Leicester Railway Station revamp branded 'another vanity project'
Plans to completely transform Leicester Railway Station have been branded another city council "vanity project" by LeicestershireLive readers. The scheme, which is set to cost around £22 million, will either be approved or rejected by councillors next week.
It will see the historic building's entrance relocated to Station Street, with a pedestrianised public area created in front of it. The port-cochere which is currently used by taxis and as a pick-up and drop-off area will be turned into a food hall, while the car park to the rear of the site will take the displaced vehicles.
However, accessibility groups have voiced concerns over the scheme, claiming that the needs of disabled people have not been adequately addressed in the plans. They argue that the new food hall area features "inaccessible and hazardous stairs, no lift [and] inaccessible seating". Additionally, they believe that moving the taxi rank could isolate disabled individuals from the front of the train station. Despite these concerns, planning officers maintain that the new design will be more user-friendly for disabled people than the existing layout.
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The project is set to be financed primarily through nearly £18 million of Government funding, with Leicester City Council covering the remaining costs. Readers have now had their say on the scheme, raising the council's risk of impending bankruptcy and questioning whether what they call a "vanity project" is the best use of the authority's cash. Council officers have previously warned the authority has until March next year to use the Government grant or risk losing it.
Jammydojer said: “With the council on the verge of bankruptcy, they still manage to pull £4 million from behind the sofa. That money would fund the SEND kids school transport and the adventure playgrounds funding for the next few years. I vote for that instead of another vanity project.”
Isitme agreed, saying: “Another absolute vanity project. Not needed, not a priority and will not scratch the surface of the problems facing the city. Someone needs to admit the city centre is fast becoming a no-go zone.”
Readnweep added: “There are more pressing things the money could be spent on like cleaning drains, clearing culverts, repairing pavements (after banning parking on them) and clearing weeds and rubbish from areas other than the precious city centre.”
Some fear the final cost of the project for the council will end up being higher than anticipated. Shotgun_Robert thinks: “It’ll end up costing the taxpayers of Leicester more than £4m quoted. £17.6m of Government cash and if it’s anything like all the other revamps this council proposes then I’d double the £4m as “unexpected” things usually appear, or “whilst we had the opportunity” are phrases they use to justify the overspend.”
Others questioned whether the station even needed work doing to it, with Hb789 saying: “What is the matter with this council? There's nothing wrong with the station. It works.
"The station doesn't need any fancy makeover. We've had several pointless ones over the last 40 years or so but it still works the same, although the couple of twists for taxis and car drop off entrance and bus layout hasn't helped. Nearly bust and the council wants to spend what we haven't got. Crazy.”
How do you feel about the new proposals? Will they benefit Leicester or are they just another waste of money? Have your say in our comments section.