Forced to wait illegally at station forecourt

Last week I went to Maidenhead railway station to pick up a visiting friend.

When travelling by train myself I approach the station on foot from Grenfell Road and this was the first time I’d arrived there by car since the refurbishment of the forecour t.

I’m still reeling from the experience. I can’t believe that NO space has been dedicated as a ‘drop off’/’pick up’ point. There are bays allocated for staff; a very limited number of metered parking spaces; a taxi rank; but for the travelling public there are only barriers in the form of bollards to protect a huge paved area which serves no purpose whatsoever.

These bollards force drivers to hover awkwardly and illegally on double yellow lines while waiting for trains to arrive and their passengers to risk life and limb while trying to stow their luggage in the boot. Dropping off is just as hazardous.

Who is responsible for this totally illconsidered arrangement?

Whoever it is needs now to be held to account and be made to take up some of the paved area to make sensible provision for temporary parking to allow rail passengers to be picked up and dropped off safely.

TESS MARSH St Mark’s Crescent

Maidenhead