NEW bus routes could soon be introduced to the Bradford area if a £1 million bid for funding is approved.

Tomorrow morning representatives from numerous Councils in West Yorkshire will discuss a number of transport projects for the area at a meeting in Leeds.

Among the items being discussed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transport Committee will be a bid to the Government's Supported Bus Services Funding. Up to £1.086m could be used to "improve the provision of local bus services in their area" by adding new routes or increasing the frequency of existing routes.

Older people resorting to taxis as bus routes cut

The Authority has drawn up a list of 11 possible routes that could benefit from the funding. These include:

- Improved connectivity between Ilkley and Otley

- Restore a "lost bus link" between Keighley and Halifax via Denholme

- A North Bradford employment peak link to Leeds – Shipley, Five Lane Ends, Gain Lane, Thornbury and non stop to Leeds.

- Linking Pudsey town centre and bus station with New Pudsey rail station and the retail park at Owlcotes.

A report to the committee says: "If the Department for Transport accept this proposal, work will proceed in

scoping and costing these proposals for implementation later in 2020."

The Authority will also apply for some "Super Bus Funding" to increase bus patronage in a single area of West Yorkshire.

The funding includes a package of measures including bus priority, reducing bus fares and increasing service frequencies.

The Government says the money has to be spent in a location with a

population of 75,000 or more and "must demonstrate that there has been

patronage decline, worsening operational conditions and increasing fares

over the last three years."

Up to £70m is available to support this project, the Department for Transport is looking to fund two to three pilot areas in England.

The Combined Authority can submit only one bid. Members of the meeting will be given information of that bid behind closed doors, in a section of the meeting where the press and public will be excluded.

The Committee meets in Wellington House, Leeds at 11am.