Transport top priority for city residents

The need for better public transport in Leeds is a priority for people in the city, a new study has found.

Transport, jobs, the environment, good community relations, safety and culture were voted as the key issues for the long-term future of the city.

People were asked by the Leeds Initiative, the city's local strategic partnership, what they want for the future of the city as part of the What if Leeds…? Talk Today, Shape Tomorrow campaign.

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People want their city to be the best in the UK by 2030 according to the results of the recent consultation.

The need for better transport was highlighted and the study found that the people of Leeds want the city to be fair, open, welcoming, sustainable, prosperous and safe.

The chairman of the Leeds Initiative and Leeds Council leader, Keith Wakefield, said: "We have seen some really good ideas and interesting debates through the What if Leeds consultation.

"We are living in challenging times. The global recession is having a big impact on major cities and the changing climate is increasingly affecting our daily lives. Leeds is a great city already and by speaking to the people who live and work here we can make it even better."

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The survey also showed that people recognise that the era of large public funding has passed.

The results of the consultation will help form the third Vision for Leeds, which is due to be launched in the summer and will shape the future of the city until 2030.

The chief executive of Leeds Council, Tom Riordan, said: "This consultation has given us a really good insight into what the people of Leeds really want the city to be like in the future.

"We are in a time of economic uncertainty, but this means that there is an even greater need to plan for the future to make sure the city can stay resilient, stay ahead and offer a great quality of life for all."