Bridge link plan raises safety concerns

Plans to demolish a Victorian footbridge in York and replace it with a new link to the £2bn York Central development have been recommended for approval, despite objections over safety and antisocial behaviour.

Network Rail wants to remove the existing Wilton Rise footbridge and build a new, accessible crossing over the railway between Holgate and York Central.

The body said the scheme would improve access for people who cannot currently use the bridge, including wheelchair users and parents with prams.

However, York Access Forum said the proposed shared-use route posed a "severe safety risk" to blind, partially sighted and mobility-impaired people.

The current Wilton Rise footbridge is inaccessible to many users because it can only be reached by steps.

Under the plans, it would be demolished and replaced with a 13ft (4m) wide bridge featuring step-free ramps, benches and a segregated route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Network Rail said the scheme would improve links between Holgate and York Central, where thousands of homes, jobs and public spaces are planned.

Business director Stephen Hind described the project as "symbolic of York Central's commitment to inclusivity".

York Central developer McLaren Regeneration said the bridge would be a key piece of infrastructure for the new city quarter.

But 14 objections have been submitted to City of York Council.

York Access Forum said the shared-use route could put blind, partially sighted and mobility-impaired people at risk because cyclists and pedestrians would share the same space.

York Disability Rights Forum said the design could discourage some people with limited mobility from using the bridge.

Friends of Holgate Community Garden said increased footfall could lead to antisocial behaviour and vandalism, while residents argued Upper St Paul's Terrace could be fundamentally changed by increased pedestrian and cycle traffic.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, separate works to improve routes connecting the bridge to Holgate Road are planned by the developers, although those proposals do not form part of the current application.

Planning officers recommended approval for the application, which is due to be considered by the council's planning committee on 9 July.

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