Application to demolish building at Avonmouth station

[whole diary]

[Western Pathfinder]

That does not appear to be the case  I have been to Avonmouth to see for myself ( see previous post above ) and find that the building remains quite solid I have however not been able to gain access to the inside .

[grahame]

There are most unfortunate incidents in the recent history of rail in this area where a proposed change has only come to the attention of the local community very late in the day.  Of particular heartfelt significance was the 2005 Greater Western Franchise - one sentence on page 72 of around 150 that reduced the services between Swindon and Westbury to 2 each way per day (just 2 northbound, nothing southbound on Sundays) which only came to the attention of people who relied on the previous service after the consultation was closed.

I don't know how well know about the Avonmouth building is, nor what its true use, practicality and cost is, nor its current condition - opinions differ - but I do celebrate that there appears to be a discussion ongoing to help ensure the right outcome, perhaps involving a wider set of participants than knew about it last month.

[Red Squirrel]

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have resubmitted their application.

In their covering letter they state:

The structure has no future operational or commercial use and the building has serious
structural defects. It is currently being monitored to ensure it does not collapse onto the
operational railway. The building is deemed unsafe, the gable wall is coming away from the
main building; the attached photos will give you an idea of the extent of the structural
damage. Internally the floor has also collapsed over approximately one third of the length of
the building. The roof and the gable end have separated with a sizeable gap formed
between the ridge and the chimney stack.

The building is divided internally. Two thirds of the building was, until a couple of years ago,
a commercial property let. The remaining third (containing the collapsed floor) has been out
of use for many years with no operational use.

The building holds some architectural merit but it is not listed and does not fall within a
conservation area. Its removal would not detract from the aesthetic quality and appearance
of the area. The Victorian Society and The Railway Heritage Trust has been involved in
discussions about the demolition of the building, both organisations are sympathetic to the
reality that the building is beyond economic repair.

Given that NR don't actually need to ask permission to demolish, and that they have now fulfilled their obligation to state details of the hours and method of demolition, I think we can safely call this a lost cause.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Rather reluctantly, but realistically, Red Squirrel, I'm now inclined to agree with your conclusion. 

[JayMac]

As seen at dawn on 17th November:


In daylight on 18th November:


Detail:

[Kempis]

Apologies for not having posted recently -- a combination of computer failure and Christmas travels have kept me offline for a while.

Network Rail's second planning application to demolish the station was granted just before Christmas.

However, efforts to save the building are continuing, and Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways)) and others are organising an event at Avonmouth station tomorrow to publicise the proposed demolition. While Charlotte Leslie is unable to join us, I understand Cllr Melias will be present. Details are as follows:
 
Where: At Avonmouth station.
When:  Friday 16 January 2015.  Time: from 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
 
Trains to the station:
Train leaves Bristol Temple Meads at 0916, arriving at Avonmouth at 09.40.
Return train at 10.34 from Avonmouth to Temple Meads.

All are welcome. We're hoping for press coverage, including on Radio Bristol's breakfast show tomorrow morning.

I also understand there have been some discussions about the station between Network Rail and the West of England Partnership (the nearest we have to a local transport authority in the area).

[johnneyw]

Although not my MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), I will email Charlotte Lesile to ask her to keep campaigning for a change of mind.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Avonmouth station demolition plan fought by campaigners


Campaigners say Avonmouth station could be turned into a railway heritage museum or teashop

Efforts are being made to stop the demolition of a Victorian railway station building in Bristol.

Avonmouth station is still in use but campaigners say if local transport schemes succeed its use could grow.

Building owner Network Rail has said it has no commercial value. The demolition has been approved by Bristol City Council to take place in spring.

Avonmouth councillor Matthew Melias said: "It's a pointless demolition of an iconic building."

The campaign to save it is backed by Bristol Civic Society, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways and Bristol North West MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Charlotte Leslie.

Plans to expand the local railway network, known as the Metrowest scheme, are under way. The plans involve opening more local stations and increasing the frequency of passenger trains.

Avonmouth station is part of the hoped-for Henbury Loop which runs from South Gloucestershire to Avonmouth. If it does go ahead, Avonmouth would be part of the loop, and potentially attract more commuters.

Currently Avonmouth serves passengers travelling to Bristol Temple Meads.

Carol Durrant, from Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways, said: "There is going to be a massive increase in passenger numbers with Metrowest Phase One, and potentially Metrowest Phase Two. It is an aspirational thing; we would like to see this building brought back into use. We're not saying building across the rail network should be rescued, but this one is really worth saving. It could be useful for some railway, community or commercial purpose combined."

The building was recently used as a hairdressing salon.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We understand the concerns of Friends of Bristol Suburban Railways. However, Avonmouth station building is in a serious state of disrepair and while we have a responsibility to preserve the heritage of the railway, this must be done in a way that makes the best use of taxpayers' money."

The firm added that it had consulted on the plans with the Railway Heritage Trust and the Victorian Society, and both had agreed that the building was beyond repair.

Campaigners say it could be converted into a heritage railway museum, teashop or office space.

[JayMac]

A week or so ago there was a lorry parked up with safety fencing on the back. It was being unloaded as I boarded my train to Temple Meads. I thought then that the demolition process was underway - first stage, fence off the building.

Seems not. Stay of execution...?

[Kempis]

This morning's event was well attended, and BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio Bristol's coverage can be found (for the next 29 days) here (advance clip to 2:10:40):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02gf96m

For the record, Bristol City Council's approval of Network Rail's second planning application to demolish the building (given on 19 December 2014) can be found on the Council's Planning Online website (link in the first post on this thread) under reference 14/05850/N.

[TonyK]

I haven't made my mind up on this one. The building will not be used as a station building again. MetroWest Phase 1 or 2 will probably bring both platfroms back into regular use, but a couple of shelters is all that we can expect to shield passengers from the elephants.

The railway has many a derelict building beside it, with no obvious use or prospect, but not worth demolishing because that costs money. Flax Bourton springs to mind, and a platform at Brislington station remains visible. It isn't that long ago that the Avonmouth building was rented to the barber, and I find it hard to believe that it has gone from rentable to dangerous in such a short period of time. The docks are getting busier, the railway is getting much busier, and there is more to come, so why is NR^» (Network Rail - home page) in such a hurry to level it, rather than tart it up and rent it again, or sell it to someone on a long lease, so as to retain the land?

It isn't an object of great intrinsic beauty, except as a part of the historic railway - which does make it potentially important in my book. For that reason, my default position will be that it should stay, unless there is a very good reason, not backed by research intended to prove the desired result, that it should go.

[Red Squirrel]

...It isn't that long ago that the Avonmouth building was rented to the barber, and I find it hard to believe that it has gone from rentable to dangerous in such a short period of time...

If you look up the planning bumf, you'll probably come to the same conclusion as I did at Reply No.17 above - half the building was used by a barber, whilst the other half went to rack and ruin.

I'm always a bit sceptical of 'experts' with a vested interest who say things like 'if it wasn't for the woodworm holding hands it would have collapsed by now', but I think we have to trust the Victorian Society and the Railway Heritage Trust when they say that the building may be beyond saving - much as I'd like to see it kept.

[stuving]

For that reason, my default position will be that it should stay, unless there is a very good reason, not backed by research intended to prove the desired result, that it should go.

To implement that, you'd need to locate some legislation that protects it. I don't think planning law ever does that (though I've not read it all, obviously). This applications certainly has nothing to do with that - it's an enquiry as to what conditions will apply to the process of demolition and to what happens to the site afterwards.

[ellendune]

For that reason, my default position will be that it should stay, unless there is a very good reason, not backed by research intended to prove the desired result, that it should go.

To implement that, you'd need to locate some legislation that protects it. I don't think planning law ever does that (though I've not read it all, obviously). This applications certainly has nothing to do with that - it's an enquiry as to what conditions will apply to the process of demolition and to what happens to the site afterwards.

As I understand it it would only have protection if it were listed or in a conservation area. 

[Rhydgaled]

As I understand it it would only have protection if it were listed or in a conservation area.

Fishguard & Goodwick station is in a conservation area, but that didn't save it*. I hope you have more luck saving the Avonmouth station building.

* admittedly, in that case I visited the building and have to agree that it was beyond repair, except perhaps one wall and the chimney.