News
NORTHERN RAIL AND PARTNERS CELEBRATE AWARDS SUCCESS
10th February 2009
Northern Rail and its local partners are celebrating after scooping five top prizes at the Cheshire Best Kept Station Awards.
Chelford took top honours being named overall Best Kept Station. The judges paid tribute to the huge effort of the station team, which includes station adopters Tony and Barbara Icke, David Stannard and Peter Hammond for their stunning floral displays. The team has been supported by Northern and its facilities contractor ISS who contributed bulbs, planter boxes and fencing to help kick start the transformation.
Holmes Chapel took the prize for Best Staffed Station thanks to the customer service skills of Graham Blake. He has provided a library, music and plants in the waiting room and is supported by the local scouts group, which has brightened the platforms with planters.
Knutsford won the ACoRP Award for the station that best demonstrates Partnership in the Community. Thousands of visitors for the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park travel through Knutsford every year. Northern teamed up with Visit Chester + Cheshire, Knutsford High School, Cheshire County Council, Macclesfield Borough Council, Knutsford Town Council, Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership, Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association, ISS and Network Rail to transform the station and adjacent bridge. The project involved repainting, the removal of old trees and shrubbery, provision of new flowerbeds and planters, installation of CCTV and a display of artwork. The station became a fitting gateway to a ‘Floral Walk’ through the town centre to the Flower Show.
Wilmslow took the Roberts Bakery Award for best newcomer to the competition. Visit Chester + Cheshire, local businesses, Wilmslow Lions Club, local volunteers, Northern and Virgin Trains teamed up to provide striking signage and an array of planters to celebrate Cheshire’s Year of the Garden.
Delamere won Best Station in Vale Royal Borough. The judges said it was “?one of the prettiest stations in Cheshire, and with the help of the local primary school it gets better each year.”
Lee Wasnidge, Area Director, Northern Rail said: “We’re delighted to win these awards, they really are the result of a great team effort. They recognise the importance of the contributions of all our partners in creating warm and welcoming environments for passengers at our stations.”
