Bromsgrove Railway Station public consultation underway

Buy photos » Ian Frostick, Centro's project manager, with Bromsgrove resident Steph Boulter and David Balme from Worcestershire County Council. Picture by Tristan Harris.

A CONSULTATION exercise on the new Bromsgrove Railway Station has got underway today (Tuesday).

A special exhibition bus has been at the station during the morning and afternoon rush hours and, in between those times, in Bromsgrove High Street.

The new multi-million pound station is being jointly funded by Centro and Worcestershire County Council, in partnership with the Department of Transport (DfT) and Network Rail.

As well as information being displayed on the bus, representatives from Centro and Worcestershire County Council have been handing out leaflets and speaking to people about the scheme.

The new station will be built to the south of the current one, allowing Network Rail to electrify the line from Bromsgrove to Barnt Green and enabling more services to operate between Bromsgrove and Birmingham.

There will also be improved transport links between the new railway station and Bromsgrove centre, which is hoped will make the town more appealing for investment and job creation.

The new station will boast a modern building, toilets, ticket desk and shops, along with four platforms, connected by a footbridge.

There will also be a car park with around 350 spaces, motorcycle parking, electric vehicle parking and charging points and secure and covered cycle storage.

We spoke to Ian Frostick, the project manager from Centro, during the first day of consultation.

He said: "A lot of people we have talked to have been very supportive.

"One of the key questions has been about parking and parking schemes.

"People are also interested in what the service will look like when the electrification of the line has been completed."

David Balme, from Worcestershire County Council, said: "We have had a lot of positive feedback - from residents and station users to businesses."

The bus will be back at Bromsgrove Railway Station tomorrow (Wednesday), between 7am and 9.45am and from 4pm to 6pm.

It will also be on the High Street from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

And it will be back at the same times on January 29 and 30.

The public consultation runs until March 17. For more on how to have your say, pick up a leaflet and questionnaire from the bus during its stops in town and at the station or visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/bromsgrovestation

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