ONE year on Exeter's Central Station still does not have a new canopy.
A partnership of the city council, Devon County Council and Network Rail spent £660,000 re-modelling the station forecourt and it was completed in time for Christmas last year.
In February a report to the Devon and Exeter Rail Working Party said that the scheme had come in more than £100,000 under budget and that, because of that, it would be possible to replace the canopy which had not been included in the original scheme.
In July a spokesman for First Great Western said: "We are tendering for the work to be conducted. Once tenders have been returned and assessed we will be in a better position to put some dates and details forward."
But nothing has so far been done and the canopy is deteriorating.
A spokesman for First Great Western said: "The county council kindly helped fund improvements to the station frontage, but not the canopy.
"During the previous franchise, working with rail partners and local authorities, we invested over £85 million in our stations.
"While we have to allocate our resources to balance the needs of all users across our network of 210 stations, we are working with Network Rail to find a suitable solution at Exeter."
The spokesman added: "The only thing we can add at this stage is that we are working closely with Network Rail to help develop a scheme that is not only affordable, but will deliver the benefits the local community wish to see."
Councillor Rachel Sutton, lead councillor for city development, said that she would be more than happy to see the canopy replaced.
Cllr Sutton said: "This really is a case of spoiling the whole for a ha'porth of tar. The station forecourt looks really great now but the canopy is getting worse all the time. Sooner or later it is going to become dangerous and they are going to have to do it anyway.
"We took it in good faith that they have the finances available and would do it.
"If they don't then we are going to want to know where that money is."
A spokeswoman for the county council said: "Replacing the canopy at Exeter Central station was not part of the original forecourt improvement scheme approved by Cabinet. "We have to be cautious as a new canopy, if needed, would prove a significant maintenance issue for Network Rail to take responsibility for."
In March this year a spokesman for the county council said that it was hoping to 'use the saving towards schemes in the immediate vicinity, including the forecourt canopy, improving the pedestrian crossing strips across Queen Street and an interactive monolith sign to provide information about train and bus departures'.
