A plan to introduce trolleybuses into Leeds city centre will now face a public inquiry.

It comes as the £250 million plan has been met with some negative responses from residents, who feel it will not provide value for money, and local companies, who are worried the construction process could disrupt business.

The scheme was also rejected by the Aire Valley Tree Consultancy, as it claimed around 500 trees will likely be removed as part of the process.

In order to progress with the scheme, Leeds City Council and Metro require a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) to commission, build or operate the trolleybus system.

Typically, the government has the power to approve such schemes without a public inquiry, but the strong public opinion makes such a development highly justified. Both sides of the case will be given an opportunity to express their views and, if the council and Metro come out victorious, a TWAO is likely to be granted.

If approved, it would mark the first time trolleybuses have been used in the UK since 1972 - Leeds itself ran the service between 1911 and 1929. The scheme is part of a planned New Generation Transport system for the city.