Musings from the Merse
Sunday, June 07, 2009
An indignant from Embra writes to the Editor of the Berwickshire:
SIR, - It beggars belief that a village of at one time the sane and rational, seems to have been taken over by egostistical maniacs who have ideas well above the journeyed plan of life.
I have dealt with the folly of a railway station, I have to let that go now.
Once that fad dies away, in comes the next stage in the stupidity stakes.
Building houses in the middle of a credit crunch, not one or two, but 112. Why? The property market is in decline. This in a village of 300 residents.
Happy spot not specified but Huttonian assumes this is Reston, of bring- back- our- station- fame. Has the writer, sane and rational, moved out of there leaving only the insane and irrational to dream of doubling the size of their little empire-thus, perhaps, meriting a station?
And I really love the wonderful new epithet : 'egostistical'; as Google would say 'Do you mean Egostatistical'? Some one like the late and sadly missed Soddom Hussein who used to boost about Election Polls which demonstrated that once again he had been returned with 100.6% of the vote
Country strife should get that onto her Scrabble Board
SIR, - It beggars belief that a village of at one time the sane and rational, seems to have been taken over by egostistical maniacs who have ideas well above the journeyed plan of life.
I have dealt with the folly of a railway station, I have to let that go now.
Once that fad dies away, in comes the next stage in the stupidity stakes.
Building houses in the middle of a credit crunch, not one or two, but 112. Why? The property market is in decline. This in a village of 300 residents.
Happy spot not specified but Huttonian assumes this is Reston, of bring- back- our- station- fame. Has the writer, sane and rational, moved out of there leaving only the insane and irrational to dream of doubling the size of their little empire-thus, perhaps, meriting a station?
And I really love the wonderful new epithet : 'egostistical'; as Google would say 'Do you mean Egostatistical'? Some one like the late and sadly missed Soddom Hussein who used to boost about Election Polls which demonstrated that once again he had been returned with 100.6% of the vote
Country strife should get that onto her Scrabble Board
Labels: RESTON, Reston Station, Saddam Hussein. Inappropriate development
Friday, February 20, 2009
No Change at Reston. Hopefully
Huttonian's selection of the letter of the month is
SIR, - Quoting from a statement to the Berwickshire News from John Lamont:
"I appreciate that much of the focus is on the central Borders railway going to Tweedbank but this will do nothing to help public transport in Berwickshire. Residents in Eyemouth, Coldstream or Duns are hardly likely to travel all the way to Tweedbank to get the train to Edinburgh. As the central Borders railway grabs all the headlines, Berwickshire must not be forgotten about and I will ensure that the Minister is reminded on a regular basis of the local need for a station at Reston."
Why would anyone be stupid enough to travel from Duns, Coldstream or Eyemouth to Tweedbank when Berwick-upon -Tweed is only a few miles away. In fact all three are as near to Berwick than Reston if not nearer.
This proves once again that the idea is more based on novelty than reality.
When Doctor Beeching was brought in all those years ago to revamp the railway system, one of the cuts he planned was cutting the Newcastle to Edinburgh line, on the basis that the west coast line could serve Scotland via Glasgow. His reason for this being that only Berwick-upon-Tweed would be affected and that the population of the town did not justify an extensive 120 mile rail track.
Luckily that one got away from the doctor and we now have an excellent rail service at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The idea that a small village in Berwickshire should have a rail service is ludicrous in the extreme, Reston should no more have a station than any other small village and arguments for are flawed, leaving the door open to all small communties to demand they also should have a service.
“Good Morning Trainline here.”
“Oh yes I was enquiring about a super saver from Reston to Ayton.”
“That will be £5 please.”
“What! £5 to Ayton, that’s ridiculous.”
“Not as ridiculous as having stations in small villages sir.”
It would be nice to think we will hear no more about Reston Station, except from Mr Lamont who needs the votes from pleasing all the people all the time. But I am sure that is a forlorn wish . RAGES will be up in arms -ENRAGED indeed and the nonsense will go on. But with a bit of luck the Crunch will finish it off.
The image is from a mock up of a future Reston Station from the archives of the Hutton Think Tank. A lone passenger on platform 32B awaits the 0901 from Aberdeen to Lands End. The only train due that day
Labels: Berwickshire Railway Stations RAGES, Mr Lamont, RESTON, Reston Station
Thursday, August 07, 2008
RESTON STATION THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Nothing much seems to have changed on the 'reopening' of Reston Station since we moved to the Borders over 11 years ago. The first house we looked (rather a crummy one but dirt cheap) was in Reston and the selling point was that the station was to open 'imminently' Even if no ham sandwich bar was on offer. Since then it has been a photo opportunity for a number of local politicians wanting to ride a (locally) popular bandwagon The latest jaunt by the highheidyins of RAGES (Rail Action Group Eastern Scotland) plus the MSP- John 'Photo-op' Lamont and more promisingly the Scottish Transport Minister, who proudly announced that this was his first visit to Berwickshire.This historic event is fully covered in the e-Berwickshire-front page in the hard copy as well in the absence of a cute -collie-eats-lamb story.
All the usual warm words were said about how nice it would be for Reston and East Berwickshire to have its own station-saving driving all of 12 miles into Berwick or a bit more to Dunbar. And surprisingly the SNP minister made no reference to the idea of having Scotland's Immigration and Passport control next to the Sandwich Bar on the up platform (17) But once the well wishers and publicity seekers had been chauffeured away the whole glittering vision boils down to the Berwickshire's own headline:
ECONOMIC CASE FOR RESTON STATION NEEDS FURTHER WORK
You can say that again.
So I will
ECONOMIC CASE FOR RESTON STATION NEEDS FURTHER WORK
(The image is an artist's impression of platform 17 at Reston Station. The train awaits immigration clearance-thanks to Hutton Think Tank Vision and Media section)
Labels: John Lamont, RAGES, RESTON, Reston Station
Sunday, October 07, 2007
RAIL RAGES
The relentless John Lamont, the Tory MSP for these parts, not content with converting the former LibDem MSP, Eaun Robson's informative 'Mound Notes' in the Berwickshire into a party political puff, has now climbed onto 'reopen Reston Station' Bandwagon, or should that be cattle truck. Apparently the re-opening of this ancient pre-Beeching halt will be a 'huge boost to the economy' and to the Eastern Borders 'infrastructure'. The sort of argument that RAGES regularly trots out with very little factual justification. How the pleasuring of 5 commuters from Reston and three more from the next hamlet will be such a huge boost to the GDP of Reston and environs has never been quantified and the thought that industry will rush to the area to take advantage of workers not having to travel by rail from Berwick or Dunbar is frankly bizarre-but Mr Lamont must think there are votes in it. Perhaps he is influenced by the chairman of RAGES claiming that Reston Station has a catchment area of 10,000. Before JL rushes off to shake them all by the hand and thrust pamphlets into unresisting hands he should consider if this statistic refers to people
Or to sheep.
Meanwhile we await with bated breath the clarification of STAG1 -'Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance' No doubt followed by STAG2. Then we will be able to have a very small party. Unless there is a change in his circumstances JL will be very welcome to bring a bottle-yes the one used by Mr Gordon Brown
The relentless John Lamont, the Tory MSP for these parts, not content with converting the former LibDem MSP, Eaun Robson's informative 'Mound Notes' in the Berwickshire into a party political puff, has now climbed onto 'reopen Reston Station' Bandwagon, or should that be cattle truck. Apparently the re-opening of this ancient pre-Beeching halt will be a 'huge boost to the economy' and to the Eastern Borders 'infrastructure'. The sort of argument that RAGES regularly trots out with very little factual justification. How the pleasuring of 5 commuters from Reston and three more from the next hamlet will be such a huge boost to the GDP of Reston and environs has never been quantified and the thought that industry will rush to the area to take advantage of workers not having to travel by rail from Berwick or Dunbar is frankly bizarre-but Mr Lamont must think there are votes in it. Perhaps he is influenced by the chairman of RAGES claiming that Reston Station has a catchment area of 10,000. Before JL rushes off to shake them all by the hand and thrust pamphlets into unresisting hands he should consider if this statistic refers to people
Or to sheep.
Meanwhile we await with bated breath the clarification of STAG1 -'Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance' No doubt followed by STAG2. Then we will be able to have a very small party. Unless there is a change in his circumstances JL will be very welcome to bring a bottle-yes the one used by Mr Gordon Brown
Thursday, August 09, 2007
RESTON STATION: The Struggle continues
Yet another letter in the Berwickshire
"Since my last correspondance I have been in contact with many ex Restonians with regard to this train issue.
We have decided that rather than clog up the letters page of the weekly newspaper we will try and secure a date to book the local village hall where we can address the pros and many cons involved with this idea.
I can assure residents that we are good listeners and even better talkers, hopefully convincing the Reston public how silly this idea is.
We will also explain the benefits of mass importation into such a small community and the potential pitfalls.
So far we have four who are horrified enough to pay their own expense (suitable dates excepted) to attend. Others are getting back to myself or my father.
Finally we all wish the Reston residents good health and prosperity and hopefully see you all soon.
GEORGE SANDERSON JNR.
Ex residents of Reston who oppose the station idea may not get the warmest of welcomes in their former stamping ground. Bad enough having incomers pushing you around but former Restonians who emigrated to Embra (with its two stations) may not be regarded as the most objective advisers. And, it might be said, that it is no longer their business? And why leave Reston for Embra in the first place?
Er, because it had no station?
Yet another letter in the Berwickshire
"Since my last correspondance I have been in contact with many ex Restonians with regard to this train issue.
We have decided that rather than clog up the letters page of the weekly newspaper we will try and secure a date to book the local village hall where we can address the pros and many cons involved with this idea.
I can assure residents that we are good listeners and even better talkers, hopefully convincing the Reston public how silly this idea is.
We will also explain the benefits of mass importation into such a small community and the potential pitfalls.
So far we have four who are horrified enough to pay their own expense (suitable dates excepted) to attend. Others are getting back to myself or my father.
Finally we all wish the Reston residents good health and prosperity and hopefully see you all soon.
GEORGE SANDERSON JNR.
Ex residents of Reston who oppose the station idea may not get the warmest of welcomes in their former stamping ground. Bad enough having incomers pushing you around but former Restonians who emigrated to Embra (with its two stations) may not be regarded as the most objective advisers. And, it might be said, that it is no longer their business? And why leave Reston for Embra in the first place?
Er, because it had no station?
Labels: RESTON, Station. Merse
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
RAGES RAGING
Huttonian has inadvertently upset a member of RAGES (RAIL ACTION GROUP EAST OF SCOTLAND)by a supporting a correspondent in the Berwickshire who opposed the reopening of Reston Station.
RAGES wish list includes the following objectives:
To improve the rail service between Edinburgh, Dunbar and Berwick upon Tweed.
·
To have East Linton and Reston stations re-opened for active use
·
To consider the implications with regard to car parking and bicycle storage at Stations between Waverley and Berwick upon Tweed.
·
To keep under scrutiny the standards of passenger facilities at stations between Waverley and Berwick, including North Berwick, and to draw the attention of the relevant bodies to shortcomings which arise.
·
The group, being environmentally minded, will actively strive to encourage rail travel within its geographical area.
I am sure that it would be very convenient for the people of Reston to have their station reopened but beyond that the idea seems to involve a lot of expense with very little return to any one else-just adding further delay to those many people who regularly commute from Berwick to Embra. Indeed a major improvement in time and motion for this intrepid band would be the closure of Dunbar station. Admittedly there are good environmental reasons for getting people out of cars and into trains and on those grounds alone there is a case for opening many more stations and indeed building more branch lines as well. Hutton Think Tank has long been involved with GAT
ATT (AQ) Get A Train Along The Tweed(And Quickly)to serve the Paxton, Fishwick,Hutton conurbation,expanding Horndean, Coldstream (The First Toon in Scotland-or the last) Kelso, and then connecting with the proposed Waverley Line. Just think how many global destructive cars that it would get off the road never mind the fume inducing (and empty) No 32 Bus.
So the time has come to push on two fronts and I suggest that GATTAT (AQ) merge with RAGES-being subsumed into the latter would save a number of Capital Letters. It would only need a tiny tweak to RAGES' objectives. If this happens the full power of the Blog will be thrown behind the organisation and victory is sure.
So RAGES.
What about it?
Stopping at Reston, Granthouses, Ayton, Haddington, Dunbar,North Berwick, Museum of Flight, East Linton, Preston Pans, that nice shop at that caravan site on the old A1, etc etc would be a dreadful nuisance for Huttonian commuting to Embra. But with the planet at stake.
What the Hell. Go for it
Huttonian has inadvertently upset a member of RAGES (RAIL ACTION GROUP EAST OF SCOTLAND)by a supporting a correspondent in the Berwickshire who opposed the reopening of Reston Station.
RAGES wish list includes the following objectives:
To improve the rail service between Edinburgh, Dunbar and Berwick upon Tweed.
·
To have East Linton and Reston stations re-opened for active use
·
To consider the implications with regard to car parking and bicycle storage at Stations between Waverley and Berwick upon Tweed.
·
To keep under scrutiny the standards of passenger facilities at stations between Waverley and Berwick, including North Berwick, and to draw the attention of the relevant bodies to shortcomings which arise.
·
The group, being environmentally minded, will actively strive to encourage rail travel within its geographical area.
I am sure that it would be very convenient for the people of Reston to have their station reopened but beyond that the idea seems to involve a lot of expense with very little return to any one else-just adding further delay to those many people who regularly commute from Berwick to Embra. Indeed a major improvement in time and motion for this intrepid band would be the closure of Dunbar station. Admittedly there are good environmental reasons for getting people out of cars and into trains and on those grounds alone there is a case for opening many more stations and indeed building more branch lines as well. Hutton Think Tank has long been involved with GAT
ATT (AQ) Get A Train Along The Tweed(And Quickly)to serve the Paxton, Fishwick,Hutton conurbation,expanding Horndean, Coldstream (The First Toon in Scotland-or the last) Kelso, and then connecting with the proposed Waverley Line. Just think how many global destructive cars that it would get off the road never mind the fume inducing (and empty) No 32 Bus.
So the time has come to push on two fronts and I suggest that GATTAT (AQ) merge with RAGES-being subsumed into the latter would save a number of Capital Letters. It would only need a tiny tweak to RAGES' objectives. If this happens the full power of the Blog will be thrown behind the organisation and victory is sure.
So RAGES.
What about it?
Stopping at Reston, Granthouses, Ayton, Haddington, Dunbar,North Berwick, Museum of Flight, East Linton, Preston Pans, that nice shop at that caravan site on the old A1, etc etc would be a dreadful nuisance for Huttonian commuting to Embra. But with the planet at stake.
What the Hell. Go for it
