WE are disappointed but not dismayed by the granting of permission to close Leeman Road as part of the NRM’s expansion plans.

Taking part in the public inquiry into this proposal was a great experience in the mechanisms of democracy.

We felt we made a persuasive case that the expansion of the museum is not required for the progress of the York Central development and for at least adding conditions to any decision to allow the stopping up of Leeman Road.

If it goes ahead, this road closure will cause huge disruption to local communities, as the inspector seemed to recognise.

Despite his criticisms of the poor specification of a proposed walkway agreement through an expanded museum the inspector has not applied any formal conditions to this. This is disappointing, but it is not the end of the story.

A recourse to judicial review of the proposal would be hugely expensive; we do not rule it out, but we hope it will be unnecessary.

We have appealed to the NRM to engage with local people in a meaningful way about how to minimise the negative impacts of any expansion of the museum.

In a moment of which “levelling up” and “build back better” are the buzz phrases of the national conversation, what happens next will set the tone for the York Central development.

Having been put in a strong position to proceed with their plans, it is time for the NRM to demonstrate a commitment to consideration of the needs of their less powerful neighbours.

We call ourselves citizens of York.

York Central Action