Plans on track for Morley Station upgrade
Morley Railway Station. (220206)
Morley train station could be set for an overhaul after local groups met to discuss how improvements could be made on its current state.
Planning permission has already been granted for a new pedestrian bridge to replace a dangerous crossing after a teenager was killed trying to coax her dog off the track two years ago.
The station was originally issued with a closure order after the incident in May 2010, when 16-year-old Natasha Elliott (pictured inset) died. But a working group also has plans to expand parking and improve pedestrian and cycle routes to the station.
Coun Robert Finnigan, chairman of the working group, said: “As part and parcel of bringing this group together everyone - Network Rail, Metro, local councillors, ramblers and cyclists - asked if there was anything else we could do.
“Part of that is improving the car park and public footpath network. What we need isn’t a re-jigging of what we have already got, its new car parking.”
Coun Finnigan has suggested land opposite the station could be obtained from the Earl of Dartmouth as part of a land swap scheme, and this could be used to build a new car park, leaving the existing car park open to rail users while building work is underway.
The working group also wants to improve pedestrian routes to the building, and there have been talks with the White Rose Centre to build a cycle route.
Coun Finnigan said: “There is a lot of good will and we have a masterplan, but we need everyone to agree.”
MP Ed Balls said: “It’s good to see plans now afoot to improve parking but there’s still a lot more to do and I’m calling for Morley to be part of a national programme of rail improvements and have wrriten to transport ministers to get teh best for Morley to get the the town the station it deserves.”
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Monday 20 May 2013
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