Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has used a parliamentary question to gain the Department for Transport’s support to put pressure on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to build the long awaited footbridge over the busy A629 dual carriageway between Steeton and Silsden.
Speaking in the House of Commons Chamber, Moore stated that his constituents, especially those who live in Steeton and Silsden, have waited “far too long” for a bridge to be built over the A629 dual carriageway. Moore has visited the site several times and uses the crossing himself, and is fully aware of the current dangers pedestrians face as they try to cross the busy road. He has also previously stated the economic opportunities a bridge could bring, by giving his constituents easier access to Steeton and Silsden Train Station, thus enabling quicker access to jobs in Leeds and Bradford.
Back in 2016, Moore’s Conservative predecessor Kris Hopkins secured £700,000 of central Government funding for a feasibility study into the bridge. However, in six years no further progress has been made by Bradford Council or the West Yorkshire Combined Authourity in building the bridge. The West Yorkshire Combined Authourity has also received a huge £4.2 billion budget for transport investment, including a £830 million settlement for sustainable transport projects such as footbridges. Moore has therefore called on both Bradford Council and the Mayor of West Yorkshire to “stop dithering and delaying and get on and get this bridge built.” Moore expressed his frustration that despite the Government giving huge funds to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, they are yet to progress with anything.
In his response, Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson described Moore as a “powerful champion of this issue and other transport projects across his constituency.”
Robbie Moore MP said: “My constituents in Steeton and Silsden need this footbridge to be built. I have met with relevant Ministers to discuss this issue countless times, including the Minister for Roads, Baroness Vere, and l again took the opportunity in the House of Commons’ Chamber to ask the Government to put more pressure on our local West Yorkshire Mayor and Bradford Council to crack on and get this pedestrian bridge built.
It is quite frankly ridiculous that in the six years since £700,000 for a feasibility study for this bridge was given by our Conservative Government to Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the bridge is yet to be built. The Government has also given our Labour West Yorkshire Mayor a huge devolution deal package of £4.2 Billion, of which £830 million is ringfenced for these types of projects and yet neither the West Yorkshire Combined Authority or our Labour Run Bradford Council have progressed with this scheme, despite it having huge public favour and anyone currently crossing at the roundabout taking their lives into the own hands every time they cross.
It is time for both Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Mayor to stop dithering and delaying, but to crack on and our much-needed pedestrian bridge built at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer.”
