LICHFIELD RAIL PROMOTION GROUP
Minutes of Meeting Monday 7.30 pm Monday 11th May 26, Kings Head, Lichfield
ATTENDEES Richard Henshaw, Paddy Martin, David Bathurst, John Woodcock, David James, Ian Jackson, Roger Hartley, Matthew Bentley, David Dundas, Peter King
APOLOGIES RECEIVED
John Adams, Geoff Lusher, Jane Arnstein
MINUTES OF APRIL MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes of the meeting were approved. All matters arising covered below.
WEBSITE
John Woodcock reported that website and links had been updated. Still no contact from Steve Smith, who we pay for technical support, so Paddy Martin will contact.
RAILFUTURE AGM 18th April 26
Richard Henshaw and Matthew Bentley both attended. There was an interesting presentation by Cross Country Trains Service Delivery Director. The operator has a mix of long distance and short distance (e.g. Birmingham to Tamworth) passengers. Driver availability is a problem, especially on Sundays (now a busy day), where there is a reliance on rest day working. There are currently a significant number of drivers off work with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following incidents where people have trespassed on to rail tracks (unfortunately an increasing occurrence).
There are currently some problems with the Seat Reservation System that they are trying to resolve.
SHENSTONE STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Report from Jane: –
I also sit on the Shenstone Environment group and for some time we have been discussing making the village “greener”. Through this group they put me in touch with Chris Rea who lives in the village who has been instrumental in writing “green” plans for the Neighbourhood Development Plan. Such plans have been for the development of “Gateway” gardens – turning entry points into the village into green cultivated spaces. There is a lot of evidence that shows that at busy junctions’ traffic is calmed when the area around the junction is seen as, or perceived to be, cared for and cultivated. One such gateway is the junction of New Road, Lynn Lane and Station Road – just where the station is.
With this in mind I have been working with Chris, West Midlands Trains and The Spaghetti Line, to develop the spaces where the trees were felled.
Phase one will be a small “bed” that will be flattened, covered in weed proof membrane, rock ballast and will have numerous Corten planters filled with edible plants and trees for the community to access. Ideally, I’d like some Railway ballast as the rock mulch and perhaps some rusted track, or rusted chains to represent the industrial heritage of the railway. Along with the Corten planters it will make a beautiful and useful addition to the station and the village. However, as you can imagine this will not be easy – or cheap!
I need to get a utilities survey done (booked in for Friday 8th May), accredited soil sampling done and the trunks of the felled trees ground down to ground level. Quotations I have cost these works at approximately £1800! I’m confident I will be able to secure some grant funding for the scheme, it’s whether I have the stamina to undertake the masses of paperwork it all entails!
The purchase of the membrane, rock mulch, planters, Corten edging, compost, etc will I think be another £2000. BUT it will be very worthwhile, that I am sure of.
I was wondering if (is it David at The Chasewater Railway?) if he would have a bit of ballast, rusty track or an old chain or two we could have? I’d obviously be willing to pay him for these things – just need to fill in some forms!
Once again, I’m sorry I can’t be with you to speak about these plans in person.
(Jane and David Bathurst have since been in contact).
LICHFIELD CITY STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Nothing to report from Station Adoption Group.
Geoff Grant has not yet been in contact to arrange visit to Lichfield City with West Midlands Trains Property Manager.
LICHFIELD TO BURTON
Leader of Labour Group on Lichfield District Council has sent letter in support of Lichfield to Burton reopening.
LICHFIELD TO WALSALL
No upgrading of path surface yet.
HS2
No trains from Lichfield to Birmingham Friday 29th May to Sunday 31st May, to allow HS2 bridge to be moved into place over Cross City line (subsequently, this was successfully completed).
Heidi Alexander Transport Minister is considering whether to reduce maximum speed to align with speeds delivered on other high-speed networks (Subsequently confirmed by statement to parliament on 19th May). The reduction in maximum speed will reduce costs and make it easier to test high speed trains.