Move to infill historic Queensbury tunnel angers campaigners

Campaigners hoping to convert a disused railway line into England's longest cycle and pedestrian tunnel have accused the government of "investing in destruction" over its decision to infill much of the historic structure with concrete.

- Matthew Weaver

Ministers this month awarded several million pounds to permanently shut the Queensbury tunnel, built in the 1870s in West Yorkshire, despite spending £7.2m to shore up the structure less than four years ago.

The roads agency, National Highways, which is responsible for maintaining the historic railways estate, said infilling was necessary for safety reasons.

But the mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, who backed calls to reopen the 1.4-mile tunnel that was closed in 1956, expressed disappointment at the decision.

She previously described plans for a subterranean cycle path linking Bradford and Keighley to Halifax as a "great facility for our community".

Campaigners accused the government of ignoring the views of 8,000 planning objections to the scheme to infill the tunnel. They are due to meet Lilian Greenwood, the minister for the future of roads, next week to urge her to reverse the decision.