York National Railway Museum directions signs approved

Plans for put up 36 banners and flags on routes to the National Railway Museum (NRM) have been approved by City of York Council.

The museum’s application stated they were needed due to visitors being given the wrong direction by online map services which have not caught up with changes to nearby roads.

Council planning officers stated the signs would not have a negative impact on amenity or public safety.

It comes after changes in access routes to the museum amid ongoing regeneration works in the surrounding area as part of the York Central scheme.

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A new Central Hall at the museum is being built as part of the scheme following the signing of a contract for the works which are now underway.

Museum Square, a new public space planned for York Central, is also set to host a new entrance to the site.

Hudson Boulevard and Foundry Way, which have been been built as part of the roughly £2 billion redevelopment of the wider Leeman Road area, now provide access to the museum.

The approval of plans by the council are set to see 36 1.5m-high and 70cm wide PVC banners fitted to lampposts along the new routes.

Designs for banners planned along routes to the National Railway Museum, in York (Image: National Railway Museum)

They will direct people coming from York Station or the city centre to the right way to the museum’s entrance while works are ongoing.

Plans stated: “Visitors are often being led on unnecessary, long or incorrect routes.

“The flags will assist the public in finding their way to the museum, thus contributing to public safety.

“The flags will be made of high quality, durable material and will be maintained on a regular basis.”

No objections were lodged against the plans though York Civic Trust said they should only be temporary due to their excessive scale.

Council planning officers stated large black banners with arrows would be interspersed with ones featuring colourful designs.

They said: “The proposed banners are explained to be necessary in the application due to the ongoing works associated with the York Central Project and redevelopment of the National Railway Museum and its Central Hall.

“It is noted that the road layout surrounding the museum has changed as part of these works, with Leeman Road closed, and visitors have been struggling to locate the museum’s relocated entrance.

“The proposal would only be granted on a temporary basis.

“This would allow the museum to solve the issue of the wayfinding during the construction period, whilst also protecting the amenity of the heritage assets located nearby which would only be temporarily affected.”