Happy to see new bike racks avoiding the need for cyclists to negotiate the inadequate ticket barrier arrangements in rush hour.

Any chance that the existing racks on platform 1 and the space around them might be converted to covered areas for foot passengers to (officially) shelter from inclement weather? You know - the very weather that delays trains and causes such a build up of people on platform 1 that the current sheltered area cannot cope?

Of course instead of spending money on piece meal development of the station such as the inadequate barriers in the booking hall, the new and yet to be tested Perry Vale ticket barriers (glad to read they won't close at 8pm), the new bike racks (an unforseen knock on cost from the ticket hall barriers?) wouldn't the sensible thing be to redevelop from scratch?

Why not build a station worthy of the passenger volumes in place of the current glorified portacabin? Knock it down. Do away with the with the token six - or is it eight? - parking spaces out front. Put the 'walled garden' between them out of its misery. Build a structure that is big enough to accomodate the ticket office, extra ticket barriers, secure bike stands inside and even a proper little shop space for the coffee stall - oh, and some canopies on platforms for the the passengers. Always Southerns last consideration the passengers.

While we are at it how about sensible platform level barriers on the Perry Vale side using the dead space at that end of the Perry Vale car park to provide proper disabled access rather than the new arrangement at the foot of the stairs which I worry will will lead in time to accidents and more disability. (Didn't Southern tell us that safety was one of the reasons that they couldn't do exactly what they are now doing when they wanted to simply close that gate forever?).

I have seen some good looking plans for redevelopment through links on this forum in the past but if money continues to be frittered away on half hearted, and some would say half assed, 'developments' like those in progress they will never come to anything.

Sorry to rant. Can you tell I have had a bad day? Am I really off the mark though?