BRADFORD District Green Party has questioned the Government's investment in HS2 and instead called for more investment in local travel.

In its submission to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) ‘Rail Assessment Consultation for The North and Midlands’, the party has urged for more invest in improved regional connectivity within Yorkshire before HS2.

It also stressed that environmental concerns need to feature much more strongly in the recommendations as well as a need to increase capacity for rail freight.

Martin Love, leader of the Green Group on Bradford Council, said: “Given the challenges we face in the wake of the Coronavirus Crisis, it is clear that HS2 is not an appropriate choice for reinvigorating the economy here in Yorkshire – and it certainly won’t benefit us here.

“Given the challenges we face in the wake of the Coronavirus Crisis, it is clear that HS2 is not an appropriate choice for reinvigorating the economy in Yorkshire – and it certainly won’t help us here in Bradford. Whatever benefits there are won’t even start to materialise until the 2030s and 2040s and who knows what our economy will look like then.

“Before then, we need to focus on delivering better regional transport. It’s absurd that in many cases it is quicker for people living in Bradford District to go into Leeds to get to places like Huddersfield or Wakefield.

“The focus can’t always be on trains. Bus companies are really going to be struggling in the post-Coronavirus world so we want to see more support for these services.”