Anything north of Bristol is definitely 'up North' for this Deb'nshire yokel 

Samaritans facing volunteer exodus over proposed branch closures

Hundreds of Samaritans volunteers say they will leave the suicide prevention charity if plans to close more than 100 branches are supported at a meeting this weekend.

Some opponents of the changes fear an exodus of staff could put the charity's ability to answer calls in doubt.

The controversial plans, unveiled in July, would see at least half the Samaritans branches in the UK and Ireland close. Volunteers would instead work out of larger offices or answer calls from home as the charity moves to embrace a remote working model.

In a statement, the Samaritans said its proposals would mean "we can answer more calls, cut wait times and make it easier for people to volunteer with us". If passed, the first branches would begin to close in April in the UK and 2027 in Ireland, with a gradual reduction over the coming decade.

Critics of the plans say the changes will decimate the Samaritans' work in local communities and have accused the charity's leadership of repeatedly ignoring requests to provide the rationale for the plans.

Some branches have called for a vote of no confidence in the chairman at a meeting next month. More than 50 branches, over a quarter of the total, immediately raised concerns when the plans were unveiled and it seems that opposition has only grown.

The list of branches that would close has not been released, but James Watkins fears his one in Rhyl, Denbighshire, would go. It's situated in the heart of the town, in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Britain, with high levels of mental health problems.

Mr Watkins, 58, says that volunteers are drawn to helping their own community as much as staffing the charity's nationwide phone line. The branch's volunteers, he said, had recently been out at a local college and at the train station raising awareness of their presence.

"All of those things emanate from the fact we have a local branch and would likely go if we closed. Our branch has been going for over 50 years and our connections with our community has grown and grown," said Mr Watkins. He's one of between 40 and 50 volunteers in Rhyl, but after speaking to colleagues said he was not aware that any of them would remain if the branch closed.

Last month, Mr Watkins organised a survey of volunteers across Wales. He says he received a response from 210 people, about one third of all Welsh volunteers. Three quarters of people who responded said they would not move if their own branch was closed. The same proportion said they would not be interested in remote volunteering.

"With less people, [the Samaritans] are not going to be able to answer as many calls. This is the point we keep making and it seems to be falling on deaf ears. This could be the beginning of the end for the Samaritans."

(BBC article continues)

Gloucestershire, South Worcestershire, Wiltshire, West Hampshire, South Herefordshire all count as definitely Not "Up North", in my book.  And neither are they in the East or South East.

By elimination, they must be in the South West

(For what it's worth, Cornwall/Devon/Dorset/Somerset is South West, everything else is up North!)

But experience tells me that 5car workings, formed of a 2car and a 3car can be prone to ending up as 4car or even 3car (or occasionally 6car) fairly often in Bristol area.    Operationally having 2 types combined to form a train seems to be too hard to do on a regular basis, unless you have both sizes available in a siding at start point.

Lack of inter-unit gangway could be a problem if working in multiple, especially on a route with short platforms or request stops; are they to be paired on peak Barnstaples? Probably wouldn't be able major issue on main line duties. I imagine the same issue arises when a 5-car Turbo formation serves Dilton Marsh, but at least that's a one-off stop.

I travelled the line in its BR dying days - probably the last summer of any through services from London with a class 33 on a TC set or two.   And the a thumper up and down the branch; lovely hot summer in the fields on the hill high above Corfe Castle learning about and seeing the flaura and smaller fauna, with the train buzzing past from time to time like the chimes of a clock telling us the time of day and passing hour.

Yes, such a delight to see it back / as it is now.   The delight tempted for me,  sadly, by the lack of an ability to connect by public rail transport routinely into Corfe Castle and Swanage.

9: Corfe Castle - definitely SW for Oxonhutch


I remember back in 1973 being there and just staring at blank ballast - such a sad sight, and so delightful to see it now.

5


8

I will be changing at Chippenham - half an hour or so there to get a coffee at the "ungry are" before joining the Oxford direct.

Are there any other of our Coffee Shop members or readers who may be able to join us?

A very warm welcome awaits anyone who can - for all or even part of the trip. 

Driver arrested after school bus crash closes road

The driver of a school bus has been arrested after the vehicle left the road and crashed into a ditch.

Police said of those onboard, 29 secondary school students were uninjured and one of four teachers suffered a minor leg injury. The driver also sustained minor injuries.

The crash happened on the southbound carriageway of the A36 near the Ower roundabout and junction 2 of the M27 in Hampshire shortly after 05:10 BST.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the driver, from Hungerford in Berkshire, had since been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink and/or drugs.

It added the 48-year-old remained in custody and urged any witnesses or people with dashcam footage of the incident to contact the force.

Following a lengthy closure, the road has now reopened after what police described as a "complex recovery" of the coach from the ditch.