Nailsea & Backwell Station

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Back in October last year, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) sent their 'in-house' painters to refurbish the railings and shelters at Nailsea and Backwell station.

On Monday of this week, a couple of external contractor staff replaced all the perspex window panels in the platform shelters.

The result in each case was perfectly adequate, in my opinion: there's not necessarily a case for saying that in-house staff do a better job than contractors, or vice versa.

I have more concern over the fact that a lot of money was apparently spent on getting some landscape garders in, to put assorted plants on the embankment under platform 2 in an effort to improve the appearance of our station, but no attempt was made to remove the skipful of litter from the embankment under platform 1.  Now, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion), that's where the 'value for money' argument falls down: lack of joined up thinking, not in-house v contractor.

[John R]

I'd rather a bit of money was spent by Network Rail shotblasting the bridge and giving it a proper coat of paint. It's such an eyesore.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Good point, John!

Erm .. do you mean the road bridge, or the foot bridge?

 

[John R]

The road bridge.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, John!

Sorry if I seemed flippant, but it was actually a serious question. While approaching the station from Nailsea this morning, I noted yet again how tatty it looks: embankments overgrown with that infernal Japanese plant that grows everywhere, stonework on the road bridge stained and leaking water over everyone whenever it rains, metalwork paint (on the road bridge and the footbridge) flaking off, litter everywhere - but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have had a few ground cover plants stuck in, to try to cover up all this mess!

For those who don't know my beloved local station, this is what I mean: http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/nailsea17.jpg

On a more positive note: the lady who operates the coffee van at the foot of the steps to platform 2 has indeed taken over the newspaper stand sales from the local newsagent!  So, apart from giving her an Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) machine, I think we've almost gone back to Nailsea and Backwell being a manned station again!

 

[John R]

Received this today, and one of the questions is:-

Which form of transport do you or members of your household mainly use to get to work?

Options are:-
Walk
Cycle
Bus
Private Car
Taxi

No "other" option either.

Errrr, hello, anyone in the Town Council noticed that bridge and those structures on top of it called  platforms, and I wonder what all those people are doing standing on them every morning.......

Doesn't inspire much confidence does it?

[vacman]

Complain to them!

[John R]

Don't worry, I have. I'm sure it'll do a lot of good.

[Chris from Nailsea]

John, thanks for posting this - I, too, had received this 'survey' - but I hadn't opened the envelope until now 

You're right - they've completely lost the plot!  I'll be on the phone to the Town Clerk tomorrow morning about this latest nonsense 

I will also raise it with Severnside Community Rail Partnership, as I think they may well have a local view on it!

Please let us know if you hear anything back, John - I'll do likewise.

(And thanks for your support, too, vacman!  )

[vacman]

John, thanks for posting this - I, too, had received this 'survey' - but I hadn't opened the envelope until now 

You're right - they've completely lost the plot!  I'll be on the phone to the Town Clerk tomorrow morning about this latest nonsense 

I will also raise it with Severnside Community Rail Partnership, as I think they may well have a local view on it!

Please let us know if you hear anything back, John - I'll do likewise.

(And thanks for your support, too, vacman!  )

why not write to the local rag...oh hang on, they won't be interested because it's not slating the railway!!!

[dog box]

Nailsea Council have really hit the nail on the head regarding the promoting of local train services They dont know it exists which sets the Bristol area apart from other areas which are banging the table and getting the government to invest in local services to the detriment of us.
i am afraid with the Railway bashing attitude that prevails at present we are going to get nowt because the local stakeholders cannot or will not work together

[John R]

Got a reply today which said it was "an unfortunate mistake". Maybe, but it shows how low on their priorities it is if it gets overlooked.

[devon_metro]

Taxi to work?

Pricey!

[Lee]

People in Nailsea are being urged to have their say on how the town should develop. Nailsea Town Council has sent out questionnaires to 6,643 households to help it to formulate a parish plan (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20137389&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

The plan will form a blueprint on the town's development and will be used to lobby North Somerset Council on issues including planning and economic development.

The questionnaire covers areas including health, leisure and recreation, crime and education. People are also asked what facilities they would like to see in the town and how they envisage the area developing in the coming decades.

Residents are being asked to highlight their favourite thing about Nailsea and to identify the town's hotspots and grot-spots.

The deadline for responses is April 14 and so far 16 per cent of people surveyed have sent back their views.

All the questionnaires will be analysed and a full report on the parish plan feedback is due to go before council in June.

A special bus where people can fill in the questionnaire will be parked up outside Somerfield in the town on Saturday from 9am to 5pm and outside Tesco on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

[Chris from Nailsea]

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) has been informed that a member of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff will be present at Filton Abbey Wood station occasionally over the next few weeks dealing with the ticket office and providing customer assistance.

Any chance of them also turning up 'occasionally' at Nailsea and Backwell, to provide similar services???