Stockport stations honoured among Cheshire’s Best Kept

Two Stockport Borough railways stations have been honoured and one highly commended at the recent Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening.

Romiley Station won the Transport for Greater Manchester Award and Rose Hill won the Best Staffed Station Award.  Marple was also Highly Commended for the Art Project Award.

Angie Clark, Chair of Friends of Romiley Station said of the award win,:

“The Friends of Romiley Station are delighted to have received the TfGM award at Cheshire Best Kept Stations. Our thanks go to everyone who contributes to this inspiring event.“

Rachel Singer Chair of Friends of Rose Hill Station commented:

“The Friends of Rose Hill Station greatly appreciate the acknowledgement of our efforts by CBKS. We are particularly pleased that our award recognises the contribution of Northern’s Tony Tweedie to the friendliness and good upkeep of our station. Tony is part of our community and a huge factor in the community ‘feel’ of our station.”

A record attendance of 180 people saw seventeen stations in the former county of Cheshire ‘score’ at Crewe Alexandra Football Club when Cheshire Best Kept Stations Annual awards were held on Thursday 6th February.

The Awards were presented before ten Borough and Town Mayors by Mr Craig Harrop, Regional Director West & Central for Northern Railway. Nantwich Station won the coveted overall winner’s “Cheshire Best Kept Station Award”, the first time the top award has gone to this station.

On presenting the awards, Craig Harrop said:

“It’s fantastic to be part of this celebration of volunteers and the local railway community, who through their incredible skills, passion and hard work, help to brighten up stations across the county.  Our community partners are the heartbeat of the railway and we’re extremely proud to work closely with them to deliver such a wide-ranging positive impact across Cheshire and the North of England.”

On announcing the Awards, Mark Barker, Chair of Cheshire Best Kept Stations said:

“Tonight’s Awards Evening is a celebration for all the volunteers and community groups who do so much to brighten up our stations in Cheshire.  You are all winners! – whether or not you pick up an award tonight.  Tonight, at our new venue Crewe Alexandra Football Club, we are saying a big thank you to volunteers and for those who support and encourage you – the rail industry, civic leaders and local authorities.  You deserve it.  You should be proud of your work at so many of our Cheshire stations.  We have seen some truly excellent work from volunteers and staff at stations right across Cheshire.”

Paul Webster, Community Rail Network’s Regions Support Manager, who also spoke at the event said:

“Each of Cheshire’s stations ably demonstrates how they are a gateway to their community, offering a colourful floral welcome for visitors arriving there or with artwork which leaves a long lasting pictorial memory that people getting on a train will take with them.  They are stations which provide a pleasant vista for passengers travelling through them to also enjoy. Cheshire Best Kept Stations is a unique awards ceremony within community rail and one which Community Rail Network was delighted to attend and to be able to support.”