'Time for action at Twyford Station car park' says commuter

A frustrated commuter has launched a campaign to improve car parking at Twyford Station.

Simon Lancaster, who travels to London regularly using Network Rail, said that ‘it’s time for action’, and is calling on train companies and the borough council to work together.

According to the mobile network operator executive, current parking provision at the station does not meet the rising numbers of passengers requiring spaces, with many of the 352 spots filled by 7.30am, leaving people to park on grass verges and in nearby streets, where some penalties can apply.

推出一个“f提供足够的停车设施or Twyford Station Commuters’ petition on change.org Simon is asking Network Rail and its partners Great Western Railway for four key elements: a multistorey car park, increased parking capacity, improved cycle links between the station and nearby villages and ‘improved infrastructure planning considering future growth projects.’

To date the petition has almost 500 signatures.

Simon, who has been commuting on and off for about nine or ten years, said that he’s never known it to be such an issue but puts it down to hybrid working patterns changing and the installation of the Elizabeth Line.

“During covid it completely tailed off to the point where I was the only one on the train but over the last two or three months it has gone absolutely crazy.

“Something triggered me a couple of weeks ago. I got the last space in the car park (and I had been getting there earlier and earlier) so it was about half past seven and I thought ‘I’m just going to do something about it’.

“I’m not normally ‘that kind of guy’ but I was just so annoyed plus APCOA are making money from the parking fines as well plus it’s stressful. I was at the station at 7 o’clock yesterday just to make sure that I got a space.”

Simon has noted that other stations in the Wokingham borough have benefited from investment, with multistorey car parks being built in nearby towns.

“It’s just a bit of an unusual situation, that Twyford, the station that has massive over capacity, has had no investment. No tarmacking, nothing has been done to it for as long as I can remember.”

Simon said that time is critical now as the situation could potentially worsen, with nearby housing estates being built just north of the village and there is a possibility of Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) installing double yellow lines in the streets surrounding the station. A consultation on this is currently in place.

Currently Twyford has one village car park and retail parking where time limits and fines apply.

“That’s part of the challenge – we can’t use those car parks so if the multistorey doesn’t come off for whatever reason then there are no other options,” he continued.

“It just feels to me a little bit shortsighted from a planning perspective.”

Simon said that he has informed both WBC and Network Rail of his petition but has had no response.

For now, he is building his campaign, with online discussions leafleting around the station.

“I think GWR must take down my posters but I am determined to continue.

“I’m going to go back every week and stick them up again.

“We have to have a voice so I am asking everyone to please sign the petition.

“I think if nobody else does anything then we are just going to keep struggling. And I feel sorry for people who don’t and who get ticketed particularly in the cost of living crisis.”

A spokesperson for Network Rail said:

“We recognise the need for car parking at Twyford station and have looked at expanding the parking provision, which is complex owing to the constraints of the site. We are currently assessing the feasibility of a small increase in spaces in the existing car park using some disused railway land. Any increase to car parking spaces is subject to Department for Transport funding.

“Over the years we have discussed options to increase car parking capacity with the council and welcome further discussions with the planning authority.

“We support sustainable and active travel to and from the station, which complements our ambition to become a net-zero emission railway by 2050.”

www.twyford-parking-petition.org

www.twyford-parking-petition.org

A frustrated commuter has launched a campaign to improve car parking at Twyford Station.

Simon Lancaster, who travels to London regularly using Network Rail, said that ‘it’s time for action’, and is calling on train companies and the borough council to work together.

According to the mobile network operator executive, current parking provision at the station does not meet the rising numbers of passengers requiring spaces, with many of the 352 spots filled by 7.30am, leaving people to park on grass verges and in nearby streets, where some penalties can apply.

推出一个“f提供足够的停车设施or Twyford Station Commuters’ petition on change.org Simon is asking Network Rail and its partners Great Western Railway for four key elements: a multistorey car park, increased parking capacity, improved cycle links between the station and nearby villages and ‘improved infrastructure planning considering future growth projects.’

To date the petition has almost 500 signatures.

Simon, who has been commuting on and off for about nine or ten years, said that he’s never known it to be such an issue but puts it down to hybrid working patterns changing and the installation of the Elizabeth Line.

“During COVID it completely tailed off to the point where I was the only one on the train but over the last two or three months it has gone absolutely crazy.

“Something triggered me a couple of weeks ago. I got the last space in the car park (and I had been getting there earlier and earlier) so it was about half past seven and I thought ‘I’m just going to do something about it’.

“I’m not normally ‘that kind of guy’ but I was just so annoyed plus APCOA are making money from the parking fines as well plus it’s stressful. I was at the station at 7 o’clock yesterday just to make sure that I got a space.”

Simon has noted that other stations in the Wokingham borough have benefited from investment, with multistorey car parks being built in nearby towns.

“It’s just a bit of an unusual situation, that Twyford, the station that has massive over capacity, has had no investment. No tarmacking, nothing has been done to it for as long as I can remember.”

Simon said that time is critical now as the situation could potentially worsen, with nearby housing estates being built just north of the village and there is a possibility of Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) installing double yellow lines in the streets surrounding the station. A consultation on this is currently in place.

Currently Twyford has one village car park and retail parking where time limits and fines apply.

“That’s part of the challenge – we can’t use those car parks so if the multistorey doesn’t come off for whatever reason then there are no other options,” he added.

“It just feels to me a little bit shortsighted from a planning perspective.”

Simon said that he has informed both WBC and Network Rail of his petition but has had no response.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We recognise the need for car parking at Twyford station and have looked at expanding the parking provision, which is complex owing to the constraints of the site. We are currently assessing the feasibility of a small increase in spaces in the existing car park using some disused railway land.

“Any increase to car parking spaces is subject to Department for Transport funding.

“Over the years we have discussed options to increase car parking capacity with the council and welcome further talks with the planning authority.”

A statement from Cllr Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways at Wokingham Borough Council, said:

“We know that there are parking pressures at Twyford Station, where there is limited parking. The station car park is owned by Network Rail and not something we can control. What we can do is to work on other ways to help people get to the station.

"This includes alternative options to travel such as improving walking and cycling routes connecting towns and villages. The council’s borough-wide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan identifies a traffic free walking and cycling route from Charvil to Twyford, which would provide residents of Woodley a fast and sustainable way to get to Twyford Station. We applied for a grant for this last year, but were not successful. We will continue to apply for grant funding for this project.

"Also, improvements to bus service frequency, especially the Wokingham, via Winnersh to Twyford route as identified in our Bus Service Improvement Plan.”

Seewww.twyford-parking-petition.orgfor the petition