Network Rail apology over planters 'put in wrong place'

Network Rail said the planters would be repositioned

A decision to install planters outside a busy railway station entrance has been described as "absolute madness" by a councillor.

Network Rail has apologised after large, wood-effect planters were placed next to a pedestrian crossing on the approach to Manchester Piccadilly station.

The firm said they were installed as part of plans to make the station more secure but they were put in the wrong place.

Their positioning has been slammed as "problematic" for those with mobility or vision issues.

Stockport councillor Matt Wynne said the "intrusive" planters are at one of the busiest pedestrian footfall points in the whole of Greater Manchester.

Posting on X, he said it was "absolute madness".

'Complete overkill'

A commuter, who asked not to be named, said: “I think there’s just been complete overkill with it.

“There seems no regard for anyone who’s disabled or have sight issues.

"I don’t think they’ve consulted anyone on the design standards or met with disabled groups.

“It’s as if it’s, ‘there we go, job done, on to the next thing’.”

Network Rail said the planters were "not installed in the right place" and have pledged to re-position them.

A spokesman for the rail operator, said: “While there is always a balance to strike between safety considerations and other factors, including accessibility, in this case the planters were not installed in the right place as per our plans.

“We apologise for any disruption this has caused to people accessing the station in the meantime.”

Recent statistics revealed there were 23.6 million passenger entries and exits at Piccadilly in the year to last March.

Outside London, only Leeds (24m) and Birmingham New Street (30.7m) were busier than Greater Manchester’s biggest railway station.