Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

September At a meeting of the General Purposes Committee, the Town Clerk submitted correspondence from the Area Manager of British Railways - London Midland Region, stating that work would soon begin on a modernisation of Accrington’s Railway Station. These would concentrate the facilities provided for passengers on just two platforms only. This would also include the closing of the Eagle Street entrance to the station, which would henceforth be used for parcels traffic only. The Paxton Street entrance would then be refurbished and reopened for passenger use. Following a lengthy discussion on these proposals, it was resolved that the Town Clerk should write to the British Railways Board, protesting in the strongest terms against the closing of the Eagle Street entrance and the reopening of the one on Paxton Street, which would involve passengers having to surmount a very steep incline. He should also request on behalf of the Council a detailed plan from British Railways of their plans. He next reported on being in receipt of another letter, this time from the Divisional Manager of British Railways, relating to the plans the BR Board had formulated following a review of passenger services in the Manchester, Blackpool and East Lancashire areas. These would take place if the Minister of Transport gave consent to the reorganisation of passenger services on the Fylde Coast and the East Lancashire areas, and these revisions would then come into effect during May, 1970. Following another lengthy discussion, it was resolved the Town Clerk should protest to British Railways at the withdrawal of through services between Accrington and Manchester, and Accrington and Blackpool, whilst pointing out the increases in journey times which would ensue by having to change in Blackburn for Manchester, and Preston for Blackpool, this in addition to the curtailing of late evening trains. October Platforms 2 & 1, the former Preston and Colne platforms at Accrington Station, had their waiting rooms removed during mid-month as part of the long-awaited refurbishment of the facilities. The Paxton Street entrance was to reopen as this would be where the new booking office would be located. However, the former main entrance on Eagle Street would remain open, but only for the handling of parcels traffic. The canopy over the footbridge was also being taken off as it was in an unsafe condition. Trains would operate as normal whilst the work was underway. November Accrington Council had decided to write to BR about the condition of the refurbished Railway Station on several grounds. These included the derelict platforms with no waiting rooms, platforms with the only form of shelter being an open structure on each of the train platforms, only one entrance at the top of a very steep slope and no toilet facilities. These were just the main topics raised and Councillor Mrs E. Harrison, asked if it would be possible to reopen the Eagle Street entrance again to passengers, even though it was often blocked by parcels, luggage and parked vehicles. Councillor G. Smith, who was an employee of the railways, said that whilst the Eagle Street entrance was used exclusively for parcels traffic, there would be no other alternative place available to handle it. He added that the reason why there were no toilet facilities was that they were often the target of vandals. He did accept however, that the slope from Paxton Street was a nightmare for a mother pushing a pram. The fact that there were only two bus stop type shelters, one on either platform, was also deplored. But criticisms were not only confined to the facilities, as voices were also raised about the train services. Councillor Smith was of the opinion that the changes to the Manchester and Blackpool services were, “Not an improvement but done as an economy, as the journey time to Blackpool would go from 70 to 100 minutes”. Councillor Wallwork stated, “For years the rail fares have been well in excess of those on the buses, and nothing had been done to encourage people back onto the trains. I fear we will be left without a train service in Accrington, if we do not protest vociferously against this”. Councillors Bill Parkinson and Mary Mortimer felt this was just another move in the eventual closing of the East Lancs Line altogether! Great Harwood Council were furious that BR had sent them notice of a new timetable, a full twelve years after the town’s station had closed, and five years after all the lines had been lifted. Councillor David Mercer said, “When the station closed down BR left us with the biggest possible eyesore with which we had to cope”. December Arthur Davidson, the town’s Labour MP, waded into the debate in the House of Commons when in a statement he said, “Many of my constituents thought their train services deplorable before this revision, which had made the service even worse”. He was commenting on the alterations to train services to Preston and Blackpool South. Peter Baker, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, added “It should be made a condition of giving approval to BR for Capital investment, that there should be an

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