City station's new £15m entrance scheme backed

Transport chiefs say the new entrance at Granary Wharf is needed to cope with increasing passenger numbers and will provide a vital link with the southern side of the city.

However, opponents are concerned about the location of the new entrance and the fact it will impact upon the outlook of a small number of city centre flats.

Yesterday, councillors backed the scheme subject to the outcome of further reports and the final approval of planning officers once negotiations have been held over a number of issues, including pedestrian improvements.

However, at a meeting of Leeds City Council's city centre plans panel yesterday, Network Rail's application did not receive unanimous support from members.

The scheme will allow people to get in and out of Leeds City Station from both sides of the River Aire around Granary Wharf.

Liberal Democrat councillor James Monaghan said: "Plonking this in the middle of the river I think will not emphasise the river front at all."

He said he was concerned that the new entrance would not have a taxi pick-up.

Coun David Blackburn said he thought Sovereign Street would be a better location.

But Coun Neil Taggart said: "A south entrance has been long, long overdue."

The entrance will sit either side of Blue and Waterman Place flats and will be close to a small number of flats, but the meeting was told the new access would offer better links to a side of the city that has undergone much regeneration.

A report to members said: "The southern access would also

help to continue the regeneration and revitalisation of Holbeck Urban Village, the waterfront and the south of the city centre generally, with a visible and striking public transport link."

Metro has said it will speed up passenger movement through the station.

Over 17,000 rail passengers are expected to use the southern entrance every day and the numbers using the new entrance are forecast to increase by 10 per cent a year until 2011.

The Government will meet 90 per cent of the cost, the remainder being funded locally.

Members asked for further reports on whether a cycling point could be created at the new entrance and consideration of the impact the

extra pedestrians would have on Granary Wharf, which will be among issues which will be considered before a final decision is made.

Demand for 'real' punctuality times

Rail companies should publish "real" train punctuality figures, says a rail customer watchdog.

Currently, the rail industry regards trains on short routes as being on time if they arrive no more than five minutes late, while long-distance trains are said to be on time if they are no more than 10 minutes late.

Now, following a survey, Passenger Focus is calling on the rail industry to tell customers how many of

its trains are actually on

time.

Its chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Passengers want their trains actually on time, not up to five or 10 minutes late."