THE MULTI-million pound cost of a proposed link road to Leeds Bradford Airport is being questioned in Parliament amid calls for the money to be spent on a rail link instead.

An early day motion has been submitted by Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland expressing concern at the cost of the three alternative road schemes, which range from £15 million to £75 million.

Mr Mulholland's parliamentary motion urges ministers to use funds that would have been spent on a road link to instead create a rail link.

Leeds City Council has launched a public consultation on the three road proposals, and the local authority says it is also examining the possibility of a rail link in the long term in connection with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds Bradford Airport.

The parliamentary motion argues that instead of the road option, "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".

Mr Mulholland said: "It is crazy to instead be spending such a huge sum on new road links, which are causing concern for local residents and will impact far more on greenbelt land, when the big problem is very few people getting to the airport on public transport, precisely because there is no rail link.

"All a road will do is make it easier for people already travelling to the airport to get there more quickly. It won't get people out of their cars, which is what needs to happen, nor will it encourage people who currently get the train to Manchester airport because they have a station and a good service from Leeds to instead access their local airport."

Similar criticisms and calls for a rail link were made by Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew earlier this year.

Answering his criticism at the time, Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: "Given the delays on railway infrastructure from central government, that could be a long time away.

"Whatever we may hope about the demand for railway links, some people will inevitably still prefer to travel to the airport by car. By doing nothing on road links – not even the third limited option that will be consulted on later in the year – residents in nearby areas will have to suffer more traffic, noise and pollution along what are older, residential roads."

Meanwhile the council has agreed to extend its consultation on the three road schemes by a month and is also planning to hold more information events. It will now run until the end of February.

Horsforth councillor, Chris Townsley, said: "I am delighted as this gives more of an opportunity for our residents to put forward their informed choice on which of the three routes they prefer, if any."