News Leeds MP Campaigns For Kirkstall Forge Railway Station
New station would bring 'much needed jobs and growth'
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Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves is leading a campaign to protect the proposed new railway station at Kirkstall Forge. Plans for the former industrial site have been in development since 2003, with a new railway station forming an integral part of the proposals. Despite receiving council approval for the plans in June, there are fears that impending government cuts could jeopardise the future of the £23m station project.
Writing for the Guardian Leeds website, Labour MP Reeves said: “I want to make sure that Kirkstall Forge regeneration doesn’t fall foul of the cuts being made by the coalition government.
“The development is good for the economy and good for the community, bringing much needed private sector jobs and growth to Leeds West.”
Kirkstall Forge has been earmarked for regeneration since closing in 2002. Developers Commercial Estates Group (CEG) acquired the industrial site near Kirkstall Abbey at a cost of £8m, and consulted councillors, former MP John Battle, current MP Reeves and residents to agree a plan for the area. The proposed development includes 460 family homes, over 150,000 sq ft of commercial property, bars, restaurants, shops and a hotel. It is anticipated this will bring over 3,000 new jobs to the area. However, Reeves argues that the success of the new sustainable community will rely on improving transport links to the area.
“The A65 which runs by the development was listed by Leeds Council as the most congested road in the city, and to make the development economically and environmentally sustainable excellent transport links are essential,” she explained. “I am determined to fight for this new station, because without it the plans simply don’t add up.”
CEG have committed £4m in funding for the project, but the fate of the scheme is unclear given the government’s ongoing spending cuts in other areas. Funds for the station had initially been approved by Yorkshire & Humber Regional Transport Board in September 2008 as part of the wider Rail Growth Programme, but the programme has since been named as one of a number of schemes currently under review.
Reeves is urging action to ensure that the Department for Transport does not scrap the station plans, saying: “The development could transform the local area, making use of a former industrial site and sitting in the green valley of Kirkstall, to create the jobs and homes of the future.”
Anyone wishing to support Rachel Reeve’s petition for Kirkstall Forge Railway Station can have their name added by emailing rreevesmp@gmail.com, with the subject heading ‘Kirkstall Forge petition’.
You can read her Guardian Leeds blog post in full here.
Posted on Thursday 29th July 2010
Naomi Rainey
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