Protest in Millennium Square following plans to move taxi rank at Leeds Station

A protest has been held against Leeds City Council's plans to pedestrianise Leeds Station and its surrounding area as part of a £39.5 million investment scheme in the area.
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Cars and buses will no longer be able to use New Station Street, meaning the taxi rank and bus stops will be moved.

The taxi services will then be relocated to Bishopgate Street.

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Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protested in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.

Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protesting in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protesting in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.
Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protesting in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.

More than 50 people attended the protest.

Following the protest, Mary Naylor MBE, Chair of the National Federation of the Blind Leeds Branch and Access Usability Group Member, told the YEP it was "so important" to ensure Leeds stays accessible.

She added: "We are overwhelmed by the tremendous public support for our `Gathering for Justice` and we`ve estimated that around 50 of our members, along with representatives of Unite the Union and Taxi Trade attended.

"It is so important that we stop the removal of taxi ranks in Leeds City Centre, including at the Train station to ensure Leeds stays open and accessible to all our peers who rely on this critical door to door service and we call on Cllrs James Lewis and Paul Truswell to meet with us to better understand the enormous personal costs associated with removing taxi ranks and excluding older and disabled people from our City Centre."

Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protesting in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protesting in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.
Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protesting in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.
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The council hopes the plans will make it easier to walk in the area and create a direct route between the station entrance and the South Bank.

Cycling infrastructure will be installed on Neville Street, Dark Neville Street (the dark arches) and Bishopgate.

The Leeds Station plans will be delivered by Leeds City Council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail as land owner, via the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.

The improvements will be delivered by Leeds City Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail as land owner, via the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Work is due to be completed in 2023.

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A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “The proposals are to make New Station Street pedestrian-friendly, safer and traffic-free.

"As part of this, LCC, WYCA and Network Rail developed proposals and LCC gained planning permission to relocate the taxi-rank to Bishopgate Street.

"The proposed move means that people will no longer have to cross a busy road to access the taxi rank, and the number of taxis able to queue at the rank will be doubled compared to the existing facility.

“We understand the importance of taxi ranks to many disabled and older people, and have worked hard to ensure that other key ranks across the city centre which support access to the pedestrian core of the city are retained and improved.

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"Throughout this we’ve worked with representatives from disabled access groups who have supported the proposals and helped shape them to address their needs. We will continue to consider any proposals or suggestions to enhance the design further, as we finalise our scheme.”