New Year meeting over railway state

Published on 8th November 2007 in News

Members of the Goole to Leeds Rail Action Group this week agreed to ask local MP Ian Cawsey to co-ordinate a meeting in the New Year with all potential funders of the rail improvement after claiming that an improvement to the current service could cut down on local anti-social behaviour problems.

Richard Bridge, of the action group, told this newspaper that Monday evening's meeting proved fruitful, as the group heard that Helen Hoult of the Goole Renaissance Board has pledged her support. A positive response had also been received from Northern Rail and Metro. Mr Bridge said: "Helen Hoult was very supportive of our objectives as she felt they were complementary to her own, as the Goole Renaissance Board is looking at sustainable transport options for the 5,000 strong workforce at the Centreport development.

"She felt that Centreport would certainly help in giving the action group an economic case for developing better local rail services. Northern Rail once again reiterated that their franchise does not require them to improve the rail service but that they are happy to do so if there is a commercial case through a combination of government subsidy or fare income. Metro also stated that they are currently very focussed in the eastern part of their region and its current development, and that whilst we do not form part of the Metro area at the moment, they would certainly be happy to form part of future discussions."

He added: "As Ian Cawsey and John Grogan have both expressed their support for the Group's objectives and are determined to see an improved service, the group felt that it should ask Mr Cawsey to co-ordinate a meeting in the New Year with all interested parties and funders. We agreed to prepare a document for that meeting which clearly sets out the group's aims and aspirations. Any regular service will also provide access to leisure and social facilities in Leeds and also at Xscape, which would hopefully be an outlet for some of our younger residents and which may also alleviate some of the anti-social behavioural difficulties that our communities currently face."