A few weeks after there was public outcry over the decision to patch bits of the street with Tarmac, most of the replacement stones are in place.
But these too have caused a few eyebrows to be raised.
York Green Party councillor for Micklegate ward Lars Kramm tweeted: “Not sure new stones on Stonegate will please people. Should have done rightly & instyle.”
Not sure new stones on stonegate will please people. Should have done rightly & instyle @DeniseCraghill @YorkGreens pic.twitter.com/TMndzwMLHU
— Lars Kramm (@Lars4Micklegate) June 28, 2016
There was widespread dismay over the decision to temporarily use asphalt to repair paving which had worn away on Stonegate.
Even the York Civic Trust weighed in, calling the repairs “ugly and unnecessary”. At the time Cllr Ian Gillies said:
The council is currently sourcing new York stone paving for Stonegate which will be restored in June.
Tarmac repairs were always a temporary measure to replace broken paving stones and we recognise the importance of completing the stone paving in June.
The Tarmac was replaced earlier this month. This new section of repairs, completed on Wednesday (June 29) is outside the Old Guys Rule shop.
But the very modern look of the stone and its symmetrical layout does make it stand out in comparison to the weather-worn older stone.
A City of York Council spokesperson said the material being used was newly-sourced York stone, which contrasted with the surrounding paving which is at least four decades old.
“We wouldn’t be putting 40-year-old stone back in,” she said.
“Over time they will weather and become more like the ones further up.”
So what do you think?
