Many thanks to all those who supported Goostrey Station in the World Cup of Stations. We were delighted to be chosen to appear in the film which launched the event, and we received well over 500 votes in the first round. But we were competing against stations like Runcorn and Birkdale with a greater local population, and we didn’t progress to the semi-finals. In the final, Wemyss Bay was voted the best loved station in the UK. This station is renowned for its Victorian architecture, and volunteers have developed a “vibrant and colourful” community garden plus a station bookshop.
Many thanks also to Hassalls, our local nursery, for renewing the plants in the platform tubs at Goostrey station. FoGS has a rota for watering but there are spaces for new helpers. We’ll be using rain collected in butts behind the platform shelter, supplemented with water from the metered tap. To keep up with regular maintenance between May and September, we’ve added an extra working party on the 4th Wednesday morning of each month. Perhaps those with family commitments on Sundays will be available midweek. We have a list of 87 FoGS members and we hope that more will now become active supporters.
At our recent AGM, Craig Sidebotham agreed to take over from Dave Roberts as chair of FoGS and we welcomed new committee members. We all expressed our thanks to Dave for his contribution, including the successful negotiations over the tenancy of the station building and the installation of new noticeboards and a bike rack,
Given the efforts of our local volunteers, it has been disappointing to find graffiti at Goostrey station. But it was quickly removed from the noticeboard and wall by Rail Authorities. Network Rail have also cleared moss from the gutters on the Art Studio, but we’re waiting for repairs to the collapsed edge of platform 2. Although the parking ticket machine has been removed, drivers still need to pay £3 per day.
More information about current work of volunteers at Goostrey station and our future plans can be found on our website friendsofgoostreystation.org. Or you can email Craig on 29craimar@talktalk.net. You can also follow us on our new Twitter account @FOGS2023.
