PLANS to make improvements at a railway station have been given the nod.

An application for St Helens Junction was sent to the council's planning department in 2023.

The plans, drawn up by The Input Group, sought 'Listed Building consent' for three braille maps, six tapping rail signs, and a drop-off shelter.

The station, which dates back to 1851, was awarded Grade II listed status in 2016.

The drop-off shelter will be approximately 2.5m in height, with a depth of 2m and a width of 4.1m and located in the car parking area.

The braille maps will be on a 30mm depth frame, 600mm in length and will be 1,100mm in height.

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Part of the application for the Sutton station is retrospective, plans stated, with the tapping rail signage already installed. 

During the application process the applicant has amended the proposed development by "removing the accessible toilet POD, to overcome concerns raised by the LPA in terms of harm to the setting of the listed building", a council officer's report noted.

Case officer Alex Ball said: "The Conservation officer has been consulted and notes that the three braille maps, and six tapping rail signage would have some impact on the visual appearance of the station platforms, the overall impact is low level and can only be deemed as being negligible".

It was added: "The minor visual impacts are likely to be outweighed by the need for the installation and the operation (public) benefits to station users."

Listed building consent was granted.