Traders' fears over 'massive impact' of roadworks

Fresh roadworks in part of Leeds will risk livelihoods for the second time in less than a year, business owners in the area have warned.

Drainage and resurfacing work on Leeds Road in Scholes is due to begin later this month, and comes after nine months of disruption due to Transpennine Route Upgrades on Station Road in nearby Cross Gates.

Kirsty Lancaster, from the Arts and Flowers store in Cross Gates, said local traders feared the work would have a "massive impact" on them.

Leeds City Council acknowledged the disruption caused by multiple works in the area, but said the latest was "essential" to support new housing and deliver "safer, more accessible walking and cycling routes".

The drainage and resurfacing on Leeds Road comes after planning permission was granted for the new Morwick Springs development by Taylor Wimpey.

As part of the work, the road would be closed for three weeks from 14 February to enable "deep excavation works and resurfacing", according to Leeds City Council.

The authority said the timing of the works would coincide with half-term at the nearby John Smeaton Academy in a bid to "help reduce traffic impacts".

Lancaster, who has run the Arts and Flowers store for the last five decades, said such roadworks badly affected local businesses.

"People want to avoid the area. They do not want to come," she explained.

"It is like a no-go area - you're blocked at all accesses."

She added that there had been "a lack of information" about the roadworks and suggested the council should "hold a meeting, hold a forum".

Katie Ramsden, another business owner in the area, said she had already struggled through previous works in the area.

She said she had experienced 28 days of road closures due to the works on Station Road, and the prospect of the latest works was "worrying".

"We understand it is going to better the community but, yet again, that is going to impact every single person. Why can they not just do everything at once?" she said.

"We have all just struggled for the last nine months. As we face one hurdle, something else hits us all in the face."

Councillor James Gibson, whose Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward includes the affected area, said he had written to the council and stakeholders to raise local people's concerns.

"This is going to be huge disruption for the local community," he said.

"I understand the work needs to be done, but I do not feel as a local elected representative that I have had enough engagement around this.

"People want to have their voice heard and want to feel valued, and there is not enough of that from some of the utility companies, developers and big infrastructure projects in Leeds."

Gibson added that "the community wants more engagement".

Leeds City Council said it recognised that other works in the area, including the Network Rail works on Station Road, had caused disruption.

A spokesperson said: "We remain committed to completing the Leeds Road scheme as efficiently and safely as possible."

The works were "currently expected to be completed in spring, subject to no further complications", they said.

"We continue to appreciate the patience of residents and other road users."

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