LEEMAN Road residents have started a petition about plans to divert the road linking them to the city centre.

The York Central redevelopment plans could see Leeman Road traffic rerouted through the York Central site, to allow a new linking gallery to built between the National Railway Museum’s two sites.

The plan would leave a pedestrian link through the day, but close it off outside museum opening times.

Now residents are campaigning against those plans. Joan O’Reilly, who lives just off Leeman Road, said: “As a resident in this area, and a senior citizen caring for my disabled husband, we find life hard enough gaining access to essential services without having to disrupt our lives further.”

They are unhappy that their only early morning or evening alternatives will be to walk along the river, or through the new park planned for York Central.

When residents first spoke out last month, museum bosses and York Central project managers said they had already run an engagement programme, and would be doing more public work to talk to people.

Museum boss Judith McNichol said the Leeman Road diversion has been chosen as the best option for access to a new western entrance to the station, and for existing residents, and she said the museum had commissioned new research on pedestrian and cyclist movements along Leeman Road.

The petition has the backing of Holgate councillors Kallum Taylor and Mary Cannon, who said they wanted the museum to work with residents to keep an safe and secure round-the-clock link into the city. The petition is online at https://tinyurl.com/y8b7jusc.