Plans to remove a structure on York Station that could be at ‘risk of collapse’ have been been submitted.
Large cracks have been spotted in the concrete holding the bus shelter canopy on the portico of the station.
“Given the high density of public use beneath the canopy, this presents a potential health and safety concern due to the risk of falling concrete,” a report says.
“This risk will increase if left unaddressed.”
At the moment the area under the bus station canopy is out of bounds while the York Station Gateway work is carried out.
Now an application for listed building consent to remove the canopy has been submitted to City of York Council.
“The bus shelter canopy has been found to be in a very poor state of repair and is now unfit for service in the public realm,” a report says.
“The contractor for the York Station Gateway project has also stated that it is unwilling to work underneath the canopy due to a perceived risk of collapse.”
It is described as a “health and safety risk”.
“The canopy is notably low, with the hanging signs in place prior to the current works on site presenting an additional safety risk for passengers,” the report says.
It adds: “To ensure public safety and facilitate ongoing works within the area, it is proposed that the canopy be removed at the earliest practicable opportunity.”
The bus shelter canopy was added around 1940. This gives it some historic value, the design statement says.
“It is of some interest that the bus shelter canopy was constructed during World War II, when construction projects would have been driven by military and logistical priorities.
“Aside from its already prominent interchange role on the rail network, York was home to a number of barracks and was surrounded by air bases (including Elvington, Pocklington, Driffield and Linton-on-Ouse).
“The construction of the bus stops and canopy may therefore have been driven by an increased demand for efficient transport connections into the city and surrounding area for the movement of military personnel.”
But the ‘rudimentary’ shelter is not considered worth saving, particularly as all the bus stops have now moved across the road.
As part of the York Station Gateway project, “a new ‘supercrossing’ over Station Road will now lead pedestrians to/from” the portico.
The document says that removing the bus shelter canopy “will have a beneficial impact on the east elevation of York Station, helping to improve the safety and overall appearance of this key gateway to the city”.
You can read and comment on the plans here.
