Car park charges at Liskeard

The issue of car parking at the station made the front page of the Cornish Guardian last week and it was clear that the town councillors are unhappy about First Great Western's decision to introduce fees. Local residents who use the train were expressing concern that when the charges are introduced their driveways will be blocked in so even non-car commuters will be affected.

There was a lot of huffing and puffing on the train and not because it's got a steam engine. To be honest, though, there is a great strength of feeling. It makes so much less sense for people to use the train now a lot of people I've spoken to will probably drive, especially if, like me, they have to drive into Liskeard to catch the train.

FGW claimed they were charging in answer to rail user's requests. Nobody knows who these people were. They've probably stopped using the train out of personal safety, if they ever existed.

I wrote to my MP, Colin Breed, and he replied to say that he would be meeting FGW and the council claimed that that when FGW took over the franchise there was a clause in the contract preventing them from introducing charges. Apparently, ₤600,000 of local taxpayer's money was spent on rebuilding the car park and improving the lighting.

This must make those buddleia bushes growing out of the tarmac the most expensive in the land. Seems a lot for the new light bulb, too.

Last week the date for the introduction of charges came and went. The station staff said the toll machines had been delayed but it seemed as if there were greater problems than that afoot.

The Cornish Times on Friday, however, said that the charges will begin from 14th March. The rumoured clause in the contract is "said not to exist" - a strange form of words concerning a legal document but there you are.

Nobody wants to pay it and some of us can't afford it. It'll be interesting to see what effect this has on rail use in and around Liskeard.