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| Photo supplied by The Middlewich Guardian |
(First published in the Middlewich Guardian 25th July 2011. Reproduced with permission)
by Katie Durose
CELEBRITY record producer and rail enthusiat Pete Waterman has become the new patron of a campaign to re-open Middlewich railway station.
MP Fiona Bruce has been working closely with the Middlewich Rail Link Campain (MRLC) since Cheshire East Council announced in October 2010 that it was 'not a priority' for funding.
Pete was invited to a debate in the House of Commons to discuss how he could help the project.
Vernon Perkins*, secretary of the MRLC, said, 'we are lucky to have living on our doorstep the most recognisable media personality on the subject of trains.
'Then there is the wealth of industry knowledge that Pete possesses.
'We know he owns locomotives, but also built up the Crewe-based maintenance company, LNWR.
'I am sure that Pete can help us talk to the right people - the likes of Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Northern Rail.'
Middlewich lost its passenger train service in 1960, but the campaign group are hoping to reopen the service
between Sandbach and Northwich via Middlewich.
The costs of reopening the line would be around £2m, but according to a feasibility study released in July 2009, the benefit would be five times greater than the price.
MP Fiona Bruce says, 'Pete Waterman is the ideal patron for the campaign - not only for his huge enthusiasm and knowhow of trains, but aslso as the appointed chairman of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, which is determined to put this region firmly on the map in terms of investment and opportunities.'
Talking to Fiona at the House of Commons, Pete said, 'I am very pleased to become the campaign's patron and am looking at how I can provide support'.
* Since this article was first published, Vernon Perkins has left the campaign.
Pete was invited to a debate in the House of Commons to discuss how he could help the project.
Vernon Perkins*, secretary of the MRLC, said, 'we are lucky to have living on our doorstep the most recognisable media personality on the subject of trains.
'Then there is the wealth of industry knowledge that Pete possesses.
'We know he owns locomotives, but also built up the Crewe-based maintenance company, LNWR.
'I am sure that Pete can help us talk to the right people - the likes of Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Northern Rail.'
Middlewich lost its passenger train service in 1960, but the campaign group are hoping to reopen the service
between Sandbach and Northwich via Middlewich.
The costs of reopening the line would be around £2m, but according to a feasibility study released in July 2009, the benefit would be five times greater than the price.
MP Fiona Bruce says, 'Pete Waterman is the ideal patron for the campaign - not only for his huge enthusiasm and knowhow of trains, but aslso as the appointed chairman of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, which is determined to put this region firmly on the map in terms of investment and opportunities.'
Talking to Fiona at the House of Commons, Pete said, 'I am very pleased to become the campaign's patron and am looking at how I can provide support'.
* Since this article was first published, Vernon Perkins has left the campaign.
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