Work starts on Leeds' new £2.8m park and ride scheme

Local councillors and residents had objected to the scheme being built on Elland Road

Work has started on Leeds' first major park and ride scheme near Leeds United's Elland Road football ground.

The £2.8m project will provide parking for 800 vehicles, with a bus service running every 10 minutes to Boar Lane in the city centre.

A Leeds City Council spokesman said the scheme was expected to be operating by June.

The plan was approved despite objections from ward councillors and local residents.

Critics had claimed the scheme would result in an increase in traffic and pollution and said the council had "ignored" reports which claimed the site was "unsuitable".

Labour councillor Richard Lewis, executive board member for the economy and development, claimed the initiative was part of a larger plan to reduce congestion.

He said: "Thanks to this initiative motorists can leave their cars behind knowing they will be safe and secure and enjoy a short, cheap ride into the city centre.

"Leeds has not had a purpose-built bus-based park and ride of this size before and it brings us on par with some of the other major cities we are surrounded by."

The scheme is being run in conjunction with local bus operator First Group.

A return journey will cost £3 and buses will take six minutes to make the journey into the city centre.