A project, promoted by Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire PTA, to improve public transport on the Otley Road (A660), which runs through Far Headingley, has been the subject of public drop-in sessions and other publicity.  The current timetable envisages a Transport and Works Act Order application to be published this autumn with a Public Inquiry probably being held early in 2014.  Building work on the project would start in 2017 and the first service is planned for 2020.

This is a very controversial scheme.  The Far Headingley Village Society committee has met recently to discuss the NGT at length.  Various documents and plans are not currently available and / or keep changing and final details of the proposal will only be known in September when an application for an Order is submitted. 

The committee was largely supportive of the thrust of the scheme but has several serious concerns about some aspects of it, particularly as it affects Far Headingley.  These are being transmitted to the NGT Project Team.  If satisfactory answers are not received when the full scheme is published the FHVS will consider submitting representations to the Secretary of State.

The concerns are:

·        Effects on other parts of the public transport network in Leeds.  For example, it is likely that other bus services will be reduced, affecting residents’ ability to move around to places other than those served directly by the NGT.  It is felt that a scheme to improve public transport should not be to the detriment of the overall service.

·        Cycle provision should be improved as part of the scheme’s design.  It is acknowledged that much work is being done on this issue but the FHVS is of the view that the bias should be towards building dedicated cycle lanes.

·        Effects of the inbound NGT lane on the shops, restaurants and pubs in Far Headingley.  The FHVS will expect the needs of these traders, for deliveries and short-stay customer parking, to be kept at the current (rather inadequate) level or improved.

·        An integrated ticketing system is needed, introducing ITSO or other similar system useable on all public transport modes.

A section has been set up on this website to provide information on the proposal, largely in the form of links to other web sites.