Letter to The Citizen, 17 July 2011

From: rayarmishaw@hotmail.com
To: pam.hillidge@glosmedia.co.uk
CC: martyn.chase@stanhopeplc.com
Subject: triangle
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:23:34 +0000

The letter of support for a mainline station from Peter Bowers(The Citizen Thur 16th June) proves how many people want a mainline station, it is a great shame that those that are supposed be in charge of this once great city are so blind that they cannot see the wood for the tree's, they are slowly but surely destroying the centre with expensive grandiose schemes, like the linkages to connect to the Quays, but give no thought about what a mainline station could bring to this city, they are to full of there own self importance to put the city first, I would appeal to the great Gloucester public to put pen to paper, or those that can email, air their views on this subject to The Citizen and leave our lack lustre councillors in no doubt what the public their employers want.

Ray Armishaw

Letter to the Citizen, 17 June 2011

The Editor                                                                   

The Citizen                                                                  

6-8 The Oxebode                                                        

Gloucester  GL1 1RZ

                                                                                     

17^th June 2011                                                            

Dear Sir

Mr Richard Graham MP, in his letter to the Citizen of Tuesday 7^th June, stated that it was best to improve the existing Gloucester railway station.

So, what are Mr Graham and Mr Chris Oldershaw, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC) doing to ensure that long distance trains again stop in Gloucester?

They are evidently content that trains between Gloucester and London Paddington are the only long distance trains that stop in Gloucester.  I wonder why?

Mr Graham proudly announced the restoration of the double track between Swindon and Kemble in his letter to ‘The Citizen’ of Friday 8^th April 2011.  Can he confirm, or otherwise, that this will have the infrastructure for electrification to meet up with the Paddington – Swindon electrification?  Delaying this infrastructure will be a waste of resources.

Previously, in ‘THE BIG ISSUE’ of the Citizen (Tuesday, May 24, 2011) concerning Mr Richard Graham MP and his first year; the preamble states that he went to The University of Oxford but does not mention his course of study.  What did he study?  In that article, Mr Graham states: “I’ve worked . . . for the dual line on the Gloucester-London line . . . .”

It seems that Mr Graham’s sole concern is for trains between his two main places of work, Gloucester, via Paddington, to Westminster.  He has not shown any interest in improving other routes from Gloucester.  Will Mr Graham endeavour to arrange that all long distance trains, not only the ones to Paddington, again stop in Gloucester?

Yours faithfully

Brian Cowell  CEng MIMechE MACostE.

Letter to the Citizen, 7 June 2011

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From: rayarmishaw@hotmail.com
To: pam.hillidge@glosmedia.co.uk; richard.graham.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: triangle
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 15:16:45 +0000

Mr Graham finally gives a reply to the Railway Triangle, he goes on to tell us that the whole board of 26 unanimously concluded to focus on regeneration potential of the railway triangle, and to improve the existing station. during 2008-2011 they were unable to succeed in either, this only confirms what a lack lustre lot we have running this city, they have no vision of what there could be,I fully support development on the Triangle site and all of the possible jobs that it will bring this can only be good for Gloucester, but it could be so much better if whatever is done on the Triangle includes a mainline station, it would appear that our city fathers have given up when they accept negative replies from Network Rail, this is not the the impression I got from Network Rail, I have included a copy of the letter I had from Network Rail for all to see, I had a meeting with Chris Oldershaw to discuss a station a few years ago, he told me that a station was "not in his remit", I replied that it should be, in business you have to negotiate when you want move forward and you have obstacles standing in the way, it would appear that this city does not have a skilled negotiator, so the city will decline for the lack of a mainline station, good transport links are vital in the modern world, it is just a shame that we have an MP and councils that cannot see what could be gained in the long term.

Ray Armishaw



Dear Mr Armishaw

Our Ref:  SR2834136

Thank you for your email concerning a mainline station in Gloucester, your comments have been noted.

However, for your information, Network Rail is not responsible for dealing with proposals for new stations or routes.  Any future changes to rail services will be agreed between the Local Authority, local stakeholders, the Department for Transport and the train train operating companies.  Network Rail, as infrastructure owner, will be requested to provide advice on proposals.

Should you require any further information please don't hesitate to contact our 24hr National Helpline on  08457 11 41 41.

Yours sincerely

Patricia Agbarakwe

Community Relations Advisor - Wales & West

Letter to The Citizen, 7 June 2011

From: Roger Price

To: citizen.letters@glosmedia.co.uk

Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 2:34 PM

Subject: Railway station etc.

The Editor

 

Dear Sir

 

Perhaps I haven`t looked closely enough at the signatures on the letters pages but, unlike Mr Goodwin (letters June 2), I too was under the impression that there is lot of public support for siting a new station in the railway triangle.  A view that, unless expert evidence was convincing to the contrary, I also support (and no matter which site is chosen there will always be a need for connecting transport for some).

 

What about that sacred cow of Gloucester: car parking?  Plenty of room in the triange and without the need for any further degredation of the city centre.  If the bus station is to remain in its present position then there is an argument for keeping the station in its present location  an ideal bus/railway interchange situation.  Good, keep and redevelop the existing site, but easy access from anywhere in the country?  Try a trip to/from Oxford.  If Gloucester wants to be on the map it really must have good transport links, including the railway.

 

As far as the alternative use proposed with all those `jobs`, is that the best that Gloucester can aspire to, a city of shopping warehouses and shop assistants?  Something those currently lauding the proposed new Westgate Tesco development proposal might pause to consider.  More jobs (for shop assistants),  more strain on the struggling City Centre shops (Tesco will be competition to all shops), more car shopping (more land given over to car parking and more traffic) and the increasing dominance and power of this one trader to influence the development of the City, the opposition to which in the future may be virtually impossible when the legal costs are taken into account.

 

Lastly, the dock car park sites.  Apart from questions over the development of the temporary site, what about the existing car park by the maritime museum?  Surely this could be put to better use as a flexible area for moveable displays and street theatre etc?  The new flats and shops have enlivend this area and created a desirable outside amenity space.  To eat and drink coffee here should be enjoyable but only a Jeremy Clarkson could find pleasure in the current offering (however I suspect even he could find better in Gloucester). 

 

Yours faithfully

 

Roger Price

 

Letter to The Citizen, 2 June 2011

From: rayarmishaw@hotmail.com
To: pam.hillidge@glosmedia.co.uk
Subject: triangle
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 15:13:48 +0000

With reference to Mr Goodwin's letter (The Citizen,  June 2nd) I am pleased to know he avidly reads my letters, even so he is wrong, what better place for a station to be on the mainline, he then goes on about the delays at Horton Road crossing, I would venture to say that Horton road would possibly be less busy if trains did not have to leave the mainline, Mr Goodwin then accuses me of not supporting plans to develop the site, if he had read all of my letters properly he would see that I am in full support of development at The Triangle, this could and should include a mainline station that this city so badly needs, not yet another supermarket, for his information apart from my letters, there has been support for a mainline station from 14 other writers and two against, Mr Goodwin and Mr Rhodes, has he also forgotten that Gloucester once had two stations, these were connected by a long elevated walkway, the current station gives a very poor image of Gloucester.

Ray Armishaw