If you thought Brexit was complicated, try getting your head around the saga of the security gate across a footpath leading to the KCOM Stadium.

It's been well over a year since the Superstadium Management Company (SMC) acted on counter-terrorism advice from the police by installing the barrier at the end of the elevated route from Argyle Street.

Less publicised at the time but also probably relevant was the fact the gate appeared after cutbacks by the SMC in 24-hour security patrols at the site.

Having previously been open 24/7 to the public since Hull City Council built it as part of the stadium development, the closure sparked indignation among councillors and sports fans alike, although the gate continues to be opened on match days.

Their anger was largely centred on the fact that as well as providing pedestrian access to the stadium, it's also a handy shortcut between Spring Bank West and Hull Royal Infirmary.

For a while, the row saw a council sign disappear from the front of the stadium in an apparent act of retaliation by the SMC before being winched back into place.

The controversial security gate at the KCOM Stadium
The controversial security gate at the KCOM Stadium

Since then, the council has held a public consultation over whether it should apply for the route to be designated an official public right of way - something that wasn't considered back in 2001.

That consultation saw 98 per cent support for the the designation among the 1,000 folk who repsonded.

So is the will of the people being implemented?

Er, like Brexit, not quite.

As councillors were told this week, the SMC acted within the terms of its lease when installing the gate and broke no planning laws in doing so.

Moreover, because of the anti-terror advice any application to create a public right of way would almost certainly be opposed by the police, considerably reducing the chances of success while increasing the chances of incurring hefty costs from any defeat at a public inquiry.

The council's anti-terror concrete blocks in the city centre
The council's anti-terror concrete blocks in the city centre

Despite some councillors doubting the extent of any terrorist threat to this corner of west Hull, their argument has been diminished somewhat by the council's own response to similar anti-terror advice from the police having placed concrete blocks in Queen Victoria Square and set aside a £250,000 budget to spend on new security gates at its own Guildhall headquarters.

Councillors now want to secure a voluntary agreement with the SMC over when the stadium gate can be opened before deciding whether to ditch any attempt to create a public right of way.

They also asked for an update within two months which seems a bit optimistic given the current stalemate started 14 months ago.

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At this week's riverside area committee, deputy council leader Daren Hale even suggested that, by now, the authority had probably expected to be negotiating with someone other than the Allams given the latter's long-stated desire to sell their interest in both Hull City and the SMC.

Instead, they're still here, the gate is still in place and no-one is still allowed through other than on match days.

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