Martin Horwood MP backs opposition to Gloucester Parkway Station
Cheltenham's Member of Parliament, Martin Horwood has voiced his opposition to Gloucestershire County Council's proposal to build a new railway station at Elmbridge Court near Gloucester.
Martin has written to the transport minister to urge the government not to back the Council's bid for funds. Cheltenham's Chamber of Commerce is also opposing the scheme.
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I/We call on Gloucestershire County Council to re-think its plans for the Parkway Station at Elmbridge Court.
If Parkway goes ahead then services to and from Cheltenham Spa Station will be drastically reduced.
In his letter to the minister, Martin says:
"People must not be obliged to travel to Elmbridge Court to catch their train. It adds unnecessarily to CO2 emissions, cost and inconvenience.
"Cheltenham has a cost effective alternative to Parkway that will bring major investment in the station and sustainable transport to the town. Its contribution to better rail services will be felt county wide. It should be vigorously pursued and supported.
"We should not be swayed by the mirage of regional funding for Cheltenham; the business case for the railway has little credibility amongst informed observers because it is seriously flawed.
" We should reject Parkway outright. We should work with Gloucester to find a real sustainable solution. If we do nothing and Parkway goes ahead, there is a clear long-term threat to the future of both Cheltenham and Gloucester stations."
Despite widespread opposition,Conservative and PAB councillors in Cheltenham failed to back Cheltenham Spa Station and are supporting Parkway instead.
Cheltenham's Conservative Parliamentary candidate supports Parkway too.
If Parkway goes ahead
Immediately, the cross country services to long distance destinations e.g. Plymouth will be halved, alternating every other hour between Parkway and Cheltenham – a 2 hourly service:
Confusion will reign for passengers who will have to choose the right station for their destination or connecting train, the right station for the return time, at alternating hours and depending upon the direction of travel:
Once the new franchises are let, the Train Operating Companies will take commercial decisions about which station to use and will accelerate change:
As soon as the new Cross Country franchise is in place the service into Cheltenham Spa will cease: this will also affect the number of services available for shorter distances such as Bristol:
Passengers for the Cross Country services will have no choice but to go via Parkway; walking and cycling there will be impossible; car journeys, congestion and CO2 emissions at Parkway will increase;
The early business service from Gloucester to London will also cease.
The Department for Transport will not fund major improvements with the result that Cheltenham Spa, already in need of investment, will be downgraded and become the poor relation:
The town, commuters, tourists and shoppers will have only a dilapidated third rate station; the prestige of Cheltenham will be at stake: