Fiona Bruce MP praises work of volunteers at Alsager station
Fiona Bruce MP went to lend a hand at a ‘tidy up’ day at Alsager Railway Station on Saturday where volunteers from the local community work to make the station clean, tidy and attractive for its users. The group that has been working at the station for around five years has ten members as well as unofficial volunteers and has raised money through the rail partnership and O2 It’s Your Community to create pretty and structural flower beds out of what was previously scrubland. They have also received some help from the Town Council and much has been donated from their own gardens.
Volunteer with Friends of Alsager Station Peter Smith said “It's been a real pleasure having Fiona with us. She's shared in all manner of conversations with the Friends and also seen for herself a fair amount of passenger activity and the station's valued role in Alsager life.
We're glad too of her full support for the station and the line in any future discussions.
The platform flowerbeds reflect the ongoing endeavours of our grand bunch of friends and the kind comments of the station users are very much appreciated.”
Jonny Wiseman East Midlands Trains Route Manager said “This group is fantastic; it is something money can’t buy. To see gardens at a station is just wonderful.”
Faye Lambert the Community Rail Officer believes that the work done at the station has discouraged acts of vandalism. “The school children designed posters for the shelters and these have been up since May and there has been no graffiti, the appearance of the station cuts down on anti-social behaviour”
She also says that “Having the volunteers is gold, we have been very lucky. Many volunteers have stayed with us from the beginning and we have more people joining.”
Fiona Bruce MP told the volunteers “I am thoroughly impressed by the work you do and hope that this important station in Cheshire East continues to be supported. The station looks superb and it is wonderful to see such community spirit.”
The Station has been entered into the Best Kept Station in Cheshire Competition and there are perhaps even plans for a Banksy style mural on the wall of the shelters! If you are interested in helping out, anyone can join and it can take up as much or as little time as you want. For more information contact Faye Lambert at faye.lambert@stoke.gov.uk
