STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus Integration, Community and Delivery: a Masterplan for Stourbridge's railway stations STOURBRIDGE TOWN AND STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION STATIONS MARCH 2020 FOREWORD Introducing the concept of Stations as Places The Stations as Places programme aims to promote local railway stations as community ‘hubs’ rather than simply access points onto the rail network. The vision is to develop local railway stations as an asset highly valued within the community, contributing to economic growth and acting as a hub for creativity, heritage and social amenity. The Vision “We will develop stations as quality gateways between communities and the railway, supporting the changing needs of our passengers, residents and visitors. Stations in the West Midlands will be community assets, supporting the wellbeing and development of the areas they serve through involving local community and business.” West Midlands Station Alliance (WMSA) Mission Statement What does the prospectus do for Stourbridge's stations? There is an important role for the railways to play in both the economic and social regeneration of the local areas which our stations serve. This Opportunity Prospectus sets out the economic, social and geographic landscape of the area around our station and highlights some of the opportunities for commercial development, partnership working, inward investment and community regeneration. We have included a profile of the Stourbridge stations in this document and looked at different types of activity neighbouring our stations, from local businesses providing facilities to the travelling public, local authorities using existing assets in different ways, businesses looking for investment opportunities and the impact of new development in the surrounding area. Contents Chapter Page Chapter Page Why ‘Stations as Places’? 2 The Aspiration 16 Bringing our Partners together 3 Listening to our Community 18 About the Stations 4 Making the Station a Better Place 19 Get in touch and keep up to date What Do We Know? 6 Opportunities for Investment 21 Survey Results 7 Action Plan and Targets 22 You can email [email protected] and one of the team will get back to you! Services and Trains 8 Who to contact and how to get involved 23 Station Layout 9 You can also follow progress on Stations The Headline Opportunities 10 as Places at: Local Growth 12 www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance Opportunity Plan 14 1 Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Stourbridge? Who are the West Midlands Station Alliance? WMSA is a formal alliancing arrangement between industry partners with a common vision and What do we Know forward plan, including infrastructure owner Network Rail, station facilities owner West Midlands Trains (WMT) and local government West Midlands Rail Executive. The role of the WMSA is to facilitate Stations as Places by bringing together various stakeholders to work together in partnership; ensuring that the Stations as Places vision and local aspirations are shared between the stakeholders, the infrastructure owner - the station facilities owner - and the Local Government. community ENGAGEMENT Why Stourbridge's stations have been selected? Stourbridge is an important station for commuters and visitors to the town. The stations have an important role to play in the economic growth of the town through opening up Stourbridge to the building a large workforce within the West Midlands region, enabling Stourbridge’s community to access VISION employment, education and training across the region and to support a growth in Stourbridge tourism. The drivers for developing this location Stourbridge stations are used by over two million passengers annually and are particularly busy Stations as Places at peak commuting times - the level of congestion is having an impact on passenger experience, PROSPECTUS particularly those with lower mobility and requiring assistance. The stations will benefit from improved maintenance and investment in facilities; with some improvements already planned. Monitoring Progress & The Prospectus Continuing Engagement This Prospectus sets out the headline opportunities for both stations in Stourbridge; including car parking management, community integration, improvements to the passenger environment and promoting Stourbridge’s heritage (such as the town’s glass making history). The flow chart on the right shows how we are delivering Stations as Places in Stourbridge. 2 Bringing our Partners together Our stakeholders really matter to us. Whether it’s a major developer building new homes in reach of the station or an individual customer that needs to be able to make an easy journey to a hospital appointment using a combination of train and bus, the Stations as Places team wants to hear views from stakeholders and customers. Our inclusive consultation approach ensures we cover the 4 dimensions of: COMMUNITY A railway station is often a great asset to a community, but a LOCAL PERSPECTIVE community can also be a great asset to a railway station. Some railway stations are ideally suited for some areas and not at all for others. Stourbridge’s stations are already clearly a valuable community asset which need to be cared for now and in the future, however, there is room To help shape the future of the Stourbridge stations to the for growing the community’s involvement in the each of the stations. needs and requirements of the local community, involving the Hence, the local community being identified as community in the planning process is critical. The travel survey an opportunity for the stations. The Friends of can establish how and when people travel to and from the Stourbridge Stations (FOSS) already play an stations but community involvement helps to make a station a important role in improving the passenger experience; more attractive and valuable community asset. Stations as Places through floral displays, the upkeep of the station aims to establish strong links between the station management library and tidying the station and platforms. and businesses, the community and other local stakeholders; ensuring that the voice of the community is heard. SOCIAL VALUE LEGACY Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger thoroughfare’ into An important objective of Stations as Places it to provide a long-term a genuine community asset will have a positive impact on the local legacy by establishing integration and community involvement as the community. heart of the Stourbridge stations. Residents and businesses are more likely to take ownership of their This will involve the community taking a level of ownership of the stations local station if it is a pleasant and safe place to be, meets their needs and passing this onto the future generations to keep each station a valuable and represents local people and heritage. A railway station as a valued part of the local community. Of course, Network Rail, West Midlands Trains community hub can offer a real contribution to improving social inclusion and the Local Government will also and mental wellbeing; from promoting have an important role in the legacy of inclusivity through membership of a the station and that is why partnership ‘friends of’ group or simply making working between the community and waiting as a part of a morning commute these organisations is so important. more pleasant. Most importantly, an integrated station shows that people care and that they have something to be proud of. 3 About the stations KEY FACTS Stourbridge Junction Stourbridge Town • The station is located 1.3km southeast of Stourbridge • The Stourbridge Branch Line is claimed to be the Town centre and consists of three platforms; providing shortest branch line in Europe and many miniature direct and regular access to Birmingham, Kidderminster railways are actually longer. and Stourbridge Town. • The branch line was originally constructed to allow • The station opened in 1852 in a slightly different transhipment with the Stourbridge Canal. location to the present station and was named Stourbridge. The name was changes when the • The branch opened for passenger traffic on 1 August Stourbridge Railway built their line to Lye. The station 1879 and for goods traffic on 1 January 1880. It briefly originally had four platforms. closed between April 1915 and February 1919 due to the First World War but has otherwise remained open • The station became a double junction in 1879 when since. However, the goods branch closed in 1965. the passenger and goods line opened to Stourbridge Town. FACILITIES OVERVIEW STATION TYPOLOGY Stourbridge Junction Stourbridge Town Stourbridge Junction - Local Gateway Accessible Toilets Bicycle parking with Local Gateway - serves small town, local CCTV centres and local interchanges Waiting room FEATURES Other seating facilities Lockers • Park and Ride KEY • Access to 'mainline' services Coffee kiosk Ticket Office • Access to residential areas Food vending machine Ticket Machine Ticket Office Pay phone Stourbridge Town - Local Gateway Ticket Machine Local Gateway - serves small town, local Bicycle parking with centres and local interchanges FEATURES CCTV KEY • Interchange with bus Pay phone • Access to town centre Post box 4 About the stations LEASE PLAN - STOURBRIDGE TOWN LEASE PLAN - STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION Land within the blue line boundary is leased by Network Rail to West Midlands Trains. West Midlands Trains is required to meet lease holder conditions on behalf of the landlord, Network Rail. This comprises of maintenance and enhancements to station areas, including the station