CAMPAIGN UPDATE LATE AUGUST 2015

The latest meeting of the MRLC Group took place on the 28th July at the Boar's Head in Kinderton Street when a well-attended meeting heard latest developments on the campaign and discussed, among other topics, the visit of steam loco 60009 Union Of South Africa to Sandbach on the 23^rd and 24^th of July.

Dave Roberts (Group Chairman) told the meeting that although this famous loco had not visited Middlewich and Northwich as originally planned its appearance at Sandbach had generated great interest locally and had helped forge links between MRLC and the Friends Of Sandbach Station (FOSS) who had picked up news of the visit through our own publicity.

Diverted Virgin Services between London Euston and Chester/Holyhead used the Middlewich line on the 1^st and 2^nd August: Some members of the group were hoping to travel on one of the diverted trains over the weekend and would use the opportunity to talk to passengers, raising awareness of our  campaign. We were also planning to place our yellow campaign banner, at a strategic point on the lineside so that passengers on the diverted trains would be aware of the campaign and of the possibilities for new journeys that the re-opening would provide.

Photo: Mid-Cheshire Rail Link Campaign

MRLC is hoping that a working party can be arranged to 'clean-up' the immediate environs of the proposed station site so that interested members of the public who want to see for themselves the possibilities of the scheme would be able to enjoy a more pleasant environment,particularly around the underpass taking the public footpath from Brooks Lane to Mid Point 18. We're also looking to re-organise our structure and  looking for a volunteer secretary, treasurer and publicity officer. In addition, we're hoping to form various task groups to organise different aspects of the campaign. MRLC is in the process of applying for grant funding to pay for various campaign running expenses, such as publicity leaflets etc. If you're interested in getting involved in our campaign, please get in touch. Our contact details can be found at the end of this report.

Also at the July meeting we discussed The West Cheshire Line, which runs from Mouldsworth to Helsby. Part of our remit is to keep an eye on this now-lifted line  The trackbed is protected from development so that the line can be re-instated in future if necessary.

First published 1st September 2015
Re-published 9th October 2015
and 25th November 2015