Free family films at Spinningfields

The Spinningfields area of Manchester is less than 10 minutes walk from Salford Central station and this summer has an outdoor big screen showing sporting events and films.

For a great family day out there’s a free family film programme on summer Saturdays featuring films like Hannah Montana, Up, Jurassic Park, and the amazing animation Spirited Away. Entry to the grassy lawn is free but deckchairs and picnic blankets are available for hire if you like a bit more comfort !

See the following webpages for more details of the scheduled showings:

• Live Sports at Spinningfields
• Family Films
• Feature Films

Worsley councillor takes GMITA chair

Congratulations to Worsley councillor Ian Macdonald who has been appointed to the Chair of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority.

This is particularly good news for rail travellers in the region as we know Cllr Macdonald is a firm supporter of rail travel – indeed he was instrumental in the negotiations which secured the new Sunday service on the Walkden line.

Cllr Macdonald takes over from Cllr Keith Whitmore – also a strong advocate for rail – who many people will remember for his heartfelt speech at our Sunday Service gala. The new Sunday Service is a legacy of Cllr Whitmore’s tenure that FOWS will be forever grateful for.

Sun shines on Salford’s Big Green Festival

Visitors and stalls at the Big Green Festival

FOWS at the Big Green Festival

FOWS were delighted to appear at yesterday’s Big Green Festival organised by Salford City Council to promote environmental awareness.

With gorgeous weather and dozens of interesting attractions the festival was a great success and drew in hundreds of visitors.

We were pleased to meet a steady stream of visitors to our stall to talk about where and when the local trains run, money-saving fares, and day out ideas. Thanks to our friends at Northern Rail we had plenty of interesting leaflets and freebies to hand out, and we hope we have tempted at least a few more people to try the train service from Swinton, Moorside or Walkden.

Big Green Festival

Just a quick reminder that Salford’s celebration of all good things ecological – the Big Green Festival – takes place this saturday from 12-4 at the Civic Centre in Swinton.

FOWS will be there promoting green travel in Salford, so do pop by and say Hello when you’re there !

More details on the council’s Big Green Festival website or Facebook

Council step in – so pedestrians don’t !

A big thank you to Salford City Council’s environment department, and Councillor Les Turner, for moving swiftly to get the pigeon mess cleaned up off the pavements outside the station.

We only raised the issue with  Cllr Turner on Sunday and already the pavements have been cleaned 🙂

Curse of the cable thieves

Cable thieves struck again this morning causing rush-hour misery as all trains from Walkden had to be suspended or diverted via Bolton.

Services were restored later in the day and by this evening there were posters up at Salford Crescent apologising for the disruption .

Cable theft – stealing the signalling cables for scrap value – is a massive problem on the railways and a regular cause of disruption across the Northern Rail network.

Back of the net !

Our thanks to station manager Pam Williams who has secured the installation of pigeon netting on the platform canopy at Walkden. The nets were fitted on June 20th and are looking good. Fingers crossed this will be the end of problems with pigeon mess on the platform.

We are also trying to persuade Salford City Council to clean up the pigeon-mess splattered pavements outside the station, and pressure Network Rail into fully netting the undersides of the road bridges too.

New flowers to brighten the station

FOWS have planted some new flowers this morning to replace those stolen before the gala. The plants have been provided by Salford City Council’s Little Hulton & Walkden Community Committee – to whom we are most grateful.

We hope everyone enjoys them – and leaves them where they belong this time 🙂

If you see anyone stealing plants or damaging the station – please call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40

Sunday Days Out #2: Lyme Park

Over the coming months FOWS will be suggesting day out ideas to make the most of the brand new Sunday service and today we feature Lyme Park – the spectacular stately home and park near Disley (south of Stockport).

Disley station is close to the estate entrance: you can walk back along the  (busy) A6 toward Stockport for about 0.5 mile to the main entrance or – for a more interesting and scenic approach – follow the way-marked Gritstone Trail footpath for about 1.5 through moorland and woods to reach Lyme Park house.

The house is of course famous for its beautiful historic interior and spectacular gardens, but the wider estate is also criss-crossed by open-access public footpaths which lead over moorland and woods. There is a cafe and shop within the house, or a selection of pubs in Disley for refreshments.

Suggested trains: leaving Walkden on the 9.37 to Manchester you can change at Salford Crescent for the 10.11 to Piccadilly, and take the 1052 from Piccadilly to Disley arriving 11.22.

There is an hourly service between Disley and Manchester Piccadilly. The 16.53 from Disley gets back to Manchester in good time for the 18.12 from Victoria back to Walkden (change at Stockport and Salford Crescent, or walk/tram between Piccadilly and Victoria).

Please check the National Rail Journey Planner for any changes to the  train service  on the date you plan to travel.

Costs: Off-peak adult return is £6.50 as Disley is one station beyond the GMPTE Rail Ranger (£4 All Day) boundary at Middlewood.

The public footpaths across the Lyme Park estate are free to use but entry to the house and gardens costs £9 (adult) or £22 (family). Cheaper house-only and garden-only tickets are available. Entrance is free to National Trust members.

If you have any suggestions for days out using the new Sunday service, please drop us a line at friends@walkdenstation.org.uk

Disclaimer: The information given is correct to the best of our knowledge but we cannot be responsible for any errors, changes, or consequences thereof. Please check all times, opening hours, and prices with the relevant providers before travelling.

Dive in to the Bridgewater Canal 250th Anniversary !

The Bridgewater Canal is 250 years old next year and local historians are forming plans to celebrate the occasion. They’re looking for local people to help gather “ideas, dreams and stories” at a series of meetings throughout the area during June. They are also interested in hearing from people with photographs of the canal.

The sessions take place at:

• Fri 18th June, 5pm-6pm, Monton Village Hall
• Sat 19th June, 10.30 am – 12 noon, Boothstown Community Centre
• Mon 21st June, 10am-12 noon, Monton Village Hall
• Tue 22nd June, 10.30 am – 12 noon and 6pm-7.30pm, Barton Methodist Church
• Thu 24th June, 6pm-7.30pm, Worsley Methodist Church

For further details call Graeme on 07930 537 335