Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report updates the Area Committee on Virgin Trains’ plans to change the access arrangements for pedestrians through the underpass at Stockport Train Station, and to note the plans for Virgin Trains to introduce “Welcome Hosts” and manage a “Guest Pass” system so that non-rail users can still walk between the two sides of the Station, as part of the installation of gate lines at both ends of the underpass

The Area Committee is recommended to note the changes being introduced and receive an update report after the scheme has been in operation for six months.

Officer Contact: Pete Price on 0161 474 4901 or email: pete.price@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Area Committee on Virgin Trains’ plans to change the access arrangements for pedestrians at Stockport Railway Station, introduce ‘Welcome Hosts’ and manage a ‘Guest Pass’ system so that non-rail users could still walk between the two sides of the Station as part of the installation of gate lines at both ends of the underpass.

The Area Committee agreed that this item be also taken as an Open Forum item and members of the public were also invited to address the Area Committee on the proposal from Virgin Trains.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         There was general concern that Virgin Trains had not consulted directly with members of the public regarding the proposal.

·         The introduction of the ticket gates would reduce potential revenue to the Ye Olde Vic public house on Chatham Street, Stockport, particularly from customers of the hotel being built at Stockport Exchange. The underpass used to be wider and it should be possible to segregate rail passengers from people wishing to access the town centre from the direction of Edgeley.

·         Ward Councillors had received correspondence from traders in Castle Street, Edgeley, Disability Stockport and Stockport County Football Club who were concerned about the proposal. They felt that Virgin Trains should delay the implementation of the proposal until the end of the year in order to allow representatives of these bodies and the people who used the underpass to be consulted.

·         The discretion afforded to the Welcome Hosts with regard to whether or not to issue guest passes was too great.

·         There had been no discussions by Virgin Trains with Council Officers about considering alternative options. Officers had been given assurances that people wishing to walk from one side of the underpass to the other would be given free access.

·         It was unclear what the situation would be for people with discretionary travel passes.

·         The scanning of train tickets at the ticket gates would become the norm should a ‘Oyster’ style smart card be introduced for public transport in Greater Manchester.

·         A member of the public queried why ticket gates were not being introduced at Manchester Piccadilly station.

·         The scheme would not deter people from avoiding buying train tickets. Virgin Trains did not know how much revenue they were losing from people not buying train tickets, nor how many people used the underpass who were not travelling by train.

·         Virgin Trains should liaise with local schools whose pupils used the underpass in order to access the local swimming pool.

·         People who wished to walk through the underpass would have to queue with people travelling by train and this would cause additional problems.

RESOLVED – (1) That Virgin Trains be requested to delay the implementation of the scheme until there has been full consultation with everyone affected by it and consideration of alternative proposals.

(2)That Virgin Trains be requested to hold a public meeting for Stockport residents regarding the scheme and that it be held in the vicinity of Stockport Railway Station.