Hello All

This petition has been re-opened as during the past few months there have been quite a few days where Yeovil Pen Mill station has had either reduced staffing hours or been unstaffed for the day.

On Friday a member of staff retired from working at the station. GWR knew about the retirement but have failed to recruit someone to fill the position in time and are now telling me that for them to recruit a new member of staff and train them up will take two to three months. This leaves the station with only one permanent member of staff. I am told that cover staff may be able to do some work at the station during this time however as the member of staff who has retired said this will be limited as the cover staff have to cover stations across the region.

A notice has appeared on the National Rail website stating the staffing hours for the station have changed ‘until further notice’ and these will be 07:20 - 15:30 weekdays (instead of until 18:25) and from 07:20 to 14:10 on Saturdays. There is no mention of Sunday staffing so I guess it won’t get any.

Obviously it is unacceptable for GWR to change the staffing hours for the station over a potentially long period of time and I would urge you all to make a complaint.

i’m guessing one of the main problems with the change to staffing hours will be for those like me who are disabled (or elderly) and at times travel in Bristol direction early in the morning and then need help getting from platform 3 to 1 when the train arrives back early evening which involves crossing the stepped footbridge or barrow crossing to exit the station.

i did have journeys planned for this month but the situation causes me so much anxiety and worry I have had to cancel these plans.

i find the ongoing situation continues to effect my sleep and mental health. I am very concerned about the station. Recently I’ve also found myself in tears at times about it. I hope others are not similarly effected.

I called my local MP Adam Dance’s office yesterday in tears about it but I’m not sure there’s anything they can do.

Anyway I’d be grateful if you could share the petition if you can and please find below a link to the message on the National Rail website:

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/yeovil-pen-mill/

 If anyone wants to e-Mail me about any thoughts or experiences at the station please e-Mail yeovilpenmillpetition@gmail.com

Apologies this update isn’t more positive. 

Best wishes

Kath