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Ref: 253/08 28 July 2008

Chester Station Gateway Partnership Wins Award

The Chester Station Gateway Partnership has received national recognition at the Network Rail Environment Awards.

It has won the Community Partnership Award for improvements both inside and outside Chester Station.

The Chester Station Gateway Project is the regeneration and renovation of the railway station and its surroundings because it is a major gateway and economic hub into the city.

The Partnership has established a strong commitment to the project with more than £10 million of secured and planned investment. Projects that have been or are nearing completion include:

• Station Square traffic management and changes to the outside of the station including bus stops and road and footway improvements.
• New ticket offices and shopping outlets on the concourse
• Comprehensive repairs and re-glazed roof
• Refurbishment of previously redundant empty buildings for modern office use
• Architectural lighting scheme to the front of the building
• New Computer Information Screens and CCTV
• New toilets

Over the past five years, convened by Cheshire County Council, a group of stakeholders and interested organisations have been working in partnership to secure investment, plan and manage the regeneration programme and deliver change.

The Partnership includes Arriva Trains Wales, Cheshire County Council, Chester City Council, Merseyrail Electrics, Merseytravel, Network Rail, North West Development Agency, Railway Heritage Trust, Virgin Trains and Visit Chester and Cheshire.

Cheshire County Council Highways and Transportation Executive Member Eveleigh Moore-Dutton said: “This a very welcome award and shows how the County Council is committed to working with other partners to bring forward what are complex projects for the benefit of the community.

“The Chester Station Gateway Partnership has delivered real benefits making this important building and its surrounding area welcoming, in keeping with the historic building and fit for the 21^st century.”

The Station Square was also recently shortlisted for a National Transport Award in the ‘Walking and Public Realm’ category demonstrating that the work that has been carried out has been judged worthy of national recognition.

Photo Caption: Adrian Carrington (Arriva Trains Wales), Michael Ross (Former Chairman of Chester Station Gateway Partnership), awards presenter Bill Oddie, Amanda Newton (Network Rail) and David Thomas (Chairman of Chester Station Gateway Partnership and Cheshire County Council).

SW/KM
 

Notes To Editors: For further information please contact County Councillor Moore-Dutton on 07722 817060 and Area Traffic Engineer Dave Thomas on 01244 976143