Contractors and community volunteers continue to work
side by side to create Mountsorrel Station.
Costock Building Services have completed the platform block
work. A 58m long platform, including ramps at either end, has been created. The
platform has been designed for a train consisting of two coaches and a steam
loco or a two coach diesel rail car.
The contractor is currently laying the platform surface.
Volunteers will then erect a traditional picket fence at the rear of the
platform and the station name board.
Volunteers have undertaken extensive work to improve the
drainage in the cutting side above the new platform. The location of a new
platform in the base of the cutting has made the build quite complex. New
gulleys have been dug by hand and original field drains have been repaired and
improved. Thanks as well to Nigel Copson
of Lafarge Tarmac who has helped with the drainage and other work.
Contractors Steve Barsby Digger Services and J. Taylor
Landscapes have worked with our volunteers to create the disability friendly
access path to connect the new platform to the car park. Work on the access path is very nearly complete
with only the final connection to the platform still to be built.
Volunteers have erected the timber fencing for the car
park.
The car park itself is very nearly finished. Stone foundations
were laid which were then covered by a plastic mesh that is then filled with
soil. Grass seed will be spread to grow a green natural surface that is very
durable, strong and hard wearing.
Volunteers are starting to work on the landscaping of the site. The first task is to tidy the cutting sides to create the final profile, which has involved a lot of work with spades and barrows! Volunteers will then be planting trees, hedgerows and seeding the banks with a wildflower meadow mix, which should hopefully ensure plenty of colour by the opening next year!
As well as a big thank you to the contractors and community
volunteers who have at times been working on the site 7 days a week, we are
very grateful to Lafarge Tarmac who have provided most of the funding and some
of the materials for the station build, the Edith Murphy Foundation and
Leicestershire County Council who provided the match funding.
