Christmas Light Switch on and Bus Stop Stall - Melksham, 7th December

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The Market Place is closed and the buses will be on divert and volunteers will be on hand to tell people where to catch their steed. We will have leaflets about Christmas train Closures too.  Melksham lights have a wonderful reputation.

[grahame]

It's a bit windy out there - around 6 a.m. on Saturday 7th December, and the day the Christmas Lights are turned on. I'll be carrying on with planned duties as the road closures will no doubt go ahead - putting up a temporary bus stop sign at the Fire Station and the spending the afternoon and early evening in the Market Place redirecting people who want to catch the buses to Bud's Bar, The Bear, Broughton Road  or the Fire Station if they're headed for Devizes, Bath, Chippenham or Trowbridge respectively.  I will also have leaflets telling people about the changing schedules until late January of the trains and buses, and about the Melksham Transport User Group. Those leaflets will be in a heavy box and taken out as required, and not on a table for people to just pick up as is usual.  I will also have the bus and train apps to hand to tell you how the public transport is running today.

A number of people have offered to help me - if you DO make it, I'll be delighted to see you but numbers attending will probably below - so first and foremost keep yourselves safe!
 
I hope everyone else stays safe too and there is minimal property damage; personally, as in storm Bert and the aftermath I would (these days) be a physicsl liability rather than any help on site, but am available and have offered backup until things get sorted. A small part of that is in communicstions, but at times like these we need a single central "go to" information point and that's not me for Melksham.

[Timmer]

I really don’t think this is going to take place Graham. It’s pretty wild out there. Surprised it wasn’t cancelled last evening when other similar events were cancelled/postponed.

[grahame]

I really don’t think this is going to take place Graham. It’s pretty wild out there. Surprised it wasn’t cancelled last evening when other similar events were cancelled/postponed.

It was reduced to an indoor event - we have a 400 (seater) Assembly Hall, a Town Hall with large council chambers and a converted fire station - HOWEVER I have just had a call from the Deputy Clerk to tell me it's off totally 

Personally I will still be in the bus stop as I don't see the diversions due to road closures being reversed ... if any buses run - but have called off my helpers.

[grahame]

No buses at all in the morning ... some routes resumed from lunchtime.    Very interesting to be at the various bus stops while this was going on, advising and helping people who "had to" travel; very interesting coal face passenger experiences.

... and the lights were switched on anyway