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

---

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

Contacts

Representative	Constituency	Contact details
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, M.P.	The Cotswolds	Westminster
		House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
		Tel: 020 7219 5147
		Fax: 020 7219 2550
		cliftonbrowng@parliament.uk
		Constituency
		Unit 1143, Regent Court, Gloucester Business Park, Hucclecote, GL3 4AD
		Tel: 01452 371630
		Fax: 0845 009 0109
		gloucestershireconservatives@gmail.com
Mr Neil Carmichael, M.P.	Stroud	House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
		Tel: 020 7219 3000
		neil.carmichael.mp@parliament.uk
		Constituency
		38-39 Palace Chambers, London Road, Stroud, GL5 2AJ
		Tel: 01453 751572
Mr Richard Graham, M.P.	Gloucester	Westminster
		House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
		Tel: 020 7219 7077
		Fax: 020 7219 2299
		richard.graham.mp@parliament.uk
		Constituency
		Second Floor, St Peters House, 2 College Street, Gloucester, GL1 2NE
		Tel: 01452 501167
		richard@richardgraham.org
Mr Mark Harper, M.P.	Forest of Dean	Westminster
		House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
		Tel: 020 7219 5056
		Fax: 020 7219 0937
		mark.harper.mp@parliament.uk
		Constituency
		53 High Street, Cinderford, GL14 2SU
		Tel: 01594 823482
		Fax: 01594 823623
		mcmillanh@parliament.uk
Mr Martin Horwood, M.P.	Cheltenham	Westminster
		House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
		Tel: 020 7219 4784
		Fax: 020 7219 1185
		martin.horwood.mp@parliament.uk
		Constituency
		16 Hewlett Road, Cheltenham, GL52 6AA
		Tel: 01242 224889
		Fax: 01242 256658
		martin@martinhorwood.net
Mr Laurence Robertson, M.P.	Tewkesbury	Westminster
		House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
		Tel: 020 7219 4196
		Fax: 020 7219 2325
		robertsonl@parliament.uk
		Constituency
		22 High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5AL
		Tel: 01684 291640
		Fax: 01684 291759
Rt Hon Theresa Villiers,  M.P.	Minister of State (Rail and Aviation)	House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
Rt Hon Philip Hammond, M.P.	Secretary of State for Transport	House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
Cllr. Paul James	Leader, Gloucester City Council	Home Address:
		6 Mainard Square
		Longlevens
		Gloucester
		GL2 0EU
		Phone:  01452 384051
		Bus. Email:  paul.james@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr. Mark Damian Hawthorne	Leader, Gloucester County Council	Home Address:
		3 Pitch View
		46 Kingsholm Road
		Gloucester
		GL1 3AU
		Phone:  01452 540307
		Email:  mark.hawthorne@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Mr Ian Mean	Editor,	6 – 8 The Oxebode,
	The Citizen	Gloucester GL1 1RZ.
	(Gloucester)	Email:   citizen.letters@glosmedia.co.uk
Gloucester City Council, Herbert Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester GL1 2EQ
Telephone 01452 396 396
City councillor	Ward	email
Cllr Andrew Gravells	Abbey	andrew.gravells@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Norman Ravenhill	Abbey	norman.ravenhill@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Gordon Taylor	Abbey	gordon.taylor@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Philip McLellan	Barnwood	philip.mclellan@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Lise Noakes	Barnwood	lise.noakes@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Tarren Randle	Barnwood	tarren.randle@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Usman Bhaimia	Barton and Tredworth	usman.bhaimia@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Ahmed Hansdot	Barton and Tredworth	ahmed.hansdot@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Sajid Patel	Barton and Tredworth	sajid.patel@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Chris Witts	Elmbridge	chris.witts@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Susan Witts	Elmbridge	susan.witts@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Nigel Hanman	Grange	nigel.hanman@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Stephen Morgan	Grange	stephen.morgan@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr James Beeley	Hucclecote	james.beeley@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr David Brown	Hucclecote	david.brown@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Declan Wilson	Hucclecote	declan.wilson@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Sebastian Field	Kingsholm and Wotton	sebastian.field@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Jeremy Hilton	Kingsholm and Wotton	jeremy.hilton@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Paul James	Longlevens	paul.james@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Jim Porter	Longlevens	jim.porter@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Kathy Williams	Longlevens	kathy.williams@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Kate Haigh	Matson and Robinswood	kate.haigh@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Janet Lugg	Matson and Robinswood	janet.lugg@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Mary Smith	Matson and Robinswood	mary.smith@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Nicholas Durrant	Moreland	nicholas.durrant@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Matthew Gilson	Moreland	matthew.gilson@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Mark Hobbs	Moreland	mark.hobbs@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Jennie Dallimore	Podsmead	jennie.dallimore@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Debbie Llewellyn	Quedgeley Fieldcourt	debbie.llewellyn@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Frederick Wood	Quedgeley Fieldcourt	frederick.wood@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Andrew Lewis	Quedgeley Severn Vale	andrew.lewis@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Anna Mozol	Quedgeley Severn Vale	anna.mozol@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Gerald Dee	Tuffley	gerald.dee@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Colin Organ	Tuffley	colin.organ@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Paul Toleman	Westgate	paul.toleman@gloucester.gov.uk
Cllr Pam Tracey	Westgate	pam.tracey@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester GL1 2TG.
Telephone:  01452 425000
County councillor	Constituency	email
Cllr Andrew Gravells	Abbey	andrew.gravells@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Duncan John Smith	All Saints	duncan.smith@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Klara Victoria Sudbury	All Saints	klara.sudbury@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Gordon Keith Shurmer	Ashchurch, Cleeve and Oxenton Hill	gordon.shurmer@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Philip McLellan	Barnwood	philip.mclellan@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Sonia Friend	Barton and Tredworth	sonia.friend@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Basil Booth	Berekley Vale	basil.booth@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr David Allan Thorpe	Bourton	david.thorpe@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Mike Collins	Brockworth	michael.collins2@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Brian Richard Robinson	Brooksdean	brian.robinson@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Dennis Alan Andrewartha	Cam and Dursley	dennis.andrewartha@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Brian Tipper	Cam and Dursley	brian.tipper@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Charles Fellows	Chalfont	chas.fellows@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Paul Dermot McLain	Charlton Kings	paul.mclain@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Robert John Edward Vines	Churchdown Brookfield	robert.vines@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Bill John Whelan	Churchdown St John's	bill.whelan@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Graham Leslie Morgan	Cinderford	graham.morgan@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Peter A Braidwood	Cirencester	peter.braidwood@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr John Vincent Burgess	Cirencester	john.burgess@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Ceri David Jones	Cleeve	ceri.jones@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Terry Hale	Coleford	terry.hale@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Raymond Theodoulou	East Cotswold	raymond.theodoulou@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Christopher James Pallet	Hesters Way and Up Hatherley	christopher.pallet@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Simon Albert Wheeler	Hesters Way and Up Hatherley	simon.wheeler@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Bill Crowther	Hucclecote	bill.crowther@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Rob Garnham	Lansdown, Park and Warden Hill	rob.garnham@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Antonia Noble	Lansdown, Park and Warden Hill	antonia.noble@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Kathy Brown Williams	Longlevens	kathy.williams@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr David Cooksley	Lydney	david.cooksley@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Stephen Robin McMillan	Mid Dean	stephen.mcmillan@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Mark Damian Hawthorne	Moreland	mark.hawthorne@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Barry Dare	Moreton-Stow	barry.dare@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr John Stanley Waddington	Nailsworth and Minchinhampton	john.waddington@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr William Windsor-Clive	Newent	will.windsor-clive@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Lynden Oliver Stowe	North Cotswold	lynden.stowe@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Anthony James Blackburn	North Stroud	anthony.blackburn@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Fiona Janine McKenzie	Northleach	fiona.mckenzie@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Diane Lynne Hibbert	Oakley, Pittville and Prestbury	diane.hibbert@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr David John Prince	Oakley, Pittville and Prestbury	david.prince@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Martin Edward Quaile	Pillowell and Littledean	martin.quaile@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Gerald Charles Dee	Podsmead	gerald.dee@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Jackie Hall	Quedgeley	jackie.hall@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Vic Rice	Quedgeley	vic.rice@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Stephen Thomas McHale	Robinswood	steve.mchale@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Brian Oosthuysen	Rodborough	brian.oosthuysen@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Phillip William Awford	Severn Vale	phillip.awford@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Shaun David Parsons	South Cotswold	shaun.parsons@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Suzanne Theresa Williams	Springbank	suzanne.williams@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Charmian Ruth Sheppard	St Marks, St Pauls and St Peters	charmian.sheppard@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Francis Michael Skinner	St Marks, St Pauls and St Peters	mike.skinner@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Lesley Williams	Stonehouse	lesley.williams@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Sarah Lunnon	Stroud East	sarah.lunnon@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Mike Williams	Stroud West	mike.williams2@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Anthony Ewen Hicks	Tetbury	tony.hicks@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Vernon Dennis Smith	Tewkesbury	vernon.smith@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Mike Sztymiak	Tewkesbury	mike.sztymiak@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Brian Maurice Thornton	Tidenham	brian.thornton@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Joan Isabel Nash	Upton St Leonards, Bisley and Painswick	joan.nash@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Terry Glastonbury	West Dean	terry.glastonbury@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Jeremy Eric Hilton	Westgate	jeremy.hilton@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Pamela Tracey	Westgate	pam.tracey@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr Ronald Edward Allen	Winchcombe	ron.allen@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Cllr John Cordwell	Wotton-under-Edge	john.cordwell@gloucestershire.gov.uk