Askham Bar bus waiting area

The sculpture, a medieval stone window in a brick surround, depicts the heritage of the city as the site is situated on the original roman road leading to the gateway to the City of York.

Following a visit by Balfour Beatty to the College, Project Manager, Rob Lockwood was so impressed by the students in the Construction Division that he wanted to incorporate some of their work in the scheme. He said: “The Askham Bar Park&Ride scheme provided an excellent opportunity for the students at York College to get an everyday insight into construction. Balfour Beatty was delighted to be involved with the College providing talks and site visits, and it was fitting that the students could contribute to the scheme by creating this fantastic sculpture for the gateway into the Park&Ride.”

Kevin Clancy, Head of Construction added: “This complex project involved both stonemasonry and brickwork students. The skills demonstrated in the piece show an excellent quality of work produced by our construction students. It is fitting that with just a glance over the entrance piece, York College frames the whole setting and provides an excellent backdrop.”

Cllr David Levene, Cabinet member for Transport, said: “It’s important that though large schemes like the new Askham Bar P&R we can use this opportunity to provide future generations of engineers and construction workers valuable insight and hands-on experience into working in this industry. Throughout the development of this new site we’ve offered York College students behind the scenes experience of the construction of the P&R site. We’re delighted that they’ve had this opportunity again through Balfour Beatty and who knows; perhaps one day they could be planning the next P&R site in York.”

The new Park & Ride site is closer to the A64/A1237 junction and has over 1,000 car parking spaces and much improved waiting facilities.