Off centre

12:02pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter

WHATEVER your politics, you can’t fail to agree with Coun Ian Gillies that we should think carefully about the name of the building that houses our new council headquarters.

Surely a full address of York City Council Headquarters, West Offices, Station Rise, York, tends to downgrades its purpose.

Retaining the title West Offices for the building begs the question west offices of what? I can’t imagine any business retaining such as meaningless title – it sounds like an outpost, rather than the centre of operations. The location may be where the west offices of British Rail in York were once situated, but the site was originally (1839 to be precise) where York’s railway terminus was developed and expanded in the heady days of railway mania when the Railway King, George Hudson, was in the driving seat.

Surely it would make better sense to capitalise on the railway heritage. So let’s get creative and rename it something like Old Railway Buildings or Old Station Complex, or even [Queen] Victoria House (The Queen did once make a somewhat inglorious stopover at the former Station Hotel).

Maybe a better idea would be to hold a naming competition organised through The Press to celebrate the arrival of the latest iconic building?

Allan Charlesworth, Old Earswick, York

Comments(18)

ColdAsChristmas says...
12:05pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Alexander Palace II

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Firedrake says...
12:50pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Hudson House - or is there one already?

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Buzz Light-year says...
1:24pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Firedrake wrote:
Hudson House - or is there one already?
Hudson House is just up the road on Toft Green. It's that big ugly grey building next to George Stephenson House.

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Buzz Light-year says...
1:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I agree with this letter.
West Offices is a poor name.
This is a perfect opportunity to rename it and start anew.

I also like the idea of opening up the process to the people via a competition.

But please not Coun Gillies suggestion of City Hall.

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Even AndyD says...
1:35pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I agree West Offices isn't a great name but City Hall is plain terrible - makes me think of Dewsbury or Halifax or any other two-horse backwater one could think of. We need something specific to York, something that reflects the history or essence of the place. City Hall - for goodness sake - unbelievable.

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
1:38pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Kersten's Kremlin ?

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far2bizzy says...
3:18pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I disagree – I think a little bit of mystery is fine. If someone says “Why is it called the West Offices?” there’s your chance to launch into “Well, once upon a time . . . “ and to spin a right little yarn. On the other hand no-one’s going to ask “Why is it called Old Railway Buildings?” are they? Not without looking a right plonker.

Keeping original names is a form of retaining, and so capitalising on, our heritage.

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old_geezer says...
4:43pm Thu 24 Jan 13

"City of York Council HQ"

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
6:28pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Faulty Towers ?

or

****-up Corner ?

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Buzz Light-year says...
7:01pm Thu 24 Jan 13

far2bizzy wrote:
I disagree – I think a little bit of mystery is fine. If someone says “Why is it called the West Offices?” there’s your chance to launch into “Well, once upon a time . . . “ and to spin a right little yarn. On the other hand no-one’s going to ask “Why is it called Old Railway Buildings?” are they? Not without looking a right plonker. Keeping original names is a form of retaining, and so capitalising on, our heritage.
Didn't think of it like that, very good point.

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fulfordphilosopher says...
7:17pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I thought this was a Waller,Galloway brainchild. How about Wally Gally Folly

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last of the mandms says...
7:21pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Guildhall 2 "Just when you thought it was safe go beckon the Waller"

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stopatred says...
9:43pm Thu 24 Jan 13

the buffers any ideas that come from there will hit that first.

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capt spaulding says...
9:17am Fri 25 Jan 13

Alexkerst Travel agency.
Its the cheapest in town.

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Zetkin says...
1:28pm Fri 25 Jan 13

I always thought it was folly on British Rail's part to call their 1970s offices after a corrupt local politician, and I'd hope CoYC weren't stupid enough to repeat the mistake...

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
2:36pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Zetkin wrote:
I always thought it was folly on British Rail's part to call their 1970s offices after a corrupt local politician, and I'd hope CoYC weren't stupid enough to repeat the mistake...
Glad you think it's a bad idea to name it after council leaders, who are involved in the Paris'gate' issue.

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capt spaulding says...
3:21pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Ah yes the Paris gate issue, that could get interesting.

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perplexed says...
8:22am Sat 26 Jan 13

How about, 'Franchise Folly, after all privatising the railways has been such a wonderful success story, not!

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