Sponsored by
Quarry could spell end to traffic jams
Train station included in plans for reclaimed site
By Jo Rostron
MAJOR plans to transform a trouble-hit quarry into businesses and homes could spell the end of traffic chaos in Horsforth.
The development of Woodside Quarry – which has been plagued by off-road motorcyclists and vandals – includes the building of a new train station.
Work to clear the quarry, a former landfill site between Horsforth and Adel, has already begun as owners draw up ideas over how to develop it.
Councillors have backed plans for the station on the site to stop further traffic crippling Horsforth – already used as a rat run for commuters to Leeds.
Coun Andy Barker (Lib Dem, Horsforth) gave plans to develop the site the thumbs up but added: "We must push as we far as we can to ensure a rail station is put into the lines.
"A lot of people from Harrogate come into Horsforth, park their car and get the train from there into Leeds. If we had a train station put there they could access this from the ring road and it would really help Horsforth's traffic problems."
Contamination
Developing the quarry would see an end to vandalism and anti social problems. New jobs would be created at the site which has been earmarked by Leeds City Council for employment use.
The quarry is currently being cleared of contamination caused by its use as a former landfill.
Owners the Burford Group have already targeted 7,000 homes and businesses in the area as part of a public consultation process.
A spokesman said: "It's not really really dirty but there are safety issues with quarry walls being prone to rock fall so it does need developing.
"We need to come up with a scheme that won't cause traffic problems. One of the biggest things to come out of the consultation was that people would love to see a station on site. We cannot absolutely deliver the station – Metro need to give the go-ahead – but we are trying to encourage it as much as we can by setting aside land within the site and safe-guarding that for a station and a car park.
"We will put in an access road that leads to the station so it's putting in a lot of infrastructure to make it a lot easier for Metro to say yes."
A more detailed plan will now be drawn up.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
