A NEW call to find “the best public transport scheme for Leeds” has been made by Otley’s MP.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North-West) made the appeal following the conclusion of a public inquiry into the New Generation Transport (NGT) trolleybus scheme.

The NGT inquiry will formally report back in spring 2015, and that report will determine whether or not the project, which emerged after the previous government cancelled a Supertram proposal, goes ahead.

Transport minister Baroness Susan Kramer, however, has stated that Leeds should have a “modern, 21st century” transport system, whatever the outcome of the inquiry, and Mr Mulholland agrees – believing devolved powers hold the key.

He said: “I welcome the comments from Baroness Kramer that make clear she believes that whatever the outcome of the public inquiry, Leeds must not end up with nothing, and that Leeds needs and deserves the right modern integrated transport system.

“There must now be discussions between the Department for Transport, Metro and Leeds City Council to discuss what happens if the public inquiry deems NGT to not be the right scheme for Leeds.

“We need a plan B to ensure that we do not again end up with nothing, and push so that the money allocated for NGT can be spent on alternative solutions. After that, we do want to see such decisions being taken here in Leeds.

“We as a city have been pushed pillar to post by decisions made by the Thatcher/Major and Blair/Brown Governments and, as a result, have no modern public transport system.

“We want real devolution that ensures we get the system that is right for the city rather than to be chopped and changed by Whitehall.”

Baroness Kramer meanwhile, a fellow Lib Dem, has criticised the local Labour Party for misleading people over the decisions that led to the trolleybus proposal.

She said: “We need all politicians to work together to make sure a city like Leeds gets the 21st century transport system it deserves.

“It was the last Labour Government that cancelled the proposed Supertram, then said Leeds could only have a bus-based system.

“It is deeply disingenuous for the Labour Party in Leeds North-West to be misleading people by claiming otherwise.”

Mr Mulholland’s submission called for the inquiry to recommend the best option for the city to pursue.