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How safe is your local railway station

Author Message
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Monday, 05 December, 2005 - 01:08 pm:   

The Mayor has a survey about safety at local railway stations. It is on the Lewisham website.
If people can complete it, we might get some improvements at Forest Hill railway station.

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvents/News/Safe LocalStation.htm
Les
Joined 28-01-2004
Posted on Monday, 05 December, 2005 - 02:21 pm:   

Have just filled it in. I recommend it all forum users.

Les.
Scorpion
Joined 22-11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 06 December, 2005 - 04:45 pm:   

I filled it in too, and the extra survey for Lewisham's own site pop-up I got (all good for everyone in the end, I think) Please give your feedback regarding FH station. I really think it will make a big difference

~Scorpy Sue~
Les
Joined 28-01-2004
Posted on Thursday, 08 December, 2005 - 03:13 am:   

I'm posting because I think it is important that this topic is active. Merry Christmas to all and please fill in the mayors feedback form.
Scorpion
Joined 22-11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 13 December, 2005 - 11:00 am:   

Once again bumping this up as I agree, very important.
Please also see "Subway disgrace" thread.

~Scorpy Sue~
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 14 December, 2005 - 10:06 pm:   

I'll be filling this in, especially as the station is becoming increasingly dodgy after dark, and worse since the taxi office is opened only occasionally so there is no one there to monitor things. I thought that there was a requirement to man this office, but apparently they only bought it up to stop rival firms from operating from there after the demise of Fare Cars. There is also a plague of schoolgirls in the mornings blocking the station and entrance. Its unbelievable that police support officers have to be there to quell any disturbances by them, and also in WH Smiths in the afternoons. Can the parents or teachers not take responsibility for them, rather than have to use up vital resources? 2 support offices twice a say for 4 hours total- must be a minimum cost to us of £100 per day, £500 per week. Take it out of their lunch budget.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Thursday, 15 December, 2005 - 10:31 am:   

Roz,

I suggest that you or the station WH Smith managers complain to the school.
They might be able to do something.
However, very often people are intimidated by boisterous schoolchildren who have no intention of doing any harm.
Bowwow
Joined 08-12-2005
Posted on Thursday, 15 December, 2005 - 11:59 am:   

good Point Sherwood people should try to remember they where kids once and 99% of the children are just being that children and having fun also at this time of year are also excited like i was when i was a child.I would also like to say this week where my wife works they had a christmas meal for the old people and they had 4 young girls from sydenham girls come to help them and from what i have been told theses young ladys done a great job and where polite and very helpful and they also done it in thier own time and free of charge.
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Thursday, 15 December, 2005 - 10:09 pm:   

Bowwwow, thanks but I do remember I was a kid once, and remember very well what would have happened to me and my schoolfriends if I ever behaved like these kids do, whilst wearing school uniform. From the sound of it I doubt whether you have ever been there and witnessed some of the problems. I have actually seen some of these girls yes girls threaten passers by when they ask politely to get past. Hence the presence of the Support Police. Unfortunately I don't share your cosy view. Some of these girls are a menace.
Bowwow
Joined 08-12-2005
Posted on Friday, 16 December, 2005 - 01:16 am:   

oh i was not saying they are angels as im not that stupid. i was just making a point to say not all of them are but people do tar everyone with the same brush. like everything in this world there are good and bad in all. and you are right i dont use public transport and wont if i have a choice which unlike many i have so plz except my apologies i was not belittleing the problams there just pointing out not every girl that goes there are bad And if i had behaved in that way as a youngest i would have got caned for making the school look bad. But now as everyone know nobody is able to punish chidren in anyway from the police to the mum and dad so this is what happens when the do-gooders get what they want we have children doing as they plz im not saying we should be able to beat our kids but i know as i child i would not step out of line because i was scared that my dad would find out and all though my teens my father never had to punish me but thats not to say i was a angel as who was...lol
Otterboy
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 16 December, 2005 - 08:11 am:   

As a balance, I have never seen or heard of any trouble at the station, nor have I ever felt intimidated.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 16 December, 2005 - 04:44 pm:   

At the railway staion last night a woman came up to me, said her mobile telephone was not working and asked for a pound (I am not sure what for). It seems we now have begggars at the station.
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
Posted on Friday, 16 December, 2005 - 05:20 pm:   

if her phone genuinely wasn't working and she genuinely didn't have any money she was probably asking for a pound to make a phonecall using a call box - if she neded to call another mobile number it would probably cost her about a pound just to call someone and get them to call her back.

Beggars are avery sad consequence of modern city living. By and large they are not aggressive and one must have to sink pretty low to have to beg for money - maybe she was simply too proud to admit that really she was begging.

There but for the grace of God and all that...
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 16 December, 2005 - 05:47 pm:   

She could have asked to borrow my mobile if she needed to make a call.
Sadly so many people ask me for money (especially in central London) that if I gave to all I would not have anything left for myself.
Bowwow
Joined 08-12-2005
Posted on Saturday, 17 December, 2005 - 01:42 am:   

Sherwood now be honest here would you really hand your mobile to a complete stranger be it male or female because they ask to use it if so and u have one of theses real coll cam phones ca i borrow your phone plz (as i run off down street laughing)
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
Posted on Saturday, 17 December, 2005 - 11:45 pm:   

There have been beggars operating at FH station for as long as I've lived in the area - 5 years. One girl in particular is a regular.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 20 December, 2005 - 02:45 pm:   

Honestly. No I would not have lent my mobile. (It actually belongs to my employer.) But it would be a more likely request if someone needed to make a call. Possibly I might make an emergency call for someone if they needed to make an urgent call.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 04 January, 2006 - 10:43 am:   

Just to remind forum users to complete the survey, please.
Thank you.
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 22 February, 2006 - 08:25 pm:   

There was a report in the ES today about safety in sarf London railway stations- Forest Hill was in the top 8, I think with 30 reported crimes per year. New Cross ( not Gate) Catford, and Penge also featured highly. I have to say it is increasingly dodgy around there at night- I am positive there is drug dealing going on on the up platform.

I thought the cab office had an arrangement to provide or monitor cctv for the station- there are cameras inside their office, and also that part of their deal was to open at certain times to provide a presence at the station. Is that not the case? It really was better when there was a presence, before the demise of Fare cars.

Steve Bullock was mentioned in the article- think he not happy with commuters being put at risk.

This seems to me something which we need to address with the local police and area forum- talking of which there is one tomorrow evening. Hope some of you good people will attend.
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 22 February, 2006 - 11:41 pm:   

I agree I've noticed it's become dodgier in the last few months. I did try and report something to the Transport Police a few months back but gave up after trying several times to get through to their control centre.
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
Posted on Thursday, 23 February, 2006 - 10:18 am:   

Forest Hill didn't really feature in the worst stations in London, in an earlier article. These were the usual suspects like E Croydon, Lewisham and Finsbury Park - and Surbiton if I remember correctly, weirdly enough.
Everyone seems to be getting a bit carried away. It really isn't that bad. At least it is at street level rather than being hidden from view, and it is one of the busiest stations.
Dotcom
Joined 21-04-2005
Posted on Thursday, 23 February, 2006 - 10:23 am:   

If there are menacing kids in school uniform, and you recognise the uniform, phone the school. The staff and management of the schools take this behaviour very seriously.
Loneranger
Joined 29-10-2005
Posted on Thursday, 23 February, 2006 - 11:20 am:   

Interestingly Lewisham station doesn't feature in this British Transport Police list.

I was at a meeting the other week where a TfL representative kept on about Railway stations and lines. When referring to the ELL he said it would be brought up to tube safety standards at the stations and along the line.

Maybe I'm being cynical but is the question of 'safety' at stations being exploited by certain politicians to gain control of the London railways?
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
Posted on Thursday, 23 February, 2006 - 11:31 am:   

Would love to see the line brought up to Tube standards. They are so much higher than those on the railway - you contrast Surrey Quays (not a great station) with any of our local ones - much cleaner and better maintained. Let's hope it happens. At present we in SE London pay into the Tube subsidies and don't get our fair share of use out of it. The contrast figures between how much the Tube gets and how little is spent on the rail lines is shocking.
You should also factor in the performance standards and the way the railways are never held to account for delays or dirtiness. In contrast, if you can be bothered to fll in the form, the Tube will refund you the cost of the ticket if you are late. There have been times over the years when I could have had a free winter's travel if this applied on the railway. It doesn't because they couldn't afford it.
Ken does want control of the railways and the sonner he gets it the better and far as I am concerned. No more getting ripped off having to pay the cost of 2 singles when changing from rail to Tube! No more excuses for not introducing Oyster!
We need to start making some more noise about getting fair treatment.
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Thursday, 23 February, 2006 - 01:42 pm:   

HG, it is ( to me anyway as a woman) very dodgy after dark when there is no one around- busy it might be, but everyone knows there are quite a few gaps between train arrivals and departures in the evening. Last night I came home around 8pm and only 7 people got off the train and they all made it over the bridge before I did as I had a heavy bag- so it felt really desolate. Menacing kids in uniform aren't really the problem here.
Seeformiles
Joined 09-04-2005
Posted on Friday, 24 February, 2006 - 06:37 pm:   

I find Sundays to be the problem - that's when various 'characters' come out of the woodwork.
There used to be a few regular beggars hanging round the station but I think some of them have been moved on. They never used to bother me particularly until one of them gradually became more persistent and full-on.
Les
Joined 28-01-2004
Posted on Friday, 24 February, 2006 - 08:04 pm:   

I agree it's bad at night. I commute with a laptop - I've had one attempted mugging and in general I feel self concious on the station and the carpark.
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Sunday, 26 February, 2006 - 10:59 am:   

Did my eyes deceive me or are Fare Cars now back in business at the station cab office? I thought this was taken over by Forest Hill Radio Cars? If this is going to be a cab office again, then hopefully it will be open all hours, and would provide some sense of security there.
The cctv screens are in this office. Is there an arrangement with them to monitor the station? If so , who is monitoring this in their absence.

The Community Support police are very much in evidence there when the school kids are out in force- surely the best time to deploy them is after dark.? I am still convinced there are people doing drug drop offs and deals on platform 1 in the evenings.
Pvp
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Monday, 27 February, 2006 - 08:58 am:   

But one sad loss to our beloved station is the Frank Bruno plaque. This was at least proof that once upon a time, a famous person did visit 'the Hill'. I dare the lucky holder of this memento to put it on ebay. We can start a charity for train station regeneration.
Scipio
Joined 08-05-2005
Posted on Monday, 27 February, 2006 - 09:42 am:   

Major improvements to our railway station were put forward in the Forest Hill Strategy. This was entirely appropriate as ours is the 2nd busiest station in South East London, after Lewisham. These improvements appear to have been quietly shelved. In contrast, Lewisham Council has received £130K by Transport for London for design work on Sydenham station with an extra £400k earmarked for implementation of the work.
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 28 February, 2006 - 12:15 pm:   

I take umberage that we are playing second fiddle to that upstart near Penge. Councillor this is outrageous
Pattrembath
Joined 04-05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 28 February, 2006 - 01:14 pm:   

Just to correct a misunderstanding here.

Lewisham will receive £130k from TfL for consultation and design work during 2006/7 to improve pedesrian flow and creating a transport interchange, ie new bus stops, near Sydenham station. On the back of this design work Lewisham will apply to TfL for a further £400k for physical work to implement the improvements during 2007/8.

With regard to station improvements. Sydenham Society has been pressing for new stations for both Sydenham and Forest Hill since 2001. With the 2004 promise of the East London Line our pressure continues. The matter is complex because of ownership of the land, particularly at Forest Hill, but discussions have started.

Sadly, recent press reports of £450m European funding to rebuild local stations along the line were mistaken
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 28 February, 2006 - 01:43 pm:   

Sydenham certainly is a mess.
I recall in the fifties and sixties the main booking hall , which my Dad worked , was on the up side over the road from the current booking hall. The up platford has also moved used to be the other side of the railway bridge.
It was a good station then.

Of course Forest Hill then had a middle platform.

Have things improved I DOUBT it
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
Posted on Tuesday, 28 February, 2006 - 01:49 pm:   

At least it has a station building rather than having a portacabin -type thing. 60 years on from its wartime destruction, you'd think we could have a new one.
Perhaps it is payback for the local German community.
Ophelia
Joined 18-03-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 14 March, 2006 - 10:32 am:   

Good piece in last night's Standard about rail safety and exchange of correspondence between our Mayor Steve, who is supporting the ES campaign for safer stations, and the manager of the rail company about station safety, who seems to think the general public only feel unsafe because they are told places are unsafe.
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 14 March, 2006 - 06:21 pm:   

Is that Charles Horton?
I have his PA's phone number and email address if anyone wants to write to him directly.
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
Posted on Tuesday, 14 March, 2006 - 11:35 pm:   

Gave Southern a good broadside the other day as only 1-2 lights were on on each platform when I arrived, and hence was unable to see the inch-deep pool of standing water at the bottom of the footbridge, detecting it first with my feet.
The next night (and since) the place is fully illuminated.
So it wasn't that the lights weren't working. Wonder why they had been off.
Radical suggestion - perhaps things like an atmosphere of neglect, lack of human presence in the form of staff and lack of lighting make people feel unsafe?
Do please let me have Mr Horton's details in case I don't get a sensible response from Southern.
Mayor Steve keep pushing for our right to have things the same standard as elsewhere in London - i.e. on the Tube.
Loneranger
Joined 29-10-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 15 March, 2006 - 10:03 pm:   

In case you don't know as of April 1st Charles Horton moves over to South Eastern and Chris Burchell becomes MD of Southern.
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
Posted on Wednesday, 15 March, 2006 - 11:58 pm:   

April Fool for the good folk of Kent then!


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