Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Save our tunnel appeal (Sam Casey)

An article from today's Huddersfield Daily Examiner about political moves on Kirklees Council to save the Woodhead Tunnel, by Sam Casey:

Liberal Democrat councillors on Kirklees are campaigning to save Woodhead Tunnel.

Andrew Marchington, for Golcar ward, and David Woodhead (Holme Valley North) say re-opening it would provide a major boost for commuters and ease congestion.

The Government has approved plans by the National Grid to lay cables in the tunnel – which runs from Dunford Bridge to the bottom of the road from Holme Moss – preventing it from re-opening.

Clr Marchington said: “The plans for the tunnel are very short-sighted.

“Issues such as congestion and damage to the environment by road use should be considered now, before the tunnel is lost.’’

Clr Woodhead said: “In the Holme Valley the huge problem with congestion on the roads to and from Manchester could be avoided by investment in the rail network.”

The councillors are putting a motion to support the campaign to save the tunnel before Kirklees.