Here is the letter that Ken Lee wrote.

Kidsgrove station - safety problem - vandalised light on steps to canal

On 23/2/11 I addressed an EM Customer Comments Form FAO Mr Robbie Muir, Estates Manager, reporting a vandalised light on a flight of sixteen steps leading from Kidsgrove station car park down to the Trent and Mersey Canal. I enclosed two photographs. I received no reply, and the light is still broken. The lamp standard is not on the station platform, but it is definitely inside the railway fence, so repairing it may be the responsibility of Network Rail, rather than East Midlands. The photographs I sent were taken on 8/7/10, and I believe the light has been out of action for between ten and twenty years.

K.Lee Kidsgrove resident and frequent train user.

East Midlands forwarded the problem to Network Rail on 11/5/12. That's fair enough, in view of the location of the lamp standard. Let's hope that East Midlands estimate of "fixed in a few weeks" proves accurate. Ken Lee

On the 11th May 2012 East Midlands passed the problem to Network Rail. It is now 9th July, and I have heard nothing from Network Rail, and the light is still broken. How can I discuss this with them?

East Midlands passed the problem to Network Rail on 11th May 2012. It is now 9th July, and I have heard nothing form Network Rail, and the light is still broken. How can I discuss the matter with them?

Hello Ken,

I've provided you with the direct email of our contact at Network Rail. I hope this will enable you to get the problem sorted out for once and for all.

Good luck!

Myf Nixon (FixMyTransport Admin)

On 29/4/12 I reported a faulty light at Kidsgrove station to the FixMyTransport website. This was first passed to East Midlands Trains, the station operator, but on 11/5/12 they passed it to Network Rail. I think this was reasonable, as the light in question is not actually on the platform - it is alongside a point, and definitely inside the Network Rail fence. It is intended to illuminate a flight of 16 steps down from the station car park to the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath. It was vandalised years ago, and those steps are dangerously dark in winter.

Could you please make the relevant department aware of the situation, so that they can fix it?

Thank you. Ken Lee, Kidsgrove resident and frequent train user

On 9/7/12 the FixMyTransport support team replied promptly to my request for a contact address at Network Rail, and I have now written to NR asking them to arrange to have the light fixed.

fao Mr Brian Wortman, Communications Manager, Network Rail

Mr Wortman, On 10th July you were enquiring into the situation regarding the vandalised light at Kidsgrove station, which I reported some time ago. You offered "a full update shortly". Can you tell me what progress has been made towards repairing the light, please?

Ken Lee

Asked Network Rail for a progress report, as I have heard nothing for three weeks.

Mr Wortman, Our messages crossed in the cloud! Thank for your update, which I have now received.

Ken Lee

Network Rail had replied to me, on the same day I requested an update. Job is now in the hands of the local maintenace team. Ken Lee

Mr Wortman, On 2nd August you told me that the faulty light at Kidsgrove had been reported to you local maintenance team. It has not yet been repaired.

There are 73 lights at Kidsgrove station: 54 on the four platforms, 9 on the footbridge and 10 in the car park. Adding one more on the steps to the canal shouldn't break the bank.

Thank you for your help.

Ken Lee

On 2nd August I was told by Network Rail, that the fault had been reported to the local maintenance team. Three weeks later, 25th August, it has not been repaired, so I have sent them a reminder.

Ken Lee

Dear Deborah,

Following your last message of 18th Sep 2012, I noticed on 21st Feb 2013 that the vandalised light fitting had been removed, but that no new fitting had been installed. The lamp standard was still in place. Yesterday, 19th March, I was surprised to see that the lamp standard had also been removed. I hope this does not indicate a reluctance by Network Rail to resolve this safety issue. I refer you to the photos I attached to the beginning of this thread: we still have a flight of 16 steps descending in total darkness to the canal towpath at the bottom.

I would appreciate it, if you could tell me when this light will be reinstated.

Regards,

Ken Lee

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Le

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your further enquiry. I am in the process of discussing this with the relevant teams within the business. I hope this should not take too much longer and will provide a further response once I have received an update on our plans.

Kind regards

Deborah
Executive Correspondence Officer

The vandalised light fitting had been removed by 21st Feb 2013, but no new one fitted. The lamp standard was still there. But by 19th March the lamp standard had also been removed. I have written to Network Rail, asking when the light will be reinstated.

Re. vandalised light at Kidsgrove (KDG) station:

The heading to the problem reads, "You are currently trying to persuade East Midlands Trains to repair the vandalised light ..."

This should be amended, deleting "East Midlands Trains" and inserting "Network Rail", but the "Edit wording" button will not allow me to do this. Will you do it for me, please?

Ken Lee

Hello Ken - I've made the requested change to this campaign page.