Major revamp plan for popular city-centre square (From York Press)
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Major revamp plan for King’s Square in York
10:07am Thursday 31st January 2013 in News
PLANS for a major revamp of one of York city centre’s most popular squares have been revealed.
Residents and visitors are being invited to have their say on the proposals for King’s Square, which include creating more space for pedestrians and street performers.
One of the three options also involves new outdoor café seating along the edge of the square – although not outside the tourism attraction, York’s Chocolate Story, where a street café was bitterly opposed last year by street entertainers.
The performers, who feared being squeezed out, were supported by veteran TV actor and comedian Roy Hudd, and the plans were eventually shelved.
The new schemes involve the narrowing of the road running past the square, which is believed to result in a reduction of three or four disabled parking spaces, and the removal of unnecessary signage and street furniture.
The proposals are part of the city-centre initiative called Reinvigorate York, which was launched in 2011. Sir Ron Cooke, chair of Reinvigorate York, said the quality of York’s inner-city public spaces was fundamental to sustaining the city’s present and future prosperity.
He said: “The council’s initiative provides a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the core area, and I encourage as many people as possible to take part in this consultation.”
Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for planning, sustainability and transport, said Reinvigorate York would provide a lasting legacy, enhancing the public realm and supporting city centre retailers and attractions.
“This consultation is about getting the details right for the long term future of this important square.”
The consultation will run between Monday, February 4, to Monday, February 25, by going to york.gov.uk/consultation, emailing community.planning@york.gov.uk or phoning 01904 551550. An exhibition will also be held at York Explore Library Learning Centre.
Comments(23)
Omega Point
says...
12:31pm Thu 31 Jan 13
working class tory
says...
12:33pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Reinvogorate York is a massive waste of money and resource and will do next to nothing to generate business.
We need to get people on the council who can generate business ideas without spending money, like self employed and business people do.
roskoboskovic
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12:49pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Ignatius Lumpopo
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1:01pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I think they should build a church on it.
Buzz Light-year
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1:26pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Geoffers
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2:48pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Ignatius Lumpopo wrote:Hehehehe!
It's not a square, it's a triangle.
I think they should build a church on it.
R'Marcus
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4:30pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Buzz Light-year wrote:Right, Buzzlightyear!
Narrowing Colliergate is total folly.
www.yorkstories.co.uk
says...
4:46pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Desperate to accommodate those cafe tables, aren't we.
There's no point in constantly asking people to 'have their say' and then ignoring what they say.
I imagine it won't matter in the slightest what ordinary residents think.
It wasn't just the street entertainers who opposed the cafe tables idea. So did many people who were concerned about access and the general viability of the scheme. But what happened? It was recommended for approval anyway by CoYC planning. And perhaps only withdrawn because the attraction's owners knew of this planned 'reinvigoration'.
The square will get cafe tables no doubt, and never mind those with mobility difficulties having to park further away, as long as hot chocolate gets sold.
far2bizzy
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4:51pm Thu 31 Jan 13
lowbeam
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6:20pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Pedro
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6:35pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Ignatius Lumpopo wrote:It used to be a church. There is even photos of it on the council website. That is why it looks like it does.
It's not a square, it's a triangle.
I think they should build a church on it.
The Holy Trinity Church
http://cyc.sdp.sirsi
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bob the builder
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6:38pm Thu 31 Jan 13
strangebuttrue?
says...
6:39pm Thu 31 Jan 13
R'Marcus wrote:Would not have thought our good councillors thinking would have gone much beyond this? Any excuse to get rid of a bit more road.
Buzz Light-year wrote:Right, Buzzlightyear!
Narrowing Colliergate is total folly.
Pedro
says...
6:48pm Thu 31 Jan 13
bob the builder wrote:Bankrupt. With all that Tang Hall dole money to raid?
For a nearly bankrupt council, plans are all they will ever be.
south bronx red 2
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7:30pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Plenty of room to move last time i saw.
Try leaving it alone.
Failing that , build some flats on it.
RoseD
says...
9:10pm Thu 31 Jan 13
R'Marcus wrote:You are KIDDNG, J. A.! After letting me bend your ear at a recent Guildhall event about how difficult it is for blue badge drivers to get around; and after previous claims that there are "several" blue badge spaces near Kings Square, you now want to get rid of them?? I told you at Guildhall (politely) that the attitude seems to be "Go away, disabled, York does not want you!", which you denied..... Seems like actions speak louder than words.
Buzz Light-year wrote:Right, Buzzlightyear!
Narrowing Colliergate is total folly.
Cant walk thru the city. Cant drive thru the city. Cant pay a bleedin taxi (dont work, dont get any sort of DLA). Basically its pretty clear you and the Council want us pesky crips to sod off.
And I also told you, JA that night that unless you're 'lucky' enough to drop dead suddenly at a young age, you will live long enough to become infirm by chronic illness or age. Like I said, the people you disdain represent your own future.
Go on to London, sooner than later.
The 'cafe seating' in Parliament is already awful, with Browns and Roman Baths and the pizza place leavng NO WHERE for ppl to sit or even stand if the few benches are already occupied. Once at 2 pm I tried to rest at a Browns table, as far from the restaurant as possible. I was about to fall over; could not stand nor walk any longer. Browns' bully bouncer came over and bullied me away. In the end I only left cos our young Intern was mortified I was resisting. The tables were for customers I was told; "why not for tax paying town citizens?" I had asked. The others were empty except for one.
JA and cronies are completing the destruction of York as a small caring town and remaking it into a soulless tourist attraction (even more than it had been).
You *should* be ashamed; but you won't be.
south bronx red 2
says...
9:18pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Sorry but once over walking anywhere around Parliment St. was an assault course which was life or death sometimes with traffic.
I agree there may not be enough public seating.
It doesnt matter whos running the council , they will all pander to the tourist pound and out of town shopping.
Also we are a City.
Buzz Light-year
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9:44pm Thu 31 Jan 13
akaroa
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11:20pm Thu 31 Jan 13
MouseHouse
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11:42pm Thu 31 Jan 13
As this is a public square we must retain all its spaces for public use. No capitalists taking the space with outdoor cafe seating. York does actually need places to sit down so some public seating is required. York needs more space for street theatre, more spaces for street artists and entertainers. We should also be making space for local community groups to run a shop from for a couple of weeks each, similar to the St. Crux Hall rental scheme. The opportunities are endless to keep York different.
We don't need a tacky 'big screen' - how many people can fit in the area with a decent view - couple of hundred perhaps? No thanks. If you want a big screen go elsewhere, and take your litter with you.
Scarlet Pimpernel
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1:27am Fri 1 Feb 13
If it's anything like the Get York Building consultation, it will already be decided. Officers will just include the answers/views that the council want, and ignore the rest.
m dee
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9:40pm Fri 1 Feb 13
voiceofnormalpeople says...
11:11am Thu 31 Jan 13