‘Investing in destruction’: campaigners attack plans to fill Yorkshire tunnel with concrete | Yorkshire

Hoping to turn an unused railway line into the longest cycle of England and a pedestrian tunnel, campaignists challenge the government’s decision to fill most of the historical structure with concrete.

At the beginning of this month, the ministers decided to permanently close the Queensbury tunnel, which was built in the 1870s, despite spending £ 7.2 million to take the structure to the shore four years ago.

The government agreed to finance the Tunnel Filling plans by the National Highways (NH), the Yollar Agency (NH), which are responsible for the protection of the historical railways property.

The decision comes after a broad criticism for “cultural vandalism ında to fill the agency’s Victoria bridges into the railway land. In 2023, the two inheritance was forced to be buried in a Victorian Bridge in Kingdom, on the way to a plan to join the railway line.

In 1956, the 1.4 -mile tunnel, which was closed to the railway, supported the calls to reopen the calls, the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, disappointing the government’s decision. In 2021, while standing at the entrance of the tunnel, he told Bradford and Keighley about the plans of an underground cycle that connects Halighax as a bir a big facility for our community ”.

Campaigns accused the government of görmek investing in destruction ”and ignoring the views of 8,000 planning objection to the tunnel filling plan. The Future of Ways will meet Lilian Greenwood to encourage the next week to reverse the decision.

In a letter to the campaigns, Greenwood said that the tunnel’s cycling will be very costly in the “challenging financial environment ve and that“ security risks should be handled ”.

NH’s contractor estimates that transformation of the tunnel will cost £ 26.4 million. However, the campaignists rejected this figure as “gold-plated ve and claimed that the tunnel could only be used as a greenery for £ 13.7 million.

They also point out a study that determines that SusTrans, which was published earlier this year, will produce £ 3 in social, economic and tourism benefits for every £ 1 spent.

Norah McWilliam, the leader of the Queensbury Tunnel Association, said, “The government invests and invests in order to meet the needs of a road that cares about its narrow interests.

“These new new millions and four years ago, the seven, which had been lost in a black hole, could pay for the repair of the tunnel, to protect for a role in the heart of an inspiring and sustainable active travel network – something that Bradford and West Yorkshire may be proud of.”

Graeme Bickerdike, the engineering coordinator of the society, said: “The minister claims that his decision is based on the ‘full appearance of the facts’, but the evidence seems to have a past proven for risky risk, and have a past proven to show the evidence of condition and crop public funds.

“Since 2018-21 studies have already reduced a low-risk profile, there is currently no reason for another expensive tunnel intervention.”

Brabin said campaignists shared disappointment, but understood the government’s decision. “To ensure the security of everyone, the government had to act quickly to secure the site, and the realities of public finances meant that a difficult decision should be taken.

“We continue to help support alternative ways to walk, wheel and bike between Bradford and Calderdale.”

The spokesman for the transportation, “As the continuous deterioration of the Queensbury Tunnel and the development of local financing as a transportation connection, the national highways has been instructed to work to protect public security.

“This was a difficult decision, but ultimately we have the responsibility to offer security and value for the taxpayer.”