Huge Backing for Local Stations

• Sep. 9 by Natalie Adcock (0)

Local people have two days left to let Centro know what should be prioritised in its planning for funding rail projects.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth, Moseley Forum and Kings Heath Business leaders have all teamed up to ensure local people’s voices are heard in the consultation currently under way.
 
In just over a month, over 700 individual letters have been collected by Birmingham Friends of the Earth, which have already been passed onto Centro and many more are expected before the deadline next week.

Campaigners asking for the re-opening of local stations in South Birmingham say that the number of will provide incontrovertible proof of the demand for local rail services.

Joe Peacock of Birmingham Friends of the Earth said:

“This level of support is not surprising as there are about 30,000 people living within 10 minutes walk of the planned stations in Balsall Heath, Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley.

These suburbs were designed with train stations as the main gateways in and out for travellers.

I would encourage any of those people whose transport needs are not being met at present to let Centro know as we can’t afford to wait another 10 years for stations to be in place as we need to be tackling transport inefficiency now”.

The West Midlands draft “Rail Development Plan” includes a passenger service along the existing ‘Camp Hill line’ calling at these stations and using a new curve, to be built to connect the line into Moor Street station.

However, this could be moved down the priority list if people do not express how important it is. A model of how to do this is available here.
 
Jon Jaffa from Kings Heath Centre Partnership said:

“Kings Heath businesses and residents alike see the logic of re-opening the rail link as irrefutable in terms of a cohesive transport strategy.

It would at once relieve the congestion on the busiest bus route in Europe and reduce the carbon footprint of Birmingham as a whole, so we are firmly behind it”.  

With all the pressure being put on rail providers and politicians, local people are hoping they will soon be celebrating a new chapter for rail in Birmingham.