Useful addition to train station courtesy of Rotary Club

In conjunction with the Friends of Dore and Totley Station (FoDaTs), Abbeydale Rotary donated a bench and planter at the entrance to the station.

Phil Haywood, chair of Abbeydale’s Environment Group constructed the planter and acquired the bench and, together with other members, installed them over the summer.

He said: “FodaTS in their aims and objectives were keen to work with other community groups relating to the environment.

"The bench was delivered to my house as a flat pack and after some discussion on the exact size and siting for the bench and planter I obtained the timber for the planter and constructed at my home. It kept me busy during lockdown.

"However because of Covid the project was seriously delayed. We had hoped to have everything in place during February/March but in the end this turned out to be June.”

He added: “The main reason for the bench is to provide a seat for passengers coming off trains to wait whilst they are being picked up by car or taxi. Observations show that this is in fact happening as use of the station picks up again following lockdown.”

Chris Morgan, chair of FoDaTs, thanked the Rotary team for their efforts and said that this is a really useful addition to the station and has observed passengers coming off trains at the station using the bench whilst waiting for a taxi or car to meet them.

He said the idea came after, “we saw travellers arriving by train and having to wait for Uber, City, Network or family taxis. Some may have waited half an hour or more.”

He added: “Sadly, Northern rules say half the bench is to be out of use due to social distancing, however users seem to have removed the tape. A very big vote of thanks goes to Abbeydale Rotary Club and all their members who generously supported this project.”

Abbeydale Rotary is focused on providing services in support of others and various committees manage projects to benefit the community. For more information visit https://abbeydalerotaryclub.org.uk/Abbey/

For more on FoDaTs visit http://www.fodats.net/

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