Shrewsbury Railway Station lovers sign up to volunteers’ group
Lovers of the architecturally renowned Shrewsbury Railway Station were queuing up last week to join a new volunteers’ group – with one of the organisers saying she was ‘blown away’ by the number of people interested.
The ‘Friends of Shrewsbury Railway Station’ will initially be asked to look after and maintain decorative planters on the platforms but it’s being suggested the volunteers might also eventually take on an ambassadorial role at the station.
About 30 people turned up to find out more at an information ‘drop-in’ session at the Gateway Education & Arts Centre on Thursday.
Representatives of Transport for Wales welcomed the enthusiasm of attendees but stressed that expectations from would-be volunteers needed to be managed.
It was explained that at this stage, it would be purely about looking after the planters on Platform 3 because Shrewsbury is a staffed station with its own professional environmental operatives who already manage other elements such as the removal of graffiti or litter-picking.
New planters are to be installed at the Grade II listed station in May, and the number of planters was expected to increase soon from two to eight. The plants themselves will be provided by Transport for Wales.
A Transport for Wales spokesperson added: “We are delighted that so many people expressed an interest in our Station Adoption volunteer scheme following our drop-in session. The scheme will see volunteers plant and care for floral displays at the station, and we look forward to working with the local community to help connect them to their railway station.”
Community Rail Officer for the 3 Counties Connected rail partnership, Josie Rayworth, was also delighted by the turn-out at the drop-in and said: “I’m blown away by the number of people interested.”
The 3 Counties Connected partnership sources funding and promotes stations in Cheshire, Wrexham and Shropshire.
Josie said: “It will be lovely to have a community group in Shrewsbury that our partnership can work with from time to time. Better links with people in Shrewsbury will be fantastic.”
Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley, who has been instrumental in setting up the new Friends group, told attendees: “Volunteers would also be able to act as the eyes and ears of the station, reporting to staff any graffiti or litter that needs to be dealt with.”
And Mrs Buckley said there would also be potential for volunteers to get involved in art projects and murals at the station and also to act as ambassadors.
Representatives from existing Friends groups for Nantwich and Chirk stations were at the drop-in to answer questions and to share with potential new volunteers their own experiences of being involved. Many spoke of the social benefits of the groups in which new friendships were formed.
“It’s also about taking pride in your station and in your community,” said Paul Thomas, the treasurer of Friends of Chirk Station. “It’s very rewarding.”
The drop-in was told that there are more than 400 volunteers involved at various stations across the Transport for Wales network.
It is anticipated that the Friends of Shrewsbury Railway Station will be up and running by May.
