New station at Ashley Down, Bristol

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

Photos attached show much going on at the station itself, part of the new compound area for the company appointed to carry out the station access work and lastly a glimpse through the original compound gates which were obligingly open at the time.

[rogerw]

Is the blue surface on the lift shafts a permanent or temporary feature.

[johnneyw]

Is the blue surface on the lift shafts a permanent or temporary feature.

Just a covering I think.  After taking the snaps I had a brief chinwag with chap who was also having a quick look at the progress.  The discussion got onto the towers and the expectation that they would be brick clad.  Mind you, that would require a bit more scaffolding.

[Red Squirrel]

I've been assuming that the bricks would be the kind they use on most modern buildings, i.e. 5mm thick and bonded to a sheet of cardboard...

[stuving]

Network Rail have come up with a not very informative update, but it does have a picture:

First reveal – Mayor sees new station footbridge, hails “critical milestone”


Work to build the first station in Ashley Down in 60 years has hit a “critical milestone”, according to regional Mayor Dan Norris. Funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, ‘Ashley Down Station’ is being built on the site of the previous Ashley Hill station which closed in 1964 due to the Beeching Cuts.

Mr Norris was track-side along with Cllr Don Alexander and other project partners to see for himself the brand-new footbridge installed over Christmas by Network Rail engineers.

It is scheduled to open later this year. Installation of the station footbridge completes the structural elements of the station.

Dan Norris, Metro Mayor, said: “We are at a critical milestone in getting this brand-new station built and open to Ashley Down residents to use and enjoy. I know how hard the team worked over the festive period to get this footbridge installed. It really is brilliant to see Ashley Down Station beginning to take shape. Remember the last time there was a station here – 60 years ago this year – Top of the Pops first aired, and man hadn’t yet stepped on the moon! I’m proud of my West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s radical ‘reverse Beeching’ programme to give residents the new stations and train services they need and deserve.”
...

[RichardB]

This Network Rail tweet and short video is good.

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1756015328448872836

Great to see how quickly this project has progressed.

[Red Squirrel]

Here's how the brick facings to the lift towers will work. Not, as I cynically suggested, thin slivers of brick glued to a cardboard backing! Looks like it'll be thin slivers of brick hanging off stainless steel (or maybe aluminium) rails. In this picture, taken on 10th Feb, you can see that the rails have yet to be trimmed to length...

[TonyK]

Here's how the brick facings to the lift towers will work. Not, as I cynically suggested, thin slivers of brick glued to a cardboard backing! Looks like it'll be thin slivers of brick hanging off stainless steel (or maybe aluminium) rails. In this picture, taken on 10th Feb, you can see that the rails have yet to be trimmed to length...

Still, cheaper than the traditional and hopefully durable. Few will notice, other than enraged bricklayers. I would much prefer proper brick, but I'll wager it was that or graffiti-ready rendering.

[stuving]

Still, cheaper than the traditional and hopefully durable. Few will notice, other than enraged bricklayers. I would much prefer proper brick, but I'll wager it was that or graffiti-ready rendering.

Not quite - from the planning decision:

Initial concerns were raised in relation to the design and appearance of the footbridge and lift shafts, which were sought to be constructed/faced entirely of grey metal cladding. The footbridge and lift shafts will be highly visible pieces of infrastructure not just within the station itself but, due to the height, within the wider townscape. As such, following Case Officer advice the design and appearance of the footbridge and lift shafts were amended.

Increased areas of glazing and void were included to the footbridge to give it a more lightweight appearance, with the use of part glazing of the parapets and open space above helping to reduce the bulk and increase transparency/visual permeability. This will also maximise safety, views and daylight for users of the bridge. A roof cover was also included to the bridge and staircases which will provide greater shelter for passengers using the bridge and station. Large scale detailed drawings of the roof covering are secured via condition to ensure it takes a slim-line appearance. Large scale detailed drawings of the staircase and glazed elements are also secured via condition. The framework of the bridge will be powder coated steel, with the roof covering to match. This is acceptable in principle; however the overall colour and finish will be finalised and determined at a later stage, secured via condition.

The lift shafts have been amended in design, with the material amended so they will be faced in red brick slips to reflect and appear in keeping with nearby development. Additional detailing in the form of darker brick banding, a ground floor canopy and grey flashing/capping to match the footbridge roof cover are also proposed. It is considered that the design and appearance of the lift shafts will now appear acceptable in principle given the context. Large scale detailed drawings of detailed design elements however are secured via condition to ensure they are of a good quality, and material sample panels of the brickwork are also secured.

[johnneyw]

Finally got around to having a look at the attached letter posted to me from Bristol City Council regarding Ashley Down Station.
It appears to be about access changes by Station Road.  A quick glance at some of the linked documents on the BCC^» (Bristol City Council - about) planning site talk about amendments that require a consultation period.  I'll readily admit that I couldn't really make much head or tail of it but I hope it doesn't herald a delay in opening the station.   Anyway here's a photo of the posted letter from earlier this month.

[Red Squirrel]

It is all a bit confusing, but the way I read it NR^» (Network Rail - home page) want to change the wording of the planning conditions from

"No development shall take place over the route of any public right of way prior to the confirmation of a Town & Country Planning Act 1990 path diversion/stopping up order"

to

"No development shall take place over the route of any public right of way prior to the application of a public path diversion/stopping up order"

Others with a greater understanding of highways law may be able to explain whether this is likely to be a significant obstacle.

[eightonedee]

It's a technical question regarding the process for applying to divert or stop up a public right of way.

Confusingly there are two ways of doing so, either under the Highways Act or the Town & Country Planning Acts. For some reason the planning permission specified the latter, but Network Rail appears to have applied under the former.

The proposed amendment will rectify this, albeit that I would have thought that the council would want to make the prior condition the making of the Highway Act order, rather than the application.

[johnneyw]

Fingers crossed that the application won't cause any delays then.... although I'm fairly certain that a "spring 2024" opening date had been banded about until recently but now the Network ,Rail Bristol Rail Regeneration web pages mention a second half of 2024 opening time.

[Noggin]

Fingers crossed that the application won't cause any delays then.... although I'm fairly certain that a "spring 2024" opening date had been banded about until recently but now the Network ,Rail Bristol Rail Regeneration web pages mention a second half of 2024 opening time.

I suspect that someone will invoke pre-local-election purdah rules, and as politicians usually want their photos taken beside new stations, if it doesn't open by late March then it's going to be May, with perhaps the next timetable change being the starting point?

[TonyK]

There is one objection so far, which is to do with the removal of fruit trees. I can see no reference to fruit trees in the application, so assume this is part of the wider project. Wrong type of apple?