Council 'aware of potential issue' after Leeds residents spot 'error' in new station sign

Council officials have confirmed they are “aware of a potential issue” with the new sign at Leeds City Station.

Work to the redesigned New Station Street entrance to the Leeds station is beginning to take shape ahead of its official opening this summer.

The centre piece of the highly-anticipated revamp is the new 'Welcome to Leeds' clocktower, although eagle-eyed residents have spotted a potential lettering fault.

Taking to social media discussions platform Reddit, residents have questioned whether lettering on the newly installed sign is properly aligned and whether the ‘d’ in Leeds is actually an upside down ‘p’.

One user said: “Looks like an upside down p, they must’ve rand out of d’s. We can’t do anything right,” while another added “I came here to scoff, but I think you're right. It's not aligned either, which is mad.”

Another pointed to the second ‘e’ as being the main problem: “Looks like the second e is the problem,” one user said. This was echoed by others who commented: “the e's aren't aligned and the letter space is terrible,” and “whoever put that up didn't use a ruler for sure.”

“The kerning is way off, as others have said the ‘ee’s are too high and helvetica/ariel can look really boring. All this Leeps to analytical anxiety and font fury,” quipped another.

Installation of the station’s new front steps, 'Welcome to Leeds' clocktower and two 21-passenger lifts from Bishopgate Street were recently completed.

Originally due to be completed by September 2025, the £46.1 million improvement scheme has faced repeated delays as a result of a series of complex works, including critical maintenance to the station’s, Mill Goit, underground structure.

The decision to carry out work on both the station’s entrance and underground, Mill Goit, structure at the same time was designed to minimise longer-term disruption while also obtaining the best possible value for money.

In a statement provided to the Yorkshire Evening Post, officials at Leeds City Council confirmed that they are “in discussions with the relevant contractors,” regarding the proposed issue to the welcome sign.

“We are aware of a potential issue with the Welcome to Leeds signage at Leeds Train Station and we are in discussions with the relevant contractors to ensure any error which is then identified is rectified by them as soon as possible,” an authority spokesperson added.

Underway since May 2022, the work is being delivered by Leeds City Council, on behalf of Network Rail as the landowner, in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

A segregated cycling infrastructure, set be installed on Neville Street, Dark Neville Street and Bishopgate, plus environmental improvements, including enhanced lighting and road surface treatments, are also expected to take place as part of the works.

Work will continue at pace ahead of the new entrance’s proposed Summer 2026 opening date.