Winter colour for Walkden station

Flowers, and litter, at Walkden station !

FOWS’ crack gardening team Angela and Barbara have been making the most of the unseasonal sunshine today to refresh the flower beds and planters on the station with some stunning winter colour.

After spending an hour clearing up Saturday night’s litter, much of which had been deliberately created by tearing up newspapers (how bored must you be to do that ?!), the flower beds were weeded, fresh compost put down, and a colourful array of new shrubs and flowers planted.

The new plants have been purchased with another grant from Salford City Council’s Community Chest who have once again demonstrated their support of FOWS efforts to improve the station environment.

Our sincere thanks to Salford and the community committee again !

They say “It’s your Salford” … so don’t let the planners forget Walkden station !

You may have read about the council’s Draft Core Strategy for Salford’s long-term development in your “Life in Salford” magazine. This plan has serious implications for Walkden station …

Conspicuous by its absence
The “Life in Salford” article doesn’t mention Walkden station at all, just a new park and ride facility at Irlam.

But in the Transport section of the full strategy document (available from www.itsyoursalford.info), the outlook for Walkden is grim … there are improvements for Swinton, Eccles, Irlam, Salford Crescent and Central stations: but nothing for Walkden station.

Metrolink Takeover ?
The strategy also reveals plans for a feasibility study into adapting the route for Metrolink trams. Trams may provide a more frequent service, but journey times may be longer as more stops are added to the route, fares will quite probably be higher, and the carriages themselves will be smaller, have less seats than trains, and no toilets.

Moreover, conversion to Metrolink could spell the end of through train services to places like Southport and Blackpool.

FOWS believe trains provide the very best fast, green route into the city and we do not want the line to be taken over by trams.

If you share our view, make sure you take part in Salford’s consultation process.
Let’s get proper improvements for Walkden built into the plan now !

Motorist beware – new parking restrictions coming on Park Road

We have been informed that Salford City Council will shortly commence work on the notorious accident blackspot that is the Park Road/Walkden Road mini-roundabout.

Among the changes are double-yellow lines along Park Road – a popular parking spot for station users. While we understand the reduced congestion will improve the quality of life for residents, it will also make parking harder for rail users.

We have been advised the new parking restrictions will be rigorously enforced by traffic wardens.

FOWS have pointed out to the council the unfairness of restricting parking without making any alternate provision – and this at a time when the council is supposedly promoting public transport use !

Among the other changes planned are road and pavement resurfacing, and the installation of new bollards and railings.

FOWS’s calls for a pedestrian crossing were rejected by the council for fear of the delays it would cause for motorists.

New In Bloom planters add a festive touch to Walkden !

Tired but happy ! FOWS volunteers with the new planters on Walkden station.

Thanks to a second “In Bloom” grant from Salford City Council the Friends of Walkden Station have completed a series of improvements to the environment at Walkden station.

The centrepieces of the latest works are two new stainless steel planters at the eastern end of the island platform (left). In the same style as the three planters already installed further down the platform, the new arrivals have slightly smaller dimensions and house two young conifers – topped off with festive silver and purple tinsel !

In addition to the new planters, FOWS have installed a brand new flower bed in a derelict area of land at the opposite end of the platform, as well as refreshing the larger flower beds on both Wigan and Manchester platforms.

Finally, the nearby Walkden Road shops are also to benefit from a set of Christmas wreaths.

As usual, FOWS have used local companies for their station improvement projects – the planters have been built by local engineering company J. Hughes and the plants and gardening materials are supplied by Linnyshaw Garden Centre.

Flower beds get a winter makeover !

Wigan border full of new plants

Friends of Walkden braved the sub-zero temperature this morning to freshen up the flower beds on both platforms at Walkden. Weeds and dead plants were removed to be replaced with a collection of hebes, mini-conifers, pansies, peoris and ornamental roses amongst others.

The plants have all been funded by a Salford City Council “In Bloom” grant, which is also paying for some new planters currently being manufactured for FOWS by J. Hughes Engineering of Monton.

We hope all station users will enjoy and respect the new plants … and leave them where they are … J

Another new flower bed at Walkden

The new flower bed - before the FOWS makeover

FOWS have planted up the vacant border at the west (road bridge) end of the Manchester platform with a collection of grasses, euonymous, cyclamen and primulas.

The plants have been funded by a new In Bloom grant from Salford City Council, which is also paying for improvements to the existing beds and some new planters – all to be installed by FOWS over the next few weeks.

 

FOWS volunteers with the newly planted bed

This plot of land had been left vacant in the expectation that the station roof renovators would require access through this area, but that work is now understood to have been scheduled for the next financial year, so FOWS decided to “pretty it up” in the meantime.

FOWS are grateful to Salford City Council and the In Bloom project for their continued generous support of our efforts to improve the environment in and around the station.

FOWS pipped at the post again !

For the second time in the space of a month FOWS have narrowly missed out on an award. On Thursday we attended Salford City Council’s Community & Social Care Awards ceremony at Buile Hall where we were on the short-list in the Best Community Activist Or Group Nominated By The Public category.

Unfortunately for us we didn’t win, but we’d like to express our sincere and hearty congratulations to Charles Patten who volunteers at the Guild Hall over-60’s and visual impairment groups – a very worthy winner !

Walkden Station “In Bloom” with three large planters

Today FOWS volunteers turned out in Bank Holiday rain to install three large planters on the station platform, paid for by a Salford City Council “In Bloom” grant. For more details and pictures of the planters and the planting event, please click here.

Pedestrian Crossing campaign continues

One of FOWS concerns is the dangerous and thoroughly unpleasant road crossing that passengers face under the bridge immediately outside the station. Over the last year we’ve been in discussion with Salford Council about affordable measures to improve the situation and we were pleased when they recently agreed to send a survey team to monitor the number of people crossing the road outside the station.

The survey was conducted yesterday, and while it offers no guarantee that a crossing will be built (that will depend on the results of the survey and numerous other road planning considerations), we applaud the council for having taken this important step forward.

Lucky Swinton gets £50,000 investment

You may have seen the article in last week’s Salford Advertiser about the £50,000 grant that GMPTE have secured from the Department of Transport for improvements to Swinton station. No-one could deny Swinton needs improvement, but FOWS are at a loss to understand how Swinton was prioritised above Walkden when:

• Walkden has many more passengers than Swinton
• Walkden is missing all the same facilities that Swinton is missing
• Walkden has more steps to the platform
• Walkden does not have a pedestrian crossing outside
• Walkden doesn’t even have a front door to secure it at night !

This comes on top of last year’s announcement of GMPTE grants to Bolton and Wigan councils to improve facilities at stations between Atherton and Wigan.

FOWS are writing to GMPTE to ask for an explanation of their priorities for local stations.