Is this event going to happen or not? After at least three years of lobbying for a low-key event I was delighted when the Railway agreed in mid 2006 to add a Station Gardens event to the 2007 calendar. I understand a full consultation with each station master was undertaken and a leaflet designed. The event was also to be added to the main timetable leaflet. So why the negative title to this posting? Well, for one thing, the event was not added to the timetable leaflet "due to lack of space" (not enough room for one line?); the event leaflet does not seem to have progressed beyond someone's hard disk; and persistent questioning of the department that "took over" the planning of the event has drawn either a "tomorrow" response or no response at all. This is all very very frustrating. I am convinced that a low-cost promotion, which encourages gardening enthusiasts to visit our already open stations with no other costs whatsoever, would bring a new set of visitors to our line and perhaps increase the passenger figures. It may also bring new blood to our volunteer force. Who knows? Meantime, nothing seems to be happening. The image above is something I knocked up last year. So do I go it alone? It is very very tempting.
7 comments:
Hi,
I read your blog with interest and wondered if I could be of any help to promote your idea.
I run a community website for the Minehead and surrounding area called www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/ta24 which is committed to promoting businesses and events in this area.
Thanks for the offer of help - I may well need some help. But let's see what the Railway itself can do first...
I fully sympathise w s w. Very frustrating when the low/no cost and no risk idea does not even get half a chance to prove itself.
Still waiting for some news from the Railway...
And still waiting, despite a request from the GM to respond to my query...
And still waiting...one more week and then "WSR Station Gardens Promotions Inc" (!) will go it alone. One can wait so long...
Who said "Never say die"? The Company have now released the dates 15-22 July for the Station Gardens Week! A leaflet is being produced as I type this entry, and a promo plan drawn up which will see a targetted campaign over the next few weeks. Needless to say, it'd be good if folks reading this could help promote visits to the Gardens, not just during the Week, because the Gardens are open every day in the Summer.
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