Station plans to be 'beacon' for Wellington

The Friends of Wellington Station have spoken more about their plans, as it was announced by the Government that it wants to do more to encourage communities to take control of their railway stations.

Members of the group say they want to make the station a key facility in Wellington, attracting businesses back into the empty spaces, reopening the waiting room and offering food.

On Monday, rail minister Paul Maynard announced multi-million pound plans a new scheme for local communities to adopt under-used stations and rail lines.

Nearly 60 Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) have been set up around the country since 1993, and have helped to revive a more than 80 routes and stations, thanks to volunteers, community engagement and funding from the government and train operators, which last year topped £3 million.

Now the Department for Transport plans to build on the success of the scheme by launching an updated community rail strategy – with millions of pounds of investment available for successful schemes. The plan is to see the scheme expanded and replicated on a wider scale across the country.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: "We want give the volunteers the support they deserve, spread their success and encourage new partnerships to be created and flourish."

The new strategy for England and Wales is the first since 2007, and will be launched in Spring next year following the end of the public consultation on 28 January 2018.

Members of the Friends of Wellington Station group have said they "very much welcome" the plans, which support their aspirations.

Fay Easton, lead adopter said: "The consultation period for the Department of Transport goes up to January 2018 and we will circulate the questions and submit various responses from our group.

"For Wellington Station, as passengers would testify, we have a long way to go to achieve one of the main ambitions set out in the document which is to provide a ‘world class’ service for passengers but that is most certainly one of our core aims as a newly formed adopters group.

"To that end we very much welcome this initiative from the Department of Transport which bodes well for community groups like ours prepared to invest our own time alongside the government and rail operator’s capital."

She added: "As a Group, we’re all firmly convinced that the regeneration of the station can provide a beacon for the entire town centre and we want exactly the same results as do the Government and the Franchise operator – increasing numbers of passengers, pride and interest in the station, ventures for commercial partnerships and major improvements to the safety, security and access at the station.

"We’re excited to hear of this high level interest in provincial stations and we have met with the executive team from the new franchise company and are heartened by their enthusiasm to work with us."

Last night, the group was holding a quarterly meeting of the adopters group where the plans were going to be discussed.

Despite forming only six months ago, the Friends of Wellington Station group has 27 members and has raised more than £5,000 in sponsorship from Tesco Groundworks, taxi company Go Carz, Shropshire Lavender and the Buckatree Hall Hotel.

This has enabled the planting of a lavender terrace at the gateway to Platform 1 as well as extensive flower and herb displays and distinctive signs, outlining the history of both the station and the adoption project. But that’s only the beginning for their Wellington Station plans, which include space for retail units and a microbrewery, installing toilet facilities on both platforms and offering free wi-fi.