The state of Paddington Station - a grade 1 listed building - continues
to deteriorate. The 'temporary' scaffolding erected about 10 years ago
continues to hide the blatant and deliberate deterioration of the
fourth arch. Emails and letters to Network Rail about the
state of the station remain unanswered. Either that or replies are
received claiming that the scaffolding is there to help with the
restoration of the fourth arch. B*ll*cks. The squalor of this
diesel-fume ridden station is a national disgrace. What on earth
overseas tourists think of the station as they arrive on the grossly
over-priced HEX from Heathrow is a moot point.
Great welcome to Britain folks - to one of our most squalid mainline
railway stations. Of course everyone knows that the property developers
really want to demolish the fourth arch to build another damned great
office block. So who are they paying off to ensure
that the fourth arch eventually falls down from neglect? Why is
Westminster Council supporting this demolition? The attitude towards
the squalor is typified by the pigeons that are allowed to fly around
the Lawn area crapping on the open counters used by Yo
Sushi to prepare their dishes.

SB.

Evening Standard: 3/2/2006

PART of Paddington station, one of the most celebrated structures in
British architecture, is to be demolished to make way for shops and
offices.

The Evening Standard has learned that English Heritage has backed plans
to knock down one of the station's four "Brunel" arches despite
protests from architects and other heritage groups.

The fourth arch, or span, was built in 1916, 50 years after the death
of the station's designer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel but is still
regarded by many as an integral part of the building.