Developer makes congestion charge call for busy A65

The London-based Raven Group believes its plans for the former psychiatric hospital cannot be held responsible for traffic problems that already exist on the major road which runs through the heart of Aireborough, Wharfedale and Horsforth.

And in a letter to Menston community groups, it suggests that congestion charging, as recently introduced in London, could be the solution.

The comment follows criticism of the group by residents and councillors who are concerned about the amount of traffic the planned 568 houses on the High Royds site will produce.

In his letter, The Raven Group's Ben Krauze wrote: "You are all concerned by the impact the development might have on the A65.

"I was most impressed with the pragmatic approach that you all adopted.

"The concerns are real but the traffic problem will be there whether or not the Raven Group develops High Royds and indeed as time goes on the problem will get worse.

"We shall go to extraordinary lengths to reduce dependence on cars at High Royds but we need your help to encourage the politicians, Arriva and Metro to improve their services on rail and road.

"The A65 is a much greater problem than the development of High Royds and will need radical central policies to solve it.

"Congestion charging is now working in Central London and all major cities are looking at such schemes for their centres.

"On the evidence from London congestion charging will reduce traffic flows on the A65."

The group is trying to introduce measures to cut the amount of traffic the new development will produce by issuing new residents with Metro cards and arranging for more buses and trains to service Menston.

Derrick Joanes, Secretary of the Wharfedale Rail Users Group, feels the scheme could work in Leeds city centre but there would need to be more investment in public transport first.

"I do not think it would be feasible on a single road into Leeds," he said.

"If they make charges on the A65 then people will find alternative routes. The only way is to have a zone in Leeds city centre as has been done in London. The London scheme has proved to have fewer problems than anticipated and has reduced traffic.

"If such a scheme was introduced in Leeds in the future could public transport cope with the increased number of passengers.

"There would need to be additional investment in local transport services with some extra trains at peak times."

Some people in Menston and Guiseley feel that the idea would not work locally and would be unfair on residents living off the road.

Councillor Chris Greaves (Rombalds Ward, Con) said: "In London they have got a square which you have to pay to get into or out of. The A65 is an arterial road if this idea comes in all the traffic would simply move on to the other roads, like the moor roads which are far less suitable for traffic.

"The developer has no concept of how traffic works in the north. Congestion charges will be completely unworkable. The High Royds plans are all show and no detail. Not all the people using the road are going to Leeds, many live and work locally and this would not be fair."

Guiseley resident Mike King said: "If the developer is suggesting the charges it is tantamount to an admission that the proposed development is unacceptable in its current form because of the traffic problems it will create."

The developer congratulated Menston on the workshops it organised between itself and residents to discuss the High Royds proposals.

Mr Krauze was so impressed that he will be using the workshop framework in future development discussions. "We were impressed with the way that you organised and ran the discussion groups," he said.

"I personally, have now adopted this as the model for future discussion groups. We have listened to you very carefully and shall incorporate what we can into the scheme."

He added that the plans to include a Catholic Primary school may not go ahead due to residents concerns over the admission policy.