Town councillors hope a new plan to invest £2.4bn in the south west’s railways could benefit Highbridge railway station with improved facilities such as more car parking.
At a meeting last night (Monday, March 19th), Burnham and Highbridge town councillors welcomed the news that several railway companies running lines in the West of England have come together to set out their long-term plan.
The plan, called ‘In Partnership for Britain’s Prosperity – The West of England’ sets out how £2.4bn will be invested with the aim of delivering £9.45bn of benefit.
There will also be £50m of station improvements and car park investment to “improve and enhance the gateways to the villages, towns and cities that the railway serves.”
It is this funding that Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge town councillors hope could be used to improve Highbridge Railway Station, which currently has a limited number of parking spaces, only around 20, as pictured below.
Town Council Clerk Tatiana Cant told Monday’s meeting: “This could be a great opportunity to get some improvements for Highbridge railway station.”
Cllr Phil Harvey added: “I’d really like to see improved car parking at the station, even though the only way I can see it being done is with the removal of green space.”
He added: “If they would consider developing the waste ground at the back of the Co-Op store – the old shunting yard – then that would be welcome.”
It was also noted by town councillors that the plan includes ‘Customer and Communities Funds’ amounting to £4.5m for projects “that meet social needs, educate or engage local people, like bringing disused buildings back to life, developing history or heritage activities” which will be a further part of the planned investment to be explored for Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge.
The Town Council Clerk plans to meet up with the railway partnership to discuss in more detail how the funding could benefit Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge.
Prevously, improved signage and a better accessibility-friendly railway bridge for disabled travellers has also been mentioned as potential improvements.
Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of Great Western Railway, said: “The West’s railway, a partnership of the public and private sectors, is fundamental to the region’s prosperity, connecting workers to jobs, businesses to markets, and people to their families and friends. Working in partnership, the railway’s plan will spread growth to communities across the region and drive unprecedented improvements for our customers.”
Rail bosses at the launch of the new regional plan on Monday: Keith Walton, Severnside Community Rail Partnership, Andy Cooper Managing Director CrossCountry; Joe Graham, GWR Business Assurance Director; Mike Gallop, NR Director of Route Safety and Asset Management and James Durie Chief Executive, Chambers of Commerce & Initiative at Business West.
