Minutes of Meeting Monday 7.30 pm Monday 9th March 26, Kings Head, Lichfield
ATTENDEES Richard Henshaw, Paddy Martin, David Bathurst, John Woodcock, David James, Ian Jackson, Roger Hockney, Peter King, John Adams, David Dundas, Owen O’ Neill, Tony Thompson
APOLOGIES RECEIVED
Geoff Lusher, Jane Arnstein, Roger Hartley, Martyn Frayn, Matthew Bentley, Marion Cooper
MINUTES OF 9th FEBRUARY MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes of the meeting were approved. All matters arising covered below.
2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The minutes of the 2025 AGM were approved.
Richard Henshaw was re- elected Chairman.
Paddy Martin was re-elected Treasurer.
David James was re-elected Secretary.
Richard Patching was re- elected Auditor.
The 2025 Accounts were approved.
The £140 Website support & hosting was queried. It was explained this was the fee for Steve Smith, who provides the technical support for the website. (Certain parts of the website can only be updated by himself). David James explained that since taking on the role of Secretary, he has been unable to keep the website up to date. (Since the meeting, John Woodcock has kindly volunteered to take over responsibility for the website).
SHENSTONE STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Report from Jane: –
Two ailing Landi trees have been felled by the railway company. Interestingly we weren’t told it was going to happen, and neither was Shantel Carty, our liaison person at WMT!
Working with Shenstone Environment Group we would like to create a “Pathway Edible Garden”. The pathway part fits in with the Shenstone Neighbourhood plan proposed by Shenstone Parish Council. We can’t plant edible plants directly into the soil as we are sure it is contaminated. I’ve put a request into the railway properties division for a soil test, levelling and clean ballast to act as a mulch and to create gabions. We can then put a raised bed onto the ground where we can plant edible plants. We will ultimately replace the two felled trees with native nut or fruit trees. If the railway company cannot do these things, my second plan is to ask for their permission for us to do it. I will then seek to obtain grants from various organisations to enable us to do the work ourselves.
LICHFIELD CITY STATION ADOPTION & FACILITIES
Nothing to currently report from Station Adoption Group.
Lift was recently out of action again but now fixed.
Toilets have now been closed for over a year. The number of benches/ seats provided on the platform and in the waiting room are inadequate. There is no defibrillator on the station. Richard has raised all these issues with Geoff Grant, Stakeholder Manager West Midlands Railway, who has promised to respond once he has visited the station with the Zonal Property Manager on 19th March. Geoff Grant has also accepted our invitation to attend our April 13th meeting.
LICHFIELD TO BURTON
Owen O’Neill stated a recent change in planning guidance will mean new housing developments within walking distance of a railway station, with a service of at least 2 trains per hour to a major centre, will have a greater chance of approval.
Lichfield District Council has generally opposed housing development in Fradley/ Alrewas area, but many small developments (less than 200 homes) have been approved on appeal, with the developer not required to contribute to any infrastructure improvements. It is hoped any future developments will be larger scale, with the developer having to contribute to infrastructure improvements, including a new railway station.
LICHFIELD TO WALSALL
There is limited access to the walkway at Lichfield end.
HS2
Laying of foundations at Curzon Street completed on February 12th. Government is negotiating with Hitachi / Alstom consortium on altering length of new HS2 trains, as 2 coupled units would not fit the platforms at Manchester Piccadilly.
TREASURERS REPORT
20 members have now paid 2026 subscriptions. £1,701 in bank.