COMMENT: Improving local station is key to area's growth (From Gazette Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting GS NEWS to 80360, or email
us
COMMENT: Improving Cam and Dursley Railway Station is key to area's growth
1:30pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Daniel Chipperfield
IT IS great to see Cam and Dursley Railway Station become a success story, with the number of passengers tripling to over 150,000 in just nine years.
While it is good news, it does highlight the area’s reliance on residents commuting outside of the district for work.
Encouraging businesses and employment opportunities in this part of the district, especially Cam, is a key focus for Stroud District Council.
However the simple fact is if local facilities and amenities are not adequate than companies will not be keen to move here.
On the face of it Gloucestershire County Council looks like it may be resting on their laurels and not capitalising on a clear interest for local commuters.
However, as is often the way, the stumbling block to any further improvements is a lack of funds and the suggestion that First Great Western could take it over has not been greatly received as car parking charges would likely be introduced.
But simple suggestions have been put forward to help alleviate the parking problems at the station, including removing the large "scruffy" flowerbeds to make way for more spaces.
There are also regular complaints that the bus timetable does not match the train schedules, making the bus trips largely redundant and forcing people to use their cars.
People may well get tired of fighting for spaces and decide to drive to work, or leave the area altogether.
Every effort should be made to make sure the station’s popularity does not stagnate and make it a hub for the communities of Dursley and Cam to be proud of.
IT IS great to see Cam and Dursley Railway Station become a success story, with the number of passengers tripling to over 150,000 in just nine years.
While it is good news, it does highlight the area’s reliance on residents commuting outside of the district for work.
Encouraging businesses and employment opportunities in this part of the district, especially Cam, is a key focus for Stroud District Council.
However the simple fact is if local facilities and amenities are not adequate than companies will not be keen to move here.
On the face of it Gloucestershire County Council looks like it may be resting on their laurels and not capitalising on a clear interest for local commuters.
However, as is often the way, the stumbling block to any further improvements is a lack of funds and the suggestion that First Great Western could take it over has not been greatly received as car parking charges would likely be introduced.
But simple suggestions have been put forward to help alleviate the parking problems at the station, including removing the large "scruffy" flowerbeds to make way for more spaces.
There are also regular complaints that the bus timetable does not match the train schedules, making the bus trips largely redundant and forcing people to use their cars.
People may well get tired of fighting for spaces and decide to drive to work, or leave the area altogether.
Every effort should be made to make sure the station’s popularity does not stagnate and make it a hub for the communities of Dursley and Cam to be proud of.
