Rail firm bars gardening gran from platform
A GRANDMOTHER has been told she can no longer maintain a garden at a railway station on health and safety grounds.
Val Houghton, 72, has hit out at Northern Railway, spending three years, and around £2,000, maintaining blooms on the platform.
Commuters have previously heaped praise on the “bright and cheerful” patch which lies by the Wigan to Manchester railway line.
But now Val is facing heartbreak as rail officials have ordered her to halt work because she is dangerously close to the track line – despite previously giving her permission.
The estate agency owner, from Atherton, Lancs, says she fears the green space will fall into disrepair.
Val said: “I feel let down and under-appreciated by the station's management.
“Even though I was close to the train track when I was doing the gardening work I always checked with the staff what time the next train was due.
“I am losing sleep about what will happen to the state of the plants at the moment because they could die if they are not watered enough.
She added: “I have not fallen under a train yet. I don't use the station a great deal but I did it so when people went to work they had something nice to look at. What annoyed me more than anything is nobody told me. I went down one Sunday and one of the station staff said have you not got the email?
“They have stopped me going down and they won't even let me water the baskets. A new company has taken over and it's part of its policy and breaches health and safety.”
A spokesman for Northern Railway said: “We think what Val has done at the station is really lovely. However it is very dangerous for her to be working so close to the line.
“We will be in contact with Val about making arrangements to move the plants.”