From the BBC:

 
I was left with a few questions after all that. I didn't look online for sources before, but what is out there now? What did HSE actually say (and why them)? And what is the technical background to how we got here?

Google can still find press reports of both those fatal incidents: Mrs. Sharon Minster (30) in Penwith 29/30 May 2002, and Rhianna Hardie (10 months) in Taunton 18/19 November 2006. These came from national news media, not the local ones that would have more detailed early reports - maybe they were not on line yet? Or don't keep old pages? There are also forums that dealt with the subject, one being on the IET site. All of those are largely taken up with missing the point, of course!

A number of pages include links to the HSE guidance note, which at don't work; however it is still there, just moved. I still can't find any real explanation of why it's HSE's business - they do have a couple of other notes for local authorities about heating systems, but only that few. None is about gas heating, for which HSE do have some kind of residual government regulator role. This letter covers the two notes about older hot water systems: https://www.hse.gov.uk/services/localgovernment/letter.htm

The second note is about the explosion risk of bringing an open fire back into use with an old back boiler. It will almost always have been drained, and should never have been sealed but a few have been. Heating by a fire with no water in it (or worse, just a little) gives such high temperatures that it weakens the cast iron and also pressurises it, leading to a violent explosion.

One fatal case is referred to. This turns out to be Christine Goodall of Twyning (65), on 11 November 2007. Her housing association landlords had decommissioned the back boiler in 1999, saying the fire was still usable, and it was - unusually - possible to find the plumbers involved (company and individual).

There have been similar, if not fatal, incidents since; perhaps they are now as common as the related problem of frozen pipes. That killed Katherine Bates (84) on 20th December 2010 in Mansfield. That was too late to be behind ellendune's comment, but I imagine such events were (like back boilers) more common in the past. I think a reminder to the public on that might be timely - if gas prices do keep rising, the temptation to burn whatever is to hand in an old open fire may become more common.

Back boilers are relevant to the immersion heater issue, since indirect vented systems originally had back boilers as a heat source, and electricity for the summer. You can't control an open fire with a thermostat, nor even the water flow as it has to always cool the boiler. And of course the header tank was made of galvanised steel (which quickly became rusty, from my experience).

I checked with a plumbing text book (a basic one for apprentices), and it says the overflow pipe is present for two reasons: firstly to ensure the system is at atmospheric pressure (it should say "when the feed to the hot tank is closed", but does not), and to let air escape on filling; and "more rarely in the event of the water becoming overheated, allows it to discharge over the cistern". That overheating would be very rare with indirect heating, but pretty common with direct heating - it just needs a rather big fire to be set.

Changing to big gas boilers with gravity indirect water heating, then fully pumped systems, with thermostatic control removes the routine overheating and allows a plastic cistern to be used. But then practices (and standards, regulation etc.) have to catch up. The requirement for those plastic cisterns to hold boiling water indefinitely (well, 500 hours is three weeks, isn't it?) only came in in 1991. (Mine was a lot older!)

I can only find one similar HSE guidance note outside the "safety at work" field. That is about the carbon monoxide poisoning risk in stores for wood pellets. That is not at all obvious, is it? Yet the note said in 2012 that there had been at least nine deaths in Europe since 2002.

The point is that cutting wood exposes organic substances to the air, and some of those self-oxidise, and some those can do so partially and yield CO. Sawdust is worst, small wood particles next, and pellets made by compressing those will show also show the effect. All it needs then is a large enough quantity, and a nearly sealed store, kept closed until someone needs to go inside...

 
Best to treat these things with respect… https://youtu.be/rGWmONHipVo

 
It is nearly 15 years since I first read all that as part of the update that was eventually introduced in the 2010 edition of the Building Regualtions

The other important change was the addition of a new requirement


Interestingly one of the comments early on in the work was that this requirement had to remain as G3 as it was so well known a requirement so we juggled the other new requirements round that fixed point so the old requirements G1 & G2 became G4 & G5!  The new requirements G1 and G2 introduced the requirement to actually have cold and hot running water for the first time!

 

I had an encounter with this in 1998. Early one Sunday morning I heard an unfamiliar rushing water sound, and found that the hot tank was very hot and water was "pumping over" - up the vent pipe into the header cistern, pushing slightly less hot water down into the tank. The water had not reached boiling point, and the cistern was over a stairwell, but it was still very worrying given that the cistern is made of PVC.

I'd replaced a failed immersion heater the year before, and the whole system was replaced by the end of the year. I think the replacement still had no safety cut-out, and I replaced it a few years later with one that did. I rarely used the immersion in the new system, but was now primed to spot news on the subject.

In 2003, CIPHE* put out a guidance note that started "On 30th May 2003, two occupants of a house in Penzance were scalded by a large quantity of high temperature water that poured through their bedroom ceiling. One later died from the injuries received." There was a public campaign to change the regulations from then, though that does not mean work in committees only started then (though such events usually do impact the work).

It identified two factors in this accident:
1. the immersion thermostat failed "on" (unsafe)
2. "The standard for the cold water cistern in the roofspace required that it be tested to withstand up to 500 hours without deforming, if fully supported across its entire base area." In this case the platform for a cistern 600 mm wide was only 400 mm.

That heat tolerance of PVC cisterns is a bit surprising, though you can never be sure that older ones would meet the current BS (which was probably not compulsory anyway). The requirement for full-width support was already in force but in the Water Regulations, for which there is even less enforcement than for the building regulations.

At that time thermostats with a cut-out (RDT type) existed but were not very common. In 2007 my local building control department put out a news item that started "Following the tragic death of a baby in Somerset", which I guess is the one in Taunton. This was based on advice from HSE, who don't have any direct role in safety in homes, to fit replacements of the new type.

The words Zoe quoted from requirement G3 were already in place long before - tightened up slightly in 1992. They related to unvented systems (which don't have a header cistern) then, and were widened to include vented ones in 2010 (the first version or 2009 draft). At the same time the reference to full support was added - presumably this was the revision that ellendune was involved in. Subsequently a further tightening has required non-resetting cut-outs for direct (e.g. immersion) heating but not indirect (e.g. solar) heat sources.

So there are several sources for such safety rules, none of them retroactive. Even for replacement, something fairly easy to do, the most effective enforcement is for shops not to stock the out-of-date ones. That can come from product sale regulations, from retailers' policy choices, from the trade not buying them (so they are not worth selling), and all that is prompted by building and water regulations and standards.

Or at least that was the case - now with online "shops", stocking things rarely bought (and never by the trade), and meeting no standard, can be worth doing. If you can offer an out-of-date part with a number that matches the failed one, it's likely to pick up quite a few hits from those with less expert knowledge.

*Institute of Plumbers at the time

 

Indeed there was an additional change that required the proper support of the header tank so that it would not fall off its sup[port if the plastic softened. Those changes to the requirement G3 and associated guidance were not just confined to electric immersion heaters (they were the easy ones as immersion heaters were already available that had overheat cutouts) changes had to be made to gas, oil and solid fuel systems as well.

Changes also took into account the risk of explosion when restarting a frozen system.  That followed an incident in Devizes (IIRC) when a couple returning from a winter holiday lit their solid fuel boiler and fortunately then went shopping.  They came back with their shopping to find the house had blown up (the roof had lifted off and dropped back on). 

I worked on the team that advised government on the changes. 

 
Indeed, new electric immersion heaters must now have a limit stat in addition to the normal adjustable control stat. To prevent the water boiling if one thermostat fails.

In the tragedy to which I referred, the water in the hot water cylinder boiled and the resulting steam and boiling water were vented into the plastic cold water cistern. This was only intended for cold water and split when filled with boiling water.

The deluge of very hot water poured through a bedroom ceiling and scalded a young child who later died as a result.

Similar accidents had occurred previously but without loss of life.

Existing immersion heaters without the limit thermostat may continue in service, but many would consider it best practice to replace them. Especially if the feed and expansion tank is plastic.

 
Changes to the building regulations relating to hot water supply and systems, specifically a requirement that hot water storage systems must include a feature which  prevents the temperature of the stored water exceeding 100 degrees C and that any discharge safety devices must be to a location where it is visible but not cause danger to people in the building.

 
One from the Broadgage new year quiz - light hearted edition!   

 

And for a bonus point, does anyone know what new regulation was introduced following the fairly recent tragic death of a young child in or near Taunton ? Not railway related.

 

Vivary Park station? - http://www.tauntonme.org.uk/vivarypark.html
Firepool station? - http://offthebeatentrackinsomerset.blogspot.com/2016/05/pumping-station-firepool-taunton.html
I think there used to be a bus station too ...

 
As is well known, Taunton has one railway station, on the main line to the West.

Did Taunton ever have TWO stations ? I note that the WSR tend to refer to the present station as "Taunton Castleway" which might imply that there was once another Taunton station.

 

"City" Centre? 

 

And if it starts getting gentrificated, due to incomers with more money and metropolitan ideas of what to spend it on?

 
Taunton is hardly rural.

It's a large town with a terrible traffic problem, pockets of abject poverty, and a town centre that is dying on its arse.

I love the place!

 
Off topic....apart from being in Taunton.
Not really enough for a new thread but worth a mention due to some quick thinking almost certainly saving a life at Taunton Station.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/30/trainspotter-son-nine-save-man-taunton-station

 
BBC were reporting LIVE from Taunton City centre on Thursdays breakfast news about the above item.

 
The average price is proberbly being distorted by a lower than normal number of propertys on the market. Then somebody building things like this.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114320060#/?channel=RES_NEW
Looks like a development of 5 new builds at more than 1 Million each.

 
I suppose the well-heeled locals will soon be demanding a better rail service....................



Telegraph

 
There are plans for just that. Subject to the former cattle market site actually attracting a new developer. The original one pulled out, and the Conservative led council responsible for the Firepool fiasco are no more. Here's hoping the new LibDem administration can move the project forward.

 
It would be nice if there was some direct walkway across the firepool area so the station had a direct path to the cricket ground

 
https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17654564.improvement-project-starts-at-taunton-railway-station/

 
Ah - But can you add a trolley being pushed through, or stuck at one end static...

 

Apologies for continuing off topic, but your wish is my command.

 

Simple - most of these are strong remain areas, many with a history of switching Liberal/Lib Dem when the Conservatives are doing badly.

 

Maybe. Doesn't explain the results in Vale of White Horse, Cotswold, Winchester, BaNES, South Somerset, North Devon and Teignbridge though.

 

Could you arrange an IET for Broadgauge?

 

My thanks for the image go to PhilWakely. Took a bit of time and effort to make the background transparent. An easy job on a PC with photo editing software. Not so easy on a phone, which is my only computing device at the moment. Later, I may cut and copy one of the Mk3s to make the consist into a 2+4 'Castle' set.

 

At least it doesn't change its length with device-width and refuse to display correctly in a windows viewport narrower than 1024 px.

 

A little concerned that it appears reduced to a 2+3 ... but nice to see.

 
A Welcome return to service ,at the bottom of your posts BNM.updated I see.

 
Anecdotally, hearing from friends and acquaintances in Taunton, one of the major reasons for the Tories being decimated in wards in Taunton (contributing to a huge swing to the Lib Dems across the council area) is the failure of the previous Conservative administration to redevelop the Firepool and Coal Orchard areas between the station and town centre. They've had 12 years and not a single brick has been laid.

Here's hoping the now Lib Dem controlled Somerset West & Taunton Council can finally get this project moving.

 
This development is on the south (town) side of the station.

See attached.

(Full planning details for the station building work - required as there are listed buildings involved - https://www2.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/asp/webpages/plan/PlAppDets.asp?casefullref=38/18/0402/LB)

I can't find plans for the multi-story. Being on railway land it may not have required local authority consent.

 


Ah yes, a quick look on Ariel view shows the current car park on the North side of the station. That sort of fits with the illustration. Presumably that side is where the article refers to a new station entrance.I
Lots of new Taunton pic quiz opportunities! 😀

 
Access to the Firepool development is all well and good. If that development ever gets off the ground. The developer, St Modwen, pulled out last year and Somerset West and Taunton (formerly Taunton Deane) Council have yet to find a new partner.

 

 

Judging by the rest of the picture, it goes on the current car park. You can just see the station behind the ... thing ... , but that looks like the current one.

 
Blinkin' flip, the illustration on the link looks huge. Where is that going to fit in?

 
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/southwest/contractor-appointed-for-railway-project

 
A special full council meeting, open to the public, has been called by the Liberal Democrat group of Taunton Deane Borough Council to demand answers from the ruling Conservative party councillors over the failure to develop the Firepool site between the station and town centre.

https://www.tdld.co.uk/press-releases/

 
I would've thought that any path to the Cricket Ground from the station would go through the Firepool/the old livestock market - don't hold your breath!


Will be interesting to see if the car park is jointly funded by TDBC/SCC/Network Rail whether it will then be handed over to GWR/APCOA Connect to let them pocket the parking charges! I hope not.

Like everyone else living in Taunton, I've watched the whole sorry saga for Firepool and - more recently - the station improvements talked about for a very long time. I'll believe it when I see it happening.

 

Maybe I imagined it, but am sure a number of years ago Somerset CCC had some presentation that showed a path from the train station directly to opposite the cricket club entrance?

 
More detailed plans for the Taunton station revamp, as well as the YMCA's project to refurbish and reopen the Great Western Hotel, have been revealed.

I missed this story when it was published last week hence it's a little too late to advertise the exhibition of the plans for the station, hotel, and the environs, which took place last Friday, 2nd November 2018.

Further details of the vision for the future of Taunton station can be read here:

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17193904.revealed-multi-million-pound-revamp-to-transform-taunton-station/

One point to pick up from that article. Whilst GWR may have staged the exhibtion last Friday, it is not they who will be funding and building the car park, north side ticket office and other works. The car park will most likely be funded jointly by Network Rail and the local authorities - Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC). The station building works will be wholly Network Rail's remit. The hotel is being funded jointly by Somerset Coast YMCA and TDBC. The 'boulevard' plans linking the station with Firepool, Coal Orchard and ultimately the town centre are a long standing part of TDBC's 'Taunton Town Centre Area Action Plan', first drawn up in 2008. Funding for that is presumably from developers and TDBC.

JFDI says I. The improved facilities are sorely needed. One sticking point is the stalled development of the former livestock market site on Priory Bridge Rd, derelict for 10 years since the market moved to a site near Bridgwater. The land is owned by TDBC, but there is currently no developer contract. The former contract with St Modwen, for a mixed use development - residential, retail and leisure - was ended earlier this year by mutual consent. This area would be part of the 'boulevard'. A new developer is not yet on board.

 
The above is a news item from the Somerset County Gazette:

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/16197088.OWN_GOAL__Taxpayer_cash_towards_station_car_park_in_competition_with_council_car_park_/

My own take? Council spends council tax revenue on project to improve town. Shock, horror. 

 
Council considering loan for £multi-million revamp of Taunton Station



A COUNCIL risks shooting itself in the foot with proposals to lend millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash to redevelop Taunton Station, it is claimed.

A multi-million pound scheme would see improved passenger facilities, retail opportunities around a train/bus hub.

The main entrance would be re-sited from the north to the south side, linking in to the proposed Firepool project for homes, shops, bars and restaurants.

There would also be a multi-storey car park for train travellers at the station revamp, which has already attracted a Government pledge of £4.6 million funding.

Cllr Habib Farbahi, a LibDem on Conservative-run Taunton Deane Borough Council, said a "substantial amount" of council taxpayer money would be given as a loan to the project.

He added: "A high proportion will go towards the development of a multi-storey privately operated car park that will directly compete with the nearby council-owned Kilkenny Car Park."

Mr Farbahi added that the proposed loan, discussed behind closed doors by the council's scrutiny committee, is part of the authority's "unseemly rush...to spend millions of pounds of public money to be seen to have done something in their term of office".

He said that recently the Deane had approved almost £20 million for a 'Hotel California' project - it plans to build a hotel and lease it to an international chain, believed to be Hilton, although the name and exact sum are confidential, while a number of loans to the private sector are also being mooted.

A Deane House spokeswoman said: "The scrutiny committee was asked for its views on a confidential, commercial loan.

"The details of the loan remain confidential as they are commercially sensitive.

"The committee strongly supported the proposal with no votes against and one abstention. The proposal will now be further considered through the democratic process."

 

Its fun to stay in the Y-M-C-A .......so I'm told. 🙂

 
I've had a look at the plans from BNM's link and have to say that it seems to make a welcome improvement to the locale, as it seems a very sympathetic treatment. I recall the old building and the area round there will really look all the better for it. The use it is being put to should also be applauded, especially as it's going to be a new and worthy take on it's original purpose. Nice one!

 
This will be YMCA Somerset Coast's second hotel.

They already run The Beach Hotel in Minehead.

 
I didn’t imagine the Village People to be hoteliers. Good luck to them!   

 
Thank you for posting that very detailed update, bignosemac. 

Our regular 'Coffee Shop forum' readers will no doubt have gathered by now that Taunton is of particular interest to me, so I am delighted to give this topic something of a 'bump'.

May I also offer my own very best wishes to the YMCA there in their enterprise. 

 
The Great Western Hotel on the south (down) side of Taunton Station, is to reopen as a hotel after being purchased by Somerset Coast YMCA. There will be 20 en suite rooms, conference and meeting facilities, a cafe and restaurant. There will also be ten business units for small businesses and start-ups.

Some of the funding for this project has been secured from the Hinkley C nuclear power station build's Community Impact Mitigation fund. Other sources of funding include a capital loan from Taunton Deane Borough Council and grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Rail Heritage Trust.

Staffing of the hotel will be provided by a training and skills partnership delivering 10 new jobs, 12 apprenticeships, 10 traineeships and many volunteering opportunities. Staff accommodation will also be provided in the hotel's former stables.

I think this is an excellent piece of news, bringing an important facility to one of Taunton's gateways. Providing training and opportunity to young people, and securing the future of an important grade II listed building that has been vacant for many years. Returning the building to its original use after being used by a waste management company, and previously as the offices of BR's district engineers.

Sympathetic restoration is being carried out LHC architects:
http://www.lhc.net/projects/great-western-hotel-restoration/

News item from the Somerset County Gazette on the project and its funding:
https://goo.gl/3mj9aB

More on the funding:
https://www.investtaunton.co.uk/news/council-proposes-to-support-ymca-project/

On a personal note, I have a lot of respect for YMCA Somerset Coast. During a particularly dark period in my mid twenties they were there for me and helped me rebuild my life. We're it not for them I may not be here today. The support and housing they provided help me find my feet after some poor life choices. They were non-judgemental, and, importantly for me, small 'c' christian.

I wish YMCA Somerset Coast every success with this venture.

 

An arrangement that IKB was none too pleased with apparently.

And, even if the Starbucks at Taunton station may lose out on a few Venti, sugar-free, non-fat, vanilla soy, double shot, decaf, no foam, extra hot, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with light whip and extra syrup orders, they are at least serving real coffee.

The 'coffee' in the Brunel era refreshment rooms at Swindon was of questionable quality. IKB complained to the proprietor about it:

 

Wonder if they will be "sleepless"?

 
The proprietor of the refreshment rooms at Swindon certainly did in the days of Isambard Kingdom...

...so there is a precedent. 

Added in edit: Oops! I see that Grahame got there before me. It's these 10 minute pauses that throw the system...

 
It's not an obvious track arrangement, is it? We are used now to the practice of only installing the S&C needed for normal operation, and not valuing flexibility, but it's hard to see what normal operations it was built for. I mean, if P6 is for terminators to or from Bristolwards, why isn't is accessible off the Down Lines? There was a half-plan to do that ten years ago, but no sign of it in the last Route Study. And if all four through tracks need to be signalled in the Up direction, why are only two available the other way?

And as for the track names - if the third track south of the Up and Down Mains west of the station is called Down/Up Relief, and the P5 track is the Up Relief, why is there no path between them? Very odd, and hardly a Victorian hangover as it was only four-tracked less than 100 years ago.

 
I don't think they'll be trembling in their boots in Seattle. 

 

Not concern from me - an asking if Starbucks might be.

 

I'm confused now. OP starts with a passenger friendly suggestion to make interchange easier. Then, when it's confirmed that's what is happening, you express concern that Starbucks might lose trade. 

I think Starbucks on platform 5 will survive despite potentially losing a bit of trade when the up Royal Duchy switches its call to P4. If the loss is too much, if they are concerned that Royal Duchy passengers won't get their caffeine fix, they can always lobby Network Rail for a small unit to be built on the island. 

 

The northern side access that I know of is through the lower level ticket hall / office and barriers - although there are no tracks to cross, use of a lift or stairs is required to platform 5, just as it is to platform 4 - the difference being you a few yards to walk the tracks to get to that lift and stair case.


I recall that historically all trains had to stop at Swindon for 10 minutes so that the refreshment folks could sell them refreshments, so there is a precedent.   And if I was looking to invest in a franchise, I would want some sort of assurance / guarantee that my landlord and other clients of his weren't going to make changes that would route the passing trade away!

 

Whoops!  Time to spend a period sitting in the corner on the naughty stool..... Yes, meant to say from the West.

 
Ooops sorry - I misread the map on Nationalrail.co.uk, and thought that the ticket office and main car park was on the north - up - side of the track. Google maps suggests some station access on north side - is that right?

 
I was thinking of passenger trains only but, looking at Open Train Times map, do you mean west rather than east?

 

Well, not too sure about that.  Platform 1 is accessible from the UP/DOWN RELIEF line at the East end, and although its not signalled for passenger movements as its classed as a siding, you could cheat and use BNMs 'shunting' excuse......

 

I thought I was the cynical one. I don't think Starbucks would have such control over railway operations!

As I said, from 21st May the up Royal Duchy is due to call platform 4.

 

...and trains cannot access Platform 1 from either direction.... 

 

I thought of that before I made the suggestion.  But I wasn't aware you could get from outside the station onto platform 5 without using the lift of stairs.  I know you can get onto platform 2 without using lift or stairs - I thought it was the only one?

I would agree concerning facilities on 5 v facilities on 4 though.  Perhaps it's part of the refreshment franchise agreement that through train must use that platform (and two fingers to passengers who are connecting!)

 
Yes, but thats cheating BNM.  The trains cannot shunt with passengers onboard.....

 

And platforms 5 and 6 from the east. Reversing after coming from the west. 

 

Trains can be signalled into Platforms 2 to 5 from the West but only into Platforms 2 and 3 from the East.

 
Could it be that the more important market for the Royal Duchy is the Taunton to Paddington customers, who can avoid the lifts/stairs/underpass to get from the car park via the ticket office to their fast train in platform 5, but would have to wait on the next-to-facilitylessness of the island if the train were to use platform 4?

 
The 1533 starts from Taunton.

I agree that cross platform interchange makes sense. There may be an operational reason at present why not, although I can't think of one.

Looking ahead to the new timetable from Monday 21st May, it appears, from RealTime Trains, that the up Royal Duchy will be calling at platform 4 at Taunton.

 

That's all right if the semi-fast service is a terminator in platform 3 before returning to 'the smoke', if not I do not think a service from the South West can be signalled into platform 3 from the Exeter direction.

 
I have made that change before and on a couple of occasions it has been cross-platform.  Not sure why it is arbitrary - is it at the whim of the Exeter signaller?

 
Picture the scene, mid afternoon on Friday.   The up "Royal Dutchy" calls at Platform 5 at Taunton at 15:26 before embarking on its sprint to Reading and London, dropping off crowds of people for the 15:33 semi-fast service for Castle Cary, Westbury, Pewsey and Newbury, all of whom have to go down the stairs or lift, through the subway, and up again onto the middle platform (3 and 4) for their onward service.    Lots of luggage, many people who aren't all that mobile ...

Why not have the Royal Dutchy call at platform 4 and provide a much more customer friendly (cross platform) interchange .... this is a major flow as the queues for the lifts (down and up) indicated!

 

Now in the realms of Satanic manifestations, obviously. Devilish drivers intent on turning right please note !

 
I believe the plan is that the station's main entrance and ticket office will be relocated to the south side so maybe the current arrangements are temporary during construction.  Details at http://heartofswlep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Business-Case-Response-Taunton-station-LTB-150204.pdf

 
The road layout coming out of the downside car park is awful because of the intersection with the new bypass  The station approach road abuts the junction at such a bad angle that it looks like you must turn left on to the by pass, though it is possible turn right by swerving past the traffic island, avoiding queuing traffic and ignoring the white lines.

 
There is a footpath down to Station Road from the south side exit. Exit the gateline, keep the station buildings to your right until you reach the end of the station buildings, then turn left down the slope to Station Road. All that's required here is a dedicated marked walkway and better signage. Even today it's a safer walk than crossing the road across the current car park entrance. No need to take the subway to the north side.

An image of said footpath, cropped from Street View. To the left of the white building coming down from the south side of the station:

 
I'm flagging this up - wondering what details anyone has.

Taunton Station / road (side) rather than rail side is being redeveloped.  Various comments I have hear, wonder if any member have heard them too ...

a) On the south side, a multi story car park is being placed outside the pedestrian exit with limited consideration for continued use by pedestrians

b) Buses will now all run from the north side

c) The new link road brings in road vehicles but will dump them into an already congested area.


Effect of (a) and (b) will to mean lots more road traffic passing under the road bridge.    Buses which typically head to the town (which is to the south) will have to go through to get to their stops to the north.    Road traffic, much of which comes from the north, will have to pass through the bridge to get to the parking on the south.

Passengers arriving on the main westbound platform who currently walk out of the station and across the road to head south into the town won't have such an easy route that way.   Arriving on the southern most platform, to get to the town to the south they'll find it easiest to take the subway to the booking hall on the north side, exit the station and pass back under the track via the road bridge.

Please tell me that the plans in reality are sensible and I have been fed the above by a disenchanted cynic!

 
I can only speak for the Devon side of things, but there were posters and audio announcements at the stations I use several weeks in advance, which mentioned Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Taunton, and the help available. Work looks pretty well underway at Newton Abbot.

 
I certainly didn't see any warning signs on Monday 1st that work was about to begin, and I did use the lifts to get from platform 2 to 5 late morning.  Perhaps the start up has been delayed.

 
going to be fun for those attending TravelWatch SouthWest next month then. TWSW ought to warn attendees

 
From Great Western's website under Assisted Travel, the lifts at Taunton Station are to be replaced.

• work is planned to start on 1 February and will take about 3 months
• lifts to platforms 2, 5 and 6 will all be out of use

• the lift to platforms 3 and 4 won^t be affected, and where possible trains will be redirected to use these platforms
• during this time the track crossing between platforms 2 and 3 and 4 will be used with the help of staff

[/list]

 
For clarification, yes, the Starbucks on Taunton station has a licence for the sale of alcohol for consumption on or off the premises.

It is was only an 'off' licence then they wouldn't be required to provide tap water on request.

 

Yes - See earlier post in the thread http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15636.msg176405#msg176405

 

Do Starbucks station outlets serve alcohol or is there another piece of legislation that requires them to provide free tap water?

 

Ehh?? 

 
From GOV.UK

Relevant extract

 

Is there in fact any GENERAL requirement under the licensing act to make tap water available ? I thought that a requirement to make tap water available was sometimes made a requirement of a SPECIFIC licence, but was not a general requirement.
I do of course stand to be corrected, does anyone know for certain .

EDIT TO ADD It would seem that yes, free tap water must be supplied, see following posts for details. I used to run a pub and there was then no obligation to supply tap water, but that was years ago and long before the 2003 legislation referred to

 
My fault. Select Service Partners. The franchisee of Starbucks on Taunton Station.

SSP run the vast majority of station catering outlets in the UK. Pumpkin, Upper Crust, Cafe Ritazza, Pasty Shop,  Burger King, some station bars, to name but a few of their brands.

 
Sorry bignosemac, SSP?

 
Taunton Starbucks just refused to serve me a glass of tap water. Reminded them of the Licensing Act, but still told me I had to buy a bottle of water.

Let's see what SSP say about that before I contact the local authority.

 

Same issue at Starbucks on the footbridge at Reading station - there is actually a sign up there explaining why......then again as (my fellow!) Plymothian points out in a similar manner re:the BK on Praed St, there is another "proper" Starbucks a short distance away!

 
Which is not so bad as you can easily walk the 2 minutes to the branch on Praed Street.

 
Just like my Burger King smartphone app e-vouchers. I presented one to BK at Paddington and it was declined. Not valid at stations, airports, motorway services, theme parks...

My fault for not reading the small print before activating the voucher.

 
Ah but is it a Starbucks or is it a Starbucks?

I was given a ^10.00 voucher to spend in Starbucks a while ago. Proudly presented it a couple of weeks later at "Starbucks" in the Village Hotel, Swindon, only to be told they don't accept them. Apparently they aren't REALLY a Starbucks, they're a branded franchise.

Could of fooled me!

In fact, they successfully did so.

 

......sounds like there will be plenty of options at numerous stations for people to purchase food to take on the train.......another nail in the coffin of on train catering (....and/or perhaps retailers capitalising on its decline?)

 
Taunton station is also gaining a catering outlet on the down side platform 2.

It'll be an independently run sushi/sandwich outlet.

 
Or it's open 23.5 hours.

But then that gets confusing as it opens at 0600 on Mondays. 

 
I guess you need to be Marty McFly to shop there on Sunday

 
Starbucks now open at Taunton. Choice of alcoholic beverages vastly reduced. Red or white wine ^4.50 for 187.5ml. Or a Peroni lager ^3.75 for 330ml.

My suggestion. BYO.

See the opening hours attached and spot the mistake.