Transport chief slams Ministers over ‘blow to economic recovery’

The decision was branded a “blow to economic recovery” after the bid failed to make a shortlist for funding from a £560m pot.

Councillor James Lewis, chairman of transport authority Metro, accused Ministers of failing to live up to a pledge to correct the raw deal on transport the region has endured, a problem highlighted in the Yorkshire Post’s Fair Deal for Yorkshire campaign.

“Despite David Cameron’s recent claim to understand the concerns of businesses in West Yorkshire, he and his colleagues are not prepared to back schemes such as Getting Transport to Work, which would have started to address those very concerns,” said Coun Lewis.

“Instead it seems they are prepared to continue the legacy of Government underspending on transport in our region, which can only hamper the economic recovery they claim to champion.”

Metro was bidding for the money from the Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which will finance schemes that cut congestion, boost business and reduce carbon emissions. Coun Lewis accused Government officials of failing to read the supporting evidence.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “This is a competitive process and we received a large number of proposals which were assessed against strict criteria. Unfortunately West Yorkshire’s bid was judged not to meet these criteria as effectively as some of the other bids. We appreciate this will be disappointing news but we must ensure the successful projects will offer value for money as well as meeting the Fund’s key twin objectives of creating growth and cutting carbon.”

However, a multi-million pound bid from the same fund for schemes in South Yorkshire has made it onto the shortlist.