Saltash Station and Saltash Rail Users Group (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Concerned residents have called for a derelict building on the platform of an east Cornwall railway station to be renovated and restored.

The dilapidated building on Saltash station has been empty and derelict for at least a decade.

Residents said the building "gives a terrible impression" and "is just waiting to fall down".

Chris Speed, director of New Homes South West, said "negotiations are under way to begin renovation work".

The building, which is around 130 years old, used to house the stationmaster's office, a waiting room and a cafe.

Several years ago Saltash Town Council sold the building for ^150,000 to development company, New Homes South West, but renovation plans were halted due to the recession.

Resident Emma Pitcher said: "I think it's a real shame. It's a beautiful building and I remember it when I was a little girl standing here watching steam trains coming across the bridge. It's an absolute disgrace, it's falling to bits."

Resident Steve Jenson, whose view overlooks the building, said: "There are slates off the roof, there are trees growing out of the chimney stacks and the windows are all boarded up."

Saltash town councillor Richard Bickford said the council was giving the future of the building a "high priority".

"We think it's a strategic site for Saltash, we care about it and we are looking into what we would like to see happen and how we can influence that," he added.

[ChrisB]

Thats the Richard Bickford of this parish...

[smokey]

It also used to house the Station Booking office, which up to 1961 used to about the 2nd biggest money taking booking office in Cornwall, beaten only by Truro I believe.

I wonder what happened in 1961? 

Shame the plans for a Brunel Heritage Centre never came to anything.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

I went last year... It's not exactly the jewel in the crown of stations

[richard bickford]

Anyone want to run a cafe in part of the building?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

good luck with that one lol 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Cornish Guardian:

Call for action over rundown station


RUNDOWN: The dilapidated state of Saltash Station is the first impression of Cornwall for holidaymakers arriving by train. Picture by Scott Harrison

Campaigners are calling for immediate action to tidy up Saltash's derelict train station, claiming their bids for repairs have been ignored for years.

The station has been the cause of several complaints in recent years, with residents claiming that its rundown appearance could impact on tourists visiting Cornwall.

Paul Holden, chairman of The Cornish Buildings Group, has seen several attempts to get repairs started knocked back. "Many of the region's historic buildings are under threat from neglect and a lack of maintenance." he said. "The very first thing a train visitor sees when they enter Cornwall over Brunel's landmark bridge is a deserted and unkept building, overgrown with weeds and vandalised. Despite attempts by the Cornish Buildings Group to get an urgent repairs notice issued for Saltash station, nothing has been done for years. What will tourists think when they see iconic buildings in various states of disrepair boarded up and neglected?"

The station has changed hands twice in the last ten years and is currently owned by Darren Bennetts.

Cornwall councillor Hilary Frank, for Saltash South, has backed calls for improvements to the station and hinted that work behind the scenes may have already started. "It would be lovely to have something done to the station; it's definitely in need of some work," she said. "We're trying to get something done but it's hard when an individual owns it, it's no longer a council decision."

She added: "I think the owner has got some plans, he seems to be working with an architect to get something done but it comes down to him really. Depending on what happens to it, I think we would all like to ensure that some of the heritage aspects remain or are at least included in the design ^ it's important to the area."

The train station in Saltash is just one of many buildings that The Cornish Buildings Group is trying to protect, with calls for work to start on St Columb Rectory, one of the most important listed buildings in the county, which has been "left to rot for five years".

Mr Bennetts was not available for comment when contacted.

[exeterkiwi]

My Mum had a  issue with the platform height on the Plymouth Side at Saltash. It Was a Class 150 Unit  I believe, She OK now but worried about getting off the train at Saltash. She is over 70. When I last got off the train at Saltash it was interesting.

[alexross42]

My Mum had a  issue with the platform height on the Plymouth Side at Saltash. It Was a Class 150 Unit  I believe, She OK now but worried about getting off the train at Saltash. She is over 70. When I last got off the train at Saltash it was interesting.

You're right Exeterkiwi, for Plymouth-bound services there is quite a gap and step up required between the platform and the carriage, I don't remember seeing any other station that requires such careful exertion to board a train!

As for the station, it's been an eyesore for so long but now that the bridge is nearing completion of it's overhaul (let's not talk about the approach spans for now....) it would be a fitting time to get the station cleaned up to the same standard. There's a few uses that the building could be put to, I know the station attracts tourists for the views it provides of Brunel's bridge so you've got somewhat of a guaranteed footfall right there for starters....

[JayMac]

You're right Exeterkiwi, for Plymouth-bound services there is quite a gap and step up required between the platform and the carriage, I don't remember seeing any other station that requires such careful exertion to board a train!

Try a Class 150 on Platform 3 at Bristol Temple Meads. Scares me!

[Red Squirrel]

I've had some scary moments getting the anklebiters on and off at Montpelier - a bosun's chair would help. Not so bad now, but when they were 5..!

[phile]

You're right Exeterkiwi, for Plymouth-bound services there is quite a gap and step up required between the platform and the carriage, I don't remember seeing any other station that requires such careful exertion to board a train!

Try a Class 150 on Platform 3 at Bristol Temple Meads. Scares me!

Platform 7 is worse when alighting.   I had to jump from the 150 to the Platform !!!

[alexross42]

Concerning news today that the current owner of Saltash station is rumoured to be planning an application to build 4 x 4 storey dwellings on the site, and this will obviously mean demolition of the old railway station buildings.

The following petition has been set up for people to register their ojections:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-saltash-station-building-2

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for posting that update, alexross42.

The petition already has 34 signatures - but many more are needed!

Please do click on the link above and offer your support, as appropriate.

[alexross42]

I'm sure there was a thread already concerning Saltash station but it evades me - please merge the topics if you can find it!

Finally, something is being done about the terrible state of the station, as reported here:
http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plans-transform-decrepit-Saltash-station-near/story-27732131-detail/story.html

Reading through the story and it's associated images, it seems the poor architect was subject to some unusual practices in order to deliver a proposal they were happy with.........or is that a proposed use for the new development?!