Rail land to be sold
Posted: Fri 12 Jan, 2024 11:57 am
From New civil engineer
Abandoned rail in Leeds to go up for auction prompting calls to safeguard route
05 JAN, 2024 BY THOMAS JOHNSON
Land featuring a section of an abandoned railway line near Leeds is to go up for auction, prompting calls from campaigners to safeguard it for potential use as a strategic route between Bradford and Wakefield.
The Wortley Curve connected the Wakefield to Leeds line to the Bradford to Leeds line before it closed in 1985.
Campaigners have been demanding its reinstatement to improve connectivity between the key destinations in West Yorkshire but now their ambition is being threatened as Pugh Auctions has listed the parcel of land for sale on behalf of Railway Paths, a charity that owns ex-railway land.
The 1.3ha section of land is up for sale for £15,000. Bidding opens at 10am on 30 January and closes at 1:30pm the next day.
The site currently has heavy tree coverage but still retains some of the old rail track. It could be suitable for a variety of future uses, subject to any necessary consents.
The majority of the site sits to the south of Oldfield Lane adjoining Wortley Recreation Ground with a further section situated to the north of Oldfield Lane adjacent to residential housing on Tavistock Park and Tavistock Way. Leeds city centre is 3.2km to the east.
The underbridge on Oldfield Lane is excluded from sale as well as steel public overline footbridge near the site.
In response to the planned auction, English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) has written a letter to West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin, prime minister Rishi Sunak and Bradford and Leeds City Councils.
The letter said: “The ERTA has been made aware that the disused stretch of railway line on the outskirts of Leeds known as the Wortley Curve is up for auction in January with a guide price of £15,000.
“The Wortley Curve links Bradford directly with Wakefield avoiding the overcrowded Leeds City Station.
“The ERTA believes as a strategic rail route the link is worth much more to the economy of West Yorkshire than £15,000.
“Today we have written to the mayor of West Yorkshire, the CEOs of both Bradford and Leeds City Councils asking them to save the route.
“We have also written to the prime minister asking him to make good on the promise he made at the Conservative party conference of investing in transport projects here in the North after cancelling High Speed 2 (HS2).”
Abandoned rail in Leeds to go up for auction prompting calls to safeguard route
05 JAN, 2024 BY THOMAS JOHNSON
Land featuring a section of an abandoned railway line near Leeds is to go up for auction, prompting calls from campaigners to safeguard it for potential use as a strategic route between Bradford and Wakefield.
The Wortley Curve connected the Wakefield to Leeds line to the Bradford to Leeds line before it closed in 1985.
Campaigners have been demanding its reinstatement to improve connectivity between the key destinations in West Yorkshire but now their ambition is being threatened as Pugh Auctions has listed the parcel of land for sale on behalf of Railway Paths, a charity that owns ex-railway land.
The 1.3ha section of land is up for sale for £15,000. Bidding opens at 10am on 30 January and closes at 1:30pm the next day.
The site currently has heavy tree coverage but still retains some of the old rail track. It could be suitable for a variety of future uses, subject to any necessary consents.
The majority of the site sits to the south of Oldfield Lane adjoining Wortley Recreation Ground with a further section situated to the north of Oldfield Lane adjacent to residential housing on Tavistock Park and Tavistock Way. Leeds city centre is 3.2km to the east.
The underbridge on Oldfield Lane is excluded from sale as well as steel public overline footbridge near the site.
In response to the planned auction, English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) has written a letter to West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin, prime minister Rishi Sunak and Bradford and Leeds City Councils.
The letter said: “The ERTA has been made aware that the disused stretch of railway line on the outskirts of Leeds known as the Wortley Curve is up for auction in January with a guide price of £15,000.
“The Wortley Curve links Bradford directly with Wakefield avoiding the overcrowded Leeds City Station.
“The ERTA believes as a strategic rail route the link is worth much more to the economy of West Yorkshire than £15,000.
“Today we have written to the mayor of West Yorkshire, the CEOs of both Bradford and Leeds City Councils asking them to save the route.
“We have also written to the prime minister asking him to make good on the promise he made at the Conservative party conference of investing in transport projects here in the North after cancelling High Speed 2 (HS2).”