Changes approved to 'finest facade'.

Byline: BARRY GIBSON

PLANNERS have approved changes to Huddersfield Train Station.

Kirklees Council yesterday gave the green light to a radical overhaul - but one councillor damned the plan as "desecration".

The Grade 1 listed building TransPennine Express won permission for the upgrade, which includes expanding the booking hall and building a new door at the front.

Kirklees Council's Huddersfield Planning Subcommittee approved the plan, which will be jointly-funded by First and the Government.

The booking hall will be expanded to include the area behind the ticket counter which is currently used as a control room, server room and lost property. The redundant stable block on Platform 1 into a staff room and training room and build disabled toilets on Platform 1. The company will also build a new door between the booking hall and Platform 1 and another door just to the left of the main entrance.

The subcommittee approved most of the plan at last month's meeting, but asked First to find a better design for the new door at the front of the station.

The company will build an auto-matidoor to the left of the main entrance, similar to the door to the right of the entrance. And First pledged to put blue panelled wooden doors on each automatic door.

Michael Owens from agent Above and Beyond Architecture told the meeting: "This would make the facade symmetrical once again."

Mr Owens added that the work, which should be finished by March, would improve the station.

He said: "Our proposals would reduce congestion and improve disabled access. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give Huddersfield the train station it deserves."

But the plan was attacked by Clr Peter McBride.

The Dalton Labour man said: "The congestion is caused by First's revenue collectors. There wasn't a problem before they stopped people.

"This proposal would desecrate the building to keep First happy."

Lindley Conservative Clr Tony Brice disagreed. He said: "The new door would restore the balance."

The subcommittee supported the plan by nine votes to three.

CAPTION(S):

* LANDMARK: Huddersfield Train Station before work began