Uncertainty over future of new railway station

Uncertainty remains over when construction work will resume on a new £26.5m railway station in Leeds.

Work on the White Rose Rail Station, between Morley and Cottingley, was stopped in March when contractors left due to rising costs.

The project began in March 2022 with the station, which will serve offices at White Rose Business Park and the adjoining White Rose shopping centre, due to open earlier this year.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said the station was a "major priority" and it was working with partners to "see it open as soon as possible".

However, Oliver Newton, a councillor for Morley South, said people had been left in the dark about when work would be completed.

"We haven't heard anything for three months from anybody.

"The community really needs this asset in terms of delivering the local transport that people are crying out for in this area.

"Ultimately no one can say when it's going to happen."

The project is being funded by the WYCA and Munroe K, which owns the adjoining business park and have contributed £4m.

How much costs for the scheme had risen by have not been made public.

A WYCA spokesperson said: “This scheme is a major priority for West Yorkshire.

"We are committed to working with partners to see it open as soon as possible."

Munroe K have not responded to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, delays at the White Rose station have fed into fears that other communities will not see their station built.

In Calderdale, work was due to start on a £25m train station for Elland last year but has been put back to 2026.

Steven Wearing, from Halifax and District Rail Action Group, said: "The longer it's left, the more potentially the costs rise.

"The authorities that are planning this, they really need to bang their heads together and get going.

"This station will massively benefit Elland and the area around it."

WYCA said it remained "committed to delivering the project as efficiently as possible."

A spokesperson added: “A contractor is due to be appointed soon to help take the next stage of the project forward.

“Once finished, this new railway station will make it easier for people to travel around Calderdale and beyond as we create a better-connected region that works for all.”

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