All change at Huddersfield railway station

Jun 12 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

RAIL passengers could see the end of long queues at Huddersfield Train Station.

Planners yesterday approved major improvements to the Grade 1 listed building to prevent bottle-necks at busy times.

First TransPennine Express, which holds the station franchise, won permission for the upgrade, which includes expanding the booking hall.

But one Huddersfield councillor warned the plan would “vandalise” the historic building.

First’s proposals include expanding the booking hall to include the area behind the ticket counter which is currently used as a control room, server room and lost property.

The company also wants to build an extra door just to the left of the main entrance and a new door between the booking hall and Platform 1.

First believes these changes will prevent bottlenecks forming at busy times.

The company also wants to turn the redundant stable block on Platform 1 into a staff room and training room and build disabled toilets on Platform 1.

Michael Owens from Above and Beyond Architecture urged councillors to support the plan at yesterday’s meeting of Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Planning Subcommittee.

He said: “The main hall has become too small to deal with passenger numbers and it’s vital this is dealt with now. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give the people of Huddersfield the station they deserve.”

Mr Owens added that the new door to the left of the main entrance would be handled “sensitively”.

But subcommittee member Clr Peter McBride disagreed. The Dalton Labour man said: “This is the best building by far in Kirklees and what is proposed here is to interfere with the exterior view of the building.”