Never underestimate the power of the red squirrel. Delapsus resurgam.

 

Never underestimate the members and guests we have here ... but yet never assume that anything posted here will reach official channels.  There have been a number of co-incidences over the years - probably some really ARE co-incidences but yet there have probably been too many for them to be all pure chance.  Then again, we have very many sensible members and there are very many sensible and parallel thinkers out there.

I am struck as we enter election season here in Melksham and the first leaflet for Wiltshire Council has come through my door as to the claims made by the incumbent councillor of his support for things like the library to remain in the town rather than on a field on the outskirts.   Funny that - yes, when the decision was made it was popular and he did get behind it, but I remember a time when there was no site identified and myself as President of the Chamber of Commerce and the Chief Executive of Cooper Tires in the town got together and identified their Sports and Social Club, then found the advert hidden in the local paper seeking sites to get the library where it was and is sensible.  Likewise here at the Coffee Shop - yes - we do get heard sometimes but I can't help feeling that the credit we get for raising things is underplayed.

 
Yes - Red Squirrel and I were both rather startled at the apparently immediate result of our posts.   

 

Witness the mysterious yet awesome power of the Coffee Shop forum.

 
With apologies to my colleague Red Squirrel here, I've now moved (and renamed) his original topic from 'the lighter side', ' where was I today?'.

In an apparently remarkable coincidence, work now seems to be happening on that stairway.

Updates to follow.

CfN. 

 
That was exactly my reaction, Red Squirrel, when I drove my daughter down to the station to get a train to Cardiff this afternoon.  I'm fairly sure all that fencing wasn't there when I drove past the station on Monday, on my way up to the Backwell tip. 

 
Blimey!

 

Has my honourable friend the member for Failand returned to Nailsea & Backwell in the past four days?  I rather think he will be as surprised as I was, this afternoon.

The entire stairway up to platform 2 has now been completely closed off with Heras fencing and plastic mesh netting - not even a ferret could get up there.  The only access to platform 2 is up the ramp, accessed from further along Station Close.

I can only surmise that someone at GWR or NR read Red Squirrel's original post and was so embarrassed that they immediately decided to do something to rectify the situation.

Unfortunately, I did not have the means to take pictures this afternoon, but will do so at the next opportunity.

CfN. 

 
Or Nailsea and Blackwell as a certain Michael Portaloo kept calling it throughout the programme in the first series of Great British Railways journeys some 20 years or so ago...
Had he bought his Bradshaws guide at a certain well known bookseller in Oxford ??

 
They are at Nailsea & Backwell - I stand admonished (and ankle deep in rust). 

 
Not sure where the steps are but they look like the next substantial storm could cause them ten grands worth of improvements.

 

Oh - I stand (humbly) corrected. 

Failand - very definitely a triangle. 

If someone would provide the necessary £1million plus, we could have a new access ramp, bridge and lifts to both platforms ... 

 
Some members seem to have missed the double negative! It’s not not Nailsea and Backwell, despite Chris from Nailsea’s assertion.

Due to some major building work, the Squirrels are currently living in the most triangular village in North Somerset (another quiz - where might that be?). NLS is our most convenient local station for the duration.

I was shocked at the state of the stairs - surely they will be condemned soon?

 
Judging from the rust, somewhere close to sea spray.

 
 Well it's definitely not Pilning!...

 

More seriously, but still a blindish guess - Stan Drew's Road?

 
Well now there’s a conundrum… it’s not Breich, and it’s not not Nailsea and Backwell!

 
Looks like the steps when I visited Breich a few years back when it was suggested closure.  Must go back.

 
NOT Nailsea & Backwell: to be fair, our steps here are maintained to a much higher standard than those. 

 
I expect this one to be resolved within seconds: