RAIL bosses have gone back to the drawing board, following a massive public backlash against their plans to install ticket barriers at York Station.

National Express East Coast (NXEC) is to amend its plans, in response to concerns from national conservation group English Heritage, and City of York Council’s own conservation experts.

The firm will still seek to install automated barriers, but is to re-draw the proposed lay-out, in response to claims its initial plans would spoil the station’s appearance. NXEC agreed to act following a meeting with council planning officials last week. The firm’s plans have been strongly opposed, with more than 300 people or campaign groups formally objecting and only two coming out in favour. The comments of English Heritage and the council’s conservation architect, Janine Riley, have been pivotal.

Mike Slater, the council’s assistant director for planning, said NXEC would likely submit amended plans within the next two weeks, and the council will then launch a fresh consultation.

Ms Riley had called on her colleagues to reject NXEC’s plans.

She said the station was a “significant structure of historic and architectural interest” and said the proposals for barriers would undermine its “open and welcoming spaces”.

Among her complaints, she said the barriers would “disrupt the symmetry” of the concourse; it was unclear why all the gates were needed; there was no justification for the “random” arrangement of electronic display boards; and that a proposed information kiosk was “crudely constructed” and lacking in interest.

NXEC says the barriers would combat fare-dodging and improve security, but the plans have been widely criticised.

Opponents include English Heritage, York Civic Trust, the Campaign For Better Transport, Micklegate Planning Panel and local Green Party politicians. Two dedicated groups have also been set up, including the Campaign Against Barriers At York Station.

A NXEC spokesman said: “We have put forward a proposal which will see us invest up to £2.3 million in developments at York Station.

“This includes the introduction of gates, which is a franchise commitment. As a result of taking on board comments and concerns raised by the council, other stakeholders and members of the public, we have decided to make revisions to our original proposal. We will work through issues raised as part of our ongoing and positive dialogue with the council and others, including English Heritage which, while raising concerns, does not object in principle to the concept of ticket gates at York Station.”