I bet these people complaining would be the first to kick up a stink when someone is hit by a train for playing chicken with it! You can never please everyone.
@AS The problem may be that if you’re trying to fight one issue and it becomes linked to another- so that you can’t solve one without the other- you might reduce the chances of progress on your issue; the bridge has been unsolved for some time now. The resolution over the gates must fit within the timescales of the legal challenge/s. Having said that, I think Railtrack’s ideas warrant evaluation insofar as whatever £ there is for a bridge may go further if used for a crossing.
@crostil Yes the priority must be making the crossing safer for all users. No one in in danger over the situation with the bridge. They certainly are on the crossing as it is at present. To some extent the council ought to consider making the path to the crossing flatter for wheel chairs to use more safely.
@AS I am not local but am a regular traveller. I appreciate that those campaigning over the bridge and level crossing may not be connected. But what if they were to combine? Someone has already suggested a level crossing to replace the bridge. What If all the money earmarked for a new bridge was put together with the budget to improve the level crossing and a system of Silverstream type gates with flashing lights to warn of closing was installed at both points and operated by the station?
@railspeak It can be surprisingly difficult trying to get people to do this! I get a feeling one group think they dont want anyone else moving in on their baby." We are doing this, you keep out" I am surprised that even now nodody who was in the group ot protesters at the recent demo has made any comment here. The organiser was given details as how to see these videos!
@railspeak It was one of the Watchet station volunteers who organised the local petition to urge the Council to get on and do something over the disused footbridge. Many hours were spent going all around the town visiting shops and businesses doing that. Yet that same person has recently been the target for misguided attacks over why the crossing has seen no changes. People forget so easily!
@railspeak I believe the Friends of Watchet Station should have a regular newsheet to keep people informed.. We have people as far afield as London who regularly volunteer at Watchet station. There must be many in our membership who are quite unaware of what has been going on recently as well as the general public... We have a public notice board on the station and I still cant get suppport for a public declaration that we support improvements to the crossing and the bridge!
@railspeak The problem with the bridge is that it is owned by the council and not the railway and they simply say they dont have the neccesary £110 k to spend on it. Even if they were to pass the bridge ownership over to the railway i fear the railway already has demands on its available cash. it is currently trying to avoid spending any on the crossing!
@railspeak i keep pushing for people to see the video of the Silverstream crossing in operation which is the complete solution. It has lights to imform those who cant hear, situated high away from vandals, it has a siren to imform those who cant see, its noiseless gate is always open away from pedestrians allowing all types of users to get across easily and quickly, it closes automatically when a train is approaching and then locks itself so noboby can cross until the train has passed.
@railspeak Electrical signals already exist in the power cabinets adjacent to the crossing that automatically used to make the old lights change from green to red when a train approches and then back after the train has passed. Its all there ready to use! .
@railspeak Another interesting point you have raised could be adapted to suggest the Local council get together with the railway to spend money together at the crossing to improve things in a way everybody agrees on. They do have some money, i believe, saved towards demolishing the footbridge. Could that be used for this purpose instead?
The gates have been in position now for four months and reports of the problems they have caused were fed back to the railway HQ soon after. The WSR has had plenty of time to put the situation right. Time is running out if they dont do something soon before an even more serious accident occurs.
@As ref frequency. If you lived in a city by a busy road you would probably always check left to right before crossing it. But if you lived in a remote part of the Australian outback and the only traffic was an occasional juggernaut, which some days didn’t pass at all but when it did it, blasted a very loud horn on approach, I doubt you would develop the habit of checking every time you crossed the road. A gate does nothing to increase checking, which Is evident from the films.
@crostil That is another valid point you are making. I think now that timetabled trains have stopped running until the Chistmas trains, there will be more frustration building up locally for gates getting in the way when most people think there arent any now..( Even though the danger still exists that there may be unscheduled trains).
@AS completely agree. Another of the reasons this is a less safe system is that vulnerable people will attempt to cross at times when they would not otherwise have done, if warned of an approaching train by lights. This causes additional anxiety among many elderly or frail people regardless of whether in a wheeled vehicle or not. The frequency of train movements must surely be a factor here.
@crostil I was present at the gates just after they had been fitted and an elderly lady was stood there quite unsure if she should try to cross as the lights that used to confirm it was safe to do so had been removed.
@ADMIRALSCORNER And not all people have perfect vision to look into the distance to check for themselves that it is safe. The gates do not lock so wouldnt stop such a person crossing!
Here is another point to consider. A normal fit and able person finds no real problem in opening the gates but in reality they are not doing him any good for even if a train is comng he can still open them and walk across. What if such a person was in the frame of mind of looking for a way to end it all? There have been such occurances on the WSR reported in the past.
@AS There was nothing to stop the WSR managers (those responsible for taking away the lights and installing these gates) being there on Saturday. Councillors from 2 authorities were there, so why not them? It seems they preferred to leave their well meaning volunteers to step, unsupported, into the firing line to take the flack they should have received. The volunteers have been kept in the dark about many of the facts and this made it even harder for them when faced with the realities.
Sorry I'm late watching your videos Mike, but well done for capturing the mood of the local people who are so adversely affected by this crossing....Bob
@robmasterman There is a lot to be considered in this situation including how the crew of a locomotive would feel if they hit someone on the crossing.It could be devestating for them.Trains from the Williton direction have very little space in which to stop after seeing the crossing. in such an emergency.I doubt if they could do so. .Records from the late1800s do record some fatalities here.
it good to havea gate there. at less you know where to stand safely. I can't understand why don,t they us the road bridge at the other end. drive over that. it not like there walking they useing a electric scoter now. also at 6:15 shows how danrges the scoters are. have to say that was well worth watching for the 6:15 bit woman falling off the scoter classic
@GJDobbzy The road bridge is very narrow with no pavements on it or the roads leading to it. If a bus comes across it it fills the whole space. I myself am not comfotable filming trains from there! The path up to the crossing itself does not belong to the railway but has some unpleasant slopes to navigate. Ideally the path itself should also be sorted out for safety.
@ADMIRALSCORNER Relevent to the point where the boundry between railway property and that of the local council begins you may think the railway is only liable beyond the gates but on consideration i suspect its property really legally begins parallel to the track fencing and the path towards Doniford.
@AS Thanks for this film clip, couldn’t be in it, but totally agree with many of the protesters’ views, well done Cindy for organising; looking forward to seeing part 2 of the demo. Ref inaction by WSR caused by legal challenge. Inaction due to lack of interest in acting, is more likely. The DDA process does nothing to prevent those believed to be discriminating from investigating solutions, rather it is intended to encourage that. 4 months on and they show no evidence of having started!
@canvids1 Thanks Wayne. That is one of the suggestions spoken about in another of the up coming videos in this series,and also previously given to the railway. So far they have made no responce to any advice, expect due to legal challenges already going on in the background.
If the following title is entered in the youtube search box you can see gates in operation that would be ideal, i believe, at Watchet. .MRG RAILGATES SILVERSTREAM HD.
Hmm,....not sure what the answer is ..a bridge would be expensive , and then no invalid scooters could cross , no gates... then could cause a problem, what do the people suggest??...no gates? ..then what???...
@howarth004 Many people want a return to the earlier situation where there were no gates at all, but lights to tell when a train was approaching. I personally believe the best and safest solution is for the fitting of electrically powered gates that are normally open and only close, and then lock, when a train approaches. After the train has passed, they open again away from the path hitting no stops and thus make no noise. Such gates can be seen in operation in the video reffered to below.
I bet these people complaining would be the first to kick up a stink when someone is hit by a train for playing chicken with it! You can never please everyone.
rhysicus 6 months ago
Pathetic
dtremzo 6 months ago
The exact border line between railway property and council property needs to be more widely understood too.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS The problem may be that if you’re trying to fight one issue and it becomes linked to another- so that you can’t solve one without the other- you might reduce the chances of progress on your issue; the bridge has been unsolved for some time now. The resolution over the gates must fit within the timescales of the legal challenge/s. Having said that, I think Railtrack’s ideas warrant evaluation insofar as whatever £ there is for a bridge may go further if used for a crossing.
crostil 1 year ago
@crostil Yes the priority must be making the crossing safer for all users. No one in in danger over the situation with the bridge. They certainly are on the crossing as it is at present. To some extent the council ought to consider making the path to the crossing flatter for wheel chairs to use more safely.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS I am not local but am a regular traveller. I appreciate that those campaigning over the bridge and level crossing may not be connected. But what if they were to combine? Someone has already suggested a level crossing to replace the bridge. What If all the money earmarked for a new bridge was put together with the budget to improve the level crossing and a system of Silverstream type gates with flashing lights to warn of closing was installed at both points and operated by the station?
railspeak 1 year ago
@railspeak It can be surprisingly difficult trying to get people to do this! I get a feeling one group think they dont want anyone else moving in on their baby." We are doing this, you keep out" I am surprised that even now nodody who was in the group ot protesters at the recent demo has made any comment here. The organiser was given details as how to see these videos!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak It was one of the Watchet station volunteers who organised the local petition to urge the Council to get on and do something over the disused footbridge. Many hours were spent going all around the town visiting shops and businesses doing that. Yet that same person has recently been the target for misguided attacks over why the crossing has seen no changes. People forget so easily!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak I believe the Friends of Watchet Station should have a regular newsheet to keep people informed.. We have people as far afield as London who regularly volunteer at Watchet station. There must be many in our membership who are quite unaware of what has been going on recently as well as the general public... We have a public notice board on the station and I still cant get suppport for a public declaration that we support improvements to the crossing and the bridge!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak The problem with the bridge is that it is owned by the council and not the railway and they simply say they dont have the neccesary £110 k to spend on it. Even if they were to pass the bridge ownership over to the railway i fear the railway already has demands on its available cash. it is currently trying to avoid spending any on the crossing!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak i keep pushing for people to see the video of the Silverstream crossing in operation which is the complete solution. It has lights to imform those who cant hear, situated high away from vandals, it has a siren to imform those who cant see, its noiseless gate is always open away from pedestrians allowing all types of users to get across easily and quickly, it closes automatically when a train is approaching and then locks itself so noboby can cross until the train has passed.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak Electrical signals already exist in the power cabinets adjacent to the crossing that automatically used to make the old lights change from green to red when a train approches and then back after the train has passed. Its all there ready to use! .
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak Another interesting point you have raised could be adapted to suggest the Local council get together with the railway to spend money together at the crossing to improve things in a way everybody agrees on. They do have some money, i believe, saved towards demolishing the footbridge. Could that be used for this purpose instead?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@railspeak There are also comments given by other people in part 4 that are also on these subjects.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
The gates have been in position now for four months and reports of the problems they have caused were fed back to the railway HQ soon after. The WSR has had plenty of time to put the situation right. Time is running out if they dont do something soon before an even more serious accident occurs.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@As ref frequency. If you lived in a city by a busy road you would probably always check left to right before crossing it. But if you lived in a remote part of the Australian outback and the only traffic was an occasional juggernaut, which some days didn’t pass at all but when it did it, blasted a very loud horn on approach, I doubt you would develop the habit of checking every time you crossed the road. A gate does nothing to increase checking, which Is evident from the films.
crostil 1 year ago
@crostil That is another valid point you are making. I think now that timetabled trains have stopped running until the Chistmas trains, there will be more frustration building up locally for gates getting in the way when most people think there arent any now..( Even though the danger still exists that there may be unscheduled trains).
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS completely agree. Another of the reasons this is a less safe system is that vulnerable people will attempt to cross at times when they would not otherwise have done, if warned of an approaching train by lights. This causes additional anxiety among many elderly or frail people regardless of whether in a wheeled vehicle or not. The frequency of train movements must surely be a factor here.
crostil 1 year ago
@crostil I was present at the gates just after they had been fitted and an elderly lady was stood there quite unsure if she should try to cross as the lights that used to confirm it was safe to do so had been removed.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER And not all people have perfect vision to look into the distance to check for themselves that it is safe. The gates do not lock so wouldnt stop such a person crossing!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Here is another point to consider. A normal fit and able person finds no real problem in opening the gates but in reality they are not doing him any good for even if a train is comng he can still open them and walk across. What if such a person was in the frame of mind of looking for a way to end it all? There have been such occurances on the WSR reported in the past.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS There was nothing to stop the WSR managers (those responsible for taking away the lights and installing these gates) being there on Saturday. Councillors from 2 authorities were there, so why not them? It seems they preferred to leave their well meaning volunteers to step, unsupported, into the firing line to take the flack they should have received. The volunteers have been kept in the dark about many of the facts and this made it even harder for them when faced with the realities.
crostil 1 year ago
@crostil All praise to the two local station volunteers! they are special people to volunteer to do that.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Sorry I'm late watching your videos Mike, but well done for capturing the mood of the local people who are so adversely affected by this crossing....Bob
robmasterman 1 year ago
@robmasterman There is a lot to be considered in this situation including how the crew of a locomotive would feel if they hit someone on the crossing.It could be devestating for them.Trains from the Williton direction have very little space in which to stop after seeing the crossing. in such an emergency.I doubt if they could do so. .Records from the late1800s do record some fatalities here.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
it good to havea gate there. at less you know where to stand safely. I can't understand why don,t they us the road bridge at the other end. drive over that. it not like there walking they useing a electric scoter now. also at 6:15 shows how danrges the scoters are. have to say that was well worth watching for the 6:15 bit woman falling off the scoter classic
GJDobbzy 1 year ago
@GJDobbzy The road bridge is very narrow with no pavements on it or the roads leading to it. If a bus comes across it it fills the whole space. I myself am not comfotable filming trains from there! The path up to the crossing itself does not belong to the railway but has some unpleasant slopes to navigate. Ideally the path itself should also be sorted out for safety.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER Relevent to the point where the boundry between railway property and that of the local council begins you may think the railway is only liable beyond the gates but on consideration i suspect its property really legally begins parallel to the track fencing and the path towards Doniford.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS Thanks for this film clip, couldn’t be in it, but totally agree with many of the protesters’ views, well done Cindy for organising; looking forward to seeing part 2 of the demo. Ref inaction by WSR caused by legal challenge. Inaction due to lack of interest in acting, is more likely. The DDA process does nothing to prevent those believed to be discriminating from investigating solutions, rather it is intended to encourage that. 4 months on and they show no evidence of having started!
crostil 1 year ago
@crostil Lets hope this video series adds a boost to those of us who see the need for urgent action!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Mike can they get the railway to put a button on either side of the gate on a post
so the gates will open and close just like they have for wheelchairs to enter and leave buildings that would make things very simple and safe.
canvids1 1 year ago
@canvids1 Thanks Wayne. That is one of the suggestions spoken about in another of the up coming videos in this series,and also previously given to the railway. So far they have made no responce to any advice, expect due to legal challenges already going on in the background.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
If the following title is entered in the youtube search box you can see gates in operation that would be ideal, i believe, at Watchet. .MRG RAILGATES SILVERSTREAM HD.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I do hope some progress comes from the protest
pwalpar 1 year ago
@pwalpar Thanks Walter and so do a lot of people and volunteers on the railway.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Hmm,....not sure what the answer is ..a bridge would be expensive , and then no invalid scooters could cross , no gates... then could cause a problem, what do the people suggest??...no gates? ..then what???...
howarth004 1 year ago
@howarth004 Many people want a return to the earlier situation where there were no gates at all, but lights to tell when a train was approaching. I personally believe the best and safest solution is for the fitting of electrically powered gates that are normally open and only close, and then lock, when a train approaches. After the train has passed, they open again away from the path hitting no stops and thus make no noise. Such gates can be seen in operation in the video reffered to below.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago