People are being invited to have their say on the future of Cottingley Rail Station, Leeds, before a public consultation being held by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Leeds City Council, Munroe K and Network Rail closes at midnight on Monday (4 October 2021).
Construction is due to start later this year on a new, more accessible £24 million rail station 800m along the track, near the White Rose Office Park.
The consultation is seeking people’s views on the proposed closure of Cottingley Rail Station as it will not be possible to maintain the same level of service at both Cottingley and White Rose stations because they are too close together.
Alongside a new rail station, the White Rose scheme also includes better walking and cycling routes to Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw, as well as the White Rose Shopping Centre and the bus interchange.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Making public transport work for people is at the heart of my Mayoral pledges and it is important everyone makes the most of this opportunity to have their say on the future of Cottingley Rail Station before the consultation closes.
“A better and more inclusive transport network goes beyond getting people from A to B. It is about making sure everyone can access job, education and training opportunities. Not only will the new White Rose Rail Station help us do that, it will also be more accessible and safer for women and girls, thanks to improved lighting.”
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Transport Portfolio Holder for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council, said:
“During the past three months, we have been engaging with local communities on the future of Cottingley Rail Station. If you have not already done so, please make sure your voice is heard before the consultation closes.”
“A fully accessible rail station at White Rose will bring new opportunities for people in Cottingley, Churwell, Millshaw and Morley, improving transport links and acting as a catalyst for local regeneration, including housing and job growth.”
According to The Office of Rail and Roads station usage data for 2018/19, Cottingley is the least used station in Leeds.
The options being considered as part of the consultation include:
- Replacing the existing station at Cottingley with a new station at White Rose. This option is preferred because of the low numbers of people using the station and its lack of step-free access.
- Constructing the new station at White Rose and keeping Cottingley open. This option would mean Cottingley Rail Station would have a very infrequent service. It could also weaken the funding case for new walking and cycling routes between Cottingley and the new station as part of the White Rose Rail Station development.
David Aspin, Founder and CEO of Munroe K, said:
“As this consultation draws to a close I would encourage everyone that would like to feedback on the plans to take the opportunity to do so before the closing date. I’m extremely excited about bringing the new White Rose Railway Station to fruition and your feedback is important to help us create a new station that provides to most benefit to as many of our local communities as possible.”
For more information and to have your say visit www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/Cottingley.
Hard copies of the consultation materials can be provided free of charge by calling (0113) 245 7676 (MetroLine), via Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA) or yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.
All representations should be returned using the website, email or postal details above by midnight on Monday 4 October 2021.
This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Cottingley rail station was opened to serve the local community. I do think it should close – and it certainly shouldn’t close in order to strengthen the funding case for walking and cycling routes. We should have an inclusive approach and accept that many can’t walk or cycle (and some of those that can cycle, like myself, simply do not want to cycle in an urban area particularly if there is a need to cross/join roads with traffic – I say this with experience of two accidents whilst on my bike). If capacity issues mean there is no option except closure, the station should be mothballed – in years to come, when we have a new Northern Powerhouse rail link, there will be more capacity on the line and opportunity to have more stations.
Cottingley rail station was dead and buried the second they OKed the White Elephant one. Consultation is a joke, never a hope in hell that Cottingley station will remain open.