Work to renovate a Grade II listed footbridge at the station at Stroud in Gloucestershire is due to start next Tuesday, 27 August, which will temporarily reduce the number of parking spaces available.
While work on the new footbridge is in progress, a temporary footbridge will be installed over the railway at the Kemble end of the station.
However, about 34 of the 150 parking spaces in the car park off Cheapside next to the Gloucester-bound side of the station will need to be suspended until the work is complete, which is planned to be in spring next year.
The present footbridge was built in 1914, and the renovation will involve taking down the footbridge span and moving it to the car park.
It will then be grit blasted, its timber and steelwork repaired and repainted, and the staircase treads and timbers refurbished. The station building canopies will also be refurbished.
As well as some spaces in the Cheapside car park being suspended, part of the car park outside the station’s main entrance will also be out of use so that Network Rail’s contractor, SISK Rail, can operate safely.
An alternative car park run by Stroud District Council is available on the opposite side of Cheapside with its entrance almost opposite the entrance to the Cheapside station car park.
Network Rail is in the process of refurbishing or replacing footbridges at a number of stations, including at Cwmbran in South Wales and Garforth in West Yorkshire.
“Our work will carefully upgrade this historic station and ensure it remains safe for passengers.
John Charlton, Network Rail portfolio manager
“We’re sorry for the disruption but this essential work will benefit Stroud for decades to come.
Responses
You don’t need a wheelchair accessible footbridge as it is possible to gain access to each platform without the need to use the existing footbridge, similar to Bradford-on-Avon.
This is a refurbishment only. What’s happened about the wheelchair accessible footbridge?