Changes at Andover

[Muzer]

I've been hearing something about a North entrance and car park for Andover railway station, but have been unable to find any reasonably recent solid information on it. I also read from a planning permission notice that they're making changes to the internals of the station buildings themselves to readd toilets and a customer support office on platform 2, as well as "a retail unit". Well, anything's better than the grotty little no-name shop there at the moment

But, is the car park/North entrance thing still going ahead? Are they keeping the little-used Ludgershall track? Does anyone know anything else? The only thing I found was this Andover Advertiser article and it's rather vague: http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/news/9228548.Andover_station_on_track_for___1_million_revamp/

And yeah, the work on the bridge is well in progress, I heard from a taxi driver that it's due to finish in April now, and they've also started their work bringing the canopies further from the track... I hope they keep it looking nice an authentic with the lovely patterned edges when they're done! Anyone know what they have done for other stations (I assume Andover isn't the first).

 

[swt_passenger]

I've been hearing something about a North entrance and car park for Andover railway station, but have been unable to find any reasonably recent solid information on it. I also read from a planning permission notice that they're making changes to the internals of the station buildings themselves to readd toilets and a customer support office on platform 2, as well as "a retail unit". Well, anything's better than the grotty little no-name shop there at the moment

But, is the car park/North entrance thing still going ahead? Are they keeping the little-used Ludgershall track? Does anyone know anything else?

Found two planning applications on Test Valley Council's website, it's usually best to look them up yourself rather than attempting to link to individual documents. Might find something useful in them...

12/00136/LBWN

Internal and external alterations to include re-surfacing and realignment of the station forecourt area. Looking at the dates, this is very recent, so it is quite possible that a north side project is still in production?

10/02572/LBWN

Internal alterations to enlarge existing booking hall, formation of new opening and insertion of Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended) accessible/new ticket windows and reconfiguration of ticket office and staff welfare areas...

Anyone know what they have done for other stations (I assume Andover isn't the first).

Eastleigh is being done properly at the moment, (it turns out the canopy work two years ago was fairly temporary - to allow for the gauge clearance to be achieved quickly).

The canopies there are gettting quite a decent looking GRP fascia in a cream colour, manufactured to look like traditional boarding with the typical scalloped ends, but it comes in sections a few metres long. Likewise the roof sheeting looks like lead, but is GRP sheets.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

 

[Muzer]

Thanks. Never thought to look them up online.

10/02572/LBWN has already been done I believe, that was the most recent change.

11/01255/LBWN is the one that's currently ongoing (I never saw a notice up for that one though!), the canopy alterations.

12/00136/LBWN is the interesting one:

"Internal and external alterations to include re-surfacing and realignment of the station forecourt area. Platform 2 - Internal alterations to create passenger toilets, improved staff toilet, passenger assistance room and erection of a retail unit. Platform 1 - Refurbishment of the existing waiting room and toilets."

It's currently pending consideration.

It has a load of documents associated with it. I'll look through them and report back. I'll also look through the platform canopy one which has even more documents.

 

[swt_passenger]

11/01255/LBWN is the one that's currently ongoing (I never saw a notice up for that one though!), the canopy alterations.

I didn't find that one - probably cos it has a spurious postcode, and the applicant name it is logged under is Mr Eaton, rather than his organisation, Network Rail. :roll:

They don't make it easy to find stuff...

 

[Muzer]

I've just finished reading all the interesting documents.

In short:

* A reference is made to the North car park coming in two years' time, but only a throwaway reference to staff rooms on platform 1. This application doesn't include that car park, North entrance or anything related.
* The canopy alterations look fine to me though it's going to mean it looks a little lopsided when viewed from either end. Only platform 2 canopies will be changed.
* They're refurbishing all the buildings on platform 1 but leaving them as they are mostly.
* They're moving the shop to a new building built adjacent to the underpass entrance on platform 2 where the bike racks are now (modern-style, which they claim they can get away with because it won't be attached to any canopy or building)
* The shop will become the waiting room
* The waiting room will become toilets
* The disused and overgrown wooden buildings to the East of the current waiting room will be demolished.
* A whole new forecourt area will be put in place, with easier access to the car park, and the bike racks by the car park removed - but there will be no drop-off zone. The paving will be redone and they'll take the opportunity to protect the new paving against the bad tree root damage that has occurred to the existing paving.

Only the Andover Town Council reply has been put up yet, and they actively support the proposal but note that there is no drop-off zone.

 

[Urban Gateline]

No plans for ticket barriers at Andover yet? It's a busy enough station and warrants them! Although that would mean blocking off some of the extra entrances...

 

[Muzer]

No plans, thankfully

Salisbury which got them recently is half as busy again as Andover, so I'd expect some others would have priority over Andover. Besides, there are RPIs waiting at the top of the subway about once every couple of months when I'm there - probably enough to catch out commuters who dodge fares regularly.


And yeah, there are a lot of entrances at Andover. From West to East there's:

* One from the car park (always open)
* One directly to the West of the main building, right next to the subway, where the coffee van used to be (open in the morning)
* The ticket office (open when the ticket office is open)
* The gate to the East of the main building (open when the ticket office is closed)