Transport Committee endorses West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy

Transport Committee endorses West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy

At the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee meeting on Friday 22 February members endorsed the formal adoption of the West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy (WYLES) which has been jointly developed with the five West Yorkshire District Councils and Public Health England to reduce the harmful emissions from transport and other sources that impact on health and the environment.

The Strategy sets the vision and objectives and the Combined Authority is now working with all the West Yorkshire District councils to develop a detailed action plan for delivery of the WYLES. The plan which will cover a five year period to 2021 will make recommendations to tackle transport emissions in the short to medium term ensuring that all parts of West Yorkshire meet legal air quality limits by 2020.

Proposals

�Among the WYLES proposals to help deliver air quality targets will be;

  • measures to control transport emissions including the Clean Air Zone which Leeds is required to introduce by 2020,
  • encouraging zero emission vehicles by providing electric charging infrastructure,
  • renewal and upgrade of buses to remove harmful emissions,
  • influencing the rail industry to commit to a rolling programme of local rail electrification,
  • enhance walking and cycling facilities to encourage less use of private cars
  • and reducing emissions from the construction of transport infrastructure by adopting more sustainable techniques.

Cllr Eric Firth, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Deputy Transport Chair said,

�Reducing carbon emissions from transport is a high priority for the Combined Authority and the five district councils.

�While our Low Emission Strategy continues being developed, the Combined Authority is already contributing to reducing air pollution across the Leeds City Region through developments in its transport systems.

�Last year we opened two new rail stations, at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge with a third due to open in spring at Low Moor enabling people from these areas to travel more sustainably. To reduce congestion and pollution in Leeds, we have almost doubled the size of our Elland Road Park and Ride to 800 spaces, with another 1000 space Park and Ride due to open in east Leeds in June. Electric vehicles can be charged at both sites.

�We are working closely with local bus operators who have already begun replacing their older vehicles with buses meeting the latest EURO VI emissions standards. �

�Thanks to successful bids for DfT funding, we have carried out the �greening� of our own fleet of MyBus and Access vehicles.

Also discussed

Also discussed and agreed at Friday�s meeting was a response to HS2�s phase 2b route refinement consultation. The Combined Authority will stress the importance of ensuring that everyone in the City Region can access HS2 and that it links with the new east-west Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) service which will be developed in a similar timescale.

The Transport Committee also reviewed feedback from consultation held in the process of developing a new Transport Strategy for the City Region.

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