A DECISION on a rail link to Leeds Bradford Airport needs to be made locally and soon, the area’s MP has told Parliament.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland made his call in the House of Commons last week during a debate about connectivity to the airport. Mr Mulholland stressed it was important the airport got a rail link in addition to the Leeds-Harrogate-York line being electrified.

With the Leeds city region economy worth £55 billion in 2013 – the biggest in the UK outside of London – Mr Mulholland also said a decision on the most effective transport system for the city had to be made locally rather than by civil servants 200 miles away in Whitehall.

The MP said a rail link would make it easier for local residents and businesses to go abroad, as well as for international travellers to visit Yorkshire.

In August, Mr Mulholland tabled a motion in Parliament calling on ministers to “provide a further boost for local jobs and the regional economy by setting out a timescale” for investing in a rail link.

The airport is set to have a total of 5.1 million passengers pass through in 2016 and is expected to support up to 3,400 full-time equivalent jobs.

The Department for Transport has recently been undertaking a feasibility study for connectivity options, and the results are expected to be released soon.

Speaking after the debate, Mr Mulholland said: “As the MP whose constituency the airport is in, I fully support a rail link to Leeds Bradford International Airport. It was great to hear support from MPs across the region.

“With the Leeds city region economy worth over £50 billion a year, we should be able to make the decision to build the rail link locally.

He added: "We have had great progress with the Regional Growth Fund and City Deals, now we need to have the power and budget to get on and build this rail link as part of a modern, integrated, transport system in the Leeds City Region.

“We also need electrification of the Leeds-Harrogate-York line as well as the Leeds Bradford rail link.

"This has huge potential for the city region.”

During the debate, Government minister Robert Goodwill admitted that passengers were turning their backs on Leeds Bradford Airport because of its poor transport links.

Mr Goodwill, the Scarborough and Whitby MP, said his constituents preferred to fly from Manchester Airport – even though it was much further away.

Replying in a Commons debate on problems getting to and from at the airport, the transport minister said he was “well aware” of the need for improvements.

He told MPs: “My own constituents tell me it is more convenient to use Manchester Airport because there is an express transpennine service through Leeds."