items tagged with Barlaston

 

Following a fatality of a young man on the rail track in March this year and serious concerns raised by constituents, Bill Cash MP has received a brief letter today from a Minister at the Department of Transport, Paul Clark MP.

 

Cash said “The brief letter makes clear that whilst it is London Midland’s responsibility to resolve the matter of fencing at the stations, the Department of Transport has asked that they urgently take action on this matter.”

 

“This follows a number of meetings with local constituents, and also with Network Rail officials at the scene of a level crossing.

 

“My most recent correspondence with Network Rail demonstrated that both they and Her Majesty’s Inspector of Railways were willing to push for fencing but needed approval from the Department of Transport. What more approval can they need than a signed ministerial letter to me, asking that London Midland urgently take action to resolve this issue?

 

“I expect this to be done as soon as possible, as there has already been considerable delay in ensuring safety fencing alongside Barlaston and Wedgwood Stations and the surrounding vicinity up to the level crossing.”

 Following ongoing correspondence to ensure rail safety fencing is installed at Barlaston and Wedgwood stations, Bill Cash MP said:

 

 “After several meetings and ongoing correspondence with the relevant authorities, I welcome London Midland’s letter to me stating that they take all safety matters extremely seriously and they can no confirm that they have fenced off the areas in question.”

 

 “At the same time, I would have to question the adequacy of the measures they have put in place. I am told the fencing is of poor quality with wooden struts acting as a simple barrier to prevent people from walking on to the trackside.

 

 “This needs to be investigated further because I originally called for safety fencing on the basis that it really must ensure the safety of constituents and those passing through our area.”

“I welcome a letter I received today from the Office of Rail Regulation stating that London Midland cannot prevent access at Barlaston and Wedgwood stations until they agree service level changes with the Department of Transport. We are urgently pushing for those discussions to be concluded. The safety fencing must be put up.

 

“I had already received a positive letter from Transport minister, Paul Clark, addressing this situation so I am hoping that the fencing can be erected soon.

 

“I have now written to London Midland and the Department for Transport, urging them to take forward their discussions on agreed service level changes so that we can have the necessary safety fencing at Barlaston and Wedgwood stations.”

 

Press Release 09/11/09

Local MP, Bill Cash is thrilled that Wedgwood Museum has won the £100,000 Art Fund Prize 2009 – the UK’s largest single arts prize – which was announced last night at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

 

Bill Cash has taken an active interest in the Wedgwood Museum and regards it as “one of the great jewels in the crown of British Museums.”

 

Mr. Cash went on to say: “The Art Fund Prize is there to honour this great original Museum and it is a huge tribute to the vast number of people who made this happen. The Museum only opened last October following the hard work of the Wedgwood Museum Trust who spent so much time and effort in order to raise funds to build it.”