Show Posts
Concerns by local residents
As a local resident living next to a station, I am aware of some local concerns at the increased frequency of the service, and the start of Sunday services. There is general support, but only if the trains are seen to be well-used and the community is engaged and consulted (as it has been over the improvements to the local station). For the service to be well-used, it needs to be promoted to people and businesses along the line, which in turn requires that the service is frequent and reliable. In conversations with Business West among others, there is a definite willingness to help promote the service when it becomes frequent and reliable. However, without a clear, open, contractual relationship between BCC» (Bristol City Council - about) and FGW▸ (First Great Western) so that expectations are clear, none of this is possible. This puts local and community advocates for the improved service in an impossible position.
As a local resident living next to a station, I am aware of some local concerns at the increased frequency of the service, and the start of Sunday services. There is general support, but only if the trains are seen to be well-used and the community is engaged and consulted (as it has been over the improvements to the local station). For the service to be well-used, it needs to be promoted to people and businesses along the line, which in turn requires that the service is frequent and reliable. In conversations with Business West among others, there is a definite willingness to help promote the service when it becomes frequent and reliable. However, without a clear, open, contractual relationship between BCC» (Bristol City Council - about) and FGW▸ (First Great Western) so that expectations are clear, none of this is possible. This puts local and community advocates for the improved service in an impossible position.
As a local resident also living next to a station, I know that there are plenty of concerns at the proposed increased frequency of the service and especially at the implementation of a Sunday service. It is imperative that residents are consulted, and not just the passengers. The knock-on effects of the additional services and consequential increase in passengers, and how those effects affect station neighbours *must* be considered by FGW and BCC. I support the Severn Beach line, indeed I wouldn't have become its neighbour if I didn't.. however I am dismayed at how the trains during the day run almost empty. I am also dismayed at the FGW passengers who have such high disregard for neighbouring properties and throw litter on them (amongst other anti-social behavior). So the wise decision of a Sunday service which will run empty, disturb the railways neighbours and encourage more youths to hang around the stations is not something I can agree with. Get the investment into services that run during peak hours, consider and consult with the neighbours as well as passengers and then I'll support the service entirely.
