13.09.17
Lack of communication main reason key Leeds transport projects failed
A lack of communication with vital partners and the public was a key reason for the failure of Leeds’ New Generation Transport and Supertram projects, a report has this week revealed.
Publishing its draft report, the council’s infrastructure and investment scrutiny board said that it would learn lessons from the failure of the two projects to take onto future transport programmes in the area.
However, the study stated that the £173.5m of approved money from the government will enable Leeds to move forward with creating a better, more modern transport system for the city.
It was also concluded that the choice of technology was made without seriously thinking through the alternatives, something which had a fundamental impact on the delivery of the scheme in the latter stages.
Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr Judith Blake said: “I’d like to thank everyone involved in this scrutiny inquiry which was vitally important in looking in detail at how the situation developed and most importantly the lessons to be learned.
“The key finding I take away from the report reinforces the need for continuous discussion and engagement with all key partners and especially the public so that the new transport strategy we have put forward reflects the views and ongoing needs of our communities so everyone in the city benefits.”
Starting the transport conversation began that process, Cllr Blake added, as it generated a fantastic response which along with engaging the views of a panel of independent transport experts directly shaped the new strategy.
“We are firmly committed to ensuring that two-way dialogue continues,” Cllr Blake continued. “Retaining the £173.5million of funding together with additional partner investment gives us an unprecedented £270m which we are looking to maximise in order to transform the transport network in Leeds.
“Alongside this exciting programme of deliverable improvements in the coming years our ambition remains to provide a modern rapid-transit system for the city and we are continuing to explore options to bring that about in the longer term.”
The draft report will now be discussed and formally considered by the scrutiny board at its meeting at Civic Hall from 10:30am on 27 September.
The countdown is on to get your entries in for this year’s UKRIA. Closing date is 25 September. ENTER NOW!