The West Yorkshire mass transit project is a litmus test of not only local leadership but also the appetite of Westminster when it comes to putting power in the hands of the community.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ commitment to giving West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin additional power to speed up the delivery of trams in this part of the world is on the surface to be welcomed.

The devil will be in the detail but it is clear that projects such as West Yorkshire mass transit are best delivered by local people for local people.

The Mayor is the one who has made the pledge to deliver what would be transformative transport infrastructure for the region. It is wrong then for those in Whitehall to ask her to see if West Yorkshire can make do with buses instead.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaking to the media during a visit to Leeds. PIC: Jacob King/PA Wire

placeholder image — Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaking to the media during a visit to Leeds. PIC: Jacob King/PA Wire

Compelling arguments have been made by a number of stakeholders across the region for this corner of the region to finally get a tram network that is long overdue.

On Tuesday, Leeds United director Peter Lowy, whose development company was previously involved in regeneration work around the London Olympic Village site, said: “We can’t sit around until 2035” to start the mass transit project.

He added: “I’m not that patient. I’m 67 years old. I don’t want to be 77 years old, still talking to you about what we are going to do.”

That sense of urgency is shared by many people across the region. There are some who still remember Leeds’ old tram network and to this day lament its axing. It would be negligent if future generations were denied the prosperity and mobility that would accompany a tram network.