Meeting With Halling Parish Council To Discuss Adoption Of Halling Station

View from a footbridge above the platform and tracks at Halling station. A single-storey brick built station building with a slate roof. The windows are boarded over and doors shuttered. The train tracks stretch into the distance lined with green trees and hedgeroes.

On Wednesday 24th July we met with Stephen McCormack of Halling Parish Council to dicsuss the possibility of a station adoption by the local community.

 

As part of the discussion we outlined the process of becoming Southeastern station adopters, to receive the necessary safety training and obtain consents for planters, planting, artworks and other adoption activities, and station adoption membership of Community Rail Network, unlocking sources of project advice and funding.

 

Stephen expressed that the local community were concerned about youths gathering at the station and resulting low level anti-social behaviour. The community were looking for positive ways through which to resolve these issues and the Parish Council felt that getting the community to care more about their station through an adoption could be a good way forward.

 

However, the station itself feels a little run down with rust on the benches and footbridge, green gunge on fixtures and rotten edging to verges that has been removed and not replaced.

There were welcome signs of investment from Southeastern and Netwrok Rail by way of a new Ticket Vending Machine, platform signage and recent litterpicks, the Parish Council would like to understand how cleaning and maintenance are prioritised.

 

The adoption needs to be a partnership, if the community are to work on improving their station they will need to feel that Southeastern are onboard too.

By way of next steps we agreed to approach Southeastern and Network about their maintenance schedules and plans. Halling Parish Council will arrange an engagement event later this summer to gain support and gather proposals for a community station adoption.

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