Alderley Edge Railway Station was named Cheshire East's Best Kept Station at the recent Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening.
A record attendance of 180 people saw 17 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 Friends of Alderley Edge Station is ambitious for its station, in order to transform its image. The volunteers have worked hard to transform the station with planting on forecourts and platforms, including an herb garden on a pallet and upcycling a sandbox. Additionally artwork showing the natural environment of the village, local maps and heritage, and the history of the Manchester-Crewe line are now on display.
Unfortunately prior to the awards ceremony the Friends of Alderley Edge Station received the sad news that the funding had been withdrawn to enable them to develop a redundant building on the Crewe platform as a community facility, which they had hoped would become a reality in the coming year.
Kelvin Briggs of Friends of Alderley Edge Station said: "We are delighted to have received the Cheshire East Award for 2024 following on from the Cheshire Best Kept Station Award in 2023. It's so pleasing the judges have again acknowledged our feature gardens, planters and artwork and deemed them worthy of award. We look forward to displaying some history boards relating to Rail 200 this year to help make our station a more welcoming and interesting place for rail passengers and visitors."
The Awards were presented by Mr Craig Harrop, Regional Director West & Central for Northern Railway.
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."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Such a shame about the funding for the building restoration - are there no grants available locally or could AE parish council not find some funding to help this project - perhaps Jones Homes could be approached to do a charity refurb for the village??
In discussion with Northern Trains Ltd about the DFT pulling the grant after it had been announced as happening at a recent Northern Trains Ltd Stakeholder conference I attended.
Hope to put together a prospectus together for potential benefactors to consider.
Let’s hope for better news soon!