CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the historic Queensbury Tunnel have accused Highways England of a "bloody-minded refusal to look for a positive outcome".

The Queensbury Tunnel Society (QTS) has hit out at Highways England after it rejected Bradford Council’s request to pause plans for the abandonment of the tunnel whilst a bid to fund its repair as part of a cycle path scheme is considered by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Late last year, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) included the 1.4-mile long Queensbury Tunnel in its submission to the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) for major transport infrastructure investment around the Leeds City Region.

The bid to the government described the plan as a way to preserve the historic asset for future generations.

“If funded, the Queensbury Tunnel would form a key link and a major opportunity to create a new route for walking and cycling linking west Bradford with north Halifax, providing a travel option for some of the 14,000 people that commute between the two districts and links for local communities into Halifax and Bradford town and city centres and cultural and educational destinations along the planned route,” it said.

Highways England, which manages Queensbury Tunnel on behalf of the DfT, have applied for planning permission to close the tunnel over safety concerns.

The proposal has been met with huge opposition, with more than 5,200 objections lodged.

After the submission of the Transforming Cities bid, planners asked Highways England for consent to push back the determination date for their planning application until May 5, by which time a decision on funding should have been reached.

QTS say Highways England replied that it was “not minded to agree to your extension request and ask that the Council now determine the application”.

QTS leader Norah McWilliam said: “Rejecting the extension request is another inexplicable act by Highways England.

"If the funding bid is successful, they could be relieved of all responsibility for the tunnel, something the Department for Transport - as its owner - is keen to achieve.

"So why are they unwilling to create a little breathing space for decision-making?

"This attitude amounts to a bloody-minded refusal to look for a positive outcome.”

The society says more details have also emerged in a Freedom of Information request about the emergency infilling of a ventilation shaft in October last year.

Campaigners say the work relied on powers set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 which were only applicable in an emergency threatening “serious damage to human welfare”.

Graeme Bickerdike, Engineering Co-ordinator for QTS, said the situation was gradual and “didn’t come close to threatening ‘serious damage to human welfare’.”

He said the infilling of the shaft was “entirely unwarranted” - another example of “the abandonment ream’s inability to assess and communicate risk in a reasonable, proportionate manner”.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We are committed to trying to find a viable way forward for this project which is why I ordered my officials to meet with the local authority prior to Christmas.

“Of course maintaining public safety must come first, but I want all parties to work towards finding a viable solution. I will arrange to come and visit Queensbury Tunnel as soon as possible and ensure those discussions are progressing quickly."