| BURSCOUGH CURVES - E-CAMPAIGN EFFORT NEEDED |
| Tuesday, 21 November 2006 | |
Following the release of Network Rail's North West Rail Utilisation Strategy - an attempt to show how greater use can be made of the railways-John Pugh is urging residents in Sefton and West Lancs to add their voices to the lobby to reinstate the Burscough Curves. The scheme long fought for by local campaigning groups like OPSTA meets a number of key goals. It is a way of extending the overcrowded rail network. It improves links to the coast and through Lancashire. It links up fragmented parts of the rail network notably the two small Burscough stations, providing a direct rail route to Ormskirk from Southport. It will also help the environment by extending public transport. "The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority are getting down to some serious number crunching on the project next year", says John. "What we must demonstrate is a level of community support that will pan out as passenger numbers. "What we need now is for residents sitting at their computer to send an e-mail note to Network Rail during the short consultation period on future railway use. "They should e-mail network rail on ' This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' . If people are not sure what to say they can consult my office or website for details of the scheme currently proposed. (An excellent PowerPoint slide show outlining the issues and proposals is available on the website and can be viewed here.) "At the moment Network Rail are largely talking of making better use existing track but this small project ticks so many boxes its got to be looked at.The more local people e-mail in the more likely it is that it will. " |