans.