I FEEL that the National Railway Museum are missing a lot of opportunities and antagonising their neighbours by refusing to consider ways of keeping the Leeman Road route open.

Does anyone agree?

I have today written to the NRM director along the following lines:

“Dear Director,

“I feel you are missing a lot of opportunities.

“In discussing alternatives to your wish to close Leeman Road, you have ignored the proposal I made - namely a transparent ‘glass tube’ running through your new gallery following near the road’s present line.

“This would provide ground-level access for pedestrians and cyclists and would provide a 24-hour ‘shop window’ for the NRM which outside passages do not provide.

“It has none of the disadvantages you mention, and lots of added advantages such as secure, dry 24-hour transit, with

opportunities to open out the NRM and engage neighbours more on their everyday journeys.

“Security aspects are minimal. Indeed, it would be safer for pedestrians than sending them outside as you propose.

“I believe the ‘glass tube’ proposals can lead to iconic new architectural ideas for your museum, if you engage with it and present it in your briefing to architects and engineers.

“Please will you consider it now?”

John Bibby,

Straylands Grove, York