CALLS for an airport rail link are being renewed in the wake of the Government decision to scrap the Leeds trolleybus scheme.

The Department for Transport has accepted the independent planning inspector’s recommendation not to give consent to the trolleybus proposals.

But more than £173 million of government funding will be retained to improve transport in the city - and calls are being made for some of the money to be used on a rail link to Leeds Bradford Airport as well as improvements to the A65 and A660.

Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said public transport in the city had been set back years by the decisions of successive governments in Whitehall on Supertram and the New Generation Transport Scheme.

But she added: "I’m pleased Leeds will still be allocated the funding and look forward to working with our partners to bring forward the public transport improvements Leeds so desperately needs as quickly as possible."

Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: "NGT would have brought significant economic benefit to Leeds as well as tackling the congestion and unacceptable travel times on one of the main routes into the city.

"We now need to work out -alongside Central Government- how to use the £173.5 million earmarked for Leeds to provide better transport, help people move around the city and improve air quality in Leeds."

Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew was one of those renewing calls for a rail link to the airport.

He said: "People have spent a lot of time on the Trolleybus scheme, but it was found to not be in the public interest for several reasons, one of which being the exacerbation of existing congestion.

"The important thing is that this funding is being retained so that we can get the right transport scheme in place in Leeds, and I will continue to push for this including a rail link to the airport as part of a more comprehensive solution."

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland called for a summit of all Leeds MPs, Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Chamber of Commerce to discuss how the money could be spent to ensure a transformative transport scheme for the city.

He said: "As a city and wider region we must now work together to come up with the right 21st century transport system and include all options, in using tram and tram train and looking at existing rail lines. Part of this planning must include a fixed link to Leeds Bradford International Airport as part of a wider city region system.

"It is time for Leeds to catch up with other UK and European cities on transport."

Horsforth councillor Brian Cleasby said: "As all ward members know, there is work that can be done in all areas that will benefit residents almost straight away. In north-west Leeds alone, the council should be considering new bridges on the ring road, improvements to the A65 and A660, a new train station and park and ride at Horsforth Woodside, a rail link to the airport from Guiseley or Horsforth and commuter parking areas to relieve residential streets. These are all ideas that would help make this part of the city a much better place to live and work."