LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS FORUM FOR CHARNWOOD 1ST JULY 2015 RESPONSE TO E-PETITION: SILEBY AND BARROW UPON SOAR RAILWAY STATIONS REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT Purpose of Report 1. Following receipt of two petitions presented to the Charnwood Highway Forum on 7 January 2014, this report examines the issues and presents proposals on the way forward. The E-Petitions 2. The first e-petition, with 10 signatures, states: “We the undersigned petition the Council to Engage in discussions with East Midlands Trains about improving Sileby Railway Station. Currently there is no access to the station for disabled persons or persons using a pushchair. This means that those affected do not have access to transport to Nottingham and other areas directly. We would like a solution reached and worked on in regards to this. Also, a machine for purchasing tickets at the station has been in disrepair and unusable for over a year now and we would like discussions in restoring this. Additional aesthetic improvements would also be welcomed by the residents. We would expect these discussions and any outcomes in regards to work being carried out to be agreed and to be communicated via a public forum such as council minutes and/or notification.” 3. The second e-petition, with 3 signatures, states: “We the undersigned petition the Council to enter into discussions with East Midlands Trains in regards to improving conditions at Barrow-Upon-Soar Railway Station. Currently there is no access to the station for disabled persons or persons using a pushchair. This means that those affected do not have access to transport to Nottingham and other areas directly. We would like a solution reached and worked on in regards to this. Additional aesthetic improvements would also be welcomed by the residents. We would expect these discussions and any outcomes in regards to work being carried out to be agreed and to be communicated via a public forum such as council minutes and/or notifications. In the event that the station needs moving to facilitate these changes, this must be agreed with the residents of the village via a series of public meetings’ Background 4. The current stations at Sileby and Barrow-Upon-Soar were opened in the mid- 1990s as part of the Loughborough to Leicester phase of the Ivanhoe Line. At that time the stations were the County Council’s responsibility, but they have long since been transferred to the responsibility of Network Rail. Next steps 5. The County Council is engaged with Network Rail on a number of different projects that are seeking to deliver improvements to rail services and facilities in Leicestershire. In addition, working with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, it is working to develop a Rail Strategy for the County, which will set out our ambitions for future rail services in the area. 6. Through such work, the County Council will take opportunities to discuss with Network Rail the possibility of improving facilities at Sileby and Barrow Stations. However, the provision of facilities such as ramps and/or lifts would be costly and Network Rail is likely to require a clear business case in order to justify the level of investment required. Recommendation 7. It is recommended that the Forum notes the contents of this report. Officer to Contact Andy Yeomanson Tel. 0116 305 7184 E-mail: [email protected] Background Papers The two petitions containing 13 signatures in total and are held on file in the Chief Executive’s Department. .