Road, Rail & Access Issues

[lbaspotter]

At last some movement and good news as it seem Leeds City Council has today released details of the initial public consultation to be carried out between Monday 23 November to Sunday 24 January 2016 on options supporting improved road access to Leeds Bradford Airport through have been released today.

Documents can be found at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages ... -Road.aspx

As well as a online questionnaire, drop-in sessions will be taking place as follows:

Leeds Civic Hall, Tuesday 24 November 3 to 8pm
Horsforth Mechanics Institute, Wednesday 25 November 1 to 4:30pm
Horsforth St Margaret’s Parish Centre, Friday 27 November 3 to 8pm
Greenacre Hall, Rawdon, Saturday 28 November 12noon to 3pm

Leaflets and copies of the questionnaire will also be available at local libraries and the Leeds Development Enquiry Centre in the Leonardo Building on Rossington Street.

Source: http://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Improving-Access-To-Leeds-Bradford-Airport-Public-Consultation

Improving Access To Leeds Bradford Airport Public Consultation

Details of the initial public consultation to be carried out on options supporting the development of Leeds Bradford Airport through improved road access have been released today.

Leeds Bradford Airport is one of the fastest growing in the UK used by 3.3million passengers a year. It also contributes more than £100m annually to the city region economy and was earmarked as a key element of the long-term transport vision for Leeds put forward by the council last month, with the need to develop its strategic connectivity seen as critical to its future success as the regional airport and as an economic hub.

The initial public consultation runs from Monday 23 November to Sunday 24 January 2016, and will see Leeds City Council seeking views on the three options outlined in September to improve access to the airport. This has been identified as a key need to support its future growth, as well as tackling existing congestion and traffic issues in the local road network.

For full article see: http://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Improving-Access-To-Leeds-Bradford-Airport-Public-Consultation

 

[Bigman]

I would love to know how the cost has suddenly ballooned from £38M to £75M. Whatever cost it is, it still a drop in the ocean compared to the London Crossrail or HS2 budgets!!

They would be better using the money to widen the rind road from Dawsons Corner all the way to Lawnswood, and then build a new link road off the A660 near Bramhope to a new purpose built park-and-ride station on the Harrogate Line with a new road across to the terminal.

 

[Bigman]

I don't know if anyone knows this yet, but TLC are going to be operating local estate buses out of Apperley Bridge station to the Eccleshill, Idle, Greengates areas (948 and 949). I am guessing that the local 947 might also pop in there as well. So given that there will be a bus turning circle there, surely a shuttle bus to the airport needs to be looked at seriously. Maybe the 967 could be extended from the Airport via Yeadon, which would also give Yeadon direct access to the railway station.

 

[lbaspotter]

Now also been reported by BBC Look North http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-34803734

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I think it would be an excellent idea for the members of the forum to voice our opinions as widely as possible by filling in the online questionnaire during the consultation period. This will help to balance the, no doubt, overwhelmingly negative reaction to building a new road.

 

[Aviador]

Agree. The only sensible option is the one passing the end of the runway. It's also the most expensive option but I understand it's also the preferred route but there will be a vociferous campaign to stop it.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Do we know where the majority of the trafic is coming from, i.e. North, south, east or west and were we think the growth will be.
Seems very piecemeal just trying to solve traffic within 5 miles of the airport without a system to get them off the motorway.
Could do with the A64 and A6120 being upgraded to motorway then a link off the A6120.
Living locally we need to look at help to get traffic off the A65.
Obviously we will be up againt NIMBY's, but truthfully locals know they need the airport to support jobs in the area.
The golf club could help to provide the housing the area needs, so a road link through would open up this area for development which it desperately needs, having support from people who think the roads need improveemnt and those who support more house building, could give the scheme the backing it needs.

 

[Aviador]

Reasons to support option A

• Most direct route to Leeds Bradford Airport
• Quickest access route to Leeds Bradford Airport
• Least property affected by the route
• Potential for the road to continue to form an Aireborough bypass
• Better access to the new proposed airport village business park
• Better commute times from Rawdon, Yeadon, Guiseley and Menston to Leeds and Bradford using existing roads
• Potential for a new Horsforth / Leeds Bradford Airport railway station access road

Reasons not to support option B

• This route will increase commuter traffic routing through the centre of Yeadon
• Journey times to the airport will not be increase sufficiently
• No potential to continue route to improve local traffic
• Mature trees on Victoria Avenue will need to be removed
• Significant disruption during construction
• Potential destruction of mash ponds containing protected Great Crested Newts

Reasons not to support option C

• Increase traffic leading to increased congestion on the A65
• Significant compulsory purchased of home owner property
• Widened roads will encourage faster traffic passing Benton Park high school in Rawdon
• no further potential to upgrade the A65 between Rawdon and Menston
• Significant number of mature trees will need to be removed on Victoria Avenue and in Rawdon
• Journey times to the airport will not be increase sufficiently
• Significant disruption during construction

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I need to study a more detailed map then I have seen. I want a route that will open up land for house building, so I will be looking closely at "B".
I dont care what issues we have to put up with during construction, just that the end product goes someway to getting traffic to the airport and improving traffic in the area.
If houses have to be knocked down so be it, if mine has to go, thats life, its only bricks and mortar.
I had my house in York compulsory purchased over 50 years ago for the inner ring road. Fortunately I refused to take the offer made to me and sat out when virtually everyone else moved. After 15 years the plans shelved and my daughter still lives in a house, now nearly worth 7 figures, and I turned down £350.

 

[Aviador]

I need to study a more detailed map then I have seen. I want a route that will open up land for house building, so I will be looking closely at "B".
I dont care what issues we have to put up with during construction, just that the end product goes someway to getting traffic to the airport and improving traffic in the area.
If houses have to be knocked down so be it, if mine has to go, thats life, its only bricks and mortar.
I had my house in York compulsory purchased over 50 years ago for the inner ring road. Fortunately I refused to take the offer made to me and sat out when virtually everyone else moved. After 15 years the plans shelved and my daughter still lives in a house, now nearly worth 7 figures, and I turned down £350.

Without even considering land use for housing off Bayton Lane, Leeds City Council already plans significantly more new houses than any other council authority, 66,000 new homes to be precise of which 2,364 are already planned for the Aireborough area. I would question the need for greenbelt land to be used unnecessarily for additional housing developments to those already planned.

 

[Aviador]

The environment agency had flood warnings in force at Apperley Bridge A658 Bradford to Harrogate road. One of the main access routes to Leeds Bradford Airport from the West. Passengers travelling to the airport might find the Leeds Ring Road a better option to get to the airport to avoid disruption.
Also the A65 is closed at Ilkley this evening due to flooding.

 

[Aviador]

The YEP reports that "Drivers could find themselves going underground as they make their way to Leeds Bradford Airport, it has been revealed."

Read more: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... z3rxcA1lnD

Personally I would welcome this at whatever the cost. Councils and governments aren't imaginative enough these days and it would make a huge difference both environmentally and aesthetically.

If the section that was tunnelled was the section at the end of the airport runway it would raise land to enable the threashold to be brought back as discussed else where in the forum. Again, some kind of "cut and cover" would be ideal at the Rawdon end where the fight to build on greenbelt will be hardest to win over.

 

[Bigman]

How about a big long rail tunnel from Stourton, under Leeds, Hyde Park, Headingley and Horsforth, under the airport and out near Pool to head North towards Harrogate and the North. They could call it HS2!!!!

 

[cmj]

This is the north, not London!

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Have to say watched the BBC series on the construction of Crossrail. There was some wonderful tunnelling machines featured which could be lowered in to the ground using a very small opening. had actually watched them lower one of the cutting heads underground near where my OH was working. They actually lifted the building she was working in, its amazing what they can do today.
Doing 10 mile of tunnels around LBA would be a piece of cake.

 

[Aviador]

I really am suprised some people have chosen option C to upgrade the existing roads. It is of course the cheapest option but making a road wider isn't going to alter the volume of traffic so in a sense it would be wasted money. Surely option A a completely new road offering new capacity, not just to the airport but onwards towards Harrogate has to be the best option?

I will be attending the drop in meeting at Greenacre hall in Rawdon at the end of the month to express my opinion.

 

[Bigman]

Yes, I might just pop down there myself.

 

[White Heather]

Regarding a possible tunnel - there is a pretty steep incline up from Rawdon Crematorium up to Horsforth Golf Club / Bayton Lane, which might prove a challenge for heavy vehicles, and it might prove to be the best location to use a tunnel. If they did, it would enable them to reduce the gradient to something more acceptable, and to tunnel underneath the only properties that are significantly impacted - those near the golf club. If the tunnel emerged over towards the end of the runway, the road could run in the lower ground where the old reservoirs used to be, with the result they would be less visible and noise would be largely contained. From there to the Northern end of the airport is level - past the airport long stay car parks. Beyond that there might be a need for further tunnels due to the steep inclines through the small valley at the end of Scotland Lane as it approaches Otley Old Road. Again, a tunnel would enable the inclines to be reduced.

I still cannot see how options B or C can do what is required for the airport. Only option A really does what the plan is supposed to do - and even then it is compromised by the fact it takes all traffic to the already congested A65 at Horsforth. If this was Spain, there would be no question that they would just tunnel underneath everything that gets in the way. I hope we follow suit as it is one way of delivering what is required with minimal impact on the environment and those affected most by the new road.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Cossrail having to tunnel within a foot of the underground track and under the heart of London has proved the techology is there. I just watched in awe as they raised some of the old building in London that had sunk over the years, nothing to do with Crossrail.
Standing in an underground station and hearing the tunnelling machine working just inches below was unbelievable, slight movement of the floor, but no damage. The two tunnelling machines as in the euro tunnel met to within .0000 of an inch.
I was in the canary wharf station with its wonderful roof garden recently, just shows what is possible today, looks as if it will make its 2018 opening.

 

[lbaspotter]

BBC Radio Leeds are currently discussing the proposed Airport Link Road.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioLeeds/ ... 623907824/