 FRIENDS
OF NEW MILTON STATION
Members of The
Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP)
The Friends have just
celebrated their first anniversary and whilst we recognise that we have
yet to make a major impact there are several achievements to report. The
most notable (and hopefully noticeable) of these is the repainting of the
exterior of the downside canopy.
Our first year has, in the
main, been devoted to identifying the "movers and shakers" at
South West Trains and Network Rail. This has proved difficult but we have
now established our credibility and have direct access to some of the
senior people in the organisations.
We recognise that we are a
small group with our own ideas but we want to improve the station for the
benefit of the whole community. Now that we are better placed to lobby for
and achieve improvements, we would like to know your concerns, and the
issues that you think we should be pursuing. Please email your comments
and suggestions to fonms@nmtp.org.uk.
News
Results
of the recently conducted survey are now available.
Read our
latest update.
Next meeting
Details of the next meeting can
be obtained from David Hall 07855 255884 or Ros Bowles 01425 626212
Who are the Friends?
Formed in March 2006, the
"Friends" are a group of volunteers who seek the refurbishment
and improvement of our local station. The group meets regularly in the
Town Hall.
What is our vision?
We plan to spruce up the
station area, making it more interesting, attractive and welcoming hence
restoring it to the vital part of the local community that it used to be.
The station environment will be improved for the benefit of the travelling
public and the local residents encouraging a sense of civic pride. The
station is a key asset of the town and we should recognise that and treat
it as such.
Why are we important?
It is now formally acknowledged
by the Government, that station maintenance can rarely be justified on
commercial grounds and the industry needs to attract private sector
funding. This means that unless we take responsibility and act locally
then the station facilities will not get any better and probably will
deteriorate further. Also there is no one definition within the rail
industry of what passengers want and need from their stations so it is
vital that the community get involved and make their views known. The real
benefit of a local group is that it has the potential to influence station
development in a way that best suits the needs of the community rather
than relying on a "one size fits all" approach if left to the
train operators and Network Rail.
How will we succeed?
The Friends hope to realise
their vision by working with Network Rail and SW Trains, through voluntary
activities and sponsorship by local business.
What help is available?
Around the country many
stations have now been adopted by the local groups as volunteers bring
them back into the heart of the community and encourage greater use of
environmentally friendly public transport. These groups can provide a
wealth of experience on which to draw and the movement is now so large
that a national support group has been formed. Known as The Association of
Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP), it can offer advice and guidance
based on the experience of many groups gained over the years. The Friends
of New Milton Station are members of ACoRP and hope to benefit
accordingly. Support is also available from the Government's Community
Rail Development Strategy and many sources of funding are accessible.
How are we doing?
The Friends of New Milton
Station have recently celebrated their first anniversary. Whilst we have
yet to make a major impact there are several achievements to report the
most notable of which was persuading South West Trains to repair and paint
the exterior of the downside canopy.
The first year has, in the
main, been devoted to identifying the "movers and shakers" at
South West Trains and Network Rail. This has proved difficult but managers
from both organisations were encouraged to visit New Milton to see and
discuss the issues first hand. As a result, the Friends have now
established their credibility and have direct access to the some of the
senior people in these organisations.
Other successes include the
relining of the car park, installation of a new cycle rack and resolving a
car parking issue on behalf of a disabled passenger. The planters were
restocked with the proceeds of a fund raising concert and, thanks to the
generosity of Chewton Glen, five further planters have been located on the
station platform. We would welcome any offers of help to assist with the
care and maintenance of the plants.
The South West Trains Youth
Education Officer has held a series of workshops and seminars at Arnewood
School, the object of these being to educate young people about the
dangers to themselves and extending courtesy to others when travelling on
the railway. It is hoped that these sessions will also help stem vandalism
by instilling a sense of respect and concern for the station. The Friends
are now attempting to widen participation in this scheme to other local
schools and youth groups.
New Forest District Council was
lobbied in an attempt to get New Milton included on the circular New
Forest Tour Bus route but this was not possible due to insufficient
funding. The Friends have also lobbied for regular service busses to stop
in the station car park as better integration of bus and rail services
should encourage greater use of public transport. This proposal was
rejected because there is insufficient scope in the timetable schedules to
re-route buses via the station.
NFDC were sympathetic to our
requests concerning accessibility and integration of public transport and
indicated that they would welcome any local input that helps demonstrate
the level of interest in having buses directed into the station. We took
this opportunity to seek the views of the wider community through a local
survey the results of which can be viewed by clicking
here. We hope to meet with all relevant organisations early in
October to present the results and seek action to address your concerns.
What activities are planned?
A Schools Education Programme
is under way at Arnewood School. The South West Trains Schools Liaison
Officer has been working with year 10 groups on the do's and don'ts on and
around the railways. These have been very successful and Arnewood School
are planning further sessions in the next academic year for other groups.
We hope to extend these sessions to other schools and youth groups in the
town.
What can you do?
If you would like more
information or have any comments or suggestions about the rail service or
station facilities at New Milton then the Friends would like to hear from
you. Please contact:
David Hall 07855
255884
or
Ros Bowles 01425 626212
or
Email to fonms@nmtp.org.uk
Useful Links:
| South
West Trains |
Operating trains since 1996 on routes
through Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Devon,
Somerset, Cornwall, Middlesex, East and West Sussex and Greater
London. |
| Virgin
Trains |
Operating trains nationally since 1997. |
| Association
of Community Rail Partnerships |
The Association of Community Rail
Partnerships – ACoRP – is a federation of over 60 community rail
partnerships and rail promotion groups. |
| Heritage
Railway Association |
A guide to the entire heritage railway
scene in the UK and Ireland, including details of special events,
trains and operating days for all steam railways. |
| Passenger
Focus |
Passenger Focus is an independent public
body set up by the Government to protect the interests of Britain's
rail passengers. |
| Network
Rail |
Network Rail owns and operates Britain’s
rail infrastructure. |
| Department
for Transport (Rail) |
Information for local government, the
transport sector, passengers and motorists. |
|
