Bob Baker, a retired resident of Pill, North Somerset, is facing the loss of his treasured garden shed due to the construction of a new railway station by Network Rail. The shed, located at the end of his garden, has been his sanctuary—a space where he spends around four hours daily indulging in his hobbies.
The garden borders the disused Portishead Railway line, which is now being revived to include a new station in Pill. As part of the project, Network Rail intends to take five metres from the end of the Bakers' garden, encompassing the entire shed, for the station’s development during the construction period.
Bob’s wife, Gill Baker, highlighted that Network Rail has offered alternative storage in a container across the road during the works. The railway company assures residents that any disruptions will be temporary and that the garden area will be restored once construction concludes.
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The project involves significant work, including demolishing Station House and stabilising the embankment along the railway cutting that runs through the village centre. Bob Baker expressed concerns about enduring two years of living amidst a building site and losing much of their garden in the process.
“We are not against the railway reopening,” Bob said. “We just can’t understand why so much of our garden needs to be taken to erect a fence.” Presently, only about four metres separate their garden from the railway line.
Neighbour Robert Proudfoot, whose property extends closer to the railway, will be left with just two metres of garden space after the changes. “All I can think about is whether we might get a council tax reduction,” he joked.
On March 31, local residents, including the Bakers and Proudfoot, attended a public information event in Pill where they discussed concerns with Network Rail representatives. The railway team acknowledged the disruption but emphasised their commitment to listening and mitigating residents’ worries, while expressing enthusiasm about reopening the railway.
The Portishead Railway was originally closed to passengers in 1964 due to the Beeching Cuts. After years of campaigning, work is now underway to reactivate the line, including new stations at Portishead and Pill, and reopening platform three at Parson Street station in Bristol. The service is expected to run hourly trains between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads by 2028 or 2029.