Melksham station

[whole diary]

[Phil]

Spotted this online:

WILTSHIRE Council has stepped in to buy land around Melksham Railway Station, safeguarding the site for the future.

The purchase protects the site from any development that could have threatened the long-term future of the station, and raises the prospect of projects to improve the facilities. The land had been put up for sale by the British Rail Board (Residuary), who are charged with disposing of former British Rail assets.
The former goods yard purchased includes the main station approach and land occupied by Novacast foundry and Melksham Truck and Bus. It does not include the land occupied by the car repair garage, car tyre business and scrap yard.
Wiltshire councillor Rich-ard Gamble, portfolio holder for transport said, ^The deal is self financing and a long term protection measure designed to ensure that should there be an increase in the number of trains running through the station, we are much better placed to make improvements to the station.
^Our aim is to create conditions in which a good train service can be an economic success and we are talking to train operators to try and persuade them to increase the level of service through the station.^
Network Rail is keen to run more trains between Swindon and Westbury, which would bring hourly trains through Melksham on this route, rather than the current two a day.

http://www.melkshamnews.com/blog/?p=422#more-422

[grahame]

It's excellent news - something that I knew was "in the offing" but seems to have come out before various press releases.     I have prepared some background to a complex story and I actually posted it last night at:

http://www.wellho.net/mouth/2511_The-story-of-the-railway-land-at-Melksham-Station.html

... I had better post a full follow up this evening 

[Tim]

Well done to all concerned.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Brilliant news indeed, to all involved - and thanks to some very determined work by grahame, Lee, Phil, Sion, Nick and others, I'm sure! 

[johoare]

Hmm I just got beaten to saying Brilliant news by Chris.. But Brilliant news nonetheless..

[Chris from Nailsea]

Just for the record ... I do not beat Jo 

[johoare]

 

[grahame]

Wiltshire Times has also published an article:

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/inyourtown/melkshamnews/4759944.Rail_boost_for_Melksham_as_council_snaps_up_land_for___500k/?ref=rss#show

[Wyvus]

Hello everyone!

I have been silent for an age now.. and I have relocated to York! Excellent news about Melksham Station, a real hope for the future. Where are we up to with the campaign?

Wyvus

[Graz]

Wow, this is good news! I hope the first of many important steps towards the service everyone is waiting for along the line. It's nice also to see some optimism from the council and good press in regards to service levels.