The latest update regarding X84 and X85 services from First Bus is below.

As our services continue to adapt to changing passenger behaviours and a new post-pandemic level of demand, I would like to provide you with an update on the bus services using the corridor.

I can confirm the full X84 Otley – Ilkley route and frequency will continue as normal and any speculation that the Ilkley link will be withdrawn in October is not correct.

We will be introducing a new X84 timetable from Sunday 2 October to further improve punctuality following a review of service performance. This will spread travel time at certain known peak periods during the day when pressure of more road users slows down journeys on the corridor.

From the same date, I can also confirm that the small number of 85 journeys that currently serve Pool in Wharfedale will be withdrawn. The Pool link was re-introduced in 2017 as a result of local demand but has consistently carried a limited numbers of passengers – this has now been worsened by a weakened post-pandemic demand. We appreciate this will be disappointing for some customers but we do need to recognise the need to balance customer demand with available resource to deliver reliable services for customers into the future. Whilst not direct replacement services, it is also important to note alternative services in Pool do continue to provide onward connections.

We will continue to work with local authorities and partners to adapt services in a way that remains sustainable for the longer term, whilst seeking to provide customers with the reliability that meets their needs. Please do note that further to the recent Department for Transport announcement of a £130m bus industry funding package from October 2022, we’re continuing to conduct a full, wider network review with the Combined Authority as a condition of this transitional arrangement.

Finally, as I’m sure you know, the main road-works at the Dyneley Arms junction commence next week. We will continue to engage closely with Connecting Leeds to minimise disruption for bus passengers and keep people informed.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin has big ambitions for buses in West Yorkshire

and is seeking feedback on the latest plans for better buses for West Yorkshire. Your responses will be used to feed into our ongoing bus improvement plan and ensure we are making changes that local communities want. If you would like to express your views please visit  The Mayor’s Big Bus Chat | Your Voice (westyorks-ca.gov.uk) and complete the survey.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(2) LEEDS CITY COUNCIL (ARTHINGTON LANE, ARTHINGTON, LEEDS) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) NOTICE 2022

WHEREAS Leeds City Council is the traffic authority for the Leeds Metropolitan District; and WHEREAS Road closure required for Network Rail works are to take place

TAKE NOTICE that in the interests of public safety it is considered necessary to prohibit vehicular use of Arthington Lane, Arthington, Leeds in the Adel & Wharfedale Ward, between its junctions with Warren Lane and Arthington Garth

DIVERSIONARY ROUTE: A diversionary route for vehicles affected by the closure will be available via: Arthington Lane, Main Street, Swindon Lane, Harrogate Road, Arthington Lane and vice versa Essential access to and from premises and for emergency vehicles will be maintained.

PERIOD OF WORKS/RESTRICTIONS: The works are to take place from Sunday 25th September 2022 to Monday 26th September 2022. The closure will be in place between 20:00 and 04:00hrs.

Speed Limit – A660 – update regarding a review of the speed limit on A660 Leeds Road.

The Parish Council regularly raises the speed limit on the A660 through Bramhope with Leeds City Council Highways as have the Ward Councillors. The increase in traffic after the end of lock down, increases in road and pedestrian traffic from the Spring Wood Estate and the likely increase in pedestrian traffic linked to the expansion of the Primary School are all factors that suggest the 40 mph limit should be reviewed and reduced to 30 mph.

LCC Highways have indicated that there will be a review of the A660 as a whole when traffic volumes return to 2019 levels and highway changes, including the changes to the traffic islands along the road are complete. The Traffic Liaison Group met with a senior LCC Highways officer in March to review known traffic issues in Bramhope. The A660 was discussed (including questions raised by Welcome to Bramhope). At present the average speed on the A660 during the peak daytime hours is 34.5 mph. (The most recent figures are from January 2022).

There is significant data on the impact of changing speed limits. It is estimated that changing the road to 30 mph would reduce the average speed by only 0.5 mph, as speed is strongly influenced by the road characteristics. The change to 30 mph at Adel is because of the very different road characteristics with many separate accesses direct onto the main road from commercial premises as well as higher density housing. There are clear Department of Transport Guidelines governing speed limits and the A660, against those guidelines should have a limit of 40 mph.

If requests are received to lower previously designated speed limits, a number of factors are taken into consideration, for example supporting evidence of the need for change such as data from speed surveys and on accidents/near accidents on the road, a change in the area surrounding the road, eg new developments, and road conditions.

SIDs tend to reduce average speeds by 2-3 mph and provide valuable speed data. The locations for two new SIDS, funded by Miller Homes, have recently been agreed and will be installed on the A660, in the coming months .

The Parish Council will continue to work with residents, Leeds City Council Ward Councillors and Leeds City Council Highways department to achieve safer roads for Bramhope.

Update on School Street, Parking Changes and Highways works in relation to the expansion of Bramhope Primary School

Further to the article in the Parish Council’s Summer Newsletter, as promised below is the most up to date information that the Parish Council has regarding the proposed school street zone, changes to parking restrictions and the highways works due to be carried out to alleviate traffic congestion as a result of the expansion of Bramhope Primary school and to improve road safety.

The Parish Council has been monitoring the proposals for the highways scheme and has ensured that suggested changes have been made, for example the use of a single yellow line rather than a double yellow line outside residential properties.

Some of the information is still in draft format as it continues to be discussed by LCC Officers, any updates will be included on this page as and when we receive them.

Breary Lane scheme proposals.

The Scheme comprises of various features including the facilitation of parking restrictions, crossing points and traffic calming features to ensure the safety of those in the local area and children of Bramhope Primary school. The above features are beneficial as they help to reduce driver speeds with the implementation of extra traffic calming features also adding additional pedestrian crossings to improve user safety. Details of the proposed scheme are provided on the attached plan: Draft proposals Highways works June 2022

The works consist of:

• Kerb to kerb speed table on Breary Lane with associated informal crossing
• Two new pedestrian refuge islands on A660 Leeds Road.
• Introduction of informal crossing points on various junctions.
• Introduction of parking restrictions to protect junctions in the area.
• Introduction of school street restrictions on Breary Rise.

Pedestrian refuge islands on A660 Leeds Road – update August 2022

Leeds City Council have indicated that they wish to provide improved pedestrian crossing facilities very much in line with supporting local active/sustainable travel choices within the area, including walking to school. Traffic islands are seen to be one method of reducing through traffic speed on roads such as the A660 which would be beneficial to the locality.

The Parish Council have recently been made aware that there are some difficulties which have arisen with the proposed widening of the pedestrian islands on A660 Leeds Road, as it is designated as an Abnormal Loads route, serving the airport.  A design which is satisfactory to both the Police and Leeds City Council still needs to be agreed.

Currently the full package of highways works, including the traffic refuge islands has been referred to a design review panel, and will be considered at a meeting in September. If the proposals for the traffic islands and the rest of the plans are approved at that panel it is envisaged that the works will be completed by the end of December 2022.

Introduction of school streets restrictions on Breary Rise

The purpose of school street restrictions are as follows:-

– remove traffic from the school streets at opening and closing times, the times vary with each school, e.g. those in Leeds are up to 1hr 20mins in the morning.

– during these times vehicles are not able to drive onto these streets to drop off or pick up.

– residents of school streets can have permits for up to 3 cars, plus one visitor permit per household

– Permits are free but still have to be applied for with the relevant paperwork as proof of car ownership at that address etc.

– during restricted times residents should avoid driving on the school street and drive at no more than 5mph.

– blue badge holders can access a school street at restricted times.

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is required before a School Streets Order can be implemented. The TRO will be implemented with other TROs needed for the proposed scheme, such as the additional yellow lines. There will be a full consultation process to go through and it is currently anticipated that residents of Breary Rise and those living in close proximity will be contacted at the end of autumn. Notices will also advertise the proposed TRO on local streets. The TROs should be implemented before the end of the calendar year subject to there being no objections to the proposals.

Preliminary works to transform City Square into a more people-first environment will begin from Sunday 4 September.

 

The traffic management works will divert all through-traffic away from City Square, and will be in place from 4 September onwards – helping to create a world-class gateway to the city centre and making it an even safer place to live, work and visit. To complete the necessary works, keep buses moving, and to ensure the safety of the public and workers on site, increasing levels of traffic management will be in place.

 

From Sunday 4 September, only local access will be maintained for residents and businesses while work is happening. Access will be restricted for general traffic approaching City Square from Bishopgate Street, with cars having to turn right onto Boar Lane and Mill Hill and exit the city back down Neville Street. Motorists who currently travel to their destination by driving through the city centre will need to consider using several diversionary routes instead, using junctions 2 and 4, off the M621 and the inner ring road.

 

Access to the Leeds City Railway Station pick-up and drop-off (Princes Square) will be from the west of the city via Whitehall Road and Aire Street and not through City Square.

During the works, local access to residential and business properties (including loading) will be maintained via Infirmary Street from its junction with King Street. Motorists will then have to exit the Square via Quebec Street. Buses, cycles, and hackney carriages will still be able to access the square via bus gates.

View diversion routes here.

The Connecting Leeds transport strategy sets out a vision for Leeds ‘to be a city where you don’t need a car’ by creating infrastructure and spaces which favour healthier and more sustainable methods of travel. To do this, we need to divert some general traffic away from the centre giving sustainable travel modes better priority. Public consultation about these highways plans were carried out last summer and produced an overall positive response.

 

The removal of traffic from City Square is a big part of this, and once complete, will be a world-class gateway to the city centre from Leeds City Rail Station. Connecting Leeds’ highways improvements on City Square will bring more reliable public transport through the city, wider footways for pedestrians, safer options for cyclists, and an opportunity for additional public space.

 

The scheme will help to:

• Create a world-class welcome for people arriving at Leeds City Rail Station and facilitate redevelopment of the station.
• Facilitate the creation of a new public and events space at City Square.
• Improve sustainable transport options and maximise their use by providing better routes and facilities for buses, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• Reduce congestion, improve local air quality, and reduce noise in the city centre.

There will also be changes to some of the adjoining streets including Boar Lane, King Street, East Parade, Thirsk Row, Wellington Street, Aire Street and Quebec Street. This is to accommodate the changing traffic movements caused by the closure of the square. Connecting Leeds will be in touch with those who are affected by these works when necessary.

 

Find out more about the scheme here, including diversion routes.

 

 

Works will begin at the Dyneley Arms junction during the week commencing Tuesday 30^th August 2022.

Initially, works will include inspections and surveys to ensure that a safe working area can be created. The site compound will be set-up during the week commencing Monday 5^th September, with the main work starting during the week commencing Monday 12^th September. Unfortunately, other work in the area has not allowed us to start during the summer holidays.

To improve safety and reduce delays, we will be upgrading the existing signalised junction with a ‘smart’ signalling system, including introducing crossing facilities outside the Dyneley Arms on both the A660 and the A658. There will also be carriageway widening on the A658 to realign the dedicated left turn lane on to the A660. Dedicated right turn lanes will also be provided on all arms of the junction. To complete the project new tarmac will be laid. Works at this location will take approximately six months to complete.

Details of the scheme, including previous consultation materials, can be found at .

From 18th August to 2^nd September  – Cookridge Lane in Cookridge will be closed at its junctions with Pinfold lane and Cookridge Drive so that Northern Gas Networks can carry out works to replace their old gas mains with new plastic pipes

The location of the existing pipe network and required excavations means that there will not be enough safe clearance for vehicles to pass by the site while the works are ongoing.

Therefore , once works start, there will be no vehicular access to Cookridge from Bramhope and vice versa for the duration

Pedestrians and cyclists will be unaffected

 

Northern Gas Network and City Fibre would be carrying out the works to their apparatus in Headingly area in the next few weeks. The works would be collaborated between both utilities and will involve:

• 1-12^th August – Moor Rd closure between Weetwood Lane and Cottage Rd. The diversion would be provided through Weetwood Lane, Otley Rd and Cottage Rd and vice versa.
• There would be 2way traffic lights at the same time on Weetwood Lane at the junction with Moor Rd,
• 15-26^th August – Weetwood Lane closure between its junction with Otley Road to the junction of Moor Road. The diversion will be provided via Otley Road, Cottage Road, Moor Road and vice versa.
• There would be 2way traffic lights at the same time on Weetwood Lane at Oxley Hall.
• Once the works at Weetwood Lane are completed and road can be reopened, the closure of Cottage Rd would follow until 2^nd September. Cottage Rd diversion would be provided via Otley Road, Weetwood Lane, Moor Road and vice versa.

The lights when in use will be manually operated 7am to 7pm however given the traffic sensitive nature of this location, delays should be expected especially through peak hours.

The access to premises and for emergency vehicles will be maintained through all three road closures..