Transport schemes hit major funding roadblock

The schemes – which include the 100m Leeds New Generation Transport scheme and the 160m A63 improvement scheme in Hull – are to be paid for over a ten-year period, but the Government sets restrictions on how much can be spent in any one year.

That budget can be exceeded by up to 150 per cent in one year, but under current proposals the projects in Yorkshire would go over budget by 200m in 2015 – an overspend of 302 per cent.

The budget is also broken in 2016 with an overspend of 186 per cent and the Department for Transport (DfT) has warned it will enforce its regulations, prompting fears some of the projects may have to be shelved.

Yorkshire Forward is working to restructure the finances, and executive director of strategy Simon Foy is confident the costs can be spread more evenly.

He said: "Over the next few weeks we will be working with project sponsors to develop options for the re-profiling of the delivery of the schemes.

"These options will be considered by the Transport Advisory Board at the end of February."

The projects in doubt are the Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar Bypass, expected to cost 35m; Waverley Link at Rotherham, a 2km road between Highfield Lane and Retford Road; the A61 Penistone Road Quality Bus Corridor in north Sheffield; the IntegR8 park and ride sites in Sheffield and Doncaster; and 20m of additional Supertrams in Sheffield.

There is also the 100m Leeds New Generation Transport project for rapid electric trolleybuses; the Sheffield to Rotherham Bus Rapid Transit South and North; two options to ease congestion on the A63 Castle Street in Hull, costing up to 160m; the 137m scheme to improve congestion on the A180 and A160 at Immingham port; the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS); and a 130m link road and improvements to the M18 and White Rose Way.

A report to the transport board states the programme is pressing because two of the schemes in the spike – improvements to the A63 in Hull and the A160 and A180 at Immingham – will require endorsement early this year to allow them to proceed.

The report also admits that re-phasing some of the schemes over a longer time period is not realistic and would only partially address the problem.

Yesterday, Metro, the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, met to discuss how to adjust the projects they are involved in, mainly the Leeds trolleybus project.

A report to the authority suggested taking some cash from next year's planned spending on train services, replacing it with alternative funding mechanisms from the rail industry.

The report also highlights the project could be at risk should there be cuts to public spending next year after a general election.