Leeds City Council have released the following press release in response to our campaign for improvements at Skelton Grange. It is clear the council are aware of the issue and we will continue to chase them untila a good solution is found.
Councillor Peter Carlill (Labour, Calverley and Farsley)
Hope for Skelton bridge cyclists
Councillor Peter Carlill is feeling positive about renewed efforts to address longstanding cycling problems at Skelton Bridge.
The bridge, which is privately owned, has been a barrier to what is otherwise a welcoming and accessible walking and cycle route. However on the back of recent funding for active travel, Cllr Car Carlill and Cllr Lisa Mulherin (Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development) feel there is a renew interest and opportunity in resolving this issue.
A meeting is being planned to gather all stakeholders together to look into how to issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.
The route forms part of the Council’s ambition to see 800Km of cycle routes across the city of Leeds and is hoped to be a positive continuation of the recent work to further promote active travel in response to Covid -19
Councillor Peter Carlill (Labour, Calverley and Farsley) said:
“I’d like to thank everyone who has got in touch about this issue, both recently and in the past. We all know it’s a long standing problem with no easy solution. However it’s important that we keep going to reach an outcome that makes this an accessible and valuable cycling route. The difficulty we are facing is that this is a privately owned bridge and that means that we are going to have to work together with a number of parties to make the positive change we all want to see.
“At the Council we are all dedicated to a version of Leeds were cycling is one the best choices for getting about. We are working to see 800km of cycle routes around Leeds and during this difficult time we are asking for the public’s view on how to walk and cycle easier via our commonplace consultation, which we have already seen submitted ideas being implemented across the city.
“In the wake of the change we are making in response to Covid-19, this is an opportunity we need to seize, to ensure a solution is found. I will be chairing a meeting to bring all parties together to do just that.”
A copy of the full press release can be downloaded here.