Copyright (c) 2014 ALBRIGHTON and DISCTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY
Below is the Press Release just issued after the meeting:-
MP’s intervention boosts campaign to save Albrighton Station Access Ramp
Residents of Albrighton and district were pleased to
have an easier pedestrian access ramp to their Station for 6 months
last year - this was installed by Network Rail while the old footbridge
was refurbished. The ramp enabled easier access particularly for the
elderly, mums with pushchairs & toddlers and people with luggage.
Some disabled residents found that they could now go on the train as
the four flights of stairs of the footbridge prevented that. On discovering
that Network Rail planned to demolish it in February 2014, residents
collected more than 1700 signatures in a petition to retain the ramp
facility as a local asset and Albrighton & District Civic Society
took on the role of managing the campaign, supported by Shropshire Council
and the four Parish Councils of Albrighton, Boningale, Donington-with-Boscobel
and Tong.
Efforts to get the parties to meet the Civic Society and councillors
met resistance until local Member of Parliament, Mark Pritchard, called
a meeting of Network Rail, London Midland Trains and EE Communications
together with the Civic Society and local councillors at Albrighton’s
Red House village hall on 10th January 2014.
Very good progress was made at the meeting and all parties agreed in
principle on the way forward to retain the ramp. The details of this
agreement should be finalised by the end of March 2014. Mark Pritchard
MP, who chaired the meeting, said: "Many Councillors and residents
have worked very hard on this issue over many months. Discussions with
all the stakeholders were constructive concerning the ramp's long term
future. However, there is still much more work to do in ensuring the
ramp remains in place permanently. I think the general view is cautious
optimism"
Those attending the meeting were:-
Network Rail – owner of the Station
London Midland Trains - operator of the trains and Station
EE Mobile Communications – owner of the land on which the ramp was built
Shropshire Council Chairman Cllr Malcolm Pate
Councillors: David Beechey, David Thomas, Peter Hurlstone, Peter Mycroft-
chairmen of the Parish Councils of Albrighton, Boningale, Donington-with-Boscobel
and Tong respectively
Peter Woodman – Chairman Albrighton & District Civic Society
Rod Smith – Secretary Albrighton & District Civic Society
Mike Pitchford – Treasurer Albrighton & District Civic Society
Ron Kidson – Albrighton & District Civic Society
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The meeting last Friday turned out to be far better than we could have
hoped. All external parties turned up and Mark Pritchard chaired the
meeting with great expertise and step by step got the reluctant ones
to be reasonable. We had certainly done our homework and were well prepared
and we had spent a considerable amount of effort in briefing Mark beforehand
and his handling of the participants was the key to the meeting’s success.
All our Councillors were excellent and there was a real ‘Albrighton
and District’ positive can do atmosphere and it was so good to see us
all working together to make this meeting a success. All those people
who have worked so hard on this campaign over several months would have
been pleased to see us all pulling together.
for more information please see www AlbrightonAndDistrictCivicSociety.co.uk
or contact:
Peter Woodman –Chairman (T: 372225) 31/32 High St or Rod Smith -Secretary
(T: 372765)
Copyright (c) 2014 ALBRIGHTON and DISCTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY