Leeds Bradford Airport told cut staff car travel or face fines
07 September 2009
By David Marsh
LEEDS Bradford Airport bosses could face tough financial penalties if they fail to persuade more of their staff to get to work by car sharing or on public transport.
A travel plan drawn up for the airport sets targets to limit the number of single occupancy car journeys people make to get to work.
According to the plan presented to the council's west plans panel, by the end of 2012 at least 30 per cent of staff employed by the company that runs the airport should get to work using transport other than single occupancy car.
The proportion falls to 20 per cent for workers employed by other firms at the airport.
A report to the panel said: "It is evident that airport company staff are more likely to work 9am-5pm while other business partners work shift patterns where travel in any mode other than private car is difficult."
Panel members argued that sanctions were needed should the targets be missed and a system of financial penalties – sums to be agreed but they could potentially run into tens of thousands of pounds – is to be agreed.
The travel plan is part of a range of conditions and agreements which, when signed off, will allow formal approval of planning permission for a new £28m terminal extension at the airport expected to create up to 2,000 jobs.
The panel last month gave its backing to the scheme.
As part of the planning consent, a forecourt management plan will be drawn up to show how pick up and drop off points will work outside the expanded terminal. It will also indicate how long people will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers.
Among many planning conditions, the airport will contribute up to £1m towards improved bus services and other transport measures. The phased payments will be triggered by higher passenger numbers and increases in traffic volumes linked to the airport.
A steering group is to be established to monitor activity at the airport and its impact on roads in the area. It will recommend how the payments should be spent, although the final decision will rest with Leeds City Council's chief planning officer.
Representatives from the airport, Metro and Leeds, Bradford, York and North Yorkshire councils will sit on the steering group.
Original Article from EP Leeds First & County newspaper