City to get
another park and ride site

City council bosses have confirmed to the Yorkshire Post that they want to set up the 1,000-space facility in the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone, near Temple Newsam.

The precise location currently favoured for the park and ride is close to the East Leeds Link Road and Bell Wood roundabout.

It is hoped that it will be ready for operation by late 2015. The scheme would be delivered by the council, with funding coming from a local transport cashpot as well as the Government.

Should the plans reach fruition, the site would complement a £2.8m park and ride project currently taking shape near Leeds United’s Elland Road ground.

Two more park and rides will be constructed at Lawnswood and Stourton if Leeds’s £250m trolleybus system is given the go-ahead following a public inquiry later this year.

Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for economy and development, said yesterday: “This scheme is key to the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone.

“It represents another step on the road to providing a network of park and ride sites – easing congestion while making journeys into our city more enjoyable and less stressful.”

Construction work began last month on the 800-space Elland Road facility, on land normally used for matchday parking.

It is due to open in time for the city’s hosting of the first stage of the Tour de France cycle race this summer.

The Elland Road scheme is a joint collaboration between the council, West Yorkshire passenger transport authority Metro and bus firm First.

Covering a total of 142 hectares, the Aire Valley Leeds enterprise zone was launched with Government backing in 2012.

It has been aiming to attract investment by offering reduced business rates worth up to £275,000 over five years.