I have joined with Councillor Trevor Izon to call on the Council to hold a Transport Summit to deal with the growing problems in Pontefract.

We are concerned that the town faces increasing problems such as the Town End lights, and the need for better rail and bus services, and want a major summit for local people to put forward their views.

Wakefield Council has agreed to draw up a new transport plan for the town to respond to growing concerns. But Trevor and I want to make sure local people get to put forward their own ideas about how the town’s transport problems need to be improved.

Things like the Town End lights have been a long term headache for Pontefract. We should also have much better rail services for a town this size, for example a direct rail link to London could bring in tourism and jobs. And I think it’s vital we get a station upgrade for Monkhill to make it easier for people to travel by train. Now that the Council are drawing up a transport plan for the town I want to make sure local people can have a say on what the priorities and solutions should be.

I asked Wakefield Council to organise the transport summit because I wanted professionals working on buses, roads, rail, and traffic management to hear first hand from local people about their problems and ideas. Hundreds of people came, and it got quite congested at the beginning – a bit like driving through Pontefract. But it just shows how strongly people feel.

There was a clear message that transport engineers need to look again at Town End junction, as well as strong support for new station facilities and road links around the town and I will keep campaigning with local groups and councillors to get some progress.


To tell me your views on transport please contact my office for a copy of my Pontefract transport survey, or email me at coopery@parliament.uk.