Passengers to have their say over bus network priorities
Mayor of West Yorkshire keen to hear what facilities passengers want on new buses
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead!
I hope Storm Claudia hasn’t disrupted your plans too much over the last couple of days.
I had a day out in Halifax yesterday and it was a mission just to get there with trains and buses cancelled or running late.
Still, it was great to see so many people enjoying the Christmas Market at the Piece Hall and the pubs, bars and restaurants full.
In today’s edition, Mayor of West Yorkshire is calling on people across the region to shape the facilities that will be available on buses when the new Weaver Network comes online.
We’ve got full details of the consultation below, along with our usual Calderdale Digest round-up.
Don’t forget you can get in touch with me if you have any story tip, comments or observations via email at calderdale@thelead.uk.
And if you want to help support the Calderdale Lead then we have a very special offer for November - a paid subscription for just £34.30 - that’s a 30% saving on the usual cost.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
🎶 A string of new gigs has been announced for next summer’s TK Maxx Presents… Live at the Piece Hall series.
Deacon Blue will play two nights with support from the Lightning Seeds, Garbage and Skunk Anansie will play a co-headline show and indie favourites the Wombats will also star.
There was also shows announced from legendary singer songwriter James Taylor, ska legends Madness, a co-headline show from The Flaming Lips and the Beta Band and the one and only Gary Numan.
Tickets for all shows are available now. For more information on the full line-up, click here.
⚽ Halifax Town boss Adam Lakeland felt his side were ‘well off it’ after they fell to a 2-0 defeat at National League strugglers Sutton United.
The Shaymen were 2-0 down at half time after a lacklustre first half and missed another penalty after the break in an improved second half performance.
But Lakeland said: “The first-half is arguably our worst half of football since Braintree.
“Our press was miles off it. The times when we committed the first and the second player, the third and the fourth aren’t then tight and ready to jump, and they just got out time and time again.
“We were passive, too easy to play through, conceded two awful goals, and made it so much more difficult for ourselves.
“These games are hard enough as it is, but when you play like that for 45 minutes, you don’t deserve to get anything.”
Passengers get their say on how buses will look and feel across West Yorkshire
By Andrew Greaves
The Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin is urging bus passengers across West Yorkshire to help her decide what the new Weaver Network buses look and feel like.
A consultation has been launched giving people the opportunity to choose their preferences around comfort, accessibility and staying connected on the move.
A series of proposed bus seating layouts will be presented, with respondents encouraged to give feedback on wheelchair space, pram space and preferential seating.
Passengers will also get a chance to share their thoughts on other possible bus features, including WiFi and USB charging, on-board temperature and audio-visual announcements.
And Ms Brabin said: “Buses are a vital part of our public transport network, and we need to ensure they are accessible to as many people as possible.
“Having the most comfortable and enjoyable passenger experience will encourage more people to get out of their cars and on to our Weaver Network.
“This shows we are well on our journey to creating a transport system that is easier to use, and a greener, better-connected region that works for all.”
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority will be touring key bus stations across the region, including Halifax, giving passengers the chance to share their ideas directly to the team.
The Weaver Network, a new region-wide franchised network will see bus fares, routes and timetables set by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in the hope that it meets the needs of passengers, helps businesses thrive and offers seamless and reliable travel.
Last month, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority approved a deposit of £30million to ensure a fleet of new zero-emission buses will be delivered in time for the first franchised services starting in April 2027.
The passenger consultation runs until midnight on Sunday 21 December.
Passengers can share their ideas and find events at On Board Buses
That’s it for this edition - thanks for reading.
If you want to support the work we do then just click here.
Until Wednesday, have a great week…
Andrew