February 2012 - Crewkerne Town

FRIENDS OF CREWKERNE STATION
Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 th February 2012 at the Old Stagecoach Inn, Station
Road, Crewkerne, at 7.30 pm.
Present: Jill Knights, Brian Wolfe, Tony Reese, John Dirring, Gail Coleshill, Ron
Pattemore, Joanna Spitteler, Henryk Ploszek, Robin Heyd-Smith, Carol Walker,
Geoff Clarke, Norah Rayner, Eric Keitch, Diana Crossman
Diana Crossman introduced herself as attending in memory of her late friend Mary
Rogers, who had been interested in FOCS. She has a special interest in access for the
less able.
Apologies from: Michael Fox, Marcus Barrett
Tony Reese in the chair
Minutes taken by John Dirring
Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 th January 2012
These are available on the website http://www.CrewkerneTown.org ; there were no
amendments.
Chairman’s report
Previously circulated with the agenda; some of the points raised in it were amplified
by Tony Reese as follows:
Glen Hatherley, the Station Manager, has advised that a new exit sign has been
approved and is being produced; this may however take some time.
The policy regarding toilets is a standard requirement for all rail operators, not merely
South West Trains.
The four Penalty Notice posters displayed on the station are a statutory requirement
for each of the locations where they are displayed; but nevertheless seem to be
excessive for a station like Crewkerne where these locations are practically adjacent
to each other. A poster review for all the stations on the line has recently been
conducted by South West Trains; a copy of the report has been offered to us.
At the meeting in Woking on 26 th March, there will be presentations by South West
Trains directors, with opportunity for questions. Tim Shoveller is the new Managing
Director. Gail Coleshill and Geoff Clarke offered to attend.
The TravelWatch SouthWest meetings offer interesting speakers and a chance to meet
other groups.
Resignalling
This had reached Templecombe from the east at the end of February, with the signal
box at Yeovil Junction expected to close on 12 th March. The replacement coach
services at weekends are likely to continue until the end of March.
The investment in this scheme will reduce costs and be a positive development for the
future. Feniton and Crewkerne will become block posts, increasing the line capacity
and enabling more trains to be run. This could lead to a half-hourly service, as well as
freight trains.
Geoff Clarke was concerned about the safety aspect if there were no signal boxes
locally (everything will be controlled from Basingstoke). Robin Heyd-Smith

explained the use of radio communication on trains for reporting incidents and
operating eventualities. John Dirring observed that the centralization of signalling is a
long-term process, made possible by technology, which has been going on for decades
across the British railway network.
It was felt that there will be a larger role for groups like us in spotting and reporting
untoward happenings in and around the railway environment.
Access to disused platform
Mike Franklin (Network Rail) has advised that our access was agreed in principle by
Network Rail within six weeks of the request; but that the problem is in providing
access to the required standard, the cost of which exceeds his budget.
There was a general discussion about the condition of the vegetation on the banks and
disused platform, as well as the residual litter which becomes visible at this time of
the year, and the condition of the fencing. Robin Heyd-Smith offered to contact the
local Mobile Operations Manager (based at Yeovil Junction).
It was resolved that a formal written complaint should be made by the secretary Gail
Coleshill.
Henryk Ploszek suggested a copy to South West Trains.
Secretary’s report
This was also circulated on the agenda prior to the meeting. Some matters arising
were discussed under the headings which follow.
Taxi service
Car parking charges can encourage walking or the use of taxis or public transport but
transport methods are in need of improvement.
Free parking would merely cause overcrowding, with the missing of trains as a result.
It was suggested that an official request be made to South West Trains to lease the
coal yard as a parking area; but the problem of safe access off the main road, for both
vehicles and pedestrians, remains an issue.
Charging taxi operators for the right to await trains and potential fares is a national
issue. Geoff Clarke said that it is a commercially-related matter; there has to be
enough casual traffic to attract standing taxis. The expenses in running a taxi service
are considerable, not least insurance.
It was felt that more taxis are needed in the town; no operator is believed to have a
hackney carriage licence.
The secretary Gail Coleshill will query with South West Trains why there is no taxi
rank when there is a charge for waiting taxis.
Geoff Clarke suggested an extension of the existing Crewkerne volunteer minibus
service to cover journeys to and from the station. Robin Heyd-Smith will take this up
at their next committee meeting.
John Dirring is to make enquiries about the future of the redundant Bradfords
weighbridge office, which is a listed building and could provide a base for such
services separate from the station forecourt.
Publicity
The address of the website needs to be incorporated in our letterhead, and referred to
at every opportunity in publicity material.
Apart from the general press releases, our meetings and events are also advertised in
the listings in the Marshwood Vale Magazine and similar publications.

Name badges
Jill Knights has a quote from Footprints: £30.00 for 100 or £35.00 for 250; these are
blank for names to be written in. Badge holders £25.00 per 100.
These may be needed as ID for access, and would be useful at events.
Treasurer’s report
The balance in the bank account as of 29 th February stood at £333.08, with petty cash
of £78.00. This does not include some cheques recently received.
Disbursements include payments of £147.14 and £154.78 to Countrywide for planters
and plants. These have come from the grants totalling £400.00 from Somerset County
Council and South West Trains, leaving £98.08 remaining from this money.
The income from membership subscriptions to date amounts to £285.00, with £62.00
in donations
Membership renewals
The question of when memberships would become due for renewal was raised;
whether to have one date for all, or for each to fall due a year after joining. Geoff
Clarke suggested 30 th March; but most memberships effectively began last October.
Membership Secretary’s role
Jill Knights explained that, owing to an unexpected heavy commitment elsewhere, she
will need to relinquish this role for the time being.
Gail Coleshill and Tony Reese will cover this for the present; but volunteers are
welcome, and will be essential in the longer term when the role is expanded to include
the administration of working volunteer forms. Another part of the job is encouraging
interested people to become paid-up members and then working volunteers.
Farmers’ Market
There was a call for volunteers, working in pairs, to staff our stand at this on Saturday
17 th March.
Gail Coleshill suggested that a rota might be drawn up.
Tony Reese will be there all day. Norah Rayner volunteered for the first hour (9-10
am), and Jill Knights from 11 to 12 noon.
Eric Keitch offered the use of a table; and Robin Heyd-Smith will ask at the Town
Hall if a suitable notice board would be available.
Station watering
Eric Keitch offered to join the watering team.
An offer has been made to Judy Kyle at the station by Robin Heyd-Smith to help with
the salting of the platform and steps in icy conditions.
Robin also mentioned that he has had an offer of free daffodil bulbs.
There is a possibility of the Pump House, where we keep some of our materials, being
leased to a tenant for storage; but this is not an immediate prospect.
Footfall and usage surveys
Brian Wolfe has looked on the Internet for information on doing these. Subjects for
investigation include:
Car park occupancy – how many and for how long;
Usage of disabled facilities;

Numbers joining and leaving each train, and numbers meeting or seeing off travellers;
Train punctuality;
Overcrowding on three-car trains and light loading of six-car trains.
Tony Reese said that the Association of Train Operating Companies have aggregated
statistics on some of these matters, but they are open to question.
Eric Keitch thought that ticket sales, being accounted to the station however sold,
were an adequate guide to usage – but they do not indicate the usage of individual
trains, or the travelling patterns of season ticket holders.
Geoff Clarke said that he intended to test the service to disabled travellers when going
to the meeting in Woking.
Telephone box
This is a listed building in need of a repaint. Gail Coleshill will contact British
Telecom.
Other business
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.35 pm.
Subsequent to the meeting, an invitation has been received from Diane Bradly, who
would like us to have a table at the Misterton Village Fete on Sunday 20 th May 2012
between 12 noon and 4 pm. This will be held at the Recreation Field in Unity Lane.
We will need some volunteers if we are to do this.
Date of next meeting
Wednesday 11 th April 2012 at 7.30 pm at the Old Stagecoach Inn, Station Road,
Crewkerne
This will be an open committee meeting, to which all are welcome.
Apologies were given in advance by Joanna Spitteler and Eric Keitch.
There will be a further meeting, also at the Old Stagecoach, on 23 rd May.