12th July 2007

News that Arriva Trains is taking over cross country services from Cheltenham and will support a Parkway station between Cheltenham and Gloucester is condemned by Greens.

News release and letter to press below.

Cllr Martin Whiteside, the Green party's Parliamentary candidate for Stroud said: "Virgin Trains, who recently lost its franchise to Arriva, has along with the Green party, Martin Horwood MP, Jonathon Porritt, the Government and indeed the vast majority of public opinion, refused to support Gloucestershire County Council's plans for the Parkway scheme."

Martin Whiteside said: "This whole project is deeply flawed. It will lead to increases in traffic, costs and inconvenience. Just as we feared Arriva wont rule out a cut in services from Cheltenham. Yes we need more stations, but money would be better spent on ones that serve communities like improving Cheltenham Spa or reopening stations in Churchdown and the Forest of Dean."

Notes:

Report yesterday

Some background
   

Letter to press:

You report that Arriva Trains, who are taking over cross country services from Cheltenham, have announced support for a Parkway station between Cheltenham  and Gloucester. However they are going against the  tide of sustained and growing opposition.

Virgin Trains, Gloucestershire Green party groups, Martin Horwood MP, Jonathon Porritt, the Government and indeed the vast majority of public  opinion, have refused to support Gloucestershire County Council's plans for the Parkway scheme.

This project is deeply flawed. It will lead to increases in traffic, costs and inconvenience. Just as we feared Arriva wont rule out a cut in services from Cheltenham. Yes we need more stations, but money would be better spent on ones that serve communities like improving Cheltenham Spa or reopening stations n Churchdown and the Forest of Dean.

Cllr Martin Whiteside

Hillside, Claypits Lane, Thrupp, Stroud
Stroud Green Party Parliamentary Candidate