Application to demolish building at Avonmouth station

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Interestingly, at the old Winscombe station (on the Cheddar Valley Line), the brick wall frontage of part of the station buildings has been laid out on the ground, as a sort of one-dimensional replica of its former glory.

[TonyK]

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

I wouldn't advocate protection by force of law. If a way could be found to make use of the building without such a bill as to put fares up, then that way should be taken. If it is honestly beyond redemption at a reasonable cost, then NR^» (Network Rail - home page) might find the plot of land it stands on to be of more use.

[johnneyw]

Just a quick thought. When (and if) the demolition finally looks imminent, might it be an idea to message as many heritage railway societies as possible to see if they want take the building for themselves. There have been a fair few cases of heritage railways doing this. Perhaps the word should go out now, to give them time to look at it.

[johnneyw]

Just a quick thought. When (and if) the demolition finally looks imminent, might it be an idea to message as many heritage railway societies as possible to see if they want take the building for themselves. There have been a fair few cases of heritage railways doing this. Perhaps the word should go out now, to give them time to look at it.

The Helston (Cornwall) heritage railway replied saying the tip off I sent them would be passed to their team. They are an "up and coming" society that I hoped might be able to use it if Network Rail don't shift in their stance.

[grahame]

Quoting (unusually) a full email from my mailbox as Christina has copied a lot of people and also asked for help in getting people to look at this further.

Save Avonmouth Station Building has a reprieve! DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) ^60m stations fund deadline is extended to Friday 12 June - a partner TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) or local authority is needed - please email your support in whatever way you are able to help!

Hi all,
 
Great news - We have a potential stay of execution for Avonmouth Station Building!
 
Further to the last email, I have just discovered that the deadline for the DfT ^60m Station development fund has been extended to Friday 12 June 2015!
 
(you may recall the original deadline was Friday 29 May, ie today!)
 
So relax, and read on at leisure!
 
Here below is the link to the DfT ^60m ^pot^, with all the details of who qualifies as a partner and what projects qualify for the funds. Extract and summary case (and plea) below; relevant
 
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/12458.aspx
 
We primarily need a partner (like a TOC,or local council, or perhaps WEP??) ^ FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) will do all the legwork and paperwork to actually put in the bid for the funds by the Friday 12 June deadline, bar the crucial signatures.
Clearly being a partner does entail a responsibility to see the project to restore Avonnmouth Station Building through, but again FOSBR will do all we can to help you with the paperwork and legwork to see the restoration of Avonmouth Station Building through to completion, but with the delivery of the Henbury Loop Passenger Service (a MetroWest Phase 2 project supervised by S Glos and WEP officers) we would hope that the building can then be used once more as a ticket office, bike store, caf^, upholstery workshop, mini museum about the Henbury Loop or Port of Avonmouth or Transatlantic Slave Trade, or all these in one!!
 
So please could each of you who qualify as a partner consider carefully if you feel able to be named as a partner on the funding application for this DfT ^60m pot, deadline Friday 12 June, ie in two weeks^ time?
We will be at all the usual council meetings and stakeholder meetings and will of course be attempting to talk to anyone who is willing to listen to explain what the commitment involves.
 
See some of you on Tues 2 June 6pm at the BCC^» (Bristol City Council - about) EGM at the Brunel Passenger Shed at Temple Meads ^  I will be wearing my usual bright yellow FOSBR T-shirt.
 
 
In renewed hope,
 
Christina Biggs
On behalf of Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR)

Follow ups from others closer to this than I am are very welcome - I post this with limited knowledge.   Also please let me know if you would like me to post / forward intermediate information (one document in particular has been widely circulated, but isn't to my knowledge cleared for publication)