MP launches petition as government refuses to commit to Kirkstall Forge station

A Leeds MP is urging people to sign a petition calling on the government to support a new railway station in Leeds. Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves - a staunch supporter of plans for a new station at Kirkstall Forge - said the government has refused to commit to the plans. In response to a parliamentary question from Reeves , Transport Minister Theresa Villiers said: "The Department for Transport will consider the funding for local authority and Passenger Transport Executive major transport schemes as part of the government's spending review, to be carried out by the autumn. "The department is not therefore currently in a position to give any commitments on projects such as a new railway station at Kirkstall Forge." Reeves said: "The new station at Kirkstall Forge is crucial to the development. There will be new homes, office space and jobs, but this depends on the railway station being built. I call upon the government to commit to this new station." The 56-acre Kirkstall Forge development has outline permission to build offices, 1,000 homes, leisure, retail units and bar/restaurants. The development relaunched in February, with developers promising ' one of the most ambitious schemes in Leeds' development pipeline '. Reeves is organising a petition with local residents on the issue. She is due to hit the streets of Kirkstall with the petition tomorrow afternoon, alternatively people can email [email protected] with the subject header 'Kirkstall Forge petition'. As reported yesterday , a planning application for the new station is recommended for approval at tomorrow's city council west plans panel meeting in the Civic Hall. What do you think? Have your say in the comments section below.