'Absolute madness': The huge planters outside Piccadilly station installed in the wrong place - that transport bosses didn't even know about

The decision to put huge planters next to an extremely busy pedestrian crossing at Piccadilly station has been described as ‘absolute madness’. The large ‘wood effect‘ planters were installed on the station approach by Network Rail as part of resilience improvements which aim to make the area around the station more secure.

However their position, at ‘one of the busiest pedestrian footfall points in the whole of the region’ has been slammed as problematic for those with impaired mobility or vision issues. It is also feared that their position will impede the thousands of people per day, particularly those with prams and pushchairs, who cross the nearby bridge over the A6 on their way to and from the station.

Network Rail has now apologised saying the planters were ‘not installed in the right place’ and have pledged to re-position them. Stockport councillor Matt Wynne, a regular user of the station, posted a a picture on social media site X of the ‘intrusive’ planters, describing their position as ‘absolute madness’.

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He posted: “Network Rail shouldn’t be let near anything to do with the public realm. This at one of the busiest pedestrian footfall points in the whole of Greater Manchester.”

A commuter, who asked not to be named, said: “I go through every week day on my way to and from work. I think there’s just been complete overkill with it. It seems they’re just dumping concrete blocks wherever they like.

“There seems no regard for anyone who’s disabled or have sight issues. I don’t think they’ve consulted anyone on the design standards or met with disabled groups. “It’s as if it’s ‘there we go, job done, on to the next