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LICHFIELD RAIL PROMOTION GROUP
Minutes of Meeting Monday 7.30 pm Monday 14th September 26, Kings Head, Lichfield
ATTENDEES Richard Henshaw, Jane Arnstein, Paddy Martin, David James, Peter King, Roger Hockney
Roger Hartley, David Dundas, Kathy Maskell & husband, Owen O’Neill, Matthew Bentley
APOLOGIES RECEIVED
John Adams, David Bathurst, John Woodcock
MINUTES OF JULY MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes of the meeting were approved. All matters arising covered below.
WEBSITE
Nothing to currently report.
SHENSTONE STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Tree stumps have now been removed. Water tap now has padlock with key.
LICHFIELD CITY STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Kathy Maskell from Lichfield City station Adoption Group gave a talk on current and planned activities. They are planning a display of Community Art on one wall of the waiting room. Also planning to have a Poppy Wall for Remembrance Day on bank outside station. Talking to Royal British Legion about a collection. Choirs and music for Christmas is planned for 5th,12th and 19th of December. Application made to West Midlands Trains for a mural by a local artist along one side of the tunnel wall, with an end of February target date. Roger Hockney suggested it would be good if steps to platform could be given a deep clean and tunnel lighting improved at the same time.
Kathy Maskell, Richard Henshaw and David James had met Geoff Grant at City Station on 11th August. Geoff has agreed to investigate if extra seating can be installed in waiting room and on platforms. Toilet on platform is closed because there is a problem with drain that goes underneath the track. Fixing it would therefore probably involve closing the line for 2 days. There is sufficient space to move toilet downstairs near to the ticket office and this will be investigated.
It was agreed that the best position for a defibrillator would be at the top of the stairs. Kathy Maskell will contact Staffordshire organisation that installs defibrillators.
Geoff Grant mentioned that as British Transport Police has limited resources, West Midlands Trains have recruited some security staff to patrol trains and stations and reduce anti-social behaviour.
LICHFIELD TO BURTON
Richard Henshaw and Roger Hockney attended meeting at National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) on 7th August with Phillipa Rawlinson & other NMA staff, to discuss station to serve NMA and Alrewas. NMA is now Staffordshire’s second most popular tourist attraction, with only Alton Towers having more visitors. They are actively looking to extend site. NMA were enthusiastic about a Railway Station that would serve NMA and Alrewas and offered to host a meeting with main stakeholders for Lichfield to Burton reopening. A meeting has
subsequently been arranged at NMA on 2nd October with representatives from WMRE, Railfuture and Network Rail. Local MP, Dave Robertson has also promised to attend.
Planned new housing close to the station would also improve the case for a station.
Owen O’Neill had produced & circulated a summary / discussion document on Lichfield to Burton reopening. Needs further analysis but the existing single higher-level platform at Lichfield Trent Valley might suffice for a Lichfield to Burton service in both directions.