WARRINGTON Borough Council leader Ian Marks is hoping to arrange a top level meeting with railway chiefs in the near future for talks on ambitious proposals to improve Bank Quay Station.
The station has been identified by the government-appointed “Station Champions” – planning expert Sir Peter Hall and former Virgin Trains boss Chris Green – as one of the 10 most needing improvement in the country.
As a result, it should receive a share of £50 million set aside for dealing with the worst stations.
Council chiefs met Transport Secretary Lord Andrew Adonis earlier this year to discuss Bank Quay and the authority’s own proposals for regenerating the area around the station.
Talks are also ongoing with Railtrack and train operators Virgin Trains.
Early last year, improvements costing £1 million were carried out at Bank Quay – but that did not stop the Station Champions listing the station as the ninth worst in the country.
The council’s own study of the area has identified a number of improvements that are necessary – including bus stop facilities, signing and toilets.
They would also like cycle lockers, a station travel plan, longer opening hours for the station’s catering facilities and improved retailing.
Subway enhancement, extended CCTV coverage and more platform seating are also thought necessary.
Coun Marks said some of the issues identified were outside the station boundary and the borough council was committed to consider what investment could be identified from its own transport funding to add value to the rail industry investment.
As part of this, the upcoming Local Transport Plan 3, in place from April 1 next year, would consider the need to tackle some of the wider transport integration issues.
He added: “For some time now the redevelopment of Warrington Bank Quay has been an integral part of our plans to redevelop the town centre, and to this end, two years ago, feasibility work on a long term vision for Warrington Bank Quay and the surrounding area was commenced.
“It is unclear at this stage to what extent the short term aspirations to meet minimum criteria at Warrington Bank Quay can contribute to the vision we have started to develop, but we will investigate this with Network Rail and Virgin Trains. I would hope that the regeneration benefits of any investment into the station could be maximised, and indeed other funding opportunities to bring this about, investigated.
Pictured: Bank Quay station after its £1m facelift last year
Council seeks top level talks on station
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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I remember arriving at Warrington Bank Quay over 15 years ago as we visited the town prior to relocating here from Scotland and my first impression was to get on the next train out of the town – it’s a horrible, dreary, grey, depressing station (even with the ‘improvements’ since then) and is a terrible gateway to the town. Warrington deserves better.