Goring and Streatley station - facilities, services, footbridge, improvements, events and incidents - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Surrey 455]

For a moment I wondered why there was a London Transport roundel on the map then I scrolled to the right and saw it was an arrow.

BTW^▸ (by the way) why is the map dated 2009?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting that update, john_boler! 

Compared with some such facilities which I have seen also described as 'fully accessible', that one seems positively palatial! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Was it presented by Network Rail in 2009, and it's taken this long to mount it somewhere suitable, possibly?

Isn't that Patrick Hallgate, of Network Rail, top right in the first picture?

[lordgoata]

Probably the case Chris, there was a bit in Goring Gap magazine about it, but I forgot what it said now. Does amaze me though, if it has taken 6 years to install, that they decide to do it right now in the middle of all the engineering works they are doing to the station with the new bridge etc! Would have made much more sense to put up up when everything was finished and have it as part of the opening of the new station/lifts etc.

[stuving]

With Google's assistance, I found this letter to the parish council (on their web site) that fills in those missing details:

As the Council will be aware, Network Rail is about to embark on construction of a new
footbridge at Goring and Streatley station.

This is a formal request for the Council to make available its Network Rail orientation plaque
for incorporation into the new bridge or erection nearby.

The plaque is currently held in the Council store room. Whether the plaque would, indeed,
be incorporated into the new station works would be for Network Rail and/or First Great
Western to decide. The purpose of this request is to clear the way for me to ask them, on a
personal basis, to do so. An alternative would be for the Council to make such a request
direct to Network Rail; in which case I should be happy to suggest a helpful contact.

The Council^s records will show that the plaque was a gift made by Network Rail to the
Council on behalf of residents of Goring in recognition of the patient way that residents had
tolerated the inconvenience caused by reconstruction of the High Street rail bridge in 2006.
The plaque was designed locally and commissioned and paid for direct by the Council, using
the money gifted by Network Rail.

Planning permission was granted in December 2009 for the plaque to be erected on the
station forecourt but the works have not so far been executed.

That letter was written last September by - unsurprisingly - one John Boler.

[Surrey 455]

I hope there haven't been any road layout changes during that 6 year wait

[IndustryInsider]

I hope there haven't been any road layout changes during that 6 year wait

Don't think there's any road layout changes, but the railway line has been 4-tracked in the intervening years... 

[lordgoata]

Don't think there's any road layout changes, but the railway line has been 4-tracked in the intervening years... 

LOL^▸ (laughing out loud) 

Actually, there is one error I can see, if you plan to visit the Food & Drink symbol at the bottom by the note indicating the B4256, you'll be sadly disappointed as its a derelict building now. STIG continue their irritating anti-Tesco tirade, leaving the village with this lovely eyesore for the past 12 months, and who knows how many more for the future .... but I digress

[ellendune]

I hope there haven't been any road layout changes during that 6 year wait

Don't think there's any road layout changes, but the railway line has been 4-tracked in the intervening years... 

Really I cannot remember it being anything other than 4 track over the last 50 years.  Unless it was for a short period in the late 70's and Early 80's when I lived up North.

[Red Squirrel]

I hope there haven't been any road layout changes during that 6 year wait

Don't think there's any road layout changes, but the railway line has been 4-tracked in the intervening years... 

Really I cannot remember it being anything other than 4 track over the last 50 years.  Unless it was for a short period in the late 70's and Early 80's when I lived up North.

I think II was making a little joke - the 'orientation plaque', or 'map' as I would call it, shows two tracks when there are, in faquet, four. 

[ellendune]

I hope there haven't been any road layout changes during that 6 year wait

Don't think there's any road layout changes, but the railway line has been 4-tracked in the intervening years... 

Really I cannot remember it being anything other than 4 track over the last 50 years.  Unless it was for a short period in the late 70's and Early 80's when I lived up North.

I think II was making a little joke - the 'orientation plaque', or 'map' as I would call it, shows two tracks when there are, in faquet, four. 

Silly me!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Further details of the installation, from Henley on Thames News:

At last, visitor map installed at station



A plaque with a map of Goring and the surrounding area has been installed at the village station for use by visitors.

Network Rail commissioned the plaque in 2007 after refurbishing the road bridge over the railway at High Street.

It was a goodwill gesture as the project took three months and caused significant disruption, prompting complaints from Boris Johnson, who was then Henley^s MP^▸ (Member of Parliament).

Goring Parish Council wanted to place the plaque at the main station entrance and obtained planning permission in 2009.

However, Network Rail said it had to check whether it was possible as it could interfere with underground cables, so the council put the board into storage and there were no further discussions.

Last year, First Great Western offered to finally install the plaque it as part of a refurbishment of the station^s toilets, which is now under way. The council and Network Rail both agreed.

The board shows tourists the way to Goring village centre, the River Thames, Streatley and major footpaths and bridleways.

First Great Western may also produce a leaflet promoting Goring as a tourist destination.

John Boler, who was parish clerk in 2007, said: ^This has finally drawn a line under something that started when I was the clerk. It shows the extent of the goodwill that exists between the people of the village and the railway. I know it will prove very helpful to visitors as I am often stopped and asked directions in the summer.^

Well done, John Boler, and many thanks for following up on this topic. 

[IndustryInsider]

I see the old footbridge was lifted out at the weekend, all bar the steps down to the island platform, which are still in use as the temporary footbridge connects on to them.

[a-driver]

A lift at a what is for most part, an unmanned station.... am I the only one who thinks it won't last more than a few days before being vandalised and put 'Out Of Order'??

[Oxonhutch]

I suspect it will be like Princes Risborough.  When the station is manned, the lifts are switched on.  At other times you must use the stairs