Kirklees Council leader urged not to back the use of public money for Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

The call came from Kirklees Greens leader Councillor Andrew Cooper, who says pumping £5m into a proposed new rail interchange would inevitably increase international flights and could undermine regional carbon emissions targets.

He said committing to spend public money in such a way was “foolhardy”.

Coun Cooper, a leading figure nationally within the Green Party, spoke out in advance of the £41m airport plan being discussed at a meeting in Bradford of West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), a group of leading councillors and officers from West Yorkshire councils, plus York, that works on major infrastructure projects.

The project, known formally as the Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway scheme, will see delivery of a new rail station on the Harrogate railway line and

associated access works.

It will serve as a rail interchange and parkway function to the airport.

Senior councillors, including Coun Pandor, will meet in Bradford (FEB 6) to determine whether to develop the final business case for the scheme.

A WYCA report says it will “support an increase in international connectivity” as well as improving the public transport access to and from the airport whilst supporting a reduction in road congestion levels and consequently improving air quality.

WYCA is expected to contribute around £5m towards the final cost.

Counc Cooper, who represents the Newsome ward on Kirklees Council, said: “Public money should not be used to support airport expansion.

“The new train station that has been proposed will assist Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans.

“Currently international air travel is unregulated, unrestricted and therefore this decision will blow any carbon emission targets that we are trying to achieve.

“It is foolhardy of local leaders to use public money in this way.

“Kirklees Council cannot ignore the impact of air travel and the threat it poses to all the actions that we need to be taking to reduce global emissions.

“Our council leader has a say over this decision as a member of the WYCA board. I would ask him not to support this at the meeting in Leeds tomorrow.”

Coun Pandor said having a regional international airport offering flights “to those close by” prevented people from having to travel to other airports such as Manchester.

He said that, allied with encouraging travellers to take the train to the airport rather than driving, would help lower emissions.

He added: “We are committed to doing all we can to help the environment and this needs to be done with a sensible approach that ensures the sustainability of our businesses and infrastructure.”

Coun Cooper previously joined Green colleagues from across the region in signing an open letter asking that tens of millions of pounds of public money should not go towards expanding Leeds Bradford Airport.

They suggested alternate uses for the cash such as “affordable, safe and sustainable” public transport links, including trams, to reduce carbon emissions.

The on-going row over airport expansion led to Clr Cooper refusing to sign off Kirklees Council’s climate emergency and air quality strategy action plan.

He said he withdrew his support after promises made in meetings disappeared from the final document.