Foregate Street rail station plans slammed as 'bland'

Author: Ashley Curtis - 24 September 2012

'Bland' and 'uninspiring' is the verdict of a new £785,000 plan to revamp Foregate Street railway station, reports worcesternews.co.uk.

Worcestershire County Council's planning committee has dismissed the build as a 'missed opportunity' and a 'small, tokenist attempt' to bring the site into the 21st century, cites newsrt.co.uk.

Councillors criticised the appearance of a corrugated iron shed next to the main entrance as well as the planned new cladding, which was deemed 'average'.

As a result, committee members have decided in favour of passing their critique onto the county city council - such is their disappointment over the plans.

Worcester mayor, Councillor Roger Berry, commented on the supposed 'upgrade': "This station desperately needs upgrading, but this is just a small, tokenist attempt to improve it. It's a very important, key part of the city and over the last few years the number of passengers has massively increased - it deserves better than this."

As a result, the failed improvement could spur the council into commissioning a new train station design - something the council's planning committee will be deciding in November or December.

Councillor David Wilkinson also expressed his disappointment.

"These are small cosmetic improvements, but we wanted more," he said. "The station is not the most friendly of environments, so this is a real missed opportunity for me."