GWSR Broadway Developments

Assuming that the directors are intent on having a shop at Broadway and are currently proceeding with their plan to put it in the main building, here's a thought/suggestion/challenge for the situation: open an appeal for a contractor to build the platform 2 building before the opening next year and have it fitted out as the shop. Set a deadline for the target to be raised (say Christmas?), and, if successful the P1 building would then be fitted out as intended as a cafe.

Discuss...


Keith

 

The sad thing about all of this is that it could have all been avoided, its called communication, if there are budget problems, caused by un expected extra costs, then instead of saying nothing, then dropping bombshells such as plastic windows, change of canopy to reduce costs, why not say to the groups doing the work, and the greater membership, this is the options, raise more money, or find a cheaper way to manufacture something , be open and honest, bring the voluenters with you dont set them against you, its a vital part of managing a project when things dont work out as they should, take the shop question, if a conversation had been had, where people who are building the station were consulted, along the lines of , we would like to have a retail site , then plans could have been drawn up, to find a way that everyone can agree on, most likily a longer plan maybe looking at platform 2, now thats the way it could have been done, if a director can't take this approach then sorry but they are not the right person to decide policy.

 

Keith we are thinking on simular lines, Platform 2 will i assume need a building , but i differ in that i think a short term option is for a temporary shop in a portacabin/ grounded body until a shop can be built on platform 2, that is designed to maximise the retail posibilities, maybe a coffee machine if its thought it may take pressure of the cafe, if it proves to be successful.

 

That's another possibility Martin, but there seems to be a lot of people who are very vocal/angry about the decision, so maybe giving them an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is would enable a 'proper' P2 building to be opened.


Keith

 

If i were in charge i would say, ok, short term we will have a pmv type vehicle maybe on an isolated but of track or a dock , fitted out as a shop whilst fund raising for platform 2, so you can actually build a authentic building with a period feel to it, whose perpose is to maximise the possible retail opertunites

 

If Platform 2 is currently there largely for 'completeness' and not yet in any other form of use, then any commercial activity across there will be largely a waste of time - you have to look at where the potential customers for any such activity are! Indeed, people are probably more likely to 'go out of their way' for a cafe (feeding the 'inner man' - sorry - 'person'!) than a gift shop (thinking of Toddington and the large tea room there), so if anything, a cafe over the other side may be more commercial viable.

Steven

 

Meanwhile, the work to complete the main station building at Broadway, and finishing off Platform 1 ready for slabs, continues according to the latest blog:
http://broadwaystationgroup.blogspot.co.uk/
"We had a visit from two directors, Richard Johnson, Plc Company Secretary & Alan Miller, project director. A cordial meeting took place, which allowed the directors & volunteers to state their respective understandings of plans for the shop/café. The two directors will report to a Plc directors meeting on Monday 13th November."
So, it would appear that things are moving forward despite a "Priti Patel" moment which illustrates that communication is vital.

Is it my imagination or does it seem that the new Broadway Station building has always been there already?!

 

All this talk of P2 as a possible site for a cafe or a shop misses the obvious elephant in the room. There is no way to get to it.

Even if a building was funded and built by contractors ( we'll ignore who builds the canopy!), there are currently no steps to the footbridge.

That means use of the barrow crossing and a full time member of staff to man it. Not going to happen.

Until the timetable is known for P2 building and the footbridge completion it isn't a candidate to solve the shop / cafe conundrum.

A temporary building in the driveway once completed is the obvious choice for a shop in my opinion with the station having a cafe as designed and built ,and also its approved by the Council.

 

It's good to see Richard and Alan meeting the team to discuss events. What stands out from today's blog post is that whatever minor details might not be exact, the station and the general environment look absolutely fantastic. It looks stunning.

 

The Broadway station blog's been updated this morning and includes the following report from yesterday:

We had a visit from two directors, Richard Johnson, Plc Company Secretary & Alan Miller, project director. A cordial meeting took place, which allowed the directors & volunteers to state their respective understandings of plans for the shop/café. The two directors will report to a Plc directors meeting on Monday 13th November.

When the project has run into difficulties before, for example with the roof, and then the chimneys, those involved have been able to work together and find a solution and the end result has been (in my opinion) successful. So I'm hopeful that 'cafegate' will go the same way. This report looks like a positive indication.

Edit: Kinghambranch beat me to it!

 

I've suggested to the board looking at setting up something similar to the way the new build loco groups work in pricing up components and then asking for sponsors. This has worked at Broadway in the past for the lamp posts and signal box windows but seems to have dropped off the radar. A perfect example would be individual foot bridge steps or even something as mundane as period door handles... it was received well but as yet I've still to hear everyone's thoughts.

 

All this talk of putting the shop in P2 I think missed the point. The feeling I get is it's not that the board desperately want s shop, more they don't think a cafe will be sustainable so we might as well have a shop there instead. Anyway, good to see directors on the ground at Broadway discussing stuff.

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Here's a link to today's (yesterday's work ) post
http://broadwaystationgroup.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/lets-get-plastered.html?m=1

 

I like that idea a lot, as you say it's worked well in the past at Broadway, people seem to prefer to donate to specific things rather than just generally "the station" or "the railway".

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This would certainly provide a focus of attention on Plat 2, though I'd ensure at least one more reason for passengers to make the trip across from Plat 1. (Something in 5in gauge perhaps?)

Given the timescale (the station opens in March 2018, yes?), a portacabin seems the only realistic option. A grouded body would be far more "in keeping", but (correct me if I'm wrong) it wouldn't be possible to stroll across to the C&W 'works in progress' and say "We'll take that one .... and why are you throwing things at us?", not least because any suitable vehicle's longer term restoration needs to be planned around a hiatus of anything up to 5 years - whilst design fundraising and construction of a permanent structure go ahead?

 

I love how everyone is making noises about grounded coach bodies without actually checking to see if we have any! The railway does not own any non-mk1 coaching stock, grounded or otherwise. Things that may be suitable like the monster van or siphon (assuming we found new homes for their contents) would require a bay platform as they're on wheels.

Anyway there's no rush, there's never been a plan to have a shop or cafe anywhere until 2019, and there's no steps to get to the nonexistent P2 building until at least then either.

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Is there scope for a bay or dock into the other side of platform 2, if so then a full brake could make a suitable short term shop/ exhibit coach plus that then opens up the posibility of restored wagons being displayed, at the station and loco stabling space for galas etc,

 

Wouldnt you be emptying the contents by throwing them at the raiding party

 

Oi! The Siphon (built by the GWR in 1945 and scheduled for use in US Army ambulance trains when new) belongs to us!