Issued by City of York Council
Helping to transport over four million passenger journeys ever year, the busiest of York’s five Park&Ride (P&R) services is set to get a new city centre bus shelter, following approval at a decision session next week (17 October).
Under new proposals, passengers waiting for the Rawcliffe Park&Ride at the Museum Street bus stop will be able to wait under a new canopy shelter, funded out of the £3.5 million government Better Bus Area funding awarded to City of York Council last year.
Following full consultation with key stakeholder groups including English Heritage, York Museums Trust, York Civic Trust and businesses who front Museum Gardens, the scheme is estimated to cost in the region of £75 to £80k.
The upgrade will improve the flow of pedestrians along the northwest side of Museum Street, reduce the conflict with bus passengers and improve passenger waiting facilities at the bus stop.
Cllr Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member of Transport, Planning and Sustainably, said: “The new shelter will be done in the best possible taste to fit in with the historic setting of the area and ancient monuments including St Leonard’s Hospital.
“The upgraded shelter will also tie into our Reinvigorate York initiative to redesign Exhibition Square and the Duncombe Place junction area, enhancing the quality of the city’s public spaces, and matching parallel investments in refurbishing York Art Gallery, the Theatre Royal and the former St Leonard’s Place offices – to transform this part of the city into a high quality cultural hub for York.”
In addition to the new shelter, the proposed alterations will include localised removal of the existing stone walls which will be reused where possible to retain the fabric of the original walling, and a new curved section of walling will be provided to ensure security to Museum Gardens is maintained.
The mature cherry tree will need to be removed as the roots are damaging the adjacent drainage system and are penetrating into the monument’s wall joints.
Removal of the tree will open up the view of the adjacent Willow tree, which is considered to be the dominant and more attractive tree, as well improving the view to the Minster.
It is also proposed to provide new railings on the new curved walling to match the adjacent Brierley railings that link between the bus stop and the Library, as this is the natural continuation.
Alternatively, the original railing (which extends from the Museum Gardens entrance to the bus stop) is an option being considered.
To view the proposals or to attend the decision session go here.