New adopters offer boost for Elsenham rail station

Published on: Friday, 5 February 2021
Last updated: Friday, 5 February 2021

Elsenham station is to receive some extra TLC from volunteers.

David and Scott Carpenter have officially ‘adopted’ the station through Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption scheme.

The couple from Cambridge plan to spend time tidying, tending to vegetation and planting flowers to make the station more attractive and welcoming.

David, 36, who works in the ticket office at Cambridge rail station, said, "After the terrible year we have all had to endure due to Covid, the endless lockdowns and living in a small first floor flat with no garden, Scott and I thought we needed a little outside project. Something where we could get fresh air, a bit of peace from the city and potter around whilst there.

"We both felt Elsenham was a beautiful spot where (post-lockdown restrictions) we could spend a couple of days a month helping.

"We’re excited about our plans to keep the garden areas trimmed, neat and tidy, getting some tubs and planting them up with some attractive but hardy plants and seasonal bulbs. We’d also like to create a haven for wildlife with some bug and bird boxes too."

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said, "I’m delighted to welcome David and Scott to the Station Adoption initiative and look forward to hearing their ideas for brightening up the station and making it a welcoming environment ready for when the current pandemic restrictions can be lifted."

Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption scheme sees people getting involved with their local rail station for the benefit of their communities, working with Greater Anglia to bring about improvements or caring for gardens and floral displays to benefit local wildlife and make stations more welcoming.

Current Government advice is to stay at home unless you need to travel for permitted reasons including work and medical appointments.

Greater Anglia continues to ensure that rail travel is safe for staff and passengers with an enhanced cleaning regime, on stations and trains, concentrating on high-touch areas such as push buttons, grab rails and door handles.

The train operator has also introduced a wide range of measures to make it easier for customers to maintain social distancing at stations and on trains - including floor markings, one-way systems, new signs and queuing systems.

It is now mandatory for customers to wear a face covering when using public transport, to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Children under the age of 11 and people with a disability or illness which means they cannot wear a face covering are exempt from wearing them.