Art installation coming to railway arches

The installation of public art in 10 railway arches that were once used by rough sleepers is due to begin next week.

The structures at Bradford Forster Square Station were cleared by the council last August in anticipation of the regeneration work.

Homeless charities branded the decision to move a group of people living in tents on from the area as "heartless" but Bradford Civic Society welcomed it.

Bradford Council said the project to improve the public realm around the station would also include metal gates, new lighting and artwork.

A council spokesperson said: "The installation will start next week with completion by 31 January.

"All 10 arches include artwork that will link through the full length of the space. This is formed through tiny perforations in the steel sheets.

"The Heras fencing will be removed when the panels have been fully installed."

Bradford Council has previously said that its Homeless Outreach Partnership team continued to visit the Forster Square arches on a daily basis ahead of access to the area being withdrawn.

The arches are a surviving part of the original Victorian station, which was demolished and reduced in size in the 1990s.

Under the plans, the arches along the walkway between Cheapside and Forster Square Station would have 3m-high (9.8ft) decorated panels, with new lighting inside.

Network Rail owns the arches and is funding the work, which was scheduled to start last May and be completed by late August but has been delayed.

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