It’s a well known shortcut and is a bridge with very steep steps that can be quite spooky at night.
Now a public meeting is planned to discuss its future
The Cinder Lane footbridge goes over the rail lines that avoid York station, once the original route to the north from the old platforms within the city walls.
The meeting is this Thursday 11 September and takes place at St Paul’s Church in Holgate from 6pm-8pm.
The Victorian footbridge looks set to be demolished and replaced a short distance away by a more modern and fully accessible one close to the community garden at the end of Upper St Paul’s Terrace.
The current bridge involves a climb up these steps and it is impossible for people with mobility issues to use.
In a recent newsletter to residents Holgate ward councillors Jenny Kent, Kallum Taylor and Lucy Steels-Walshaw said: “The meeting will focus mainly on Network Rail’s latest work on the plans for redeveloping Wilton Rise Bridge.
“Improving this important route is a condition of the planning permission for the York Central site, granted in 2019.”
These are the main agenda items:
- General update on the latest on the overall York Central Development, led by master developers McLaren-Arlington
- Specific update from Network Rail on their work progressing the plans to redevelop Wilton Rise Bridge – which was a condition of the 2019 Outing Planning Permission granted for the overall York Central development
Cllr Taylor told YorkMix: “Redeveloping Wilton Rise Bridge is something the York Central Partnership must do as a condition of the planning permission they secured for developing the teardrop site back in 2019.
“Given the location of the bridge and the difference in ground levels either side of a railway, this is not a straight-forward project, but as ward councillors we’re keen to ensure that the partnership come good on it.
“A key demand of ours being that the new bridge (unlike the current one) is step-free so that it’s fully accessible for wheelchair users, those with prams, and cyclists too.
“We’ve put this meeting on to give those working on the plans the opportunity to show the community where they’re at with it, since their last update in Autumn 2024, and for residents to ask questions and give feedback. If you can, and you’re interested, please do come down.”
