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Historic station ramp demolition plan rejected
PLANS to demolish a pedestrian ramp described as "historically significant" to Monkseaton have been rejected.
Transport authority Nexus had applied to demolish the historic sheltered ramp into the south side of Monkseaton station off Front Street.
Nexus told North Tyneside Council in its application that it was structurally unsafe and could not be altered to meet new disabled access legislation.
Planning manager at North Tyneside Council Peter Brown told councillors on the planning committee this week: "The reason Nexus have applied for this is that the ramp does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to allow proper access for disabled people.
"The ramp is in very poor condition, the only other way to make it compliant would be to take the whole thing down and rebuild it.
"We believe the application would not have a harmful impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area.
"If it continues to decay it may become a dangerous structure and not fit for purpose."
Nexus applied to create a path beside the existing ramp structure, closing it off in the process, and create a path running parallel from the station's ticket area onto Front Street.
In its application, Nexus said that the historic ramp was too steep to meet new DDA requirements and the new path would have the correct gradient for wheelchair users.
The application would also involve the removal of 19 trees within the conservation area.
Speaking against the application Coun Joan Bell said that Nexus had not consulted with residents on the proposals and explored no alternatives before proposing demolition.
"No formal consultation with either ward councillors or residents has been carried out, this is a great oversight," Coun Bell said.
"The proposals for the removal of the ramp are a rather ugly solution. And the historical buildings officer is not convinced that all avenues have been explored."
Councillors voted seven to five against the application, stating that the structure was part of the area's heritage and was not worth demolishing while other disabled accesses existed.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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