Bosses Are Told: Don't Turn Leeds into a Fortress

Business leaders in Leeds have been urged to work for the benefit of the region as a whole and not to "retreat into Fortress Leeds".

The call came from John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West, who met representatives of the Leeds business community at a business breakfast event.

The question and answer session, organised by Leeds Chamber of Commerce, featured Mr Battle alongside chamber president and Leeds Bradford Airport managing director Ed Anderson, and Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds.

Mr Battle described the meeting as a useful opportunity "to hear what Leeds businesses are thinking".

He said: "Leeds is the economic powerhouse for West Yorkshire, and I think the need now is for Leeds to co-operate more closely with the rest of the region to build a sustainable regional economy – not to retreat into Fortress Leeds."

Mr Battle added: "Transport is very important, with between 20,000 and 30,000 people commuting into Leeds every day.

"I am lobbying for a Leeds-Bradford tram link, through West Leeds and Pudsey, improving the links between our cities and allowing more Bradford people to gain from jobs on offer in Leeds."

He said he was also backing Bradford's bid to be European City of Culture for 2008. A successful campaign would boost the whole region, not just Bradford.

Endorse

Chamber chief executive Richard Mansell said: "We endorse Mr Battle's comments, although we have never adopted a Fortress Leeds approach and we have a good track record of working closely with a range of local, sub-regional and regional partners on regeneration and other projects, to improve economic prosperity."

He said all independent forecasts continued to show that Leeds would continue to be the economic driver of the region, together with continuing growth in jobs.

This would benefit not only the residents of Leeds but the sub-region and the wider region. Leeds currently had a relatively low rate of unemployment and the chamber was working with public and private sector partners to improve the skills base and the job prospects of the long-term unemployed.

"Local businesses continue to quote a shortage of skilled labour as a barrier to growth and it is a fact that the new jobs cannot all be filled by Leeds residents. Commuting into the city will therefore continue to grow."

On the MP's comments on transport issues, Mr Mansell said commuters knew from direct daily experience of the congestion within the city and the chamber therefore welcomed a call for improved public transport links not only to Bradford but to other regional cities.

He added: "We also consider that the upgrade of the outer ring road is a priority, allowing those drivers that wish to bypass the city to do so."

© YEP 22nd May 2002

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