New look for Deangate and Minster entrance

12:48pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

New look for Deangate and Minster entrance New look for Deangate and Minster entrance

THIS is how one of the main gateways to York Minster will look, once a new piazza scheme is completed.

The South Piazza restoration programme, outside the South Transept, is part of the wider York Minster Revealed project, which has been backed through a £10.5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Work on the piazza means access for pedestrians and cyclists around the south entrance and the Minster Gates will be restricted from Monday for about ten weeks as contractors begin constructing a new stone carriageway. The project will see the current steps leading into the Transept being removed.

York Minster Revealed is the largest restoration and conservation project of its kind in the UK, and is designed to transform the Minster as a visitor attraction while also protecting its stonework and stained glass for the future. It is due for completion in early summer 2016, after five years of work.

City of York Council provided £500,000 towards the South Piazza part of the project, through its Reinvigorate York city-centre facelift scheme.

Coun Dave Merrett, the council’s cabinet member for planning issues, said: “Along with the council’s investment in the York Minster Revealed project, which ties in with our Reinvigorate York initiative to redesign Exhibition Square and improve and enhance the quality of the city’s public spaces, we are also supporting and investing in York Art Gallery and the refurbishment of St Leonard’s Place. This will transform this part of the city into a high-quality cultural hub for York.”

York Minster Revealed also includes the creation of multi-media galleries, new displays of stained glass and historic artefacts, and interactive learning tools, as well as improving access to the Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt and conserving and restoring the Great East Window.

Comments(32)

David of York says...
2:50pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I don't mean to be negative but... is that it? With the amount of work that's been going on there lately, I expected them to reveal something more spectacular!

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PhilTopping says...
3:01pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I have to agree with the previous comment.

I fail to see where even £100k is being spent looking at this photograph. I am generally in favour of such projects but this looks like a marketing own goal.

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Osbaldwick Lad says...
3:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I didn't realise that York Minster was situated on the edge of a desert.

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Priapus says...
4:13pm Thu 24 Jan 13

It looks bizarre - like a monster with two pincers attacking people on a sandy beach.

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A Bottom says...
4:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I think it looks great!!!!

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A Bottom says...
4:41pm Thu 24 Jan 13

for a 3D model!!!

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bob the builder says...
5:37pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Where are all the bikes chained to the railings facing the minster, taxis lurking at the end along with the horse drawn carriage defacating and staining it, a big issue seller, itinerant mobile phone covers, scarves or balloon stand, and litter - that's a true artists impressions, not some glossy architects apprentice head in the clouds dream vision.

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Ignatius Lumpopo says...
6:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13

The design hardly reflects the architecture of the south door. What's with the sharp ellipse business?

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nearlyman says...
6:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Its yet another horrendous carbuncle, and totally out of keeping with its surroundings. It looks ridiculous.

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nearlyman says...
6:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Its yet another horrendous carbuncle, and totally out of keeping with its surroundings. It looks ridiculous.

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nearlyman says...
6:29pm Thu 24 Jan 13

whoops...trigger happy !

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Garrowby Turnoff says...
7:55pm Thu 24 Jan 13

It'll 'av to do!

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York Forever says...
8:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13

All the negative comments on this page is terrible, you are lucky to live in a city like York, it is a wonderful and historically important city so treasure it and stop always putting it down.

Please!!

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BigJon says...
9:13pm Thu 24 Jan 13

News?

"Work on the piazza means access for pedestrians and cyclists around the south entrance and the Minster Gates will be restricted from Monday (JAN 28) for about ten weeks...."

Ummmm.....haven't all the hoardings been up and the work been going on for some time now?

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BigJon says...
4:17am Fri 25 Jan 13

btw assuming the current cycle path is still in place once all this is finished, where are the road markings on the plan so that pedestrians know that cyclists do actually have a right to be there and aren't just cycling through a pedestrian zone?

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BigJon says...
4:26am Fri 25 Jan 13

sorry for multiple posts but I'd just like to point out how well written this article was....considering I've just found the original press release ( http://www.york.gov.
uk/press/article/104
3/restricted_access_
during_council_suppo
rted_york_minster_so
uth_piazza_works ) and the entire article seems to have been simply cut and pasted from it with some very minor editing. Shall we just get the council to write the whole paper from now on?

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Magicman! says...
4:43am Fri 25 Jan 13

^ exactly. If the current setup isn't 'restricted access' then what is about to happen then? Since the south door is currently closed off it might be beneficial to put up roadworks-style barriers between the pavement and current roadway so that pedestrians don't step off into the path of a cycle as seems to be happening quite a lot round the area recently.

Anyway, from the 3D image at least those nice old gas lights look like they might be put back into use.... to save energy maybe they could put a battery-powered control valve and ignitor in the light so the gas is only switched on when it gets dark instead of all the time......

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DEKKA says...
7:00am Fri 25 Jan 13

BigJon wrote:
btw assuming the current cycle path is still in place once all this is finished, where are the road markings on the plan so that pedestrians know that cyclists do actually have a right to be there and aren't just cycling through a pedestrian zone?
The cycle path outside the Minster disappeared about 2 years ago.

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DEKKA says...
7:01am Fri 25 Jan 13

bob the builder wrote:
Where are all the bikes chained to the railings facing the minster, taxis lurking at the end along with the horse drawn carriage defacating and staining it, a big issue seller, itinerant mobile phone covers, scarves or balloon stand, and litter - that's a true artists impressions, not some glossy architects apprentice head in the clouds dream vision.
And what exactly is wrong with Big Issue sellers?

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Paul Hepworth says...
8:04am Fri 25 Jan 13

DEKKA wrote:
BigJon wrote:
btw assuming the current cycle path is still in place once all this is finished, where are the road markings on the plan so that pedestrians know that cyclists do actually have a right to be there and aren't just cycling through a pedestrian zone?
The cycle path outside the Minster disappeared about 2 years ago.
The 24/7cycle route is still there .The associated Traffic Order is still in force.
During consultation with CoYC on behalf of cyclists organisation CTC, I have emphasised the need for appropriate delineation This must be sufficient to indicate shared use with cyclists and the horse drawn carriage,but without creating a "my space" corridor. It could take the form of pavoir blocks with embossed cycle symbols at intervals along the shared route. The observant amongst you may have noticed similar provision just inside Walmgate Bar when the pedestrian crossing was relocated.The paving design could also be varied along the "corridor". Shared use signs on poles here would run counter to CoYC's decluttering strategy.

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bloodaxe says...
8:41am Fri 25 Jan 13

Ignatius Lumpopo wrote:
The design hardly reflects the architecture of the south door. What's with the sharp ellipse business?
It's called a vesica.

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Mr Udigawa says...
9:36am Fri 25 Jan 13

Paul Hepworth wrote:
DEKKA wrote:
BigJon wrote: btw assuming the current cycle path is still in place once all this is finished, where are the road markings on the plan so that pedestrians know that cyclists do actually have a right to be there and aren't just cycling through a pedestrian zone?
The cycle path outside the Minster disappeared about 2 years ago.
The 24/7cycle route is still there .The associated Traffic Order is still in force. During consultation with CoYC on behalf of cyclists organisation CTC, I have emphasised the need for appropriate delineation This must be sufficient to indicate shared use with cyclists and the horse drawn carriage,but without creating a "my space" corridor. It could take the form of pavoir blocks with embossed cycle symbols at intervals along the shared route. The observant amongst you may have noticed similar provision just inside Walmgate Bar when the pedestrian crossing was relocated.The paving design could also be varied along the "corridor". Shared use signs on poles here would run counter to CoYC's decluttering strategy.
More Hepblather

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roskoboskovic says...
9:59am Fri 25 Jan 13

wow,is that the best that they can come up with.a very cold and desolate place in winter which could have been improved by adding structures to break up the wind tunnel effect.

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Ignatius Lumpopo says...
10:02am Fri 25 Jan 13

bloodaxe wrote:
Ignatius Lumpopo wrote:
The design hardly reflects the architecture of the south door. What's with the sharp ellipse business?
It's called a vesica.
Thanks.

I thought a vesica was something to do with gonads and urinating. Not sure I want to walk through this on my way in to a Minster service...

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DEKKA says...
10:57am Fri 25 Jan 13

Paul Hepworth wrote:
DEKKA wrote:
BigJon wrote:
btw assuming the current cycle path is still in place once all this is finished, where are the road markings on the plan so that pedestrians know that cyclists do actually have a right to be there and aren't just cycling through a pedestrian zone?
The cycle path outside the Minster disappeared about 2 years ago.
The 24/7cycle route is still there .The associated Traffic Order is still in force.
During consultation with CoYC on behalf of cyclists organisation CTC, I have emphasised the need for appropriate delineation This must be sufficient to indicate shared use with cyclists and the horse drawn carriage,but without creating a "my space" corridor. It could take the form of pavoir blocks with embossed cycle symbols at intervals along the shared route. The observant amongst you may have noticed similar provision just inside Walmgate Bar when the pedestrian crossing was relocated.The paving design could also be varied along the "corridor". Shared use signs on poles here would run counter to CoYC's decluttering strategy.
Thanks for the info..the council did promise some sort of signage when I originally asked about the disappearance of the cycle lane many moons ago.

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wobblesofpedallingplks says...
12:10pm Fri 25 Jan 13

I do like the look of the scheme but am concerned that the wide, even surface will become a challenge for those who treat the streets of York like a cyclists equivalent of Silverstone, to engage in high speed chases through what is probably one of the most congested pedestrian areas in the city. Just for once couldn't we ask cyclists to dismount and walk through this short stretch to both reduce the potential for accidents and create good will between pedestrians and cyclists.

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Capt. Dobie says...
12:34pm Fri 25 Jan 13

First comment.

How much?!?!?!

Dare I say 'elegantly plain' (I made that up...). But really, how much?!

£11Mn? Huh? What? Eh?

York is great, I love heritage, all that good stuff. But £11Mn?

Eleven Million Pounds...

Eleven

Million

Pounds

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Blancsanglier says...
12:51pm Fri 25 Jan 13

They would have been better finding space in the Minster for King Richard lll. York is slowly being eradicated, it will look like any other town with pockets of 'medievalness' if they keep messing with it.

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pedalling paul says...
1:05pm Fri 25 Jan 13

wobblesofpedallingpl
ks wrote:
I do like the look of the scheme but am concerned that the wide, even surface will become a challenge for those who treat the streets of York like a cyclists equivalent of Silverstone, to engage in high speed chases through what is probably one of the most congested pedestrian areas in the city. Just for once couldn't we ask cyclists to dismount and walk through this short stretch to both reduce the potential for accidents and create good will between pedestrians and cyclists.
This kind of shared use is very commonplace in other European cities. I speak from experience, having cycled through several. There is generally consideration and respect from all users towards each other. Dept. for Transport guidance to our Local Authorities also encourages this shared space option to be considered.
Deangate usefully avoids the inner ring road, and encourages more local cycle journeys round the city.

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Magicman! says...
3:47am Sat 26 Jan 13

Paul Hepworth wrote:
DEKKA wrote:
BigJon wrote:
btw assuming the current cycle path is still in place once all this is finished, where are the road markings on the plan so that pedestrians know that cyclists do actually have a right to be there and aren't just cycling through a pedestrian zone?
The cycle path outside the Minster disappeared about 2 years ago.
The 24/7cycle route is still there .The associated Traffic Order is still in force.
During consultation with CoYC on behalf of cyclists organisation CTC, I have emphasised the need for appropriate delineation This must be sufficient to indicate shared use with cyclists and the horse drawn carriage,but without creating a "my space" corridor. It could take the form of pavoir blocks with embossed cycle symbols at intervals along the shared route. The observant amongst you may have noticed similar provision just inside Walmgate Bar when the pedestrian crossing was relocated.The paving design could also be varied along the "corridor". Shared use signs on poles here would run counter to CoYC's decluttering strategy.
The problem with the Walmgate example is it isn't overly clear. Ideally a slight change in surface level would be implemented: not a full drop but say 100-200mm so pedestrians can feel when they are stepping onto the cycle lane (something like this might be mandatory under DDA regulations anyway, so blind people know what's what).
The south transcept is congested with pedestrians milling around looking up and getting in the way at the best of times, making it seem to them like the entire width of the approach is a pedestrianised square is just asking for trouble.

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Magicman! says...
3:51am Sat 26 Jan 13

wobblesofpedallingpl
ks wrote:
I do like the look of the scheme but am concerned that the wide, even surface will become a challenge for those who treat the streets of York like a cyclists equivalent of Silverstone, to engage in high speed chases through what is probably one of the most congested pedestrian areas in the city. Just for once couldn't we ask cyclists to dismount and walk through this short stretch to both reduce the potential for accidents and create good will between pedestrians and cyclists.
Errrm, simple fact - by dismounting their cycle, a cyclist is no longer a cyclist but a pedestrian; so how can you create good relationships between cyclists and pedestrians when you've gotten rid of the cyclists by forcing them to dismount??!

I have used this argument before: forcing cyclists to dismount just because one person is inconvenienced would be akin to putting bollards across Tadcaster Road and telling everybody to walk the rest of the way: you have changed the mode of transport.

It would be better just to have a decent level of signage and tactile surface to indicate where the cycle lane is... Ideally the walking people would be looking where they're walking too!

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aa42john says...
5:51pm Sat 2 Feb 13

So York Council has spent half a million pounds on THIS? It seems a extravagant in this era of cuts - especially when the church is so wealthy and is soaking those who want to go and ogle at its wealth for £10 a time.

(Also, I hear that Minster Cards no longer give free admission to York residents - is this true?)

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