Streatham station made gloomy

Dear Pat - As one of the Liberal Democrat Councillors for Streatham Wells Ward on Lambeth Counci I raised this issue with Southern Railways. This was the response I received - However I remain to be convinced by the reasons given ! :
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From: Stuetzel,Katrina
Sent: 29 July 2009 13:25
To: Heather,Julian Cllr
Cc: ‘Leslie, Yvonne’; Heslop,Robert; Barkatoolah,Abu; Haines,Dawn; Wright,George; Parker,Lee J (Transport); Environment, Members
Subject: RE: Streatham Station - complaints about blocking of footbridge windows

Dear Cllr Heather,

Yvonne Leslie has replaced Ian Rashbrook as Stakeholder Relations Manager at Southern Railways. Yvonne has provided the following response to your query.

Many thanks,

Katrina
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Dear Katrina/Cllr Heather,

The laminated panels were installed as the glazing on the footbridge was in a poor state of repair especially due to graffiti and etching. However, to replace with glass requires access via a maintenance walkway which currently cannot be used on health & safety grounds. It was felt that the poor state of the glass could not be allowed any longer hence the addition of the panels.

What we can do, however, is increase the lighting levels in the footbridge which we will do very soon. I hope this helps with the concerns raised.

Kind regards,

Yvonne Leslie

Stakeholder Relations Manager
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From: Heather,Julian Cllr
Sent: 17 July 2009 23:51
To: Environment, Members; Stuetzel,Katrina; Parker,Lee J (Transport); Wright,George; Haines,Dawn; Barkatoolah,Abu
Cc: Rashbrook, Ian
Subject: RE: Streatham Station - complaints about blocking of footbridge windows

Sorry – I meant to copy in Lambeth Council Transport officers to the following email.
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From: Heather,Julian Cllr
Sent: 17 July 2009 23:43
To: ‘Rashbrook, Ian’
Subject: Streatham Station - complaints about blocking of footbridge windows

Dear Ian,

I am writing to you as Southern’s Stakeholder Relations Manager regarding complaints I have heard from passengers regarding work which has recently taken place at Streatham Rail Station.

The work relates to the blocking up of all the windows on the footbridge, which is adjacent to the ticket hall, and which took place at the same time as the new ticket barriers were installed in relation to Oyster Pay As You Go.

Passengers have been saying that they are unhappy with the obscured windows as they cannot now see from the ticket hall if a train is coming into the station or is already at the platform.

They have also been saying that the sense of enclosure on the footbridge, caused by the windows being covered over, makes the footbridge feel less safe because there are no longer windows and natural light.

I would be grateful, therefore, on behalf of passengers using Streatham Railway Station, if the boarding covering the windows on the footbridge could be removed as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Julian Heather
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Streatham Wells Ward
Member of Lambeth Transport Forum
London Borough of Lambeth
Tel: 020 8769 0244

I too was appalled at how claustrophobic Streatham Station now looks. It feels as if the windows have been boarded up because of fear of vandalising. In consequence it just doesn’t feel safe and secure but the total opposite. How can that be any good for the well-being of the passengers. I don’t think any lick of bright paint or extra lighting is going to make a difference. Please put normal see through windows back. I’m sure where there is a will, there is a way.
To be honest, I think it’s just another case of under funding for the Streatham area. A year ago I read on the local Guardian that Streatham station will not in the future have direct trains to St Pancras International as they did not intend to extend the platforms there to accept the newly commissioned longer trains.
Some hub Streatham is turning out to be…