Old Bridge at  St Austell Station:  Some rights reserved by Tim Green

Lostwithiel Town Forum has been working closely with bodies across the region to improve public transport in Lostwithiel. We have represented Lostwithiel interests at meetings of the Peninsula Strategic Rail Partnership, the GWR Timetabling Panel, and the Department for Transport Consultation on the Rail Franchise. Here are  some of the possible improvements that we have influenced:-

• It looks as if we will soon have a much-improved rail timetable with twice as many trains stopping at Lostwithiel than at present. GWR has produced a draft timetable for January 2019 that reflects the pressure that we and Cornwall Council have been putting on them to introduce an hourly service. All being well, from the end of this year, we will get trains in both the Plymouth and Penzance directions stopping each hour throughout the day, Monday to Friday, and with a similar service on Saturday. Around 46 trains a day could be stopping at Lostwithiel.
  
  
• Of course, this increase in trains also increases the need for a footbridge over the railway and we are continuing to pursue this. Unfortunately, our request to have the redundant bridge from St Austell was rejected by Network Rail. The demand for a bridge continues, as there will be as many express trains passing through Lostwithiel, without stopping, as there will be trains that stop – meaning that the crossing gates will be down for much longer than at present.
  
  
• You may have seen posters at the station about improvement works being undertaken. These refer to the re-signalling of the railway line. There was a concern that this would involve transfer of signal and level-crossing control to Swindon. However, Network Rail has announced that, at least for a few more years, Lostwithiel signal box will remain in use and so the crossing gates will be controlled by someone who can see who is crossing or waiting to cross.
  
  
• We are also pressing for local bus services and have had a positive response from Plymouth Bus, which is planning its expansion across Cornwall. We have asked for an extension of the 11a bus to give us a connection to Bodmin town and for new routes that would connect us to Wadebridge, Fowey, and Liskeard. We don’t have any definite promises yet, but at least these are now under consideration. Cornwall Council supports the plans as part of its ‘One Public Transport’ initiative to integrate buses and trains and recognises the particular importance of us having a connection to Bodmin town.

All in all, things might get better – we must only hope. If we do get these additional services for rail and bus, do make sure to use them, in case we lose them again! We will keep you updated.

Update 27th October  2017

Last month our Chairman John Scott attended a meeting with Lostwithiel’s MP Sheryll Murray, Deputy Mayor Tim Hughes and representatives from Network Rail and GWR.

Train services after December 2018 were discussed. After this date there should be a half-hourly service in both directions for “main” stations e.g. Truro and St Austell. It is hoped there will be an hourly service in both directions for smaller stations such as Lostwithiel. Our MP has agreed to fund a survey to ask when Lostwithiel residents would like to see train stopping at our station.

Sheryll Murray was given a copy of our proposals for a new footbridge at the station. Approximate costs for a new footbridge were obtained at the meeting: c£1M for a footbridge without lifts and c£3M for a footbridge with lifts.

Photo credit: Phil Beard Creative Commons

Update 10th June  2017

Update  6th June  2017

Proposals for new footbridge at Lostwithiel Station

 A major project for the coming year is to make the case for the building of a footbridge over the railway line. Together with the Town Council and our Cornwall Councillor Lostwithiel Forum have put in a formal case to Network Rail for the building of a footbridge at the level crossing. The case has been made in terms of the increased time for which the barriers will be down and the disruption caused for those in town and those trying to catch a train. More details of the proposal may be viewed via this link  https://tinyurl.com/NewFootbridge

We will keep you informed about the response from Network Rail.

The photograph above shows Lostwithiel Station in July 1956 © National Railway Museum and SSPL

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Update  15th  April  2017

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Update  19th  December  2016

Lostwithiel Rail Station Survey Results Issued

The full report may be read via this link, or downloaded from file at bottom of this page. (File name Lostwithiel_FINAL 181216.pdf  size 2184k)


Some of the main points from the survey are included in the summary below:-

• The vast majority (92%) enjoy travelling by train when they can.

• Over a third (38%) of respondents use Lostwithiel station at least once a

month. However, the majority (64%) rarely/never use the station.

• The station is predominantly used by leisure travellers

• 54% of those who use Lostwithiel station at least monthly do so for shopping /

personal business (54%), and leisure / day out (51%).

• Just 11% use Lostwithiel station for travelling to/from work or on business (9%).

• The size of the settlement supports high walk mode share of those travelling

to/from Lostwithiel station: 92% of those who use Lostwithiel station at least

once a month typically walk to the railway station.

• 57% of respondents live in a household with one or no car – reliance on public

transport?

• Lostwithiel station is felt to be convenient. Rail travel from Lostwithiel is

considered to be ‘easier’ than driving and offers time and cost savings over the

car.

• However, nearly half (46%) of all respondents use other stations in the area –

in particular, Bodmin Parkway – mainly due to the wider availability of services.

An improved service may encourage them to use their local station.

• Nearly half of all respondents (44%) would like timetabling to be improved. Of

these respondents, 84% say they would definitely/ probably use the train

more often if timetabling was improved.

• 60% of respondents would definitely or probably use the train more often if

an hourly service was introduced from Lostwithiel.

• Over half (54%) of those who would definitely/ probably/ possibly use the

train more often (if an hourly service was introduced) anticipate using the

improved Lostwithiel service at least once a week.

• The majority (68% of those who would definitely/ probably/ possibly use the

train more often) anticipate using the improved service for shopping and

leisure. Just 13% would use Lostwithiel station to commute to/from work and

6% for business trips. This raises some question as to whether there would

be sufficient demand to support a service which does not have a large

commuter base.

Update  13th  September  2016

Results from recent Library Survey

Lostwithiel Town Council distributed approximately 1200 leaflets and  received 262 completed
responses by the closing date, giving a response rate of 21.83%. Preferred options for the future were as follows:-

• Option 1 A Town Council run library 76.83%
• Option 2 A “kiosk” library 12.07%
• Option 3 A “micro” library 8.33%
• Option 4 Closure 2.75%

In answer to the question about how much more Council Tax people were prepared to pay to keep some form of library the results were:
(Source:  Mayor’s  column in November Lostwithiel Newsletter, combined with minutes from Lostwithiel Town Council Meeting held 1st November. )



Update  13th  September  2016

Next Lostwithiel Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Event  on Saturday 24 September
in Lostwithiel Community Centre (Oasis) 11- 6pm.  Lostwithiel Town Council and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group we would like to hear  your views on Environment, Heritage, Community & Recreation.



Update  9th July  2016

Cornwall Council's Lostwithiel housing needs survey results now available. Click here


Update  1st July  2016

Hear Lostwithiel Mayor Ian Gillett talking about opening of new public toilet on BBC Radio Cornwall 28th June 2016.

Public Toilet - Radio Cornwall

Update 20th June  2016







Update 11th June  2016

Results from the Transport Survey, released at today's Neighbourhood Plan Open Meeting, available via this link




Update 7th June  2016

Update 20th May 2016

Update 10th April 2016

Transcript of Chairman's report for 2015/2016 given at AGM on 22nd March.

"This has been the year of tying up the ends of old projects and becoming involved in new ones.

Lostwithiel looks neater and cleaner now we have an excellent street cleaner, Joe Brown and the new signage beckons visitors to come and explore our beautiful town. Once in town they can actually find their way around and read small snippets about the town and its history without being deceived by finger posts pointing the wrong way.

The bridge is resplendent with new signs and the Victorian street lamp revamped and dressings for the bridge have been made to be used year after year for the many events held in town.   Added to this from the remaining funding two picnic tables and a bench have also been installed on the land by the bridge.  All throughout the year, on dry days, this area is used and in summer it is packed with young families enjoying the "beach" and splashing in the river. The bridge project is now complete and a report has been sent to the Heritage Lottery Fund.



Mark Pearson and Caroline Yates from the Environment Group keep an eye on the whole town and tackle any issues there may be. These include litter in the

station siding, refurbishment of the water trough in Grenville Road and concern for the safety of cyclists cycling up St. Austell Hill with the suggestions of

using Castle Hill instead. Mark held meetings with Cllr Brewer following a survey of Second Island by a member of the Environment Group in November to discuss proposals for Second Island and Shirehall Moor and followed the meeting with additional information. The outcome from the meetings is that Lostwithiel Town Council need to put in place a maintenance scheme for Second Island and a Management Plan for Shirehall Nature Reserve.  A very successful Bug Hunt for children, organised by Plymouth University, was held in May on Shirehall Moor.  A talk took place in the Church Rooms on the 17th November by Nick Cahill and was well attended and proved to be entertaining and informative.
 (Photo of bridge on Shirehall Moor by Geof Sheppard CC BY-SA 3.0)



When walking across the bridge you can now look across the George the Fifth playing field and there is the wonderful sight of the skate ramp, the football pitch and the play area for the older children put in by Lost in Play.  We still have some money left in our funds for the skate ramp and  it has been suggested by the Mayor that some money could be used to improve the slopes of the ramp where the grass has been worn away.
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At the end of October the Forum received an invitation from the Town Council to join the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee. The Forum has responded to the invitation by asking for clarification of the role we would take in the process and wondering what powers the Steering Group might have. John and Keith have  attended some of the Working Party meetings. (Forerunner of the Steering Committee.)

  John Scott attends many meetings fighting for the right for Lostwithiel to have a decent Rail service and to be included in some of the bus routes, preferably to get to somewhere and back on the same day!  His persistence is admirable and Bert Biscoe and Nigel Blackler must shiver in their boots when another e-mail from John falls into their inbox!  Being a train user I am always amazed that we do not have a ticket machine on our station. Over this year the John, Keith, Caroline and Mark have been involved in the Edgecumbe House Working Party and attended a number of meeting, writing report afterwards. John, Caroline and Mark gave a presentation to the Council on the 3rd November. They have all offered their considerable support and expertise.

The Platform Office is rented out by a variety of groups for meetings which bring in a small trickle of funds. These funds help to finance the running costs of the Forum and the room. The Mum's cafe project left a small amount of money and the Forum decided to donate this money to help fund a new venture in the town for under 18s called the Open Mic Night.

A project which is often brought up over the years is the under use of the Parade and how we would like to see the land used more effectively as a public space. It is a very large area and comes into its own in Lostfest when the area is covered in stalls and a stage for music and when the Lost in Song choir have their Thursday night "singalong" in August but the rest of the time it is left unused and not very welcoming.  There is nothing to draw people onto it, even the benches by the ancient quay walls are an odd and uncomfortable shape.  Suggestions over the years have included a permanent covered stage/ bandstand being built and an area for playing Boules.  Maybe in the next few years this area could be developed with help from funding.





News of The Forum is regularly reported in the town’s newsletter by Lindsay, who also oversees the up keep of the Platform Office.  Thank you Lindsay and Keith for this. We are a small group of people who meet every other month and have put in place improvements that make a big difference to the Town. "
 

Update 5th February 2016