Decade-long struggle for return
of railway link hits the buffers

For the last decade campaigners have been battling to re-open the line, which was closed by Beeching in 1965.

But they say a policy change by East Riding Council, which means the route is no longer protected from development, has dealt their campaign a “devastating” blow.

Chairman of the Minsters’ Rail Campaign George McManus accused the council of a “lack of vision” and said they would look at returning £3,000 funds which they were intending to use to upgrade a 2005 feasibility study back to members - including vicars, MPs and parish councils.

He said: “Securing route protection from development pressure was the reason we set up the campaign. In achieving that, we were successful but with its withdrawal, the raison d’etre for the campaign has disappeared. This decision illustrates a lack of vision at the heart of the East Riding Council which is stuck in the past and motivated by short term gains rather than long-term benefits.

“Unless this decision is reversed, this line will never re-open and East Yorkshire will slip further into congested, polluted decline.”

He said successful applications to develop land impinging on the track would push up costs, adding: “The recession is going to end one day and people will understandably be making applications.

“Now that the council has said they are bound to take applications you will see a lot more.”

A small section of the old railway track through Pocklington forms part of two proposed land allocations from developers seeking to build hundreds of homes in the area.

But John Craig, the council’s forward planning, housing and strategy manager, said the land issue had not driven the decision to remove the line’s protected status in the latest draft of the local plan. He said: “The local plan continues to highlight support for the re-instatement of this route and the council does not consider that these allocations will unduly affect the delivery of such a proposal in the future.

“A workable solution could still be found and any future study would provide the necessary detail to allow for such an alignment.”

However in another part of Yorkshire there are hopes a different scheme on the line between York and Leeds via Harrogate is about to take a significant step forward.

Campaigners have long been pushing for the electrification of the antiquated stretch of railway line which serves a range of passengers, including commuters at both the Leeds and York ends of the route and long distance travellers wishing to link into other services. Earlier this year members of the Harrogate Line Supporters Group revealed plans to present a feasibility study and make the case to the Government for the long-awaited improvements. That study, carried out with the help of consultants, is now expected to be presented at the beginning of next month.

Brian Dunsby, the chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “The actual business case for upgrading the line is nearing completion by the Consultants WSP and we hope that it will be ready for submission to the Department for Transport early in June. It will cover the whole line - Leeds - Harrogate - Knaresborough - York.”

Although there is no assurance of funding at this stage the campaigners aim is to make the case for the project so when the Treasury decides to release additional funding for investment in further rail electrification the project is in a strong position.

In 2005 reopening the Beverley to York link was declared economically viable - at a cost of almost £240m. The plan would have halved the present 90-minute journey from Cottingham and Beverley to York.