No kissing allowed at Warrington station – it blocks the platform
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Lovers hoping to bid each other an intimate farewell will no longer be able to do so in certain areas of Warrington Bank Quay train station after "no kissing" signs appeared following concerns that embracing couples were causing congestion.
The signs were installed on Friday as part of a £1m refurbishment of the station and have divided the car park and taxi ranks into "kissing" and "no-kissing" zones.
They will mean an end to scenes like the one between Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard in the 1945 film Brief Encounter, in which the couple share a passionate embrace at a station.
The idea of the "no-kissing" zones at Warrington station in Cheshire, was first mooted in 1998 by Colin Daniels, chief executive of the town's chamber of commerce. He came up with the idea after hearing that a station in Deerfield, Illinois, had used the signs to ease congestion.
But it was only last week, following the revamp, that the signs were put up because the station has become "increasingly busy" since the introduction of Pendolino trains between London and Glasgow and Super Voyager trains between Birmingham and Scotland.
Mr Daniels said yesterday: "It is a fairly congested station and ideally what we want is for people to come here, drop someone off and move on. But that wasn't always happening and people were lingering and causing delays.
"With these 'no-kissing' signs we are pointing out that we don't want people doing that right outside the front of the station. If they want to linger and say a longer goodbye they can do that in the 'kissing zone' where there is a limited amount of parking."
Mr Daniels said that the station would not be enforcing the zones too rigidly, adding: "It is a bit of fun, but it will be interesting to see if people observe it. They may seem frivolous but there is a serious message underneath."
And despite the timing of the signs appearing –one day before Valentine's Day – they are not, as some cynics have might suggest, a marketing ploy. Mr Daniels insists they are there to stay "unless someone nicks them".
At the station, commuters had a mixed view on the signs. Amy Swain, 21, said: "I don't see the point in the 'no-kissing' sign. I don't think it'll stop people. But the kissing sign is good, although it might be upsetting if you're single." But Ruth Hardman, 31, said: "They should spend the money on something more worthwhile."
A Virgin spokesman said: "It's just a quirky thing. It's nothing more than a light-hearted way of getting the message across."
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Comments
The only thing able to come close is Obstruction of the Public Highway but seeing since privatization, this is now private land, there is little chance this could be enforced without the people in charge being made to look like fools.
Jan Riordan
They have not banned men kissing men nor women kissing women.
The sign isn't even taking itself seriously. It's not really about kissing but about lingering in a busy area. Personally I'd want to linger and have my picture taken kissing someone in front of that sign...
I wish to point out that the Warrington "no kissing" sign" is incorrectly formatted and does not comply with European standards for prohibition signs. Specifically, the red circle and bar should be in front of, not behind, the black image. Compliance should be paramount in the context of such a serious issue."
oh, do shut up. Yes i think there is also an element of discrimination against hetrosexual kissing involved but it's not intentional. Kissing is kissing and gender is not defined therefore you wasting your time thinking up imature ways to fight this ban. i think it's a good idea because i agree that it can be hectic at times and i can see that the station is understanding in creating designated areas.
Mr Daniels said that the station would not be enforcing the zones too rigidly, adding: "It is a bit of fun, but it will be interesting to see if people observe it. They may seem frivolous but there is a serious message underneath."
Fair man :)
you know that this should inspire a kiss-in (or kiss off, as it were!)
Equal ridiculousness for all, regardless of orientation!
which might cause even more of a traffic jam?
If they lack suitable designs, I wd provide some, adapted from famous
artists like Giulio Romano, Pechstein, and Aubrey Beardsley, free of
charge.
Loggedoff in Gay San Francisco
PEOPLE WAKE UP!
In a few years someone is going to tell you when to breathe!!!
and the faces on the sign are black...is it only for black people? Britain you should be ashamed of putting this kind of signs, you are not muslims, are you gonna ask next to the women to wear a veil??? i am shocked to see that, and hope people keep kissing where ever they want as it is a proof of love....keep kissing, keep showing your love people of britain
What kind of society is Britain becoming? You're already filmed everywhere on the motorway,
Do we all want to be told what we can do and not do in public places ? Where is the not so old
cool, trusting, gentlemanly attitude? If people don't react now, soon we'll be filmed in the most
intimate places....
Elizab