You’re receiving this update because you kindly signed our petition to secure a beneficial future for the disused railway tunnel under Queensbury in West Yorkshire. We recently reached 10,000 signatures which is a great show of support. Thank you so much.
As things stand, Highways England’s Historical Railways Estate - which looks after the tunnel for the Department for Transport - is still progressing plans to abandon the tunnel by infilling parts of it with concrete. The estimated cost is now £3.2 million and it is expected that an application for planning permission will be submitted shortly.
Meanwhile Bradford Council is carrying out a programme of investigations to understand whether it can sustainably take on the tunnel’s ownership prior to its repair and incorporation within a cycle network connecting Bradford and Keighley to Halifax. Last year, a study by Sustrans indicated that such a network would return upwards of £2 in social and economic benefits for every £1 invested. This is the only outcome that delivers any value for the taxpayer’s money.
It’s likely that the findings of the investigations will be known in September/October. However, before then, we will probably need to oppose HRE’s planning application. At very least, we must ensure that no work to put the tunnel beyond use takes place before the Council has had the opportunity to reach an informed decision on its future, alongside other stakeholders.
We’ll update you again when the picture becomes clearer; we’re approaching the point of no return. In the meantime, every name on the petition helps to make the case for the tunnel’s reuse so please share the link with your friends, family and workmates.
Many thanks again for your help so far.
(on behalf of the Queensbury Tunnel Society)