NORTHERN has said it will not remove an InPost locker at Baildon railway station, despite complaints from local groups.

The lockers – which are used to collect, send and return parcels – are positioned in front of the station, having been put there in June.

The Friends of Baildon Station (FOBS), which has the support of Baildon Town Council, has demanded that Northern relocates the lockers, which it claims were put there without any local consultation.

The group says that it is not against having the lockers, but argues that their location is “totally unacceptable”.

It says they have been placed directly in front of a memorial plaque for a founder member of FOBS, Wendy Wolstenholme, which was unveiled following her untimely death in 2020.

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FOBS adds that the lockers are too big and that they negatively impact the appearance of the station.

John Bowdery, Chair of FOBS, said: “The box is massive and completely dominates the small platform. I note that the one at Shipley Station has been placed at the end of Platform 3 next to the subway – not in front of the station buildings.”

Councillor Gill Dixon, Chair of Baildon Town Council, added: “Northern is grateful for the hours of volunteer time given by FOBS because they care about Baildon Station.

“FOBS want to work in partnership with Northern to make rail travel as attractive as possible.

“The completely insensitive location of this InPost box by Northern’s contractors, right in front of the memorial plaque and damaging the flower displays, is a major discouragement.

“If Northern is serious about partnership working with the community, now is the time to admit a mistake has been made here, and relocate the box to a more suitable location.”

Speaking today, a Northern spokesperson said the train operator was happy to speak with FOBS, but maintained that the lockers would not be moved.

“It was a commercial decision to place the lockers there and they are a communal asset,” they said.

“We have spoken to FOBS on this subject in the past. The decision to place the lockers where they are was a commercial one, but also a customer service one – customers like and use them.

“It’s not obstructing anything and we’ve been very careful where we place it for obvious reasons.

“It isn’t blocking access to anything, and we think it is in a good position.

“It is a modern piece of equipment, but it is in fitting with the rest of the station.”