Bradford Rail Users’ Group believes plans for a new rail station at Low Moor will not be scrapped – despite continual delays.
Chairman James Vasey was speaking ahead of a forum on the issue to be held later this month.
Concerned residents will be able to quiz Metro officers on the project and ask why it is taking so long to progress. There will be a presentation on the latest position.
A spokesman for Metro, West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, said the position had not changed much since last month, when it was announced that an extra £1.7 million was needed to build the station on top of the already-budgeted £5.5 million.
Mr Vasey said: “I think too much political capital has been invested in it for it to be scrapped. Too many councillors are in support of the new station and the money for it is secure. We don’t think it is going to be scrapped, we just think it is being slowly dealt with. It is not going as quickly as people in Low Moor want it to.
“People in Low Moor are starting to feel somewhat let-down. We were told the project would be complete in 2011, then 2012, then 2013, then 2014, now it’s 2015. The meeting is a good chance to let people know that Low Moor has not been forgotten about. It is also an opportunity for people to make aware the strength of feeling over these delays.”
Mr Vasey said a nature reserve was now on one proposed site for the station, ruling that area out, and that high pressure gas mains and an old colliery were providing stumbling blocks for another potential spot.
On the gas mains and colliery issue, he said: “Trains running over it is not a problem. It is the weight of a new station on it that could be the problem.
“The meeting provides a chance to ask questions why and what is being done to take out all these obstacles. Also, what are the remaining obstacles and how quickly can they be removed.”
Councillor Sarah Ferriby (Lab, Wyke) said: “It will be interesting to see what Metro has to say. Myself and my ward colleagues have been pushing for this station for some time.”
The meeting is at Holy Trinity Church, Park House Road, Low Moor, on Wednesday, January 23, at 7pm.
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