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Topic: A future for Melksham Station (Read 3262 times)
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Graham Ellis
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Sterling work has done towards the end of last year to safeguard land at the station. We asked AND WON a reprieve from the BRB residuary body who had hoped to sell off a parcel of land that would have jeopardised and movement of / improvement of the station and access.
What now?
Melksham First has produced an urban design study for the improvement of the town center with the help of ...
The South West Reginal Development Authority
Wiltshire County Council
West Wiltshire District Council
Melksham Town Council
Melksham Chamber of Commerce
and the "clubs, societies, property owners and businesses of Melksham"
What better way to welcome visitors to an improved Melksham that an improved station (yes, with an improved service)?
I'm casting around / throwing out ideas just at the moment, hoping that the SLC2 / timetable of 12.06 is the low point and thinking that it might - just might - be such. What could be done / should be done for a station fit for a town of 24000 and growing rapidly, with a train calling every 2 hours in each direction?
* A loop road past the station to allow easier pick up, drop off, interchange, bus, taxi links. What's needed is a piece of tarmac about the size of a tennis court.
Well - it's actually amazing just how much that first idea would give us. There's two restaurants, a chippy, a newsagent and 7/11 store all at the corner of where the new road would come out, and I would hope and expect to be able to arrange some community sponsorship and support there.
* Run the town bus past the station. Run the 234 past the station (much easier than trying to find the extra minutes to extend it in Chippenham to that station). Add an extra stop, "Melksham Station", on the X72 route. A set of steps up the embankment might be an easy and cheap way to do that.
Little things, big effect ....
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Graham Ellis
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Here's another idea - and one that we can probably get done quite quickly and with local support - how about a decent sign board at the station that says "Welcome to Melksham" and directs people towards the town. Pride of town, etc.
Havin a chat with folks last night and we could probably - quite easily - get local sponsorship / funding from various groups.
A question arises. Is this madness with such a poor service? No - it's a local statement of commitment to the train service and to getting it properly restored and it's a local statement of pride in Melksham.
Feedback anyone?
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Nick Field
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I dont think it's a mad idea. It would show that people do care about their station and its service, and a commitment from one side might help drive a bit more of a commitment from another.
I think some of the suggestions above could be classed as 'No brainers'
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WyvusArconius
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Better signage... sounds like a good idea. Who would we have to knock on the door of to get that? There is soooo much potenial for Melksham station.. we really need to get the middle weight players (Melksham town council. wiltshire county council, our fine selves .. "Save the train" ) to really bang the drums about this. Is there a community group that could help?
Daniel
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courgettelawn
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I agree with decent, elegant signage. If I was cheeky I would suggest: "Melksham: Heart of Wiltshire and the TransWilts Express"
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WyvusArconius
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Hehehe .. thank you for that. A thought to make me smile on an otherwise gloomy day!
Seriously though, decent signage both in the town and at the station would be a major advantage. Is there any milage in persuading FGW to allow us to create a "transwilts" service poster to be displayed at the served stations. If we could promote "Transwilts" as a concept to be used as a marketing tool, it could work to our advantage. The idea of the "Transwilts" in a formal capacity would be a signifcant shift in perceptions of the service.
Thoughts anyone?
Daniel
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courgettelawn
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Very much so! It may also spark the interest of South W Trains who run Salisbury station. I may also try and raise awareness at the local train enthusiast's pub, The Village, and see if any of them may take the baton too.
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WyvusArconius
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I was reading up on the FGW website earlier at their "adopt a station" page. Am I right in thinking that there is already a group that look after melksham station? and are they part of the scheme? If not (or if so even) part of the scheme involves appropriate signage being put up e.g a Community board at the station and/or a Rail Info board in the town somewhere.
Thoughts anyone?
Daniel
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