Town hall to collaborate with stations alliance

Ashton train station. Image courtesy of Google Maps

Council chiefs are to collaborate with an alliance of railway stations to explore improvements to Tameside train stations and developing surrounding land.

Neighbouring Tameside’s executive cabinet has signed off on plans to work with the Greater Manchester Stations Alliance to undertake feasibility work at Ashton railway station.

The ‘memorandum of understanding’ between the authority and stations alliance will not be a formal partnership, but will set the basis for ‘collaborative working’.

This will allow them to explore the potential to ‘promote mixed use development’ on the land around the station, and to investigate current and future railway operational and maintenance requirements.

The Alliance is made up of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Network Rail, London Continental Railway, TransPennine Express and Northern Rail.

Once initial feasibility work for the Ashton train station and surrounding land has been drawn up, a report will be brought back to cabinet to recommended whether there is an ‘opportunity’ to progress any options as part of the wider regeneration of Ashton town centre.

The council is also planning to engage ‘proactively’ with the Alliance, specifically TfGM and TransPennine Express, to explore improvement works at Stalybridge train station.

Chiefs have already drawn up a masterplan for the west of Stalybridge which has identified the potential for ‘significant residential led mixed use development’ on brownfield land in the vicinity of Stalybridge Rail Station.

Director of place Julian Jackson told the cabinet meeting: “We’re going to engage with this Alliance to support Tameside with our priorities around these stations so it’s actually to support this feasibility work and so we can take those priorities forward which align with our regeneration priorities in the areas around those stations as well.”

Councillor Bill Fairfoull said: “I think the two train stations in question, Stalybridge is a key, key station and has always been very well used.

"Ashton obviously has the bus station and the tram stop and the tram stop there.

“Obviously the ambition here is for us not to be the last stop on the route into town, but that’s probably one for the future.”

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