IT is a real shame that an ambitious scheme to restore a famous railway tunnel in the district is likely to now come off the rails because of cost.

But given that it would cost an estimated £35 million to transform the disused Queensbury Tunnel into a dramatic cycleway it is perhaps not surprising.

Highways England, which owns it, instead now plan to spend £3m on blocking it up and making it safe.

Campaigners had hoped the tunnel could be brought back into life and become an attraction in itself, as well as having health improvement benefits.

And they are calling on Bradford Council to back an economic and health benefit study, which they say Calderdale Council has agreed to fund 25 per cent of.

They also believe the cost of restoring it would be considerably less than the Highways England estimate, and are getting their own report prepared.

It will be interesting to see how they stack up against each other, but it would surely have to show a much cheaper alternative before such a scheme could even be considered.

Whatever the health and economic benefits, £35 million is sadly far too much to even be considered in these times of austerity.

It would be fantastic to see this iconic tunnel restored, and maybe a benefactor with huge pockets will come along to help make it happen.

Failing that though, it would seem that there is little realistic chance of this laudable but ultimately too ambitious scheme of ever being able to come to fruition.