Councillors want railway station alongside new Horsforth houses (From Wharfedale Observer)

Councillors want railway station alongside new Horsforth houses

7:42pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

Councillors are calling for pressure to be put on developers for a station at a major development at Horsforth Woodside Quarry.

The massive development involves 470 homes as well as offices, hotels, a pub, shops, a multistorey car park, nursing home, creche and medical centre.

And councillors have stressed their determination that it should include a rail halt.

Members of the North West Outer Area Committee were told the application for the quarry development had been revised since its original submission in August 2006 after concerns were raised by officers and the Commission For Architectural and Built Environment.

A report to the committee said: " The revision relates to the proposed layout of the site. The central changes include remodelling the ground works and re-siting the commercial, retail and service into the middle of the site to create a small centre.' The number of residential units is roughly the same and the size of the commercial and retail elements remain also broadly the same."

Members heard that Metro was negotiating with Leeds City council and the developer of the Horsforth Woodside site for a number of improvements to public transport.

They are asking for a number of improvements, including improvements to the local bus service, and infrastructure such as bus shelters.

Members heard that the developer had agreed in principle to all of the elements apart from the contribution towards the tram stop/rail halt which is still under consideration.

A new station at Horsforth Woodside has previously been prioritised, but feasibility work on the Harrogate line has shown that the new station would not be possible under the existing timetable.