A NEW group has been set up in Bramhope to give everyone a voice about traffic problems in the village and the surrounding area.

The Traffic Liaison Group has been set up by Bramhope & Carlton Parish Council to review local traffic and road safety issues and act as a communications channel between the community, the parish council and Leeds City Council.

The group is chaired by John Howard, Vice Chair of the parish council, and includes ward councillor Billy Flynn, representatives of BRACE - the group set up to address potential problems relating to the primary school expansion - and other interested parties.

The group's first priority is to see an enforceable traffic plan around Bramhope Primary as the school expands.

Cllr Howard said: "Parking, congestion and speeding issues are being raised more and more frequently with the parish council, with the expansion of the school, congestion on Eastgate and the new roundabout on the A660 causing particular concern.

"Though Leeds City Council is responsible for road safety and traffic management issues, the parish council has a significant part to play in ensuring that issues are brought to the attention of LCC and that any solutions take account of the impact on overall traffic flows throughout the village and surrounding area.

"The new group will give everyone a voice and enable the production of a definitive list for review with LCC Highways."

Ward and parish councillor Billy Flynn said: “I am delighted to welcome the new Bramhope Traffic Liaison Group. Our first priority will be to ensure that Leeds Council devises an agreed, enforceable traffic plan for the area around Bramhope Primary School to cope with the inevitable increase in traffic following the school expansion. The emphasis must be on an enforceable traffic plan because, without it, I am convinced it’s only a matter of time before there is a serious accident.”

Anyone wanting to report an issue to the group should email tlg@bramhopecarlton-pc@gov.uk.

Earlier this year councillors in Leeds approved spending of £1.2m on the expansion of Bramhope Primary School. A consultation finished in January on the proposal which will gradually increase capacity from 280 to 420 pupils.