Councillor keen to keep Fleetwood rail link restoration in spotlight

Although the transport issue has understandably receded from the spotlight for much of this year due to the more immediately pressing concerns of the coronavirus pandemic, there are fears that the Fleetwood to Poulton rail link may never regain the attention of the Government. .

Coun Mary Stirzaker previously staged an online and paper petition to try and put the issue to the forefront, and she says the issue remains key to Fleetwood's regeneration.

Fleetwood lost its rail connection to Poulton in 1970 as part of the Beeching cuts and with the A585 trunk road being frequently congested, Coun Stirzaker says the rail linknis even more important.

She is hoping that Prime Minister Boris Johnson, currently heading Britain's response to the growing pandemic emergency, will still hold good on the pledge he made to support the restoration of Fleetwood's rail link, when he visited the Fylde coast in December last year, prior to the General Election.

There are two separate suggestions as to how Fleetwood could be linked once again to rail services, via the network link at Poulton train station.

One option would be to attempt to restore the heavy rail link, while another version would see a light rail link-up, involving an extension of the tramway system.

Coun Stirzaker, the Labour member for Wyre's Mount ward, said: "I understand the Covid crisis has held everything back and is the most pressing issue just now.

"However, Boris Johnson did say Fleetwood needed to have its rail link restored and suggested that could be within the next four years.

"The transport links to our town are terrible and it is wrong we’re not opened up and connected to the rest of the UK for people to visit by train.

"We can't let it be completely forgotten about or things will never change."

Coun Stirzaker is a member of the Fleetwood Back on Track group, which consists of town, borough and county councillors, along with members of Poulton and Wyre Railway Society (PWRS).

PWRS has carried out the restoration of tracks and platforms at Thornton and many of the tracks at Fleetwood and has also bought a diesel train, currently being restored, as part of a possible heritage serving running between Fleetwood and Poulton.

But there are many complications involved in the rail link restoration, not least the uncertainly over which of the two options would be most practical to proceed, should any green light be given.

Coun Stirzaker, who favours the heavy rail option, says a feasibility study needs to be carried out as soon as possible

She said: "The longer this is out of the spotlight, the longer the delays."