A WHARFEDALE MP has welcomed news a transport summit will be held in Leeds next month.

The announcement by Leeds City Council follows a plea by Mr Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) for just such a meeting.

Leeds City Council will hold the summit on June 10 to discuss how best to use £173 million of transport money following the Government's rejection of the Leeds trolleybus (NGT) scheme.

Otley-based Mr Mulholland believes creating a tram-train network, which would include a permanent rail link to Leeds Bradford Airport at Yeadon, should be given priority.

He said: "I am pleased to hear that Leeds has backed my calls for a transport summit.

"I very much look forward to attending it.

"It is important all the key organisations, such as the council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds Chamber of Commerce and local MPs, are able to come together and discuss how Leeds can get a properly integrated, modern transport system.

"As a city and wider region, we must now work together to come up with the right 21st century transport system and include all options, in using tram and tram-train, and looking at existing rail lines.

"Part of this planning must include a fixed link to Leeds Bradford International Airport as part of a wider city region system."

The All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group, meanwhile, which Mr Mulholland chairs, will hold a special meeting tomorrow to discuss how a tram-train system could be developed for the Leeds City Region.

The event takes place in the conference room of the Black Prince in City Square, next to Leeds train station, at 11am, and will be chaired by Mr Mulholland.

He added: "Following the decision to reject NGT – but happily to allocate £173 million to Leeds – there is a pressing need to get transport experts working with the local authorities on the right 21st century transport system.

"The Parliamentary Light Rail Group is keen to contribute to this, which is why we have organised a special meeting in Leeds to help lead the way."