Great news – or a huge two-fingers to York? Leeman Road will close, rules Transport Secretary
Hugely controversial plans to close a section of Leeman Road will go ahead, after the Transport Secretary granted a ‘stopping-up’ order.
Grant Shapps has granted the City of York Council request to shut the road.
More than 1,400 people signed a petition objecting to the closure – and today one councillor said the decision to allow it to go ahead amounted to “putting a huge two-fingers up to thousands of residents”.
The road will now close where it cuts through the two National Railway Museum sites. It will enable the museum to press ahead with ambitious plans to create a new central gallery across the road linking both sides – part of the wider York Central development.
More than 1,400 people signed a petition against the road closure. A public inquiry into the plan concluded in May, and a report by the planning inspector recommending Leeman Road be shut was published today.
A letter sent on behalf of Mr Shapps said the Transport Secretary is “satisfied that alternative highways and walkway agreements will be in place before the length of Leeman Road, described in the Order is stopped up.
“Overall, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the advantages of stopping up the area of highway at Leeman Road, York conferred by the Order, would outweigh the disadvantages which have been put forward by the objectors.”
Enormous potential
York council leader Keith Aspden said: “This is great news for the continued development of York Central and the NRM’s Vision 2025.
“The decision brings us one step closer to seizing the enormous potential of the scheme to deliver new homes, drive inclusive growth and build a new sustainable community in the heart of the city.
“We understand this news will not be welcomed by all, and we will continue to work with the local community and our partners to ensure that safe and desirable routes, around, into and through the site, are delivered.
“This includes progressing plans for an improved riverside cycle route from Jubilee Terrace. We are confident that through working together with local residents, we can make sure local communities benefit from the incredible leisure, culture and job opportunities which will be created on their doorstep.
“For decades now, York central has been an ambition. But now with the first phase of the works to unlock the site almost completed, alongside work to improve Millennium Green, it is becoming a reality.”
A travesty
Labour councillors have campaigned intensively against the stopping up order. Holgate ward councillor Kallum Taylor said: “This decision is a travesty.
“Every authority who has blindly or slavishly backed it – from the previous Lib-Dem Tory Council, to our current Lib-Dem Green one, the Railway Museum itself who are putting a huge two-fingers up to thousands of their resident neighbours, Homes England, and Network Rail – should be ashamed for driving this through and, worse, perpetuating the lie that York Central can only happen if Leeman Road is closed.
“Most residents are not anti-change but good development should bring people with it. This does the opposite.
“It removes the only route between the Leeman Road area and the city centre that’s genuinely open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Remaining routes will be very indirect, prone to flooding, or dependent on the museum’s opening hours and events programme.
“We will continue to fight to secure the best outcomes within the remaining possibilities for residents in this part of Holgate Ward, and beyond.”
Fellow ward councillor Rachel Melly said: “This is a huge blow for local residents, whose serious concerns have once again been disregarded.
“A while community will be left feeling cut off, all for the benefit of one museum and tourists.”