From Barry Appleyard. Bransdale Grove, Knaresborough.
I AGREE with Mr Roger’s letter (Friday, July 25) regarding the disgraceful state of the trackbed in Knaresborough Station and on the viaduct.
This is in no way to detract from the excellent work carried out by Mrs Hayton and other volunteers in tr
ying to make the station surroundings a more pleasant place to be, with some fine flower displays.
I do feel, however, that Mrs Hayton has taken Mr Roger’s letter totally out of context. He was merely stating an observation that has been noticed by lots of people travelling from this station. How on earth Yorkshire in Bloom judges can make a decision with one eye closed is beyond me.
As an ex-railwayman who worked the tracks around Knaresborough in the early 1960s, trackbed in this condition was never seen as track gangs employed by British Railways took pride in their section of track. When Knaresborough Station had a station master and staff there were hanging baskets along each platform and weeds between platforms were never allowed.
Network Rail are to blame for this situation and should do their bit to assist the good work done by volunteers. Sub-contracted railwork means that no-one seems to take responsibility.
A copy of this letter will be sent to Sir Ian AcAllister, Chairman of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd.
The full article contains 235 words and appears in Knaresborough Post newspaper.
