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Author Topic: Templecombe - The saga of the seats.  (Read 1990 times)
JayMac
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« on: May 31, 2020, 16:48:22 »

Early one morning prior to lockdown, contractors working for SWR» (South Western Railway - about) staged a dawn raid and removed three benches from the unused platform at Templecombe station. These were NSE (Network South East) era benches, and there were five in total, all firmly bolted to the old platform. It looks as though attempts were made to remove all five, but two stubbornly refused to be seperated from the platform. No details of the job were given to the local manager. The Friends of Templecombe Station (FoTS), who care for and maintain the fixtures and fittings on the unused platform side, were not informed either. They had maintained and painted these benches.

As there was no local communication that this removal work was going to take place, it was initially thought the benches may have been stolen for their scrap metal value. It was only after a member of the permanent way team for the area saw social media posts and commented about seeing the work order, was it learnt locally that SWR were responsible for the removal.

It is still unclear who made the decision, and there's been no explanation given to FoTS or the local manager.

The saga continues however. A person in Hook, Hampshire, had seen the social media posts about the missing Templecombe Station benches and contacted the FoTS. Two of the three benches taken from Templecombe have been repainted and installed at Hook Station.

One of our benches is still missing. Undecided
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grahame
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« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2020, 18:28:30 »

Don't TOCs (Train Operating Company) just manage the station and have a responsibility of care, having to return it in the condition it was when they took it on to their Network Rail landlord at the end of the franchise?
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johnneyw
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« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2020, 18:34:28 »

I must say it's a very strange way for SWR» (South Western Railway - about) to show gratitude for FoTS maintenance of the benches.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2020, 19:37:03 »

Is SWR» (South Western Railway - about) responsible for the whole station and it's a lack of communication? Or are FOTS solely responsible for the unused platform and SWR have, in effect, stolen your benches?
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JayMac
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« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2020, 11:02:21 »

As far as I'm aware SWR» (South Western Railway - about) manage the whole station site and remain the ultimate guardians of the buildings, of the assets, fixtures and fittings.
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JayMac
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« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2020, 18:04:08 »

Here's two of the three 'missing' benches in their new location:



I fully understand that benches are made for sitting on, and they weren't being used for that purpose on the closed off platform at Templecombe, to which only staff and volunteers have access. They did though add a nice symmetrical look to the front of the Art Deco signal box, and despite being from a later era they fitted the 1930s aesthetic.

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onthecushions
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« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2020, 22:24:53 »


They looked much better in their Network South East colour scheme, as did most things...

OTC
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« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2020, 02:54:53 »

Not knowing the true cost of the seats,

can it be really worth it to remove the bench's from one station and re-locate them to another station?
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JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2020, 09:37:03 »

Not knowing the true cost of the seats,

can it be really worth it to remove the bench's from one station and re-locate them to another station?

Probably cheaper than buying new. And it's recycling. Also, SWR» (South Western Railway - about) would probably argue that they weren't being used at Templecombe.
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