COSTS OF PROPOSED ROAD LINK TO LEEDS BRADFORD AIRPORT

That this House is concerned by the high cost of the proposed road links to Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA), one proposed route costing up to £75 million to construct, while the other will cost up to £50 million; recognises the concern of local residents regarding the social and environmental impact of the road links; considers that building a rail link to LBIA, which would connect the airport to the Leeds-Harrogate-York line, is the best way to improve transport to and from the airport; notes the rail link offers a more effective, environmentally friendly transport option, while also greatly improving accessibility to the airport for the wider region; further recognises that LBIA's passenger throughput is expected to reach 5.1 million in 2016 and support 3,400 full-time equivalent jobs, but 93.2 per cent at the moment having to use private vehicles to reach the airport; believes that the rail will provide global connectivity for local businesses and help the Leeds City Region remain a vibrant and competitive area; further notes that LBIA has been poorly served for years in terms of being connected to other towns and cities in the wider region; calls for an effective rail link between LBIA and the wider region, creating new local jobs and boosting the economy of the region as a whole; and therefore further believes that the rail link from the Leeds-Harrogate-York line to a new airport station should be the priority and happen first, with the proposed money being spent on this as the first stage.