Breakthrough in campaign to re-open railway station

LIBERAL Democrats are claiming a breakthrough in the long-running campaign to re-open Tarporley/Beeston railway station.
The station has been included in a list of 50 stations or lines which the Government is considering re-opening.
Mark Ireland-Jones, chairman of Eddisbury and Weaver Vale Liberal Democrats said: “We have been long-standing supporters of the campaign to re-open the station and we are delighted the station has made the list.”
The six-year campaign started by Liberal Democrat Ian Priestner gathered pace recently.
Last year he delivered a petition with 1200 signatures from local residents to then Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach, who was a strong supporter of the campaign and who spoke up for the proposals in Westminster and with the Department of Transport.
She said: “There is a good case for re-opening the station. As we emerge from the Covid-19 lockdown re-opening the station would be fantastic news both for the environment and the local economy as it could efficiently connect residents to Chester, Crewe and further afield to Manchester, Birmingham and London.
“The new MP needs to work with the local council to secure adequate parking at the site. ”
In the last two weeks, the campaign has gathered cross-party support with support from Edward Timpson, the Conservative MP for Eddisbury, now supporting an application to the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund.
Ian Priestner commented: “The campaign was always intended to bring together everyone in the region to re-open this valuable resource. With the support of The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership I am pleased to see that Ed Timpson has added his voice to our work leading to the bid for the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund. I will continue to work with Antoinette Sandbach and others to be a vocal supporter of these efforts”.
More details about the campaign can be found on www.tarporleystationcampaign.co.uk