In so far as it might affect the A660, the Connecting Leeds consultation exercise began on the 6th February 2018 with a workshop style meeting at St Chad’s. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Javaid Akhtar and attended by members of what would become know as the Connecting Leeds team. The Stakeholder Launch (Phase 1B) of Connecting Leeds began with a meeting at Leeds Corn Exchange on the 20th June 2018. This described Connecting Leeds as a “bus consultation.”

There followed consultations events which few if any members of the local communities which would be affected by the proposals, knew about. Theses took place as follows:

Thursday 28th June, 5pm-8pm, North Leeds YMCA
Saturday 30th June, 10am-2pm, St Chad’s Parish Church
Tuesday 3rd July, 5pm-8pm, Leeds City Academy
Wednesday 4th July, 5pm-8pm, Headingley Enterprise & Arts Centre (HEART)
Thursday 5th July, 5pm-8pm, North Leeds YMCA

In response to a freedom of Information Request made to Leeds City Council on the 17th September 2018, it has been revealed that the Connecting Leeds team met with the following groups on the specified dates:

Cycle Forum

13th September 2017
11th October 2017
17th January 2018
6th February 2018
25th April 2018
15th May 2018
5th June 2018
18th July 2018
11th September 2018

Civic Trust

28th February 2018
27th June 2018

People who used the Connecting Leeds website found it very difficult to use. The infrastructure proposals were hidden and could only be accessed by website visitors who accessed the online consultation form.

What we see from the Connecting Leeds team is a repetition of the sort of consultation that was carried out by the New Generation Transport team. This involved no engagement with the local community at the same time that there was maximum engagement with the cyclists, Leeds Civic Trust and the business community.