Railway station is taking shape

2:37am Monday 28th April 2008

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The finishing touches are being added to a refurbishment of Ilkley Station - although the pigeons blamed for making a mess of the platforms have moved on to another public building.

Network Rail has had part of the station closed off to passengers in recent months while it carried out work on the glazed station canopies.

The work came after complaints about the appearance of the station, and the danger of broken glass falling. One woman had to be treated for a cut after a shard of glass struck her on the head.

Councillors also took up passengers' complaints about droppings from the pigeons which roost under the canopy.

A pigeon-scaring device used in the station by rail workers had failed to repel the birds, passenger groups were told.

Network Rail has now opted for fitting nets under the canopies which prevent birds perching there.

It was reported to councillors, however, that the pigeons had since flown to the nearby Ilkley Town Hall.

Network Rail has replaced the glass in the canopies over both platforms, repainted them, and fitted new gas lamp-style lights at the station. Final work as part of the revamp scheme were being carried out at one side of the station.