Buxton Line Challenge to Government

11.05.01am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th May 2005

Local MP, Andrew Stunell has challenged the Secretary of State for Transport in Parliament this week about the future of the Hazel Grove to Buxton railway line.

Voicing the concerns of many local commuters Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell, asked the Secretary of State:

"Is he aware of the serious fears of users of the Hazel Grove to Buxton line that if it is reinvented as a community railway, they will lose out?

"They already face the use of old rolling stock, a disrupted timetable and overcrowding during peak periods, and fear that the transfer of costs and liabilities to community groups and local authorities would lead to a transfer of blame, not a transfer of resources. Can he guarantee my constituents and commuters that that will not be the case?"

Speaking later, Mr Stunell said:

"The Hazel Grove to Buxton line is used by hundreds of local residents. If the Government goes ahead and makes it into a Community Line, the costs will fall directly onto the local community."

"Today the Transport Minister has agreed to have extensive local consultation on the plans, and has promised that if there is no local support it will not go ahead. I will be holding him to that, and fighting to get local commuters and passengers a fair deal on local transport."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. More details of the Government's plans for community Rail can be found in the Community Rail Development Strategy, November 2004: http://www.sra.gov.uk/pubs2/stratpolplan/publication.2004-11-22.5301054796/crds.pdf

2. The text of Andrew Stunell's questions and the responses from the Secretary of State for Transport are available on the Hansard website for 24th May 2005: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050524/debtext/50524-04.htm#column_549