Railway Ticket Offices: 1 Day Left for Consultation.

As I said in my blog in early July, there is a public consultation concerning changes to ticket offices and staffing at railway stations, with an original end date for the consultation in July, but that was extended until tomorrow, Friday the 1st of September. The media has been full of this consultation and the concerns of people with disabilities in particular, and you still have a chance to have your say!

I'm cutting and pasting from Transport Focus below with more information:

Transport User Voice September 2023 – Ticket office consultation

31 August 2023

Last day to have your say

With one day to go before the public consultation on proposed changes to ticket offices ends, Transport Focus and London Travel Watch have received more than 460,000 responses. 

Transport Focus is reminding passengers to respond to proposals before the deadline.

The consultation on train operator proposals to close the majority of ticket offices in England ends on Friday 1 September, following an extension on 26 July.

The consultation provides people with the opportunity to have their say on proposed closures to ticket offices and changes to how operators sell tickets at stations would mean for them and how they might be impacted.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:

“More than 460,000 responses to the consultation have already been received, but it’s not too late to have your say. 

“There’s a really big decision to be made about the future of ticket offices and it’s vital that we hear from as many people as possible.”

Over the coming weeks, the two watchdogs will continue to analyse carefully the train operator proposals and consultation responses before they report their decisions on whether object to the plans.

Transport Focus and London Travel Watch will be considering issues such as whether the station will continue to be staffed, accessibility, the alternative options for buying tickets and whether passengers will continue to be able to access station facilities like lifts, waiting rooms and toilets.

It is a regulatory requirement as part of the process that the watchdogs and passengers are consulted.

What happens next?

Transport Focus will scrutinise the train company proposals in detail against a set of criteria.

We will look at factors such as whether the station will continue to be staffed, accessibility, alternative options for buying tickets and whether passengers will still be able to access station facilities like lifts, waiting rooms and toilets.

We will publish our response to each train company’s proposal on our website, the number of responses we have received, and the main issues raised in the consultation.

HMV's open, I had to support/visit!

As I said recently (blog), HMV has reopened at Priory Meadow, following the flood in January (blog), and its subsequent refurbishment, and I was doing some shopping, so...I decided to pop in to support their reopening, and I bought the 3 DVD box set of The Addams family (above), and a few hours of fun guaranteed there... 😁

If you have never seen this 1960s series, a taster from YouTube, cheers!

Bye Lighthouse, Hi Bexhill Maritime Coastal Environment Centre!

You may already be aware of, if you haven't actually seen it happening, the dismantling of the Royal Sovereign Lighthouse in the English Channel, after more than 50 years of service as an aid to local maritime navigation, and the lighthouse being decommissioned on the 21st of March 2022 (Trinity House). Well... the charity Bexhill Maritime 'has acquired the lantern tower section' of the lighthouse to be part of a new maritime centre, that is, the proposed Maritime Coastal Environment Centre (website), to be sited at the far eastern end of the Bexhill Promenade, where the Bexhill Sea Angling Club (BSAC) now sits; indeed, this will become the first building you reach in Bexhill, if you walk along the seafront from Hastings.

Bexhill Maritime has the goal of educating local people and visitors about the marine, coastal, physical and natural environment, and about the effects of climate change on the maritime environment (website). The new building will be on the site now occupied by the BSAC, and there will be a community space with exhibition and refreshment areas, as well as providing a new home for the BSAC.

Something to look forward to! 👍

Cyril & Lilian Bishop for RX134 site...

I had a chat with Tush Hamilton early this morning because I promised to solve the issue of which older lifeboat was planned to replace RX134 (blog), and he confirmed that they are planning to move the Cyril and Lilian Bishop to the site in front of the Fish Market and opposite the Dolphin Inn, and he should know! Still no idea when this would happen, as Tush said, still hurdles to cross. Both of the lifeboats need moving before they become victims of being dry-docked, and, after moving Cyril and Lilian Bishop it is hoped that Priscilla MacBean can be found a new home indoors too. 

Indoors? Tush explained that they hope to build a small 'lifeboat museum' around Cyril and Lilian Bishop on its, hopefully, successful move to the RX134 site, and then they need to find a suitable site for Priscilla MacBean.

Regular readers will be aware of my particular interest in RX134, also Cyril and Lilian Bishop and Priscilla MacBean, consequently, my interest in these developments, fingers crossed for the future... 

Whatever, I hope to continue the RX134 facebook page in her memory.

RX134 Stacey Marie Sadly Gone...

I'd been away over the weekend and now found out that the remains of RX134 Stacey Marie (facebook) were taken away on Friday; see my previous blog, if you weren't aware of her sad demise. I've also heard that her name plate, propellor, and other artefacts are now at Hastings Fishermen's Museum (blog). I've been aware for some time that one of the older lifeboats now situated up Old London Road was to be brought down to Rock a Nore Road. The first position proposed was apparently at the Shipwreck Museum, (website - I really do need to write a blog about this great museum!), but a trustee informed me that they just didn't have the space.

Anyway, the space now planned for the lifeboat is where RX134 used to be berthed, sadly, her final berth. I've been told that the Priscilla MacBean (blog) is the lifeboat moving down here, but I've also seen someone say it's the Cyril and Lilian Bishop (blog) that's being moved down! I shall try to find out the reality asap...

RX134 Stacey Marie! What happened?!?

I returned from a hospital outpatients appointment a couple of hours ago to find this! Stacey Marie (facebook) in pieces, absolutely demolished... I'd been given a few hints what was going to happen, she had become a dangerous structure, basically needing a complete rebuild, however, the cash was not available for a rebuild to happen, but I had no idea this would happen today...😢

I believed that the Priscilla MacBean (blog) was to be filling the vacant space, but have since discovered it's planned to be the Cyril and Lilian Bishop (blog).

Sad...

 

What a difference a day makes...

Okay, a few days longer than just the one day, but I go away for a short break and when I return to Hastings a number of things have changed, or more accurately, returned to 'normal.' For example, George Street is a thoroughfare again, having reopened after many months closed due to the fire back in January (blog).

Also, after many months, the exoskeleton that was scaffolding has been removed from Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station, looking good!

Plus, months after being flooded in January (blog), HMV is open again! I do apologise to the people in this photograph, but I waited ages, and they saw my mobile pointed at the shopfront, but stayed around whilst I took this photograph, your choice folks!

 And George Street from the west end... 😉

What a difference a day makes (YouTube). 🌞

Hastings Old Town Carnival Climax!

Despite the fear of the Pram Race being a washout, it wasn't, indeed, I've heard nothing but praise for how yesterday evening turned out, a bit damp beforehand, some rain whilst most prams were in George Street, but no trouble, a great atmosphere, and everyone being nice to each other, and generous. If the forecast had been better, no doubt, more money would have been raised, and we wait to see the amount from that event, but the folk of Hastings continue to dig deep to support local charities... Amazing how the less wealthy in society contribute more than the wealthy!

Anyway, there is plenty to happen still, although the culmination to the week is the Carnival Parade on Saturday (website), and I have no shame in including my archive photograph above, which includes the retired RNLI lifeboat, and I fully understand the reasons behind why the new Shannon Class lifeboat cannot lead the parade now, but I can't help but feel that the parade was so much better with the main lifeboat leading the rest! But, of course, there will be so much more happening from tomorrow (Friday) through to Sunday, including guided walks galore, and, well have a look at the website, and enjoy the rest of the Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2023!

Sussex Wldlife Trust and our Future!

The Sussex Wildlife Trust, and all other wildlife trusts in the country, are calling for support for nature in our lifetimes, indeed, they want nature to be 'restored by 2030' (website)! They are calling on all political leaders to make 5 electoral pledges to 'save nature.' That is, they are asking that all political parties support these 5 pledges (below), cut & pasted from their website, and a petition is included too (website):

💰 A pay rise for nature

Farmers need greater support to help nature and manage over 70% of UK land - we want to see double the current budget for nature-friendly farming in future. 

🏭 Make polluters pay

Business - from companies working finance to retail to energy  - all contribute to nature’s decline and should contribute to nature’s recovery. 

🏞️ More space for nature

Just 3% of the land and 8% of English waters are properly protected for nature. We want rapid action to expand and improve protected areas, and ensure public land and National Parks contribute more to recovery.

🤝 A National Nature Service

We want lots of helping hands if nature is to recover quickly and at scale: a 'National Nature Service' would create thousands of green jobs as well as a healthier society.

🌳 A right to a healthy environment 

Limited access to nature and pollution in the air and water affects everyone’s health: An 'Environmental Rights' Bill would drive better decisions for nature and improve public health.

I support the wildlife trusts 👍