A WHARFEDALE MP is calling for an 'unwanted and costly' road link to Leeds Bradford Airport to be scrapped.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) is also arguing for a scheme to create a new railway station at Horsforth Parkway to be abandoned.

The MP's comments follow the Government's recent decision to refuse plans for a Leeds trolleybus (NGT) scheme – leaving the area with £173 million to spend on alternative transport improvements.

That decision led to renewed calls by Mr Mulholland and MP Stuart Andrew (Con, Pudsey) for some of the funding to be used for an airport rail link.

Now, the Otley-based MP, who also wants a summit to be held regarding how to spend the transport cash, has outlined his vision of creating a 'transformative' tram-train network.

He said: "Leeds City Council must now scrap plans for an unwanted and hugely costly road link to the airport and, instead, show leadership and pool the money earmarked for that with the £173 million of Government funding and the up to £87 million which Leeds and Metro also committed to NGT.

"This total sum of money, which has already been committed and is there, would deliver the start of a tram-train network, which would include a rail link to the airport and into Leeds city centre.

"Finally, after so many years of frustration, Leeds would get a modern light rail system fit for a modern dynamic city.

"Starting a tram-train network with the Leeds-Harrogate-York line, which is already earmarked for electrification, would get people out of their cars and reduce congestion on the roads.

"This plan would also then see the development of a Leeds City Region tram-train network phase by phase, line by line, and we could finally see Leeds catching up with other British and European cities."

He added that an airport road link would be the "wrong approach", costly and environmentally damaging.

And he dismissed the Horsforth Parkway plans as a waste of public money, claiming they would create "a costly new station that still requires people to get on a bus".

Councillor Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) also believes an airport rail link is the way forward, but doesn't think the Horsforth Parkway scheme should be ruled out.

He said: "At this point, we should be keeping all options open, including this station.

"There have been some ill-thought-out schemes over the years, and now the Government's basically told us again to 'think of something else'.

"I don't think we should be scrapping anything at this point but instead need to look at all the options until they've been properly discussed and costed."

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