Plans to extend the hours of the ‘Emmerdale’ set tour have been met with objections from local residents.
The ITV soap is filmed at Stub House Farm, which has become a popular tourist attraction over the years, but efforts to extend the visiting hours for the set by two hours from April to September, with the last tour at 6pm and people off-site by 8pm, have been met with objections.
Councillor Ryan Stephenson, for Harewood, has already held a public meeting where residents aired their concerns about the potential move.
The concerns centre on fears that the extended hours would lead to an increase in traffic.
Councillor Stephenson explained that the traffic would become a "nightmare" if the visitor coaches continued to travel through Weardley village.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper: "Residents are very concerned that it is not working now in terms of the traffic route and it will only make it worse if they increase the number of tours coming through."
Councillor Stephenson revealed he’s requested that an alternative route be found, thereby ensuring the village roads don’t become too congested.
Meanwhile, the planning documents submitted to Leeds City Council insist the tours would continue to take place on Saturdays and Sundays only, except for when ‘Emmerdale’ – which stars the likes of Matthew Wolfenden and his real-life wife Charley Webb – enters production breaks in August and December.
The documents read: "The tours of the film set have proved more popular than anticipated and are bringing great economic benefits to the area through increased tourism. The tours are almost always fully booked."
Plans to extend Emmerdale set tour prompt complaints
