With passenger journey numbers dropping from 75,000 to 18,000 during the "Covid year", and for so many of the remaining journeys being for work for people who could not work from home, the opening of the "Melksham Hub Cafe" could not have come at a worse time!  Now, after a pause to regroup and with so much learned, it's time to revisit a volunteer presence to help customers of public transport near the station.

* Passenger numbers are back up to around 65,000 per annum

* Passenger metrics have changed, somewhat away from daily commuting towards more occasional use that requires more support

* The trains have a reputation for unreliabiiity and an informed volunteer at the station can do miracles - as we have illustrated from time to time on an adhoc basis

* The Neighbourhood Plan, which passed referendum in July 2025, includes what we are calling the "InfoStation" as part of the longer term area plan - until 2038. Town and Parish councils fully on board.

* Our distribution exercise for public transport information and a number of other local indicators have confirmed that we'll have effective volunteers to staff the place with a simple model that brings them social benefit as well as the customers.

* Some elements of the business case model that had to be included in the "Melksham Hub" are no longer there, and things like many element of the refit remain and aren't another expense.

* CCIF offers an opportunity to bid for seeding costs

I have been working with others in Melksham (under the auspices of MTUG) to get all our ducks in a row and check that all the elephants in the room are identified and dealt with.  Looking good for a CCIF bid, and we have let wider potential partners know too.  Just for the moment, this is in "Frequent Posters" - a public version once some things are clarified and initial stakeholder inputs received should be published by the end of this month.

Documents for members:
Draft proposal (MTUG)
Report of local "intelligence" on public transport (MTUG)
CCIF guidance (GWR)