Local MP Luke Hall is celebrating further success for his Positive Plan for South Gloucestershire, with the announcement of more investment in Yate Train Station.
Yate station is due to receive £160,000 for a range of improvements after Luke brought residents’ concerns about the lack of standing space to West of England Metro Mayor Tim Bowles attention. These improvements will include much needed new shelters for the platform. Other nearby stations such as Patchway and Severn Beach, are also set to receive substantial funding boosts.
The current plans will see work commence almost immediately, from April of this year, with current estimations looking at a completion date of March 2022.
Following a series of meetings which Luke has held with South Gloucestershire Council and the Metro Mayor for the West of England, Tim Bowles, an application was entered to receive a grant from the Government’s Access For All scheme, to secure improvements to trains stations across the region, worth more than £500,000.
The money awarded has also received match funding from the West of England Combined Authority’s Strategic Rail Investment Budget, meaning that a total of £1.1 million is now set to be spent on the project.
Speaking following his latest local success, Luke Hall said:
“This is a vital step forwards for us in delivering on our Positive Plan for Funding and Transport Infrastructure in South Gloucestershire. Yate station is vital to our region’s connectivity, and so I am delighted by this hugely positive step which will hugely benefit local commuters.
In recent months we have finally secured a new Yate Park & Ride, and I am still pushing to see a half-hourly train service introduced from Yate to Bristol to vastly improve our area’s transport links. This announcement of new funding for West of England train stations will be hugely beneficial for commuters who use the services every day.”
West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, also commented:
“I want to make sure our transport network works for all our residents, whether that’s building new stations and railway lines; accommodating the significant growth in passengers we’ve seen in the last 10 years, or making our stations more accessible.
This additional funding we have secured from the Government will improve eight stations in the West of England and help bring them up to my new MetroWest standard, with new waiting areas, accessible stations and better signage. Another example of the Conservatives delivering for the West of England.”
Cllr Steve Reade, South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment, said:
“I am delighted that this funding has been awarded to replace the shelters at Yate station as it fits in perfectly with the Council’s ongoing priorities to improve transport infrastructure and the image of our local communities.
Last year as a Council we declared a Climate Emergency and made an ambitious commitment to become Carbon Neutral by 2030 and we are already planting more trees, continuing to improve recycling services and investing significantly into greener schools, transport and communities.
This commitment, however, is very much a partnership with local residents and we need to be providing residents with good enough incentives to do their part, including to provide suitable facilities to encourage more people to get out of the car and walk, cycle, or in this case, use public transport.”
